Thunderbolt

We didn't do CR only K visa so it wasn't the same thing, but I only had to submit my divorce decree from my previous marriage to the BKK embassy. 

Request combo when you go for your N400 interview. That's what I did with my wife. We didn't request it beforehand. 

The worst thing is they will say no. 

2 hours ago, Redro said:

Canadians don’t have to interview to visit the U.S. 

Well, I'm not aware of any other reason why they would care about DUI on a tourist visa. 

OP. Go to France, Hong Kong or Japan. They have Disneyland there too. 

Probably from Canada, as Canada is making very hard for US citizens with DUI or DWI convictions to visit Canada. 

That's my guess. 

Please don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that the OP married for GC. 

I'm just saying that from the eyes of the immigration officer it looks like a case of fraud. 

I think getting a divorce and doing it fast would help the OP. 

After reading the OP to me it looks like poster child of immigration fraud. 

Marriage with US citizen.

Citizen gets paid for the deed. 

Citizen spends little time together with 'new' spouse.

Citizen goes with his life, doesn't work for what? 2 years? 

How many people can afford not to work for few years? Let me quit Burger King as I've worked for them for 3 years, I have so much savings that now I don't have to do anything for very loooong time. 

To me it is an example of the fraud case. 

22 hours ago, TGregorio said:

That's a good question, but I don't know the answer. You can research past N-400 applicants experiences with the Washington, D.C. Fairfax, VA office.

 

Perhaps these denials to attend N-400 interview, absent of ROC interview with their spouse/applicant occurred during Covid-19 and security officers where instructed not to admit people not included on the N-400 appointment letter.

One thing's for certain, Immigration Officers and Field Offices are inconsistent as to how they conduct N-400 interviews or who may or may not attend the interview. 

 

Isn't the purpose of the N-400 interview (3-Year Rule) to determine if the N-400 applicant is ready to be a U.S. Citizen by passing the exams and interview? 

Most likely, you were asked to leave your wife's N-400 interview for 10 minutes, so that the IO can test your wife's readiness to become a U.S. Citizen on her own merit.

 

It's great that you at least had a chance to meet the IO at your wife's interview.

I've stayed during my wife's written and oral exams for the citizenship.

I was asked to leave because the officer was trying to figure out if there is 'human trafficking' involved. I presume because of my wife's country of origin. 

If I was present in the room during that questioning, my wife probably wouldn't be approved yet and we would be in the court with DHS right now... 

2 hours ago, TGregorio said:

My wife's ROC was also pending, but the instructions on her N-400 interview did not say to bring me (husband).

The Washington, D.C. Field Office in Fairfax, Virginia has a history of turning away spouses that accompany their spouse to the N-400 interview, when not instructed to do so. I waited in the car, just in case the IO wanted to speak with me.

Why would they do that? I've attended my wife's every interview and not even once I've been asked to leave.

At my wife's N400 interview the officer asked both of us, then I was asked to leave room and 10 minutes later I was asked to go back to the room to finish the interview. 

1 hour ago, igoyougoduke said:

you only need a valid ticket , valid visa and valid passport to board. Whether you get one way ticker or two way ticket is not airlines concern

 

 

Never heard of airlines demanding you have a two way ticket. 

Most airlines will require proof of return if you are on tourist visa, but not round trip ticket.

Over last few decades I've been asked for the proof twice. 

I had one way ticket Washington - London - Bangkok and the gate agent at London asked me for proof of flight out of BKK. 

Same thing when I was flying Phuket - Singapore. The check in agent at Phuket airport asked me for proof of departure from Singapore. 

Both times I showed them itinerary flying with different airlines and everything was good. 

The airlines are trying to protect themselves. If the passenger flying on one way ticket on a tourist visa is denied entry, the airline get penalized (I think $3500 per person) + they have to cover that persons' flight back to the place where he/she came from before being denied entry to US in this case. 

Heck, I'm flying Turkish Airlines one way next month. However, I'm flying on tourist visa and I have separate one way ticket for flight back with different airlines. 

6 hours ago, TonyMacaroni said:

Also Turkish Airlines are known to demand a single booking with one PNR for both legs and AFAIK it’s hard to impossible to convert a one way into a ticket like that after the purchase. So it’s problematic in many ways. There’s a chance that if I’m denied boarding at the gate, the $1000 paid for the ticket will be simply gone due to them claiming it’s my fault I didn’t have the proper travel documents. Another airline - impossible since those all go through the EU or UK where I need a visa even for the transit. Now I’m almost regretting not booking the ticket to Mexico instead where I’m a lawful resident.

That is not true. They cannot demand one PNR. Someone has been telling you total BS. 

Also, the airline system at the airport will show that your visa is ok for one way flight. It doesn't matter what the agent knows. The system will tell them that you are ok for one way. 

You don't need round trip ticket period. If the airport agent won't allow you to check in, ask for a supervisor. 

You've said that your furniture is second hand already. For $7k you should be able to furnish a house/apartment in US. 

Why bother then if they give you outrageous quotes of $12k? 

As for the immigration side of things, you should worry more about that then about your old table...

15 hours ago, Pinkrlion said:

This is why we tell people that there is no such thing as a combo interview. Your local office does not have to do it. Until that has processed citizenship is on hold or supervisor will deny and you will have to refile after I-751 is approved. Also you cannot appeal the denial. 

We had combo interview last October. Both forms were approved and 6 weeks later my wife had her citizenship oath. 

I also wouldn't recommend booking anything before the visa is issued. What if they need some document which was accidentally lost or forgotten? 

I've added my wife to Amex even before she had SSN. But that was 5 years ago. I don't know about now. 

As for the OP's question. You should have credit history to get credit card. I don't know how long you have your SSN but most credit card companies won't give you a card just because you have the number. Also you have to have income to be granted CC. 

I would suggest starting with retail CC like Marshalls, TJMaxx, Home Depot etc. They are the ones that most likely will give you CC with low credit limit ($500 / $1000 or so). Use that card and pay off your balance before your monthly statement hit's to build your credit. The card will increase your limit themselves after they will see you are paying your statements on time. Just a thought. 

26 minutes ago, GerLA said:

Should we also include future travel plans? I plan to take my husband to Mexico for his birthday, just one week after I submit my N-400.

If you know the dates then yes. By the time they get to your application you'll be long back home. It just removes one question from the officer to ask you. 

I have no idea how it works, but since then we have direct deposit to joint account. 

The bank in question was Capital One. 

I would say check with your bank. Go to the branch and ask someone if you can deposit joint tax return check without having your wife on the account. 

Here is some answer found on google:

"You need to ask your bank for specifics, most have more stringent rules when it comes to tax checks, but generally so long as both parties have endorsed it, it it can be deposited into an account that has at least one of those parties, though some require it into an account with both on them.  Oct 29, 2023"

And regarding the direct deposit straight from IRS.gov

"Taxpayers should deposit refunds into U.S. bank accounts in their own name, their spouse's name or both. They should avoid making a deposit into accounts owned by others. Some banks require both spouses' names on the account to deposit a tax refund from a joint return."

4 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

forgot to say

i got a POA from Adil to be able to sign his name to the  returns

and the W7 i took to moroc was 2009 but it gave me the info i needed to fill out the 2020 W7 form when IRS posted it

How did you manage to deposit a check (return)  in the account without your husband's name on it?

When I did that the check didn't clear for 2-3 weeks and finally I went to the bank to check what's going on. They've told me that they can't deposit that check as it is with my and my wife's name. Deposited it to the other bank where we had joint account and the check cleared next day. 

I'm just thinking out loud. If your wife is in Mexico, and you don't have joint bank account, it may or may not cause problems for your returns. 

You are 5 weeks out. Apply regular way and pay for expedited service. We've applied for my wife's passport with expedited fee middle of December, her passport came 2 weeks later. 

My wife got the letter few weeks before she became citizen. There was a line stating that she needs to respond within 7 or 14 days. We went online and followed the instructions. Selected NO to the questions of being US citizen. Had to put explanation in the box below. We put "LPR, not US citizen yet". 

After she became citizen we went online and registered her as a voter. 

Also what about POE at Dulles airport? I assume that the final destination is on the east coast. If she takes ANA from Tokyo she will arrive around 9am at Dulles. That time immigration lines are the shortest. Probably 15 minutes max to clear. Pick up the bags and leave the customs area, put the bags for the next flight 100 feet away, clear security upstairs and go to the gate (via the train, bus or walking). 

The only other option on SSC form is "Other Names Used". If your wife doesn't have drivers license with her new name then that's not a problem. If she has document issued by federal or state government put that name in that field. There is absolutely nothing false or misleading filling up the form with her maiden name. 

Change the name now in all the documents except SS card. As Ontarkie said, it will be pain in the glutes to do it later. 

When you go to SSA use your wife's maiden name. Card with her updated name will come after you submit I 485 packet. 

There is not such a thing on social security application to say if you are either married or single and it never was there. Not in the 90s nor now. 

14 hours ago, PBabz said:

 

First step is letting the state know we’re not there anymore, my husband keeps getting notifications about his car even though we and it haven’t been in Virginia since 2022

Did your husband surrender VA car tags with the DMV when you guys left? If the car is still registered in Virginia, the state doesn't care that you guys live in UK now. They will keep sending you personal property tax letters and on top of that the penalty for not paying since 2022. I hope your husband canceled the plates before you left. 

Congrats! 

Yes, you can bring guests to your ceremony. We were the first group of the day at the local office, and applicants were put in one line for the security and guests were put in the line after them. They made sure applicants went through before the guests. We had 40+ applicants and about 100 guests for our group. 

Bring the card that you have with you. If you don't have new one by the time your oath, don't worry about it. 

Everybody was wearing smart casual clothes, some people had suits. Nobody wore sundress as it was very cold here in Virginia

Make appointment for your passport for the same day of your oath or for the next day. The lady at our post office was kind enough to make copies of the certificate. We've paid for expedited service and got the passport 2 weeks later and certificate week after. I think with the post office fees it was around $260. We brought our own picture for the passport. 

I think it was the oath letter, drivers license and green card. We had SS card with us too just in case. 

Everything took about 30 minutes. Don't stress about it

Maybe I'm just different. Whenever I travel with my wife we always go through the US citizen/resident lines together (even though I have global entry for the past decade). I can't imagine separating from my wife, for what reason? 

The only place where they made us go separate was in South Korea airport. Every single person had to go separate expect the parents and kids. That was kind of awkward. Anyway. The point is that they should be honest when asked if traveling with someone else.