grumpybrit

Hey everyone!

I have my interview in Montreal on the 4th, less than a week away. But I'm starting to fret over two things.

Due to the holidays and having to reschedule my first doctor's appointment because of a snowstorm, there's a possibility my medical package won't be ready in time. The doctor's office said I could tell the consulate that it's not ready and I can mail it to them. Is this true? I really don't want to reschedule my interview.

And if it is ready in time and I go to my interview how long until I get the visa? I've looked through the forum and it's confusing. Some posts say they had their interview in the morning and flew to the States in the afternoon. Yet the sticky says it can take 6 months for Montreal to courier the visa to you. Which is it? Do I get my visa as soon as the interview is done or am I back in the waiting game?

Thanks!

Same day visa?!? I have never heard of such a thing. My L1-B Visa took a week, but I paid for faster processing and picked it up as opposed to waiting on a courier.

Hi,

So I have a tricky situation. I studied in California on an f1 and received an associates degree (ready to transfer) and I also met my boyfriend who is a USC (we have been together for over three years now). Unfortunately, I could not afford transferring to get my BA, so I moved home to Sweden in may of 2015.

Since I moved home I've been in U.S for almost seven months, six months in 2016. Last time I entered was in September, and since I was talking classes online and receiving financial aid from Sweden - I thought it would be a good idea to stay as long as possible, hence 90 days.

The USBP officer started asking me questions; who I was visiting, what kind of nationalities my friends have, how I'm able to leave my part time job for three months etc. (they never really asked me this before). I told him the truth, that my boyfriend lives here, that I'm an online student receving financial aid from Sweden and that my part time job doesn't give a damn about it. However, he was skeptic and said I can't stay here for more than I stay in my home country (that's not quite true, I stayed two more weeks in Sweden than in the U.S).

I just found out that NON of the classes a took during community college will be possible to transfer to my Swedish school, which feels like a waste. I found a school that I'll be able to afford in California and that admits students every month, which means I could start in March and stop wasting my time. I'll be done in 14 months instead of three years.

Do you think it will be an issue to enter mid February on an F1 after leaving on an esta Dec 18?

We have no intentions to get married (I guess that's what they're worried about), I just want to get my degree as fast as possible. Should I avoid telling USCP about my romance next time, and should I wait longer to come back? The reason I don't want to wait is because I hate my part time job and want to get my degree so I can apply for better jobs in the future...

´

ESTA and a Visa are completely different things, you can most definitely leave on one and enter soon after with the other (I did the same with my L1-B).

However...

Never lie or omit the truth when talking to any immigration official... Ever!

Always be honest and you will be fine.

Good Morning! Yesterday, I received a letter that the request for initial evidence is required for my haitian husbands AOS. Stating : "The petitioner/ sponser lists their current income on Form I-864 as an amount to be sufficient, however, no evidence has been submitted as proof of current income. Submit evidence of the petitioner/ sponsor's current income. Such evidence should include:

*Pay stubs or other documentation of pay for the last 6 moths

*Evidence of other income, such as tax-exempt interest, qualified dividends, IRA distributions, pension Annuities and social security benefits.) None of which I have.

Letter of employment

*Dates of emploment

Number of hours worked per week

*Nature of Job

*Yearly salary earned

*Prospects for future employment and advancement

Submit all Supporting Tax documentation ( W-2's, 1099's, Form 2555 and all supporting tax schedules) Submitted to the IRS for the most recent tax year.

The petitioner/ Sponser must submit all supporting documentation for the most recent tax year.

And then it moves on to the second page, stating if we choose a sponsor, what is required.

But I am at a loss of what they are needed as I make well over the 125% requirement for income. I submitted the last 3 year of tax transcripts although they only asked for 1. I sent in letters from my employer, basically everything off the checklist. So what would be the best possible idea to send, evidence wise to keep the process moving? Do I have to submit everything that they outlined on the form?

Any help and advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

Sounds like the paystubs are what is missing. Was the letter from your employer detailed enough?

Yes, I am thinking of waiting since it is better to wait than to make the situation even worse. I am thinking of going to Canada to complete my bachelor's degree.

Is anyone here with a similar case was able to obtain a student visa from another country? Or am I completely screwed after what happened and have no choice but to stay where I am?

Please help, since studying in canada will be great for both me and my gf, since she can visit me.

US and Canada share visa enforcement information so they will be made aware of your issues entering the USA and they will take that into account when you apply there.

They may approve it anyway, the only way to find out is to apply.

Hey. Can I send my papers (I-130, I-485 and other forms) without I-693 form and just bring it into my interview. Or I'm gonna get RFE. Some people say I have to send it now some people say I can wait. I just don't wanna get RFE

Sometimes you get an RFE, sometimes you get asked to bring it with you. Personally, I included it in the packet.

IR1, takes about a year to process.

I would apply about 15 months before you are looking to travel, you have 6 months to use it once you get it.

You may of course change your mind but assuming you do leave and have no plans to return to the US you can surrender the GC.

Why apply for an immigrant visa, they are not staying and can get all the same benefits (except immigration) from K3.

stateside it's considered required during flu season. I'm unsure if that begins in October or not. oftentimes on vj it doesn't tend to be an issue until one is AOSing.

I am AOS'ing, did my medical right here in the USA.

https://www.uscis.gov/news/questions-and-answers/vaccination-requirements

the last one is 'Any other vaccine-preventable diseases recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices' at the moment they recommend the flu shot: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/rr/rr6505a1.htm

I do not think it is required though (unless the applicant is less than 12 months old or over 50 years old, in which case it falls under "age appropriate"), certainly wasn't when I did my medical in October. Much of this is up to the doctor as opposed to USCIS....

Sounds normal, don't panic and good luck

I wonder if they thought her "buy and sell goods" business was a little too vague.

OK, then she said something at the interview that the officer did not like I would imagine. Sit her down and go through what was asked and how she replied.

Congratulations on your marriage!

There is a full list of what you need right here. Let us know if you need any further clarification.

Can you give us any more information? Has your mother-in-law ever overstayed a visa at any time in the past, does she have any form of criminal record, has she ever applied for a Visa before (successfully or not), does she have any disqualifying medical conditions...

Thanks. Do you know how long it will take to update this information, and whether or not it will slow the process?

You can do it instantly online and it does not impact processing times at all, but if you move state you will be assigned to a different field office and they may not be as quick as your current one, or they may be quicker!

I'm an American who has been living abroad in Israel for 6 years, and I got married to my Israeli husband in the US in July 2016. I work for an American international school here on a SOFA Visa in Israel, and don't have residency in Israel. I am taking a leave of absence to complete a graduate program in the States, but I want my husband to be able to work. We plan to probably return to Israel after the program (a year?) What should he be applying for and will he be able to work?

Tough one. You do not want to apply for anything permanent and then move back as an abandoned petition can harm your chances of getting subsequent petitions approved later down the line should you both wish to return to the USA. The K3 visa may be your best bet as it is non-immigrant, valid for 2 years, and you can apply for a work permit on it.

Hi again,

We got engaged on August 8th of 2016 in HCMC. We didn't have an engagement party. I started the K1 visa process already, just waiting for the NOA2. I'm in Vietnam right now for a few months staying mostly with my fiancee at her parents house in Quang Nam. My fiancee, Vi, suggested that we have a formal engagement party here in Vietnam sometime in January or February.

Is it too late to have en engagement party??

I'm also confused about what a family register book is here in Vietnam. Vi says her parents have one. I asked if I should be added to it but she didn't really know. Perhaps they add me in for an engagement ceremony party? But, once again, we are already engaged. Will that throw up a red flag for the US immigration people in HCMC?

Thanks for your help.

It's never too late to have a party

A really stupid move from me that I will most likely regret for the rest of my life. Either way, I try not to think about it now since there is no benefit in thinking about the past.

Should I propose to my girlfriend and go through the K-1 process? I really can't live with this

or

Waiting it out is the best option for me now? Again am so grateful for this site and everyone here. You are amazing people.

Do not propose just to immigrate!

That is the very thing USCIS are there to prevent and they will figure you out. That being said if you love them and were going to propose anyway then go ahead and do it, but remember that you will need a lot of evidence to prove your relationship is legitimate.

Honestly, I think your best bet is to wait a while, see if it works out long distance with your relationship and focus on your life where you are for now.

I have been working closely with my fiancee recently to try and bring her to the USA on a K1 visa from China. After months of waiting, we feel that she is near the point of receiving her instruction package from the embassy. I would like to prepare to send the necessary documents over to her, but have a question first. I recently moved in order to take a new job in a different state. I am currently staying with family members in the new state, and will most likely rent my own apartment sometime over the next few months. However, the address that I included on my I-129f, was my previous address in my last state. It is also my parent's address, and I feel comfortable sending mail to this location. Should I use my new address in my new state on the I-134 and notify the embassy/USCIS of the address change (Even though I will most likely move to yet another address once my fiancee has arrived), or should I continue to use my parent's address? If I continue to use my parents address, could they deny me since the address is obviously in a different location than where I am working? If I do include my new temporary address on the I-134 and notify the USCIS or embassy, will it slow down the processing further? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks everyone!

Always ensure USCIS has your most current address. Address discrepancies can be a major red flag,

My wife and I have our AOS interview soon. We are adjusting from a K1 Fiance Visa. I was in the process of gathering documents and evidences as the list indicates in the AOS interview letter we received. However, I have no bills or rental/lease for which I am responsible for. The main reason is i live with my parents as part of a joint family system and have been living with my parents since birth. So me and my wife live with my parents and will continue to do so. So in this case, the only joint items I can provide is bank accounts, credit card , health/life insurance benefits from my job along with of course photos and travel documents we showing we traveled together. And my parents are both writing a letter which state that me and my wife live with them and will be continuing to do so for the future.

Secondly, i just changed employers and the employer that I listed in her initial application is not current anymore. Therefore, do i need to take my new job offer letter only or I have to fill out another i-864 out for my new employer. Also since i did take a pay cut with the new job and I am having my father also provide a I-864 as a joint sponsor. Any other suggestions and tips would be appreciated. Happy Holidays.

Take everything you have and, given your living situation, have you parents sign an affidavit explaining you living situation like you planned.

You will need a new I-864 for your new job.

Alright! Added authorized users to 4 of our CCs. I think they will be ok that i have a victoria's secret cc and such on my own right? lol

Why didn't we do this before?! Well because we didn't care since our marriage is bona fide.... I really hope this thread will be helpful to someone in the future, they will see it and will take care of stuff.

Thank you Ash.1101!

Excellent! Do you trip any other red flags (large age gap between the two of you, long time spent apart since being wed...)?

I will be honest, i am sorry you have to go through this but this whole process to me now is more like a joke and circus. Stupid and waste of time. Especially, after hearing what you been through and were told your approved and should be fine.

Sorry, but nothing about this process is a "joke" or a "circus". We are applying for the opportunity to live in the USA. This is not a right, it is a privilege. USCIS have a duty to ensure that all applicants meet the necessary requirements and it is up to us to prove beyond on all doubt that we do!

The Doctor should have given you one during the medical exam. From my understanding, if you are applying during Flu Season which begins in October, then you will need FLU Shot. I could be wrong, but this is what I understood. My fiance in Singapore was given Flu Shut during the exam that took place on 28th of September.

There are no seasonal requirements, the list is the same all year round and can be found here. No seasonal flu shot appears on the list, only hib (which is not the same as a "flu shot").

I did not know all income must come from employment? I receive child support , adoption subsidies etc kids. This is income not from employment and I am under the impression that it counts because it is income. Am I correct?

Hmmm, that is a grey area I am not an expert in! The guidelines state "employment or retirement"

Says "check status online" "receipt number" he put that and all it says is received. He just entered the numbers inside the box without making an account. Will it say approved or denied later? No need to make an account just to check the status?

Correct, just check the status every few days. It usually takes 75 - 90 days to get it approved, so no need to panic until then.

I recently sent in my packet with I130, I485 and I765 mailed on 12/21 and received 12/23 signed for at 3:51pm at the Chicago lock box.. The money is still in our account and I have not received any notices. How long after they pick it up before I get an update? Right now we are just waiting to see that they acknowledge the packet so we can get to the next step. Any help would be great!

It is the holidays, do not expect the NOA's for at least 2 - 3 weeks. Did you file the E-Notification form also?

Also looks like the forms were updated on 12/22 and I mailed on 12/21... Are we okay?

Yes, so long as it is sent before the new forms were published you are all good.