Jwfisher2006

Hi! Couldn't seem to find an answer to this...

So we applied for my USC wife's parents around the new year. At the time, with some covid uncertainty and other things going on we wanted to at least start the process. Honestly thought it would take longer. Got notified this morning that the cases were approved. As far as I'm aware, the I-130 approval doesn't expire, but they aren't quite in a position to be able to move within the next year. I'm assuming the process hasn't changed a ton since we did my wife's visa 5-6 years ago?  I figure that we can drag our feet a little bit and that the NVC has some backlogs. But is it possible to just not apply for the visa and delay processing for a little bit? Maybe a year? Just don't want them to think we've abandoned the case. 

Of course I know the other option is to have them finish processing, move over long enough to get their green cards/ssn/etc and then go back (for less than a year) to tie up loose ends. But didn't know if there was a way to just put the case on hold with the NVC once they receive it. 

Thanks!

Had combo interview on Nov 14th in New Orleans. Originally was scheduled for Sept 5th, but had to reschedule due to some job/moving changes that occurred right during then. That went pretty seamlessly and only set us back a couple of months. Started off with the N-400 interview with just my wife. She doesn’t remember all the questions she got but she got all 6 right. Called me in at the end mainly just to give me credit for showing up and the interviewing officer wanted to see our 2 year old daughter. So that portion of the interview basically just consisted of my daughter handing the officer toys and stickers while she tried to talk to me. She complimented us on the thoroughness of our file and said she didn’t need to see any of the new evidence that I had brought. Since we did move while the application was in progress she transferred the file to our new office to schedule the oath ceremony. That will probably cost us a couple of months I assume but we’ll see. At least we won’t have to travel 6 hours to New Orleans again. Glad to be (almost) done!

Had combo interview on Nov 14th in New Orleans. Originally was scheduled for Sept 5th, but had to reschedule due to some job/moving changes that occurred right during then. That went pretty seamlessly and only set us back a couple of months. Started off with the N-400 interview with just my wife. She doesn’t remember all the questions she got but she got all 6 right. Called me in at the end mainly just to give me credit for showing up and the interviewing officer wanted to see our 2 year old daughter. So that portion of the interview basically just consisted of my daughter handing the officer toys and stickers while she tried to talk to me. She complimented us on the thoroughness of our file and said she didn’t need to see any of the new evidence that I had brought. Since we did move while the application was in progress she transferred the file to our new office to schedule the oath ceremony. That will probably cost us a couple of months I assume but we’ll see. At least we won’t have to travel 6 hours to New Orleans again. Glad to be (almost) done!

Had combo interview on Nov 14th in New Orleans. Originally was scheduled for Sept 5th, but had to reschedule due to some job/moving changes that occurred right during then. That went pretty seamlessly and only set us back a couple of months. Started off with the N-400 interview with just my wife. She doesn’t remember all the questions she got but she got all 6 right. Called me in at the end mainly just to give me credit for showing up and the interviewing officer wanted to see our 2 year old daughter. So that portion of the interview basically just consisted of my daughter handing the officer toys and stickers while she tried to talk to me. She complimented us on the thoroughness of our file and said she didn’t need to see any of the new evidence that I had brought. Since we did move while the application was in progress she transferred the file to our new office to schedule the oath ceremony. That will probably cost us a couple of months I assume but we’ll see. At least we won’t have to travel 6 hours to New Orleans again. Glad to be (almost) done!

I recently got the transfer notice as well (VSC filer). Except mine was transferred to the National Benefits Center "so that an interview may be scheduled". We also filed N400 online so I'm wondering if that is what triggered the transfer so that it could be combined with the N400 case?

I THINK you should be able to get Command Sponsorship since you are already married. However, as always check with Admin and/or Legal departments. You should also be able to get an expedited I-130 to push your process faster. If you know that your husband is getting orders, but he just doesn't have them yet, get a letter signed by his CO stating that he will be receiving orders overseas and call USCIS to request an expedite. You will also have to call for an expedite at the NVC as well and send the same supporting documentation. They may or may not expedite without the orders in hand but it's worth a try. I was able to get an expedite at the USCIS level with a letter from my CO. I did not end up requesting an expedite though at the NVC level since my orders had changed by that point. 

Just received an 18 month extension letter from VSC today. I was curious if they were going to send one or not. I got excited for a second when I saw the mail from USCIS. 

Congrats! We were in the exact same position. I filed on-time and then received a biometrics appointment date for 3 days after the due date which actually ended up being 1 day after my daughter was born. When I got the letter, it has a box to check asking for a reschedule. We wrote a quick letter explaining that it was right around our due date and asked to delay about a month and sent it off. About 2 weeks later, we got a new biometrics date for exactly when we had asked for in the letter!

Would probably need a good bit more information to accurately figure out what to do (filing status, claiming husband as exemption, his current immigration status, etc.), but from the form W-7 it says this:

Reason you’re submitting Form W-7. Read the instructions for the box you check. Caution: If you check box b, c, d, e, f, or g, you must file a U.S. federal tax return with Form W-7 unless you meet one of the exceptions (see instructions).

They are probably wanting your income tax return, because that's the one that you are requesting it on, but you'd probably have to wade through the W-7 instructions diligently to figure it out based on all the specifics. 

I-751: October 2017 Filers

California Service Center (22 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName........................Date of I-751...........NOA1 Date.............Biometrics..............Approved

ADRII15.............................10/07/17...............10/10/17.............--/--/17.......................--/--/--

AMAROK...........................10/13/17...............--/--/17..................--/--/17.......................--/--/--

ASHTAZ............................10/26/17...............10/27/17..............--/--/17.......................--/--/--

6999MILES........................09/29/17.............10/06/17..............--/--/17........................--/--/--

BUTTER_FLY.....................10/02/17..............10/04/17..............11/03/17...................--/--/--

DAME & ASH.....................10/10/17..............10/11/17...............--/--/17......................--/--/--

FALCNGRL.........................10/20/17..............10/23/17.............11/16/17....................--/--/--

FRUITNUT.........................10/02/17..............10/11/17............. --/--/17….....................--/--/--

GREENCARDCHICAGO.....10/18/17..............10/20/17.............11/16/17....................--/--/--

GREG_DUBAI.....................10/23/17..............10/27/17.................--/--17......................--/--/--

JMAN799..........................10/14/17..............--/--/17................--/--/17..................--/--/--

JM22.................................10/12/17...............10/16/17...............--/--/17......................--/--/--

JSUM.................................10/25/17...............10/27/17...............--/--/17.....................--/--/--

MONICACO.......................10/03/17...............--/--/17....................--/--/17.....................--/--/--

NIMIMI..............................10/28/17...............11/13/17............12/05/17.....................--/--/--

NOMPISH..........................10/10/17...............10/13/17................--/--/17.....................--/--/--

PEREGRINOAZUL……….....10/20/17................10/27/17...............--/--/17.....................--/--/--

SABEEHNAJAM...............10/18/17................10/19/17................--/--/17....................--/--/--

SHANELLE........................10/30/17...............10/31/17.................--/--/17....................--/--/--

TONY&NATASHA..............10/18/17..............10/19/17..............11/13/17...................--/--/-- 

TURTLEBABIES14............10/08/17..............10/10/17...............11/17/17...................--/--/--

VINCENTCHU....................10/25/17.............10/30/17..................--/--/17....................--/--/-- 

Vermont Service Center (31 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName...................Date of I-751......................NOA1 Date..............Biometrics.........Approved

ABBUMIMAPA..............10/28/17.....................10/31/17...................12/04/17...............--/--/--

ACABRERA7186...........10/19/17.....................10/24/17..................12/01/17................--/--/-- 

ALLURINGSOUL............10/03/17.................... 10/06/17..................11/06/17............--/--/-- 

CIYARA..........................10/10/17.....................10/12/17................. 11/30/17................--/--/--

DAVID1987....................10/13/17.....................10/17/17......................--/--/17................--/--/--

DOHAN..........................10/23/17.....................10/26/17......................--/--/17................--/--/--

DR_MEDOVET...............10/17/17.................... 10/23/17................. 11/30/17................--/--/--  

ELMKIETY.....................10/09/17.....................10/20/17..................11/13/17................--/--/-- 

EMCIA_81.....................10/13/17.....................10/17/17..................11/20/17................--/--/-- 

ESCOSBABY..................10/23/17.....................10/25/17...................--/--/17..................--/--/-- 

GENR87.........................10/03/17.....................10/05/17.................10/31/17................--/--/--

GURSHA........................10/04/17.....................10/10/17.................11/13/17................--/--/--

JAYGEE011...................10/20/17.....................10/24/17...................--/--/17..................--/--/--

JEN34.............................10/20/17...................10/24/17...................11/27/17................--/--/--

JMONSTERZ.................10/22/17....................10/24/17..................11/28/17.................--/--/--

JOSE PEREIRA..............10/26/17....................11/03/17...............12/06/17..............--/--/--

JWFISHER2006.............10/25/17....................10/30/17.................01/04/18.................--/--/--  (original biometrics 12/06/17; had to reschedule)

LECILIA…………….............10/22/17………............10/24/17..................11/29/17.............--/--/-- 

LILY2017........................10/04/17...................10/10/17..................11/07/17.................--/--/--

LOVELY GIRL…….............10/28/17...................11/02/17.................12/05/17..................--/--/--

MANIPUT………..…...........10/26/17………...........10/30/17..................12/04/17..................--/--/--

MINDTHEGAP...............10/09/17...................10/10/17..................11/01/17.................--/--/--  (2nd I-751 as 1st one was denied)

OLESH...........................10/04/17...................10/10/17..................10/30/17.................--/--/--

OSTS1985.....................10/24/17...................10/27/17..................11/22/17.................--/--/--

PELAK6.........................10/18/17...................10/20/17......................--/--/17..................--/--/--

SPARKLEPONY.............10/12/17...................10/17/17...................11/20/17................--/--/--

SPEAKERBOX...............10/04/17...................10/10/17...................11/09/17.................--/--/--

SHANTD........................10/20/17..................10/24/17......................--/--/17...................--/--/--

VJ86..............................10/18/17..................10/23/17................... 12/01/17.................--/--/-- 

WEGUYGAL...................10/16/17..................10/19/17....................11/22/17................--/--/-- 

YUCHERN......................10/23/17...................--/--/17.........................--/--/17...................--/--/--

IMPORTANT!
 

Instructions for adding/updating yourself (or assisting others) to this list:
1. DO NOT DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
2. Please use your VJ user-name to avoid confusion.
3. Click "Quote" on this new template or most recent/updated version of this template.

4. Copy the entire template or most recent update (Mac users: Select the entire template, then select Command + C)
5. Remove the "Quote Coding" located at the top of this template.

6. Paste the entire template or most recent update (Mac users: Select Command + V)

7. Now make whatever updates/changes you would like, then hit Submit Reply 
8. Always use [Courier New] Font and font size.[12]

9. Add your name in ALPHABETICAL ORDER

10. Once you have added your name, update the number of applicants for your chosen service center
 

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application.
NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter.
Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment.
Approved = The Date your case was approved.

* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.
* When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly.
* If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.

We had to request a reschedule of my Biometrics due to my wife's pregnancy. We simply followed the instructions on the form and wrote a quick letter explaining why we couldn't make it and when a better time for us would be. Just got the new notice yesterday and it looks like they paid attention to the letter we wrote!

We are VSC. We did receive our Biometrics letter for 12/6. However, we had to request a reschedule following the instructions on the form due to my wife being due with our baby any day. I didn't want to do that, but didn't see another option. Going early was too risky for traveling and I had heard the Jackson, MS ASC doesn't generally allow early walk-ins. And the 6th is way too soon after the baby is due. I'm hoping they give us a new date soon.

I-751: October 2017 Filers

I-751: October 2017 Filers

I just figured out that the FEIE is not as much an "exclusion" as I had thought. After hours of researching the different ins and outs, apparently there are cases where the FEIE can INCREASE your taxes owed. I'll try to give a concise example.

US Citizen (USC)

Spouse foreign income

USC income: $50,000

Spouse foreign income: $50,000

So given this example the AGI would be $50,000 if the 2555 were filed. However, you would not simply find the tax owed on that $50k and be done. What actually happens is you have to take the total income ($100k) and figure the tax on that. Then figure the tax owed on just the foreign income. The difference between that is the additional tax owed. In other words, they credit you for the $50k foreign income taxes owed, but then you have to pay the higher tax rate on your taxable income as if you had made $100k.

My head hurts from this so I got a consult with a CPA next week to run the three different options for me (MFS - Spouse Exemption, MFJ - Foreign Tax Credit or MFJ - FEIE) and make sure it gets done correctly. One thing I have discovered is that no two software packages result in the same numbers and my rough hand calculations are drastically different from that too.

So my hand calculation yielded a third insanely different number. I thought this would be easy...

I think I need a CPA...

Yeah, I'm going to do a quick rough calculation by hand seeing what it should be following the worksheet...Because between two software programs, I get a huge swing in the amount.

In theory yes. I am having an issue with the FEIE though on both H&R Block and TurboTax. H&R Block is using it to reduce my taxable income giving me a massive refund (which I don't think is right) and TurboTax is taxing the bejeezus out of me almost like it's not considering the exclusion. Anyone else have thoughts?

I've always used H&R block online software. I'm sure TurboTax is similar though.

Since you were married to a USC in tax year 2015, you and your spouse may file jointly. In order to file jointly, you'll need to include a statement signed by both of you saying that you wish to be considered a resident alien in tax year 2015 for tax purposes only. You would then need to report your earnings on WORLDWIDE income. However, you can file for the foreign earned income exclusion that will exclude the first $90,000 - ish (don't have the document in front of me) of the foreign income from taxes. In other words, you'll have to report it but won't pay any tax on the UK income if it's below a certain threshold.

The easy way out is for your spouse to file MFS, but you would miss out on about $6300 of a tax deduction. They could under certain circumstances claim you as an additional exemption in this case but it's not as good as the MFJ deduction.

I'm doing the MFJ this year as well. Using tax software to prepare the forms, but filing by paper since the statement must be included.

My wife (the beneficiary, UK Citizen) received her police certificate back today. She does not have a legal middle name. However, she does have a middle name given by the church at confirmation when she was a kid. I was under the impression she had never used this name in any capacity so I never put it on any immigration paperwork. When she applied for her police certificate, apparently the middle initial was on one of her proofs of address and they asked about it. She responded that it was her confirmation name and not a legal name. However, they put it on the police certificate as her middle name. The passport info on there still shows the correct legal name and this is the only document that it exists on. Is this going to cause a problem? Can I just explain the name issues in a cover letter or should I have her get a new police certificate before I send off the package to the NVC?

Thanks!