Lee & Lei

On 1/15/2018 at 6:36 AM, millyshe5 said:

Thank you so much for your answer but I have a question is that even my husband can't bring me with him to his next base, can I still apply for the expedite citizenship? Because I will stay in Taiwan while he is in lajes afb. 

I believe so, yes. The primary requirement is that the US citizen petitioner is stationed abroad under official government orders, either as a government contractor or active duty military. It doesn't matter where you are -- BUT I am not sure if you will be able to accomplish tasks like the biometrics appointment and the interview itself being outside of the US. 

Do note that every airline has strict rules regarding flying will pregnant. Most will require documentation from your doctor indicating she is fit to fly, once she is in her third trimester. And no airline will let you fly when she is past 34-36 weeks (varies by airline). 

From cursory reading I've done in that domicile thread and elsewhere on here, I believe the embassy will want to see a resignation letter from your wife's current position, an offer letter for a job in the US or a letter of acceptance from a university in the US, and a signed lease agreement for an apartment in the US. Sometimes they only need one of these pieces of evidence, but it depends on the CO you get. 

Also, NONE of your wife's current income can be used to satiate the income requirements because the assumption is that she will leave her job and return to the US. Therefore, you will need a co-sponsor or sufficient assets to cover the requirement. 

2 hours ago, NikLR said:

Have you compared the CR1 and the K1? Your career aspirations arent an issue. However you can't work for about 4 months.  Rapid visa really is not worth your time or money. 

This is something worth considering -- the CR1 process will take longer to complete, but once you are done, you can work immediately. It is also cheaper, overall, than the K1. 

The K1 will get you together in the US quicker, but there are additional steps and fees you have to pay AFTER you are together in the US. And you cannot work immediately. 

12 hours ago, Michael2017 said:

I have hired a visa service AND did all the research myself here. The outcome should be an excellent petition as the service has contributed its experience and I added what I learned here. To be honest, the service made some terrible mistakes and would have messed up our petition - up to a level of rejection - If we did not check and improve it. Lesson learned is: You may use any of those services , if you can afford it easily without pain, but you need to still check everything yourself.

This is what I did, and my case went without any hiccups at all. I used a website called "Filipinafianceevisa.com," basically you log in and input all your info and they generate the I-130 for you to print out. They also have an inbox you can submit questions to, but I'd put more faith in the veterans at VisaJourney than anything else. 

On top of that, I also spent hours vetting information to make sure I did not make any omissions or errors. I probably ended up providing way more documents to the NVC than they actually needed, but whenever there is the tiniest shred of doubt, send it anyway. It'll just end up in a shred pile if it isn't needed, but if you neglect to send something they do need you set yourself back a couple of months. 

13 hours ago, Redheadguy03 said:

Yes for Tinder. Whenever you meet online you should print the terms of service. Preferably finding anything in regards to IMBRA or the fact it's not "selling" relationships. 

 

I met my wife online and included it and had no issues. Recently, it seems as if more and more are getting a RFE if they don't include it.

I recall someone on here meeting his wife or fiance on Facebook and actually got a RFE for IMBRA and had to include the TOS. Doesn't make sense since FB isn't a dating site, but it happens. Better just to avoid it and include it. 

That's strange... 

My wife and I met online, through a filipino dating website, and the only time this even came up at all in our case was during the interview. They asked us how we met, she told them, and then they asked the name of the website and she told them. After that, they didn't have any more input about it. 

I was in a similar situation -- the NVC letter had one date, and then about a week before my interview, I got an email from the embassy stating my interview was 1 day earlier than the date given by the NVC. I called the NVC and they told me what the embassy had on record was the date in the email. I also e-mailed the embassy and received a reply after a few days that confirmed the date provided in the original email from the embassy. They told me something happened and immigration services would be closed on the date of my original interview, so they had to reschedule it for the date they provided in the original email. 

Also the same with my wife's here in Kuwait. It's nothing to worry about. 

Most of the time they'll only get 2 or 3 shots, even if you do not have any records. Most of the immunizations are not applicable to adults. 

She will likely receive Tetanus, MMR, and Influenza. If she has not had chicken pox, they may also give Varicella. 

On 12/22/2017 at 6:28 PM, CEE53147 said:

Consulting an attorney specializing in immigration law is always an appropriate choice when you have concerns about your best option.

I disagree. 

Most immigration attorneys specialize in "muddy cases," where there are criminal offenses to overcome. When talking about a normal IV application without any roadblocks in the way, many of the VisaJourney veterans know as much and sometimes more than the average immigration attorney. All that people with *normal* visa cases (i.e. no previous marriages, no criminal offenses, no overstays, etc) accomplish by hiring an attorney is drastically increasing the cost of the process, and making it take LONGER than it would have because you have to send everything to the lawyer instead of directly to USCIS/NVC. 

With regards to OP's post, while the banker is technically correct about AOS, her advice was completely unsolicited and kind of presumptuous. CR1 is not at all a bad path to take, and the average CR1 application, start to finish, takes about 12 months if you do not have any RFEs. If you get lucky and USCIS gets to you quickly, it can even be finished much sooner. Mine took 10 months total, but USCIS approved me in 1 month. I just dawdled at the NVC stage for a bit. 

You may have shot yourself in the foot by sending the original document to USCIS with the I-130. Chances are, you'll never see it again. 

The NVC/State Department will also request a *photocopy* of it, and then your wife will need to bring the *ORIGINAL* to the interview. 

Dual citizenship has no residency requirements; once she is a dual citizen, she can come and go as she pleases with no restrictions. 

With a green card, you ABSOLUTELY cannot be outside the US for more than 1 continuous year unless you apply for a re-entry permit, and even with a re-entry permit customs agents will probably scrutinize you to discover whether you have established a residence outside the US. 

The general rule of thumb if you travel on a green card is to spend at least 6 months out of every year in the US. But, customs agents can also become suspicious and claim abandonment if you establish a pattern of "touch down" trips, where you return every 5 months and then go abroad again. All of this information is available in their computers, and they make judgment calls based off perception. The burden of proof is upon the LPR to prove they have maintained their residence. 

If they kept his passport and didn't give you any papers when you left, that is a very good sign. Normally, if they deny it, they will give you a denial form and also return the passport before you leave the embassy. More likely, it will be placed in administrative processing. This can last days, weeks, or even months. It's kind of a black hole, and there's really no telling how long until everything is completed.

I suggest logging in to CEAC and seeing what the status of your visa application is, to verify if you were placed in administrative processing. 

Woohoo, our visa status on CEAC changed to "Issued" this morning. Then about an hour ago, my wife got a call from the embassy saying her passport is ready for pick up. 

Sooooo excited!

Today my wife had her CR1 interview here in Kuwait. I accompanied her and was able to help through everything except the formal interview itself.

Once our number was called inside the embassy, we both went to the window and I handed the CO documents while she asked my wife some questions. Then after she said she had all the necessary documents, she gave all the originals back and gave my wife a paper about immigrants' rights and then told us to sit down and wait to be called for the interview.

Shortly after my wife was called alone to a separate window and interviewed. The interview, including oathtaking and biometrics, took about 4 minutes. Then my wife came back to me smiling and told me they took her passport and phone number and would call when the visa is ready for pickup.

The woman who collected our documents was very friendly, and my wife said the man who interviewed her was also friendly. He asked questions about our relationship, our honeymoon, and asked to see pictures from our honeymoon. Very easy and painless from what my wife told me.

The whole interview process took about 30 minutes from start to finish.

We are so happy and relieved this process is finally over! To God be all the glory!

24 minutes ago, Spazmotic said:

While this information seems interesting, you're flippant font size and boldness choices turned me off from reading anything more than the first sentence 

Yeah, it's formatting gore for sure. 

Just now, Nitas_man said:

Yes. 

 

You can delay the medical and police certificate for a few weeks then your wife has 6 months from medical to enter the US. 

 

They won't schedule the interview until the medical is done - so that is the best step to delay in the process.

This is not correct --

Once you receive Case Complete from the NVC, they will schedule your interview about 4-6 weeks out and during that time, you have to do your medical. You cannot do the medical without having the interview letter to present. 

13 hours ago, ironpatriot1 said:

Ok let me get this straight;

 

Lets pretend that On March 1,2018 I receive a letter that my i-130 was approved.  Then on March 10th it arrives at the NVC.  So what you are saying is if I want to delay just wait till maybe January of 2019 to proceed by filling out the remaining paperwork, paying the fees and then schedule the interview for lets say June 2019?  Then wait till the day after my second wedding anniversary on July 15th,2019 to cross at the port of entry?

Yes. You can do this. As long as you call them or do something towards processing your case before one year elapses, you are good. 

My wife and I received our NOA2 in March, and we didn't get our NVC packet mailed out until the middle of August. From the time the NVC receives your packet, assuming all is correct, you should receive your case complete status within 8-11 weeks. Then from there, the time until you get an interview date depends on the embassy. Once you do the interview and receive the visa, the visa is generally valid for 6 months but can be less depending on your medical. 

It is embassy specific, and generally, the petitioner is not allowed to attend the interview. They are only interested in the beneficiary.

8 minutes ago, Keith & Arileidi said:

My insurance plan will allow me to add my wife,  I have 1 year to get a ITIN(?) Or SS number for her. In the meantime I have to pay all of the medical bills up front and I'll be reimbursed once I give them the info. 

This is what mine did too. 

I was fortunate that the timing allowed me to apply for and receive her ITIN, so then I added that and all is good. 

FYI, an ITIN (Individual Tax ID Number) is an IRS-issued number for people to claim their foreign spouses on their taxes. It allows you to file as married-filing-jointly and receive those tax benefits. It is used in lieu of a SSN, until you get a SSN. It is a pain in the butt to get because it requires either a certified-true photocopy of the alien's passport or the passport itself, and you have to paper file for the year you are applying. We were able to get the Philippine Embassy to stamp & sign a photocopy as "certified true" of my wife's passport, and the IRS accepted that. 

I believe if you stay out of the US for too long, USCIS will consider you "abandoned" and revoke your green card. 

Honestly, since your husband is going to be abroad working for the military, I recommend that he files expedited citizenship for you. You can get US citizenship in less than a year and then go join him wherever you want.

1 hour ago, Nitas_man said:

Very true.

 

I have not seen this as a significant issue if separated couples do not mingle assets between marriage and initial filing and it certainly was not an issue with our case.  Where those questions become BIG are in marriage ----->AOS cases where the petition standards seem to have a much higher bar.

 

The advice has always been to attach exactly what they ask you to attach and throw in a couple photos of the wedding.  Nothing like a smiling bride and groom surrounded by friends and family to drive the point home that yeah we did actually spend some critical time together and look how much fun we had.

 

For the interview:  It's my view that time spent getting your spouse added to employer health insurance (public charge and a ++ bonus proof of marriage) after you come up for air post honeymoon is time well spent, even if you have to pick a fight with HR.  Did that back at the first interview and they were quite happy to see that yeah we had a little money, a good income, and all enrolled in health insurance. 

 

Even adding him/her as beneficiary to other benefits requires SS number so while that's also a good proof of marriage after you're well established you're pretty much hands tied until your spouse arrives and gets a chance to settle in.

 

 

RE: Health Insurance

Thanks for reminding me of that, actually. My wife's interview is in a couple days, and the packet of "insurance benefits" is something useful I should add to her "proof of relationship" portfolio for the interview. 

FWIW, I didn't have my wife on my health insurance when I submitted my I-130 packet because she had her own from her employer and it would have been a waste of money. However, I do have her on mine now (beginning Jan 1, 2018) since I will (hopefully) be bringing her to the US in a couple of months. 

7 minutes ago, Taysuz said:

How can i prove are marriage is a bonafide marrage i read it only but it says i need thing in both are name etc what is the easy way?

I don't understand your question. 

You are asked in the I-130 package to provide proof of a bona fide marriage. This means proof that your marriage is legitimate and not solely for immigration purposes. Such proof includes pictures of you and your spouse together, flight itineraries with both of your names on it, hotel vouchers with both of your names on it, any documents showing co-mingled financial assets, insurance policies featuring both you and your spouse, any property that you own together, etc. 

At this point I am starting to believe you are trolling -- the answers to many of your questions can easily be found by doing a little searching on these forums. There are many, many threads about the I-130 process, bona fide marriages, and IR1/CR1s. 

1 minute ago, Nitas_man said:

Not in international marriages across international boundaries is isn't. 

 

It is next to impossible to co-mingle assets until the spouse gets a SS number. 

 

The focus is on whether or not you are legally married and were legally eligible to be married after which the co-mingling is scrutinized at the ROC stage.

 

 

 

Some banks will allow it, but generally you are correct. If you have the ability to co-mingle assets, then certainly it is solid proof of a bona fide relationship.