tomatoboy

You might consider asking your husband to make an account and join the conversation.

As an attorney myself (also not an immigration attorney), knowing when to ask for a consult is a big part of maturing as an attorney, and this is a situation where you may not necessarily need a lawyer to represent you the whole way through, but consulting with somebody who is experienced specifically with waivers for issue spotting might still be beneficial. I handled my wife’s paperwork myself (simple, no waiver, no issues), but had we run into any issues, I already had a few names on hand I knew I could get a consult from in an emergency. 

I’ve only been stamped once in all my travels since they stopped routinely stamping, and it was because I got pulled for secondary. I don’t know whether that was some sort of marking for a “hey we random searched this guy already once this year” or just a matter of course.

It would be helpful if you can answer a few questions. Where did you depart from? Hong Kong? Where are you currently? Where is your USC spouse? Where do you intend to enter the US? Where will you live? Folks may be able to help you reroute. 
 

EDIT: Nevermind, sounds like you have a solution you posted as I was typing. 

OP, people aren’t trying to be difficult or judge your relationship. The questions people are asking have important answers. The age difference matters, not just how wide a gap, but at what ages you two personally are. For example, a 20-year age gap may mean totally different things in different offices. In a country where male younger than female relationships are locally uncommon, COs are much more harsh about age gaps, particularly if the female is older than child rearing age and the male has no children. Similarly, the amounts of money sent, and in what manner (a large lump at the start of a relationship, full maintenance, or occasional gifts/expenses) matter enormously. “Face time” also matters enormously. If you aren’t willing to answer those questions with specificity it becomes extremely hard to give you informed answers about your specific situation, all we can give are generalist answers. 

It would be beneficial if you stated your age and her age, not merely a vague range. Yes, this may actually matter. Also, how much money are we talking about? Ongoing or in large lumps? 

It looks like the suspension on foreigners and non-OFW Filipino citizens expires 4/19. The first very first thing I would be doing is calling the Filipino embassy and confirming you are in a travel excluded category, and asking for their support options, should you end up being in an excluded category. The next question I would be asking in this situation is when does my authorized stay in Mexico expire, and is it before 4/19, followed closely by do I have travel insurance that will pay for my stay in Mexico should I need to remain there. You are a few steps ahead of yourself even asking about the US entry options, you have other questions you need answered first. 
 

Article about the suspension

The health concerns are what they are, can’t change that, and I’d be wary in your boat myself.
 

But to rule cost out as an issue...you may want to try looking direct with a US based airline like United. I got one way flights from Sydney to the US for 1/10 or 1/20 what you’re being quoted booking direct on United’s website. Might require booking a separate domestic flight in Australia or the US, but you’re absolutely getting ridiculous prices (unless you were looking at first class). 

There is no benefit to waiting. It is highly unlikely the current administration will step in and demand USCIS revert to the previous test or generate a new test. It’s just not that big of a deal compared with the 100 other immigration priorities ahead of it in line. Is the wording the way I like? No. Would I delay filing over this? No. 
 

There -are- many disadvantages to waiting. USCIS fee structures change over time and almost always for the worse, since they are fee funded. Every day you delay is another day further back in line, and N400 workloads have been on the rise for several years, so there is already a backlog. If the goal is citizenship, file as soon as you can afford to do so. 

That is extraordinarily fast. I thought my wife’s getting approved in just under a month was fast (got lucky and it was shunted to the then newly opened PSC which had a very low caseload at the time), but that’s blazingly fast. 

I included a letter from myself (petitioner) that included a *brief* summary of our relationship (how we met, key dates, etc...) and more importantly an index of the materials I was sending in, along with affidavits of a bone fide relationship, to cover both of the things that have been mentioned in the thread. Neither are specifically required, and I wouldn’t try to use them in lieu of other stronger evidence, but it certainly didn’t hurt, either. 

 I’m going to be completely straight with you. The B visa is not a “wait and see” visa. It is for visiting, period. It isn’t a “trial period.” Having read what your situation is and what you were considering, I would say there is a fairly high likelihood CBP will suspect immigrant intent and deny entry. The simple fact that your spouse is married to a US citizen ALONE is *sometimes* enough for them to suspect it, based on historical patterns of denied entry by CBP and denied visas by State. If it were me, I wouldn’t risk it. 

7 minutes ago, MayzieMcgrew said:

How long did it take to get the GC in the mail from US entry?my husband's entry was 12/27/2019, and we haven't gotten the GC in the mail yet!!

Her original 2-year card showed up within a few weeks. It wasn’t long at all.

One way is fine. 
 

One thing to consider about using round-trip to save money (beyond making sure you cancel) is that *some* airlines have gotten wise about folks gaming the pricing and are starting to penalize folks for not taking booked segments or return flights. If you have a frequent flyer account and use it to book a no-return round trip, it is remotely possible it could have consequences with the airline. Unlikely, but it does occasionally happen. 

12 minutes ago, CaylinObinna said:

Please, my husband's interview is February 10th.

It seems to say if people have visas issued to them before february 22nd then you are exempt. So we still have a chance of him coming right? We have an interview! No email telling us anything has changed ect... So close! This is crazy 

Everything I’ve read (so far) suggests those with a visa issued before 2/22 will be admitted, so if they are quick in issuing the visa, there’s a possibility. I would still steel myself for potential delays in your shoes, however, as there is never a 100% guarantee the embassy will issue the visa in that 12-day window. But it’s absolutely within the realm of possibility that they will issue the visa in time. 

16 minutes ago, missileman said:

This is an expansion of a ban which has already been upheld by the Supreme Court in June of 2018.  Hopefully, these countries will soon be removed as was Chad.

The fact that the Supreme Court previously upheld the earlier ban (with multiple revisions) on the grounds challenged does not necessarily mean further suits might not have independent merit or might not result in stays. Actually, it’s somewhat debatable as an expansion of the previous ban when this ban doesn’t even prohibit non-immigrant visas from being issued (a distinction from the earlier ban), and by doing so (again, debatably) defeats the stated purpose for the ban. That said, if the stated purpose for the ban is the actual purpose, and Nigeria and others comply with the demands, one would hope Chad serves as the example of what should happen in quick order...a lifting of the ban once the requirements are met. 

15 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Start by registering with a temp agency

many jobs are temp for 3 months and if you show the abilitiy to learn,  work and grow with a company,  you can be hired full time

even USC'ers are starting with a temp firm

This is an important point. Do consider temp work if you find your area lacks permanent employment opportunities. A lot of companies have transitioned to hiring temp/contract employees for what used to be permanent jobs. Just be careful and do extensive research on the temp/contract entity before giving them your personal information or starting employment, as not all of them are reputable. Don’t just snag the first employment opportunity that comes your way...if it smells funny, feel free to reject the offer.

My wife also works in HR. It took her 4-5 months or so to find a new job when her last one ended, and that was with some US employment history in the field, and in a state with decent white-collar employment opportunities. 
 

I personally practice in a legal field that overlaps a great deal with unemployment and my *personal* and entirely anecdotal observation would be that a skilled worker in most fields can expect a least a few month delay in finding work if not actively employed, with some exceptions, despite the record low unemployment. Most of the available work I see being immediate hire is unskilled stuff like warehouse picker/packer type jobs. The biggest noticeable growth has been in distribution and logistics. White-collar office jobs are also often VERY slow to complete the hiring process these days, with a 1-3 month gap between application and employment not being unheard of, so don’t be shocked if you don’t hear back from companies right away. 
 

Keep being flexible, have somebody review your resume/CV, and keep applying, and you’ll eventually find a job. 

I do recall the  notice my wife was sent in 2016 amusingly still mentioned the same thing about hand-carrying X-rays, but she was only given a CD copy of her imaging at SLEC in the Philippines following her medical, and I think she asked for it? She stuffed the CD in her carry on, but CBP didn’t ask for it at point-of-entry.

There is no chip in the vaccine, there is no tracking device in the vaccine, it’s the same vaccine you’d have gotten in Romania albeit possibly made by a different manufacturer. You’ve been misinformed. Worry not about the vaccine. They’re safe, nobody will be tracking you with them. 

My wife’s 10-year card came a few weeks ago via USPS in our regular mailbox in a USCIS marked eletter size envelope, as regular mail. No signature. Her original card after entry also arrived via USPS in our regular mailbox, same format. No signature required. 

Visitor with a visa line, unless staff direct you otherwise. Sometimes they send you to other lines. For example, at JFK in NY, my wife got waived into a “diplomat” line by the staff. She was exceptionally lucky that night, however. 
 

You may or may not get sent to secondary on a CR/IR-1, my wife wasn’t when she entered on her CR-1 (they stamped her visa at passport control and sent her on her way) but many people are indeed pulled for secondary. If you are, figure on being there NO LESS THAN 30 minutes. It may actually be less, but I tend to build in schedule assumptions with a safety factor. As a USC, the last time I got pulled by CBP (at EWR, because my declared, sealed, store bought cookies looked suspicious lol) just for a bag search it took an hour. If they don’t insist on searching your bags, they aren’t busy, and they’re quick, maybe you’ll get done pretty quickly, as the stuff they actually need to do isn’t *usually* all that  time consuming.

Three hours may be cutting it close on a connection, but I’m not familiar with Dallas enough to comment on what’s normal processing time there. I’d certainly say if you were still planning to build in AT LEAST three hours at most airports. 

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

I was around before online applications and don’t recall ever mailing anything in with the form. Did bring stuff to the interview though. 

Indeed, one normally brought any material to the interview. However, the format of the online DS-160 now makes it physically impossible to submit it with the application. 

4 hours ago, kris&me said:

My father in law sent his income and proof of residency and job when he sent his application to come to see us

How long ago? Was it mailed in? I am asking essentially if this was before online applications for B1/B2.

2 hours ago, seattlegc said:

Congrats. But which Service Csnter? 

VSC. Filing dates and whatnot are filled out in our timeline, but 11/21/2018 filing, no interview, biometrics 12/26/19. So correction, a year and a day since filing. 

Noticed an upcoming package from USCIS in our USPS informed delivery and got curious. Turns out they approved the ROC on 11/20/19 (but mailed the card on 11/18/19). Five days past one year, just in time for that N400.