Justin

My wife have had her greencard for 1.5 years now. I know around 2-years we need to file for the removal of conditions on her greencard. It is still some months away, but I need to know what the process will be and what documents and supported documents will be needed.

Justin

Hi all,

Is it possable to file an i-130 and i-485 together for my parents? Any special consideratons?

Justin

I have the exact same question....

Yes, I am a US citizen. So what are the forms to be filed and supported documentation?

Justin

The process of bringing family members in is the same process for bringing a spouse in. You ARE a US citizen, right?

Is there not a step-by-step guide for bringing your family/parents into the US?

Hi all,

I am starting the process to sponsor my parents to come over to the US. I want to know what the process is and will be. What visa do I file for? How it is transisioned onto a greencard? What supporting documents are needed? What is the timeline?

WOW!

2-years ago I wrote this article and conciously never looked at all the replies. People tend to get one sided if they do not agree with something other people write.

So, today I sat down and read some of your replies... interesting. One thing everyone forgets, is that all situations are unique. As in my case, my (now wife) ;-) .... lived in a small city in the Ukraine and spoke NO ENGLISH. So things line translation was needed for us - over the phone and for email... she did not even own a computer, but had to go to an agency for help. Since it was a small city, I could never get bargans on phone rates, like 5c/min to Moscow, but the best you can get to Dnepropetrovsk (via vonage) is 13c/m... just some other aspects to consider.

So, I never knew I could create so much buzz... but thanx for everyone's input... and yes, I DID WRITE THIS ARTICLE from scrach.

Keep well all- -

Justin

I am really unsure about the DOCUMENTS and PROCEDURE for AOS in DALLAS. I saw we have to file IN PERSON.... what does that mean?

I already have a completed: i-846, I-485, Almost completed i-325a and I-765.

What else do I need?

The medical, where do I go? Do I need any forms when I go? It looks like the i-693 is completed by the doctor... My wife had her medical done in the Ukraine.

Please I need help...

Justin

Hi all,

I am getting ready to file for my wifes AOS. So I need your help:

1) She is from the Ukraine and in the Russian world your second name is your fathers name.... In her passport this name is not represented. Since her passport is her primary identification now, what names do I use on all the AOS formS... Her married name with or without her so calles second name?

2) G-325A is 5 identical pages... Do I fill out ALL OF THEM?

3) I-639 (the medical)... aslo multiple identical documents. I do not fill out anything on this, right? Have to take it to the doctor? Correct?

I have the following documents completed: G-325A (Biog)... I-485 (PR AOS)... I-864 (Affadavid OS)... I-693 (I think I do not fill this one in)... What else do I need??? I know I need some coer letter... my tax returns... what else????

Justin

I am filling out the i-485 for my wife. Do I use her new name or old name?

Justin

This week we finay got our her passport FEDEX-ed to us and we will enter the USA together next week. I still have to update my dates on here...

But I need your advice: I want to get her health insurance for the 1st 3 months. Now she will not have a SS# - YET and most Insurance companies want a SS#.

Any sugestions?

Justin Luyt

DS-156 Question:

Also, question 36 on the DS-156 asks if "anyone has ever filed an IMMIGRANT visa petition on your behalf?". As I understand, the I-129F (Fiance Visa Petition) is not an IMMIGRANT petion, correct? So we only have filed an I-129F, this answer then should be "no", correct? OR "yes" if the I-129 is also covered under this

question.

justin

Hi,

I looked all over for this answer. The K-1 (Fiance Visa) is concidered a NON-IMMIGRANT Visa. I read thru Packet 3 and 4 and it asks for the DS-230 to be provided for IMMIGRANT VISAS (K-3 etc).

Many of what I have read tells me I need to provide a DS-230. Thus, I am confused.

Does anyone know if:... We have to send a DS-230(patr 1) with our KEV-1 (Kiev checklist) to the coloslate??? ... ALSO: Do we need to provide a DS-230 (part 1 and 2) at the interview???

Sincereply,

Justin

We have been approved and our case is send to Kiev. I have many of my documents in place, but I want to ask all of you to help me get a checkist together to make sure I have everything we will need.

Please add your checklists here.

Justin

Congratulations!

Curious though, did your petition go all the way through the Texas Service Center, or did it wind up in California? If the latter, you two are indeed very lucky!

I filed at Texas SC, but it got redirected to CSC.

We received out aproval today. OMG!!! I was driving when I got an SMS notifying me about it. I had a hard time staying on the road :-)

So I called her and she is extatic!

I am by the way going to visit her in 2 weeks, and then we will request a date for the interview in December.

Kiev, here we come!!!

Justin

me too

That is funny, I tell my love the same thing... but... I we will at least have to part once more time. I am going to visit her in 2 weeks and then I will have to leave her behind again. OMG, the parting on the airport is always so painful!

But, I think I could have a wonderful xmas present from USCIS this year :-)

Justin

Yes, I am part of our lonesome leftovers ;-)

It feels like this is taking forever!!!! The last time I saw my love was in March... now I am leaving again in September to see her, but I hope we have a wonderful xmas present this year :-)

Soon, I hopw... soon, soon!

Fiancé Visa – The Financials Exposed!

This article will expose the realities of the financial investment involved in bringing your beloved to this wonderful country. For the purpose of this article we will refer to the petitioner as HE (male) and the beneficiary as SHE (female), since it is the case for most of us here. Of cause HE(male) and SHE (female) can be used interchangeably in some cases with BENEFICIARY and PETITIONER. Many future wives from foreign countries have their own lives they can relate to. They understand their own personal financial needs in their own country, but are not clear about the financial resources that a blissful process of a foreign husband will involve. This is simply not at their fault, but just because they live in their own countries and can NOT YET relate to the investments that are being made. Now here we will expose the true financial realities to men considering to bring their futures wife's to the USA, but more importantly also to future wife's, to simply understand the financial investment you beloved husband is making for both of your happiness.

Before I continue, please read this article in an informative light. This article is very honest about the pure realities, without sugarcoating anything. We, as your future husbands love our brides to be very much! We will do anything for them. This article is not a romance novel, but instead a pure financial reality for those who wish to know the truths about the financials behind your beautiful romance and the investment needed for marrying a foreign bride.

Long ago, I read somewhere that it costs about $20,000 to marry a foreign national. In this article we will put that to the test. We will look at (1) real life one time expenses like international travel, engagement o wedding rings, etc. We will also look at (2) increased monthly expenses like how much your mans telephone bill has increased, above what it use to be or how much he is now paying for translation fees every month, which he never paid for. We will also look at expenses like the wedding and honeymoon – the (3) once in a lifetime events. Then lastly we will look at a (4) sample budget of a "everyday USA" man or family.

Please bare in mind, that these are samples. If you get a better per minute telephone rate, this is not the place for it. This is for illustration purposes, but I draw from my experience and several friends who have pursued the dream of marrying a foreign bride.

TRAVEL (over 1 year)

3 trips – flights @ 1400 each---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$4200

3 trips – accommodation @ $60/night and 10 days / trip------------------------------------------------------------------$1800

3 trips – daily money for food and play $1000/trip----------------------------------------------------------------------------$3000

3 trips – travel insurance @ $80 / insurance policy--------------------------------------------------------------------------$240

TOTAL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$9240

RINGS:

2 wedding bands @ $500--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$1000

1 OPTIONAL engagement ring-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$500+

TOTAL----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$1000

INCREASED MONTHLY EXPENCES, ABOVE THE MORM:

This is the difference that individual expenses for your future husband has increased above the norm, that is the typical amount in the USA. Not all of these will apply to you, but it might, especially if your future wife does not speak English yet.

12 months – telephone minimum of $100 per month increase-----------------------------------------------------------$1200

12 months – email translation services $130 per month--------------------------------------------------------------------$1440

12 months – telephone translation service. 3 calls per week; 30 min each @ $0.50/min----------------------$4320

12 month – English classes for your fiancé @ $70 per month-----------------------------------------------------------$840

3 months – Introduction driving lessons (without exam) -------------------------------------------------------------------$500

TOTAL----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$8300

IMMIGRATION:

Fiancé Visa fee to USCIS----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$170

Visa Preparation Service-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$500

Documents translated (police certificate, birth certificate, etc)-------------------------------------------------------------$300

Fiancé Visa Interview fees and medical examination--------------------------------------------------------------------------$200

4 occurrences – Emergency FEDEX of documents @ $100----------------------------------------------------------------$400

TOTAL----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$1570

WEDDING and HONEYMOON:

Your future husband will think and plan ahead. He has to plan for expenses of your honeymoon and depending on your tradition (or if his parents still live), he might have to plan money for a wedding too. Here we will not go into detail, but give you price ranges.

1 week honeymoon (flights, accommodation, food money and play money)--------------------------------------$3000+

Destination wedding (Hawaii)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$1200-$6000

Wedding on Mainland USA-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$10,000+

Wedding dress and outfit---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$500+

Men's Tuxedo rental-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$100

TOTAL (Honeymoon + dress + Jux [not wedding])---------------------------------------------------------------------------$3600

TOTALS:

Let's add these up. Of cause, we understand that some people will use all these services and have all these expenses, other will not.

Travel-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$9240

Rings-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$1000

Increased monthly expenses above the norm----------------------------------------------------------------------------------$8300

Immigration----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$1570

Wedding and Honeymoon-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$3600

TOTAL INVESTMENT over 12 months----------- ------------------------------------------------------------------$23710

WOW, this is amazing! I truly have never done this math before and it holds true.

SAMPLE AMERICAN BUDGET:

I sat down with a few friends and we brainstormed a budget. Here we can give an indicator to our new wife's the cost of life here in the USA. This budget is based on a home owner in a average nice neighborhood in Texas, owns a average car and has the standard services most Americans have. We did not give him a salary first, but calculated the reality of normal expenses to reflect your everyday USA standard of living.

Mortgage (property tax included)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$1400

Property tax (for some property tax might not be included)----------------------------------------------------------------$350

Home insurance----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$100

Car payment---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$350

Car insurance--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$80

Food---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$400

Electricity/Natural Gas Average (Texas)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$350

Water and Surge----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$70

Monthly Average: Car maintenance--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$70

Monthly Average: Medical expenses-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$100

Entertainment-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$200

Special Events (birthdays/gifts)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$50

Petroleum / Gasoline---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$120

Clothing (monthly average over the year)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$50

Home maintenance------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$150

Miscellaneous food------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$30

Telephone (before calling international) + Internet + Cable/Sat TV-------------------------------------------------------$120

Mobile Phone---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$70

Hobbies and sports (health club membership)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------$30

TOTAL-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$3570/month

Interestingly, if we take $3570 which is the pay he takes home and add tax to it and calculate an annual income for this fictitious man, we will be earning a yearly income of about $58,000 per year, assuming he is NOT SAVING ANYTHING and is NOT investing in his pension fund. If we add these to variables into the equation, assuming he invests 20% into his pension and saves 10% ($350/month) of his salary, we will be receiving an annual salary of $70,000. This is what most professionals earn about here in the USA. Professionals being sales people, IT professionals, managers, engineers, etc.

According to the Census Bureau here in the US, the median income for an average HOUSEHOLD in the USA is $43,000. HOUSEHOLD, where the man and woman contributes.

HOW DOES ALL OF THIS ADD UP?

So now that you have seen the numbers and might wonder, how will my beloved future husband make all of this happen for us? When you are engaged there is no question that he loves his fiancé with his whole heart and soul. Finding and knowing you have found your soul mate is an extraordinary experience and with love and commitment he will make it happen. He will adapt his life in a million small ways, so that the 2 of you can be together.

It is going to be hard for him, financially, VERY HARD. If we look at our fictitious man, earning $70,000 a year and takes home $3570 a month, that means in one hear he takes home $43,000 a year after tax. He needs to come up with another $23,710 in addition to still pay for his existing expenses also. This is almost 50%.

THE MESSEGE:

Here is the main message! This sample man we looked at is very real. It will represent closely a large percentage of men that want to bring their beloved future wife's from abroad. As a future wife, consider this... Your man needs to come up with an extra 50% more of his annual income, in order to make all of this happen. He will do this by changing his lifestyle, saving here and saving there. He will dip into long term savings. For all of this money, you will be together.

WHAT CAN I AS FUTURE WIFE DO?

Trust and honesty is crucial to any marriage, but in international relationship they develop much faster, or they decay much faster. Here is a few things you as the future wife can do to assist your beloved future husband:

- Show him you respect his money that he works very hard for.

- Understand that there is not an unlimited supply in his bank account.

- Do small things to also help save, since you are both a team now. Maybe write 3 letters a week in stead of 4 (if paying for translation).

- If you "want" something and do not "need" it, delay getting it. Your man needs to use his funds on things that will help the 2 of you get together and things that will be useful to you once you get to the USA. Belly dancing lessons is not one of those (smile).

- TALK to your future husband about what YOU can do to help. He will appreciate it VERY much! Not what you can do financially, but which small things can you do to ease the financial strain.

WHAT CAN I AS FUTURE HUSBAND DO?

Communication is critical and honesty is vital. You are making a huge commitment and telling her authentically what can be done and what can not, is very important.

- Share with her when something is not financially viable and a unproductive use of your money. Now of all times, you need to use your money to get her here and to prepare her for her new life with you.

- Be open and firm when something can not be done. She will appreciate the honesty VERY much and it will create a beautiful sense of closeness as you work thru all of this.

- Do not spend money on something she asks for and your heart does not feel right about it. This experience can be the best thing that happened to you in order to get your financial affairs in order. If you do spend money on something for her, feel right about it, not because you feel obligated.

- Also, by being firm and practical it will help you make sure that she wants your heart and that she has no ulterior motives.

- Talk to her about how much is there and how much is not. Tell her openly about options of doing things and how to pay for all of them. The better she is informed, the better she can help you save up.

- Ask her to help you. No, not financially, but by being your partner and by understanding the magnitude of the financials. Ask her to do what she can so that you as a couple will get thru this. Maybe you call her 3 times a week instead of 4.

I hope you got some insight into the financials that men like us are faced with. Please remember, we do not measure our love for our future wives by our wallets, but in this world we live in it is simply a part of life. Where 2 hearts become one, anything is possible.

We need some action this week. It was is my beloved's birthday today. I was secretly hoping to have an aproval for her birthday... but we are still sitting ducks... waiting...

Mnnnn.... WOW!!!!

I know how I feel about this question personally, but if I express my honest and truthful opinion I probably will be baned for life :-)

I agree with texasseoul, an indication of requesting support is not a good sign to the petitioner, not at all. The petitioner is spending a boat load of money to get the beneficiary here. It is said that from beginning to end, the petitioner invests up to $20 000, just to get you into his/her country legaly. This value comes form increase in telephone cost, interpreters (if needed), legal fees, flights, accomidation on your visits, spending money on documents, packages send (fedex) maybe language classes, etc.

If the petioner proposes a monthly support, that is one thing, but for the money he/she is... and will spend on you to get you here... be thankful for what is being done for you already! An international relationship costs money - AND LOTS OF IT. With an international relationship the petitioners expences increases drasticly... with a local relationship, it does not.

I understand that life could be hard in less fortunate countries... so my advice and the bottom line, is treat your fiance's money with the greatest respect. He/she works hard for it and is truely taking a leap financialy to make all of your relationship happen - respect that and be grateful for it.

When you are together, we will take care of you, but not not abuse the faith he/she is already extending to you by his/her financial commitment already.

My last not on this subject... "his responsability"... he knows his responsability, and if he has not extended to you to support you monthly yet, consider all the other huge expences he is undergoing for you.

Sincerely,

Justin

Everything I do in my daily life makes me miss here so much:

When I wake-up in the morning I wish she was here.

When I have breakfast, I think of how we had breakfast together and how we like our own unique styles.

Lunchtime, I think how wonderful it would be to quickly drive home or to where she is for a brief moment together.

After work if I go for a walk in the park, I speak to her in my mind as if she was there.

She is everywhere... all the time... and I love it... but I MISS HER SO MUCH!

PS: I still have the swetter I wore when I last said good byt to her on Kiev airport. There were so many kisses and tears :-) ... on the colar of the swetter, some of her lipstick. I have not had the heart to wash it since... :-)

Yes people, I did not call for sarcasm, but constructive input. Keep it clean.

I am in the same boat. I truely expected an aproval THIS WEEK, but "nada!"

Justin