TrappedNJapan

We got our NOA2 about 1 month ago telling us to pick an agent, pay fees, get financial documents in order.

There is a good chance my contract will be renewed for one more year starting NEXT April 1st. This is good, we didn't it would happen The job pays well and I like it. If this happens my wife will also go to grad school, which takes TWO years from next April. An opportunity we don't want to pass up.

What in the world should we do?! Will we have to start all the way over? Can we possibly drag out the process for THAT long.

At the bottom of the NOA2 it says we have one year to apply for the visa now that our petition has been accepted. So one year from our priority date?

When everything is okay (documents and fees paid) Can we schedule an interview for say 6 months done the line? (The time line says most people it do it one month after they are OKed)

If the interview is successful, my wife will get CR-1 on that day, right? or very soon after and then we only have 6 months to get to the USA.

Is that correct?

So how can we stretch this to 2 1/2 years?

Thanks. You all have been super helpfull through this. (My parents honestly can not believe how hard it is for an American citizen to bring in his educated money earning WIFE back to the USA)

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

"July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail

August 8, 2011: NVC received file"

So you got you NCV file in less than two weeks!!!

My wife and I have been married for 4 years. What in the world could be taking them so long. We gave them an impeccable visa application packet.

DCF? Direct Consular filing.

No they don't have that in Japan. Shut it down 10-15 years ago. They only have DCF in a handful of countries now.

Luckily we are no longer in a rush to get this done. We actually may want to stay another year if my current contract is renewed which didn't seem likely 4 months, now I am being told it is a possibility. That being said I am still worried because the process seems to be taking longer than usual. And its not like the process is easy to understand or follow to being with. I am dead serious that learning to write a master's thesis was easier than figuring out and putting together properly the visa petition. and that was only step one of about 12. So far we done with what? 3 steps. I suppose we have hit no major snags, thank you, other than the length of time everything seems to be taking.

I sure am glad my job in the USA fell through. My wife and I were really hoping to get her a spousal visa in a few months. 3 weeks just to get the insane paper work in order. 2 months for NOA1. 2 more months for NOA2. Now add 6 more weeks and still waiting. I checked status on the USGOV website it says they WILL mail us some instructions soon. Future tense.

We are both living overseas in Japan and like my name says I am trapped here until this visa idocracy gets sorted.

People were saying if you explain that you are filing from overseas you will probably get the "secret priority filing". well... almost 6 months in and we are still not past NOA2.

Is it normal to take this long after the NOA2 to receive something, anything?

I dont think you need the copy of tax returns until you get send your I-864. Someone correct me if I am wrong. Doesnt matter for me, cuase I have none. uhhh.

I am getting my packet ready as we speak. You have a ton of evidence.

How do you copy text message. We have probably 1 million texts from the last few years.

I think I am nearing compleition of my I-130 packet. Just typed up a rough draft of a cover letter based off a few examples from here and there. Please give me feedback. The G-1145 says DIRECTLY on the form to place this form "on the top". Some lists actually have it LAST. Very frustrating.

What is the best order? Check (fee) 1st, Cover letter 2nd, G-1145 next?

I believe the passport style photos need to be attached to the G-325As.

I have two question marks under evidence of Bona Fide Marriage beucase I am not sure if I can find them or if I need them. In Japan you can NOT have joint bank accounts. You can only have one name on a lease. All bills have to go the person who is on the lease. Very frustrating. So we have none of that. But we are required to register our residence with the goverment, which we do have a copy of, and both of our list the same address.

Question: Do we need to include in the evidence a letter explaining our relationship history, marriage, and future plans or is my brief explanation in the cover letter enough?

Okay here is my cover letter:

June 31st, 2015

My Full Name

My permanent address in Japan

XXXXXXX@gmail.com

USCIS

Attn: I-130

131 South Dearborn – 3rd Floor

Chicago, IL 60603-5517

To Whom It May Concern:

Please find enclosed my Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative on behalf of my wife, XXXX XXXX.

Please note that I am currently living with my wife in XXXX, Japan on a spousal visa. There is no Direct Consular Filing in Japan; therefore I am filing my I-130 Petition with the USCIS. On my application, I have listed my current address in Japan that I co-reside with my wife. I am currently in the process of finding employment in the USA. Our final permanent address is yet to be determined; however I still maintain a domicile in the USA in XXXXX, XXXXX, where my parents, XXXXX and XXXX XXXX, currently reside. Photos have been included as evidence of our bona fide marriage. They have been labeled with a brief description, time, and location. The locations of the pictures taken will coincide with the stamps in my passport. Please note that my wife and I got legally married at the local city hall in February of 2012. Because of timing issues we went on our honeymoon to XXXXX (July of 2012) before the wedding ceremony in XXXXX, USA (August of 2012), followed by a final wedding party in XXXXX, Japan (November of (2012).

Included are the following documents:

Personal check in the amount of $420

G-1145

I-130

G-325A (for petitioner) with passport style photo

G-325A (for beneficiary) with passport style photo

Copy of petitioner’s US passport

Evidence of Bona Fide Marriage:

s Certified copy of marriage certificate from Japan (w/ translation)

s Certified copy of beneficiary’s divorce document from a previous marriage (w/ translation)

s Certified copy of proof of co-residence (w/ translation)

s Photographs of our ongoing marriage

s ?Copies of airplane interties of trip taken together

s ?Copy of mail received at the same address

Thank you very much for your prompt attention to this matter.

Respectfully,

(sign here)

My Full Name

Social Security Number: ***-**-****

$98,200 is not the requirement for filing taxes. It is the amount that you don't have to pay tax on. The filing requirement income levels are as follows:

Filing Status* Amount: Single$10,150

65 or older$11,700

Head of household $13,050

65 or older$14,600

Qualifying widow(er)$16,350

65 or older$17,550

Married filing jointly$20,300

Not living with spouse at end of year$3,950

One spouse 65 or older$21,500

Both spouses 65 or older$22,700

Married filing separately$3,950

*If you are the dependent of another taxpayer, see the instructions for Form 1040 for more information on whether you must file a return.

Follow this link for the complete document >>>> http://www.irs.gov/publications/p54/ch01.html#en_US_2014_publink100047318

Great! I searched and it seems you are 100% correct. What the hell am I supposed to do now. Last time I was in the USA I met with fathers accountant. He told me to my face that I did not have to file. don't worry about it.

1. How do I fix this

2. What do I put on the i-864

3. What do I say in the letter for no submissions of taxes. "my accountant is an idiot and I was a fool to listen to him and based on his advice he told me not to worry about filing taxes since I earn below the taxable limit"

Everywhere I read is that you should not leave a single box blank on either the i-130 and the G-325A

I have "N/A" 38 times on my G-325A. That seems a little ridiculous. But I only use 3 of the 5 lines for both residence and employment. That is 32 "N/A"

For example on the I-130. I have no prior spouses. There are two lines. Do I put "N/A" or "none" twice? But it also asks for dates. Do I put it 4 times?!

I have no tax tax returns for the last 7+ years. I have been living overseas.

Can I state in my letter that I have not filed any tax returns because I was living overseas and did not make over $98,200 USD.

That is the minimum amount you have to make to be required by the IRS to file taxes when living overseas.

I am filing an I-130 for my wife some time this week. We currently both live together in Japan. I was advised that I should put our address together on the I-130. It is looking like my new job is coming through in the USA, but that means I need to move back in the next 6 weeks, and will probably be living in a hotel for a week or two until I find a place to live.

I found the AR-11 change of address, but it says it is for Aliens. I am not an Alien. Also, the AR-11 form nor the online version have anywhere to put an out of USA address.

Thank you so much for the speedy reply.

I may be getting too paranoid about things now.

but for C18 should I put "to be determined just once or under all 3 categories? Street, City, State.

I have read that living and filing from abroad often initiates the expatiate processes. I need to pay the fee. I can get my parents to mail me my check book, which will take two weeks or longer. Or I can mail my packet to them and have them write a check for me. Some people did this and got their relative or parents to simply write "filed from abroad" across the package when they then forwarded it. Do you think this made a difference as opposed to the actual contents of the i-130?

I am an American citizen living in Japan (9 years). I have been married to a Japanese citizen for over 3 years. We want to move to the USA. Step one fill out and submit form I-130. That is where I am stuck.

I am currently living and employed in Japan. I am looking for a job in the USA and will either relocate back there this August (in 6 weeks) or April, 2016. I still have my US bank account. I have US investments. I have US credit cards. I still get all my US mail to my parents address in the USA.

All questions are relating to form I-130

#1 Question B2 - Do I put current address that I am living at (with my wife) in Japan?
#2 Question B2 - Is this where the NOA will be mailed?
#3 Question B2 - Should I put my parents address here instead? I have read a lot of conflicting information on this.

#4 Question C1 - My wife has no middle name. Is writing "N/A" acceptable?

#5 Question C14 - Why is currently residing in Japan. This question has 4 parts. Do I put "N/A" 4 times?

#6 Question C18 - So much conflicting on the net concerning this one. I have no idea, because I don't have a job yet. Half the internet say to but "to be determined", the other half says to put a family members address.
Should I put "to be determined" or should I put my parents address (where I receive all my US mail)?

#7 How is question C2 and C19 different?

edit

#8 Question C21 for dates living together at last address should I put "present"?

Thanks in advance for your help