shumway1756

Chiming in, the K3 is indeed dead. I tried that to get my wife to the US faster. They actually closed the I-129F a few months before adjudicating the I-130, "because the applicant or petitioner received a status or benefit through other means". So if they pick up the I-129F, and see the pending I-130, they're just going to outright kill it.

In the end it was a good thing. Assuming the K3 had worked out, it wouldn't have reduced the wait by much, and we would have had to file for adjustment of status later. Better to wait a short bit more and get the green card straight away. But again.. Not going to happen that way anyway.

I lived in my wife's country while we waited for the CR1 visa. I was lucky to have a US-based job that allowed me to work remotely, so I had no issues with sponsoring her on the Affidavit of Support. I just had to prove my domicile was still the US, which wasn't too hard. I showed the property I owned, bills I was still paying, active bank accounts, etc.

So as has been mentioned, the only big thing for you to consider is the Affidavit of Support part. If you take leave I assume you're not paid, so you'd be looking for a joint sponsor.

I submitted for a K3 for my wife as well, I was naive at the time and thought it was viable (hadn't spent enough time on VJ yet). USCIS closed the i129f/K3 almost a full month before they approved the i130/CR1 petition, which shows that they don't even give a rip about the K3's anymore, even if they do get to it before the other. In the end it's so much better though, so much less hassle and money with the CR1/IR1.

Any attorney who suggests a K3 is immensely incompetent and he/she is not staying abreast of the latest trends (they're more than 8 years behind). I would strongly consider a different attorney (or, if your case isn't special, you can go it alone and save the money.. many of us have done it).

Totally fine. The CO actually spent much of the interview congratulating my wife and I, and he even looked straight at her belly when saying "obviously everything checks out here". (Not that a CO will be convinced merely by pregnancy, I don't want to suggest that)

At the medical make sure you insist on having the lead apron over the belly. Some x-ray techs are more sensitive about this than others.

Yes, the form here on VJ in the guides section is old. Always be careful of that, I'm not sure who updates the forms here but they're almost always out of date when I look. Always take the form straight from www.uscis.gov.

I arrived by plane, but the CBP told me directly "Most used personal goods are duty free" (I made a written inquiry before traveling). Also, to my surprise, in Atlanta they don't even use declaration forms anymore. I asked a worker there where I could get one because the stewardess' didn't distribute them, and she just told me "We don't do those stupid things anymore". And sure enough, CBP never asked for it, nor did they ask us anything about what we had with us. Just sharing my experience, of course, every POE and every officer is different.

If asked, just tell them what you've got and let them look if they want. "Clothes and other personal belongings" is fine. If they want more info, they can ask more questions.

Just now, EM_Vandaveer said:

Removal of Conditions, not Adjustment of Status. That said, yes, OP, do not forget that part!

Argh! Yes, forgive my mistype. Thanks for correcting that.

Pay the immigrant fee before you travel to the States. The packet from the embassy should explain how to do that. Checking the box for SSN on the DS-260 was also a good option. My wife's SSN and GC both came in the mail exactly 10 days after arrival in the US. Taking off weekends and seeing when they shipped both out, they were both created in just 5 business days after arrival. Of course that's not always the case but it's not taking too long these days.

Adjustment of status when the GC is within 90 days of expiring. Definitely don't forget that part!

Congrats!

Like the others have said, you can certainly enter on a valid tourist visa. Don't volunteer any information, but if asked answer truthfully about the pending I130. I would suggest having some things to show that you plan to return home after your vacation, including already purchased return tickets, perhaps a letter of employment showing you have a job to get back to, etc. You may not need those, but it's good to have incase the officer wants to inquire further.

Yes, you need it with you. A copy at the interview will suffice, the original isn’t required. You should also have copies of all relevant tax documents for the sponsor.

Just now, Derik-Lina said:

It all went through fine?

Worked fine for me. The return and the transcript both have all the information they need. So give them what you have available.

Transcripts are more convenient if you can get them, but you can provide the returns, relevant W2's, etc. in the absence of a transcript. I submitted 3 years worth of tax filings. For 2015 and 2016, I provided tax transcripts. For 2017 I couldn't provide the transcript because it wasn't available yet, so I provided the return and appropriate accompanying documents. No problems.

Printing that e-mail is perfectly fine.

Yes, you can schedule the medical appointment once you receive your interview appointment notice. I'm not sure how long Guatemala is taking. My wife (in Romania) received her interview notice 2 weeks after being "documentarily qualified". Again, not sure about Guatemala, some other users more familiar with that region can add their experience.

Congrats! You're getting closer!

Mine took 2 business days. It shouldn't be too long, you'll be ready to go in no time.

My wife's visa says "IV DOCS IN CCD", meaning everything is electronic. You can check for that phrase, just to see if per chance that is your case. That would be listed right above the machine readable data at the bottom.

If that's not the case, then I don't recommend having her attempt to enter the states until this is sorted out. These documents are required for a reason, they're not going to process her without it. This is why it's always recommended to never buy flight tickets until you receive the visa and appropriate package.

Yes, this is fine. I had to do this for some fields, as the pdf forms do have issues. Print what you can, then write legibly as needed and you won't have any issues.

The current address. When you fill out a form you always fill it out with the information that is accurate as of the time you're filling it out. Don't worry, they know that life changes so it won't be seen as an inconsistency.

Yes, that is the latest form to use. When a new one is available USCIS will post it. That expiration date is something used internally, it doesn't mean the form can't be used beyond that date.

Visa Journey is generally accurate. Meaning that your timeline offers a fairly good estimate for when you can expect approval (assuming no RFE's). However it is, as stated, an estimate only. Some cases are approved quicker, some longer. Mine was a month and a half later than my VJ timeline estimated. So take it loosely.

I am in the same situation as you (living abroad since May 2017 for the visa process, with residence permit in my wife’s country). I claimed the US as my domicile with no problems.

I provided state taxes, proof of voting in local elections, car ownership, proof of paying renters insurance at my place of residence, bank statements, and utility payments.

The consular officer was more than satisfied and said it was clear that my intention was always for my absense from the US to be temporary, and therefore my domicile has been and continues to be the US. My temporary residence in my wife’s country did not change this.

I don’t necessarily have advise on how to proceed on your exact situation, but wanted to share how this worked out for me.

The next email you receive should be that your case has been “documentarily approved”. For me this came in 2 weeks. Yours could be more or less, hard to say. But generally it’s not too long.

Then, after that (timeframe varies per country) you’ll get your interview notice.

Right now you’re pretty much set. Organize your documents and prepare relationship evidences for when the interview comes. Once you get your interview notice you can schedule the medical and get that done.

Congrats! You’re getting closer!

38 minutes ago, fem_femme said:

I also work for someone on the side but it isn't accounted for as he just pays me $500 per month to get whatever I am doing done from home, so I won't even count that as he just hands me the cash and it isn't like a stable income either. He calls whenever he needs extra help with his work. 

You do know that this has to be accounted for on your taxes, right? Freelance work/income is not tax exempt, especially in the amount you've mentioned. So that should be showing up on your prior year tax returns as part of your annual income.

If your income is struggling to meet the mark, you can have joint sponsors to bump you up to the necessary income level.

She can be vaccinated at any time. When it's time for her medical she'll provide all vaccination records (so be sure to have a record) and that will be transferred to the official medical report. So if she knows that she needs a vaccine, she might as well go ahead and do it. If she waits until the medical for the visa, in many countries the price of the vaccine suddenly goes up.