everywhereuwant2b

Anyone get their I-765 rejected? I just got a notice today about the fee being wrong/not provided and the form being outdate. Thing is, I sent a check for $1,225 and they cashed it a few days ago. I check the form, it was actually outdated (but the new form and old form not that different, same info ). So I'm going to resubmit the updated form, but any idea why they mentioned the fee?

I just received a Rejection Notice for what I'm assuming is the I-765 (it says CASE TYPE I-765, Application for Employment Authorization) although I sent all the forms together.

It says, "The payment amount is incorrect, or has not been provided," which is odd because they just cashed the check for $1,225.

It also says "The application/petition was filed on an outdated version of this form," which, after checking the forms on uscis.gov, it looks like they changed the I-765 form on January 17, 2017. I started filling out this form in December so I submitted the older version. Still, the forms have EXACTLY the same information. The newer one takes up 2 pages instead of 1... (tree killers).

But has anyone else received this notice saying the payment and forms are incorrect? I was under the impression that you could submit I-765 with I-485 and just pay the $1,225.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Has the co-sponsor been at the company 2-3 years?

If so, showing her tax returns and W2's will show she is well established at the company and clearly would be permanent employee

Yes, she's been there since mid 2013 so over 3+ years. I probably didn't have to censor that in the letter

She was only going to submit her tax information for the past year, 2015. I feel kind of weird asking her to send prior years, too. Do you think the letter saying she's been employed since 2013 is sufficient?

Hi Everyone,

I got a letter of employment for my co-sponsor and it basically says the following:

"(Date)

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is to confirm that (Co-sponsor) has been employed with (Employer) since (date). (Co-sponsor) is currently working with us as a (position). Her annual salary is (salary) and this is a full-time position.

Please feel free to contact me if you need any additional information.

Sincerely,
(Supervisor Signature)

(Supervisor Name)"

It doesn't say the position is permanent but it does say she currently works there. Should I ask for the letter to be re-written or is this good enough?

Thanks!

Japanese internment camps were the direct result of an attack on a US naval base, which prompted the US to declare war on them. Wartime isn't normal. Yes, the internment of Japanese-Americans is a disgrace that the US government has many times over apologized for and admitted was wrong. The internment camps during WW2 had pretty much nothing to do with racism (the Japanese are not a race, they are a nationality) or hate speech. It was an unfortunate turn of events during an extremely chaotic wartime. Not comparable at all to today's situation, in my opinion. And actually, the camps and the anti-Japanese propaganda during WW2 did happen pretty much overnight....'the day that will live in infamy,' aka Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.

I agree with you that hate speech and the demonization and othering of certain ethnic groups are wrong and unsettling, especially as it seems on the rise and will probably grow under a Trump presidency, but Japanese internment camps have pretty much nothing in common with the affairs of the US today....thankfully.

This is wartime. The U.S. is at war with terrorism, which is in a way worse, because terrorism is not as clear-cut and defined as a nation state, like Japan, is.

I respectfully disagree with your comment regarding racism. Perhaps it was not the best choice semantically, but the existence of discrimination against the Japanese is indisputable. Anti-Japanese sentiment was present well before the WW2 and the intensity only worsened with the attack on Pearl Harbor.

I don't doubt that the internment camps happened overnight. My comment was more of a reference to the fact that such extreme actions normally progress from smaller actions and that we should be vigilant and not ignore too many of the smaller, seeming insignificant things like this because they can lead somewhere. For the time being, I agree that it not something likely to happen in the immediate future, but you have to admit that we are much closer to such a thing happening now than we were eight years go.

Regardless it's disturbing that Japanese internment camps were even brought up, by an incoming president's surrogate no less, and as a valid, legal precedent.

I'm not sure if no one was ever arrested for terrorist-related activity under the Bush registry for muslims. Thousands got deported using that registry though. (most probably for immigration violations)

Someone who's a muslim who is legally present in the US, hasn't committed any crimes and is not engaged in terrorist activity or anything that can be construed as lending support to terrorist organizations shouldn't have anything to worry about with regards to deportation.

As for behavior by individual Americans towards muslim immigrants, that's a different story. Also, the US government can and may engage in systematic discrimination towards muslims by curtailing visas and making security checks much more difficult to pass.

Regarding your statement on muslim internment camps, I predict civil rights organizations (the ACLU being one) will be chomping at the bit to have a go at the Trump administration if any such proposal comes to fruition.

According to ACLU, no one was ever arrested in connection to terrorism.

Although I am concerned about the public's behavior towards Muslims, my concern was directed at the path down which the government seems to be going. History tells us something like the implementation of internment camps does not happen over night. It builds up over a period of time. It starts with hate speech and is then followed by political action in baby steps.

I consider the public announcement of the Muslim registry and mention of Japanese internment camps a baby step.

George W Bush did a muslim registry for non-US citizens after 9/11. This is nothing new.

You're right, the registry is not new. What's new is the current political climate and Trump's recent statement regarding the legality of Japanese internment camps, suggesting that Muslim internment camps would also be legal.

And it should be noted that under the Bush registry, no one was ever arrested for terrorist-related activity.

Now something puzzles me What does the "canceling visa" if countries won't take their people back means ? Does it include people already approved (visa in hand) or the future applications ? I gotta admit that I haven't seen any details on that question yet (Whether the media or Trump came to an explanation in depth)

"He has said he also plans on Day 1 to suspend immigration from “terror-prone” countries, and to impose “extreme vetting” on others. "

So there you have it, confirmation that visas from "terror-prone" countries will be suspended. Prepare for huge delays in your visa process starting January 21, 2017. France may even be on the "terror-prone" list considering the widespread publicity around terrorist attacks in France in the past couple years.

Source: New York Times

Get ready for the Muslim Registry: http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/16/13649764/trump-muslim-register-database

But seriously, to echo what JohnMN said, get involved. Do something. Don't just sit here and feel helpless, reading this despairing thread. Here are some actions you can take.

Sign Petitions:
http://pac.petitions.moveon.org/sign/appoint-keith-ellison?source=c.em&fb_test=0&r_by=16758931

https://www.change.org/p/electoral-college-electors-electoral-college-make-hillary-clinton-president-on-december-19?utm_medium=email&utm_source=notification&utm_campaign=signature_receipt

Support Organizations:

ACLU: https://action.aclu.org/secure/become-freedom-fighter-join-aclu?ms=fb_share_57914

http://jezebel.com/a-list-of-pro-women-pro-immigrant-pro-earth-anti-big-1788752078

Protest:

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=million+women+march+on+d.c&ref=eyJzaWQiOiIwLjkwMjgyMjA3OTI3Nzk5OTUiLCJxcyI6IkpUVkNKVEl5Yldsc2JHbHZiaVV5TUhkdmJXVnVKVEl3YldGeVkyZ2xNakJ2YmlVeU1HUXVZeVV5TWlVMVJBIiwiZ3YiOiJiZWUwOWY5M2ZhNzMyY2ZhNTlhMWNiNmQ5ZjQ1MGQzODkyNDI0ZTQ5In0&hc_location=ufi

Contact Your Congress People:

http://www.attn.com/stories/12768/former-congressional-staffer-explains-how-to-make-congressman-listen

Boycott Trump family businesses:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vu0Y0HvadMgG_LN7dF8W7M66oPCcx_nmSARQWirV7iY/htmlview?sle=true#

And most importantly, VOTE IN 2018!

The embassy should be getting in touch with you. Send an email to the embassy. I hear it takes a while for them to get back to you but, this is what some others have done and they've received a response (eventually).

He had reason - hostages among other things BUT this will help:

In fact, Carter never paused Iranian immigration wholesale, nor was there a registration system. But what Carter tried to implement was bad enough in that regard. It did not pass the test of its first judicial review a judge barely three weeks after implementation, but an appeals court upheld the president’s authority to set immigration policy, “so long as such distinctions” be tween classes of immigrants “are not wholly irrational.” http://flaglerlive.com/88526/jimmy-carter-iranian-deportations/

True, but I can totally see him making a case for Iran without a hostage crisis.

On a positive note, I am surprised to learn that Carter's order was reviewed in 3 weeks! I did not expect the judicial branch to act that quickly, so that's reassuring.

In Turkey there is huge us air force. Adana incirlik. If he bands muslims to us how Turkey is going to let them to use their land. So u.s can not fight anything in syria and iraq. U.s needs friends to fight with terrorists.

So he might not ban Muslims per se but people from certain countries (i.e. Syria, Iran, Libya, Yemen, Iraq) are still at risk. It's happened before, Jimmy Carter cancelled Iranian visas via executive order.

I agree that it will take him time to make any major changes to the law for green cards, but what I'm concerned about is his ability to issue executive orders i.e. an temporary ban on people from Muslim countries. He needs no congressional consent to do that. And I believe executive orders may go in effect as soon as they're signed so we could possibly be looking at a ban one day 1, January 20.

Grant it, whatever he signs into order would not necessarily be permanent and could be overruled by Congress or the Supreme Court, but that would take time and delay the already long process for those of us applying.

Can anyone provide some insight on this?

Hi All,

I recently got my NOA 2 (yay!) but am still in my fiance's country and unemployed (nay!).

I plan to return to the U.S. at the end of October and immediately start looking for a job that meets the income requirements. I should have something by mid to late November. From the timeline data, I am guessing his interview will take place in late December or January. In addition to whatever income, I have about $12K in savings to help cushion my I-134/Affidavit of Support. I will also be submitting my 2013 and 2014 tax information as evidence that, in general, I am a responsible person who has a full-time, stable job. It's just that from 2015 to the present, I have been in a traveling, eat-pray-love-esque mode, hence the unemployment.

Will my short employment be an issue though? Does anyone have experience with this? We are applying through the embassy in Ankara, Turkey, so if anyone has had experience them, I would appreciate it if you could share.

I could ask my mother to be a sponsor, but she just quit her job a month ago to start her own business and although she was steadily employed throughout 2015 and until July 2016, any documentation would be irrelevant as it would not be indicative as to what what her future business income will be.

I appreciate any suggestions/advice you might have. Thanks!

I'm interested though to find out if interviews are continuing post-attempted coup. Obviously not in the first couple days, but in a week or so. Things appear to be calmer already. I'd imagine if it was dangerous by that time, though, they would cancel your interview. Let us know what happens!

Just to remind all the new filers that you're sending your petition to the Texas lockbox and not to the Texas service center.

Ever since the end of March 215, ALL i129f petitions are being reviewed at the California service center.

Filling your timeline with the right center helps you and your fellow filers to get a more accurate timeline prediction.

Good luck to everyone

There's no Dallas, TX Lockbox option on the timeline, just Lewisville, TX... Any suggestions?

Sent July 9th to Dallas Lockbox. Waiting for NOA1.

I just re-read your post...You have pics with your family? Has he traveled here? And it sounds like you went to Iran since you mention you have passport stamps. Please share that with me as I have been trying to find a way to go there without a tour group! Thanks!

Thanks for the advice! You're right, I do need to make more of the effort here.

No we took the pictures in Iran. He's never been to the U.S.

At out K1 interview he was asked "What does your family think of her and a marriage?"

I had told him to be polite and smile, so he did

and said "They love her"

i had known him over a year and a half and spent 1 month with his family

CO said " you smile, you lie" and denied the visa

we married and went thru the next 6 years to get his visa

I would say marry and try that route

For family try your best to get to know them (even 1 of them-not a male) and let them know you are a decent loving person

NEVER NEVER show anger to any of his family and always respect his mom

the relationship between mother and son in this culture is strong

she must accept you or probably the marriage will never happen

Incha allah (God willing) you will make it

allah yessir ( God will make all things right)

trust your faith whatever it is

if you need any encouragement, write to me and we can talk on whatsapp or other chat

and i wish you happiness / i have it with my muslim husband

Oh wow, I'm so sorry that happened to you. But I'm happy it all worked for you in the end ))

So in that one month that you lived with his family, did you all get along? I'm a bit confused about the interview question, did his family support your marriage (and the CO mistakenly assumed your husband was lying) or was his family actually not very supportive?

I'm wondering what would happen if the CO asks my fiance whether his parents approve, to which he would say no. And when the CO asks why, he'd tell them that they're generally unsupportive of him in all areas of his life, they didn't have a good relationship to begin with, probably should seek family couseling, etc. I'm afraid the interview will turn into a therapy session.

Hey! I totally understand where you are coming from, although my situation was not nearly as extreme with the parents etc. , my fiancé is from Afghanistan: I myself was born and raised in the US and my parents came to America 35 years ago from Afghanistan.

At first my parents weren't too happy about us wanting to get engaged either- because of nonsense they heard from outsiders and "jealous" people feeding them lies about my fiancée. We just showed we were firm on our decision and they eventually eased up alittle and my fiancée tried very hard to continue to try and build a good relationship with them and show them the real him- not the lies people fed them with. It gets better. (Fighting gets you no where trust me)

i myself am unemployed and a student and there honestly would've been no way I could bring my fiancée here so easy if my dad wasn't a sponsor or didn't pay for all of this paperwork etc- . You just have to show them you guys are serious and your going to go through with it because your happy, and try to ease them in with both of your goodness.

On the other hand about the pictures- you will be totally fine. I didn't even include pictures with his family or with my family- not because I didn't have any, just because it slipped my mind. I submitted pictures of me and my fiancée and was approved and waiting for interview step now.

I wish you luck and it does get better I promise.

I'm not alone!!! Thanks for responding and the advice

That's very comforting to know that our petition can be approved despite not having family pictures. And Afghanistan and Iran are neighbors, so culturally very similar I'd imagine. But they'll probably ask about familial relations at the interview, right? Has your family and fiance's family met? I know that's what's traditionally done in these countries--the families meet, discuss the prospective marriage, get formal "permission" from usually male family members to move forward, and then hammer out details like dowry... Which is fine unless you're a progressive like me and cringing as you type this

(Side note: No disrespect to anyone who subscribes to traditional values, to each her own)

Anyways, good luck with the interview. Let me know how it goes!

Hi Everyone,

So, unfortunately, my fiance's parents are not too keen on our engagement. They're not even interested in meeting me, let alone take photos for our visa petition. I'm the USC and my fiance is Iranian. My family, however, is fine with it.

Anyone else dealing with a similar situation? I'd especially like to hear from those of you who are applying for fiances who come from non-Western backgrounds. I've read through a couple posts on the topic, but they involved predominantly first world/Western couples, where it's culturally acceptable to go against your family's wishes (if your family even has any objectionable wishes!) whereas that's frowned upon in Eastern cultures. My fiance is also a young, college student who still lives with his parents, and I'm eight years older, so even more things to culturally frown upon.

We are about to send in our K-1 visa petition and will be submitting photos taken regularly over the last 8 months, including a couple pictures with my family (my sister, grandma, aunt and later when my parents come, will take a few photos with them for the interview). There is also a picture with his cousin (that counts as family, right?) This is in addition to my passport stamps and airline reservations proving I entered the country, bus reservations with both of our names, and chat logs. And that's all the proof of having met/ongoing relationship we can provide. I'm hoping this is enough to overcome any points against us when reviewing our visa.

Thanks in advance for your advice/comments/condolences in regards to this difficult situation.

Hi All,

My co-sponsor is filling out an I-134. Does her husband need to sign too? I ask because this what the embassy in Ankara says:

AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT

Persons in the United States who desire to furnish sponsorship for an applicant in the form of an affidavit of support should use Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, available from the USCIS offices or the following web site: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-134.pdf. Sponsors may also elect to furnish a statement in the form of an affidavit sworn to before a notary public or other official competent to administer an oath, setting forth his or her willingness and financial ability to contribute to the applicant’s support and reasons, in detail, for sponsoring the applicant.

The sponsor’s affidavit should include:

1. Information regarding his or her annual income;

2. Where material, information regarding his or her other resources;

3. Obligations for the support of members of his or her own family and other persons, if any;

4. Other obligations and expenses;

5. Plans and arrangements made for the applicant’s reception and support;

6. An expression of willingness to deposit a bond, if necessary, with the USCIS to guarantee that the applicant will not become a public charge in the US; and

7. An acknowledgement that the sponsor is aware of his or her responsibilities under the Social Security Act, as amended, and the Food Stamp Act, as amended; that the affidavit and supporting documentation may be made available to a public assistance agency. (The provisions of the above laws are contained in form DS-1858, Sponsor’s Financial Responsibility Under the Social Security Act, and printed in Part III of the instructions for Form (I-134)

The sponsor should include in the affidavit a statement concerning his or her status in the United States. If the sponsor is an American citizen, the affidavit of should indicate the date of naturalization, the name and location of the court, and the number of the sponsor’s certificate of naturalization. If the sponsor is an alien who has been lawfully admitted into the United States for permanent residence, he or she should state in the affidavit the date and place of admission for permanent residence and the alien registration number which appears on his or her Alien Registration Receipt Card.

To substantiate the information regarding income and resources the sponsor should attach two or more of the following items to the affidavit:

1. Copies of his or her latest federal income tax return;

2. Copies of his or her latest W-2 forms

3. A statement from his or her employer showing salary and the length and permanency of employment;

4. A statement from an officer of a bank regarding his or her account, the date the account was opened, and the present balance;

5. Any other evidence adequate to establish financial ability to carry out his or her undertaking toward the applicant for what might be an indefinite period of time.

If the sponsor is well established in business, he or she may submit a rating from a recognized business rating organization in lieu of the foregoing. If the sponsor is married, the affidavit of support should be signed jointly by both the husband and wife. Affidavits of support should be of recent date when presented to the consular officer. They are unacceptable if more than one year has elapsed from the date of execution. A sponsor may prefer to forward his or her affidavit of support directly to the consular office where the application will be made, in which event the contents will not be divulged to the applicant.

I'm not sure if they mean form I-134 needs the spouse signature or a notarized Affidavit of Support (conveniently, both can be referred to as "affidavits of support" hence the confusion).

If they do need to sign I-134, where do they sign exactly? There's not really any room for it.

Thanks!

I'm a in a similar situation. I reached out to the embassy in Ankara and they said it wouldn't affect it. However I'm concerned that it still might influence their decision to approve/deny my visa if they feel that he's trying to avoid military service. Though it's not a common reason for why visas are denied:

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/AnnualReports/FY2015AnnualReport/FY15AnnualReport-TableXX.pdf

So I guess I would just be prepared to answer that question, should it come up during the interview.

Hi VJers,

I've been doing some reading and it appears that, according to the K1/K2 instructions posted on Ankara's website:

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/turkey/5/instruction_packages/K1K2%20VISA%20INSTRUCTIONS%20-%20FEB%202016.pdf

Nothing needs to be mailed by post to the embassy. Everything is to be brought at the time of the interview. Am I reading this right?

What about a student visa? Is she interested in continuing her studies? Most Iranians I've seen in the U.S. came on a student visa.

And if she already has her bachelor's degree, she can find a master's or PhD program and those are way more likely to offer a scholarship/stipend therefore bypassing the problem of ridiculously expensive undergraduate education in the U.S....

But I digress...