millefleur

There are many other people in the same boat:

If she applies for a tourist visa, be sure to update us on the outcome.

You can always have her apply for one, there's no rule that you can't.

Odds of getting a tourist visa in this situation are extremely low, but if she can get an appointment somewhere and you don't mind wasting $160 (or whatever the fee is now), go for it.

Her family members can also apply for U4U if they want to be with her in the US while she's waiting for her AoS to process.

The DS-160 form would not have any special questions like "Have you applied for U4U?" so it would be something she would have to tell them at the interview window. Since you have an I-130 in progress, it shows immigrant intent so her chances of getting a tourist visa seem extremely low.

Frankly speaking I just don't trust the Cyprus Embassy after what they've done. They've already bungled it once, that doesn't bode well for relying on them in the future. It's a shame you can't just switch the DCF to another more competent embassy.

Does U4U require a travel visa in addition to approval?

Yeah, that's the downside of AoS. You're stuck in the US until you get the Advanced Parole card. There's also a wait on getting work authorization as well. Getting the CR-1 visa is the pretty much the same as having the green card (it becomes permanent residence the minute she is admitted into the US by CBP) so it is the "faster" option in terms of getting the GC, which allows freedom for work and travel from day one. It's really up to your situation and how much time you can afford. If you can wait it out in Ukraine or Cyprus, then it's the faster option towards getting the GC.

About transferring the case, that's a good question. I feel like since the embassy itself admitted they made a mistake, plus the Ukraine connection, you have a very good argument for an expedite.

That is infuriating. Honestly given how bumbling this embassy is, I would just forget DCF and go via the U4U route and to AoS inside the States. It's already annoying to deal with USCIS, dealing with a bumbling embassy on top of that doesn't seem worth it to me. If you do AoS from inside the States, at least there won't be the Embassy acting as middle man, it'll all go via USCIS.

Yeah, DS-260 is not supposed to be filled out until after the I-130 is approved. Very weird. This Embassy sounds extremely bumbling. So, the Embassy messes up, allows her to fill out the DS-260 before getting approved, then they turn around and say they can't approve the I-130 because of the AWA namecheck thing, now they tell you it's up to USCIS/NVC. And you have heard nothing back from USCIS/NVC on this matter?

If it is approved tomorrow, let's say, then there are still other steps on your side that have to be done. Have you completed the Affidavit of Support and gathered all the other docs you need? They don't care about where the petitioner is after the I-130 has been filed with the embassy. So you're fine. The thing is, once the I-130 is approved by the Embassy, they want your wife to be in the country so she can do her medical and then attend the interview, and then pick up her passport.

Benefit of the DCF CR-1 is that it would be faster in theory, but that already hasn't been the case here.

You could do that or you could have her adjust status from the U4U humanitarian parole, whichever one goes faster. The benefit of U4U is you can be together in the US for at least 1 year. Given how complicated your DCF has become (I've never see this "Adam Walsh namecheck" and things being sent to USCIS or the NVC, those steps are usually skipped during DCF), you might need to get a lawyer either way. It sounds like the Embassy in Cyprus can't do anything until USCIS/NVC corrects that error. Did you try filing the Writ of Mandamus regarding that matter as @powerpuff mentioned?

I meant it more as a metaphor, sorry for not being clear. You can leave your I-130 as-is while U4U is processing. No need to do anything on the DCF side. We have a U4U thread here if you're interested:

**Threads on the same topic merged.** VJ Moderation

**Moved from DCF to General Immigration Discussion**

It's legal to ship them. Just have to follow the basic protocols, label the box properly and fill out the customs form. I also saw that this company ships to the US. Could be worth contacting them to see if they can just do it directly.

There's been a lot of hubbub about these two films. Let's see which one VJ'ers perfer.

Do not contact USCIS for a copy of N-662 Petition for Name Change!! USCIS does not issue this document, the local district court does. Contact your local district court to obtain copies. _________________________ Has anyone ever gotten an Apostille on the name change document the court issues at naturalization? I found some info on it here, looks like it has to go through Washington, D.C. https://www.nationalapostille.com/2018/04/01/petition-for-name-change-apostille/ Just curious if anyone has experience or recommendations for the best way to go about it.

So we used the ustraveldocs site to schedule a tourist visa appointment for MIL in Almaty. Kazakhstan is allowing Russians to schedule appointments there even if you are a nonresident. The calendar showed up no problem and there were plenty of appointments in August, then all booked up until November. Just wanted to share this here because you don't need a 3rd party company to book your appointment. Be sure to pay the fee with a US card because Russian bank cards don't work. Almaty seems to offer interviews in Russian language as well. https://www.ustraveldocs.com/kz/ru

The U.S. State Department has provided guidance to U.S. citizens who are eligible to locally file Form I-130 petitions for Afghan, Ethiopian and Ukrainian immediate relatives. Key Points: U.S. citizens who are physically present overseas with their Afghan, Ethiopian or Ukrainian immediate family members and have not filed an immigrant visa petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can request to file a Form I-130 petition locally at the closest U.S. embassy or consulate that is currently processing immigrant visas. Read more here: https://www.bal.com/bal-news/united-states-state-department-provides-guidance-to-u-s-citizens-locally-filing-form-i-130-petitions-for-certain-immediate-relatives/