CaliforniaLovin

4 minutes ago, SoCal2021 said:

So what I am reading is that: 1) you are currently leasing so make sure existing lease document is included in your package.  2) Your name is not going to be included in a FUTURE loan (which is in escrow now and will close at some point in the future).  If that is the case, keep things simple and just provide them with your lease agreement.  Make sure your lease is long term (not month to month) and shows that your rent includes all utilities.  I read that USCIS sends RFE if lease term is month to month. They want to see a long term lease commitment. 

 

I would also get a letter from your doctor stating your expected due date and attach that to the package.  

 

Good luck.

So we have been living with my father in-law over the last year, since we're still in Escrow and I have no utility bills in my name. Prior to moving in, I had my name on the rental lease and a bill in my name. Do you think submitting a prior lease will suffice, along with a letter explaining our situation? I have the doctor's note (for work) that I can attach, thanks for that.

hi there, 

My husband and I have been in Escrow since last year - our new build has been severely delayed. Unfortunately we have not been able to co-mingle finances, since i do not have enough credit history to be on the mortgage. Our broker has advised us against joint accounts to protect his credit score. Will this be an issue with applying to remove my conditions? We're trying to figure out how I can get on the purchase agreement of the house, unfortunately I will not have my name on the mortgage and it will be on the deed/title when we close. Which will be around November timeframe. i'm also pregnant with our second.

We're also living with my father in law and have no utility bills. We do have a previous rental agreement with my name on it, that we can provide. We were renting until November last year. Will that suffice? 

Any advice?

thanks.

On 10/13/2021 at 7:08 AM, SoCal2021 said:

I think writing a brief letter explaining that would be a good idea.  In addition to that, please keep in mind that you do need to include quarterly or monthly joint bank statements that show all your utilities, groceries and rent/mortgage being withdrawn from a joint account, in addition to deposits being made.  What USCIS is looking for is a proof that you two have co-mingled your finances.  How you run your household finances (i.e. not using credit card) is not important.  Commingling your finances is very important.  

 

All the best.

hi there, 

My husband and I have been in Escrow since last year - our new build has been severely delayed. Unfortunately we have not been able to co mingle finances, since i do not have enough credit history to be on the mortgage. Our broker has advised us against joint accounts to protect his credit score. Will this be an issue with applying to remove my conditions? We're trying to figure out how I can get on the purchase agreement of the house, unfortunately I will not have my name on the mortgage and it will be on the deed/title when we close. Which will be around November timeframe. i'm also pregnant with our second. Any advice?

thanks.

11 minutes ago, ATT said:

Hi, I have been searching online for a place to share my experience in hopes that others can help me feel somewhat normal or give me some advice. I moved to the US in March and I'm just finding it so hard to adjust to my new life. I'd spent at least 6 months of holiday here in the US over a few years before actually moving here, but I didn't realise how much it would hit me, actually moving here. Before I begin, I should let you know that my husband is so supportive, loving and caring, I just needed to express myself somewhere where other people may be able to give me advice or relate.

 

When I moved here things started to change. My in-laws actually started to get on my nerve, almost as if their true selves have come out at me now that I'm living here and am family, which is expected. But a few of them have started saying incredibly racist things in front of me (half of my family are darker skinned, I'm the lightest skinned person in my family so I think at times they forget about my family). I decided that although I don't agree with racism, I can't change their minds so I should just ignore it. I said something once like, "Hey, you do realise that half of my family is darker skinned and they wouldn't hurt a fly, please don't generalise an entire race based on what you've seen on the media today" and it didn't go too well. 

 

The other week my husband asked his mother if the certain people in the family could please refrain from the language they use and stories they tell when my family come to visit. My family are only visiting for 2 weeks and they would be staying at mine and my husband's house anyway - so truly, it'd be refraining from the language for a few hours of their lives. I didn't ask him to say this, but it was obviously a concern of his too. Later, at the dinner table my mother in law and my husband's grandmother started slaughtering ME for my husband's suggestion (this was dinner in a public place). They started going off at me calling me disrespectful, saying that he only asked them that because I forced him to say it (totally untrue). I sat in silence because I was unable to even get a word in over the finger pointing and yelling at me. I got up, went to the bathroom to take some deep breaths and went back to the dinner table and planned to just pretend this never happened. I couldn't, the second I sat down I had fingers pointed at me again. They just needed to criticize me for anything and everything. I was humiliated, I actually started to cry so I left with my husband before the main courses even came out. When I left I even did that with respect (I seriously show everyone in my life respect) I told everyone I loved them but it was just too much for me.

 

I couldn't understand what happened, or what I did wrong. I was upset for a while and I still am. But a few days later I got a phone call from my husband's grandmother, I thought maybe she was going to apologise. Instead, she told me that I should have apologised. I asked her why and she couldn't give me an answer. I finally stood up for myself in that phone call, I'd rather be lonely than treated badly. Before all of this, I really got along with my husband's family as much as I could, with just ignoring the racism from that handful of family members. I'd relate some of the things they say to Hitler, honestly. His mother has started being nicer to me lately, and I converse back politely but it just doesn't feel the same.

 

My husband is lovely company and has been a great support. He's fully aware that I'm very unhappy with his family and he agrees that what they did was awful, but he works 6 days a week, 11 hours a day. I don't have other family here (probably like many of you). To keep my mind off of the negatives I focus on group fitness classes I attend and I am enrolling in a college. I already have a degree but I want to take some classes while I can't work, so that I can meet some people and learn something new. I have met some people I really like but it's going to take some time to build close relationships. I guess for now, all these positives don't feel like positives. I want to travel a bit when I get my AP, maybe that'll make me feel a bit better.

 

What's your advice? Can you relate? I'm feeling quite upset with how things are. It's hard to adjust enough, but with this issue its made it much harder. I thought I had it in me to keep the peace in this situation, but it all came tumbling down even when I kept my mouth shut. I'm not looking for sympathy, more so just to feel normal and possibly to have some suggestions on how I could handle this. I'm still not comfortable with his family and I don't know if I'm being overly sensitive.

 

Thank you if you read this giant post.

First off I'm so sorry you're having to go through this. Your in-laws sound horrific. Racism should not be tolerated in any shape or form. It looks as though your husband is fully supporting you though, which is brilliant! 

However, it doesn't sound as though it's life in the USA that you're struggling to adjust to. It's the family. I've had issues settling in the USA too, but it's regarding the process, foods and just stuff in general I'm getting my head around. I have a 5 month old I have to shop for too and it's hard here as the doctors and processes are very different to the UK. Anyway, getting back to you... Can you and hubby move slightly further away from the in-laws or maybe restrict the amount of interaction you have with them? In-laws can really meddle in a relationship, trust me.. From experience (had similar in-laws in my previous marriage) the only way to deal with awful in-laws is to keep your distance and when they say something stupid (just say f off in your head) but don't rise to it. They want you to react and the more you do, the more they'll carry on. 

I'm regard to settling in, I honestly think if you don't get out enough, you'll get cabin fever. Can you volunteer locally or maybe join a gym or find a meet-up where you can meet other people? Try and keep the in-laws at arms length.

Hope that's helpful. Feel free to reach out if you need any advice x

5 hours ago, Nicola and Jordan said:

@CaliforniaLovin might be able to help 

Hey @Debzib88, sorry I just saw this. I was around 7 and a half months pregnant when I had my medical and we moved when our little one was 12 weeks old. Feel free to drop me a note if you would like any advice regarding the process and getting the citizenship for your LO (he/she won't be able to travel to the USA on an ESTA as they are eligible for citizenship, so need to apply for that through the embassy). Well done on getting though the medical. I had a little drama as I had to get Boots to email me confirmation of my flu shot, on route to the medical 😂 and then I wasn't sure about the safety of the x-ray but they were very helpful and good there. Just tardy in getting my medical to the embassy! Good luck x

Confused on DS-160. So, since I'm pregnant and the baby will arrive before I go to the US and she will be a US citizen with a US passport, I don't know how to answer this question. If I say Yes and then say child, will I get a decline? OR, since daddy to-be will be also coming to the UK to 'pick us up' I thought the baby can enter the US with him and no in the line with me. Could anyone give me any advice or pointers on how best to answer this question please? Thank you

On 10/31/2018 at 6:24 PM, Greenbaum said:

The Embassies use line 22 of the 1040 tax for determination if the applicant meets or exceeds the poverty threshold for their household. The Embassy, at time of interview, will accept a IRS transcript from you and you can get one from here You can down load same day and print off. This service is FREE.

 

@BJ & Christine who answered you question helps a lot of people, and sometimes when we help so many it's sometimes appears to us that the answer is obvious and at other times we will give you the "facts" straight up without fluff. We ask you to just understand the amount of people someone like she is actually answering before you become annoyed. I'm just saying. All around that will help. Thanks.

Thanks @Greenbaum - the comment came across a little flippant that's all. But I see what you're saying and of course always appreciate the member/community help and advice.

On 10/13/2018 at 6:00 PM, BJ & Christine said:

Get a sponsor  and find a job. 

 

Ur no where near AOS part of this journey. But, u will need to show embassy that u won't become a burden on the government. 

 

Ha well getting a job is stating the obvious. He's hardly waiting around for someone to come knock on his front door and give him one. But it takes time, it you've ever been unemployed... To find another job. Your comment isn't very helpful. 

Anyway, since we received the NVC notification today we also realise we don't need a sponsor. The form requires tax documents/adjusted income and if the petitioner can show they are above the 125% above the poverty threshold on this year's taxes then it's fine. Something to note for others that may be in a similar situation. 

21 hours ago, Jaqui86 said:

Hi everyone!! 

 

I’m really hoping someone can help me! We received our RFE on the 15th Oct and came it in the post today. They want a cooy of my decree absolute with a judges signature. I am from the UK - I could have sworn we sent them the decree absolute but it does not have a judges signature on it...anywhere, it just says the basic stuff then the marriage was dissolved on the 1st July 2016. At the very bottom of the page it does say insmall writing decree absolute. 

 

I don’t know what else to send them. Has anyone else every come across this problem and if so, how do I rectify it?

 

thanks, Jacqui

 

 

I had this issue. You need to fill in a form, D180 which is available online to print and send it completed along with your decree absolute to Bury St Edmunds, the divorce court. I actually called the courts and explained my situation. They were most helpful in explaining what I needed to do. Signed certificate will be back within 3 weeks. 

Fiancé, petitioner made redundant. We're currently gathering AOS docs, can anyone please help advise on what we can do as my fiancé in the US was recently made redundant. 😔

On 9/25/2018 at 11:13 AM, apawsiopao said:

Hello everyone! Just wanna know if there’s a way on speeding up the case? We filed our k1 visa and received our noa1 last april 11,2018. Up until now there’s still no response for noa2. My fiancé had recently visited me here in the Philippines from May 1- August 21,2018. And blessedly, we are having a baby. I am now 11 weeks pregnant. Our concern is, I need to go to USA before I reach 36 weeks Aog. I want to give birth in US with my fiancé. So do you have idea if there’s a way that we can speed it up? If none, until when will we wait? I will really appreciate for your response! Thank you so much and have a good day!

Hey there, I'm actually pregnant myself (not planned!) and have done a lot of research on this. You cannot expedite this. Other than preparing all your documents you need in advance and being prepared.  We received our noa 1 in march and noa 2 this week. You'll probably receive yours in a months time too, so remain hopeful you will be able to move. Just focus on you and your baby. That's really Important. The AOS stage, get your fiancé to put the info together and start preparing. Also, ask him to check the medical policy at his work. If you do make it out to the US while it is safe for you to travel, then it may be an idea to check how you can get on his policy and the time it will take. I also suggest looking at travel insurance options too. To cover you just in case you need medical help or advice after coming off a long haul flight. DVT or compression stockings are key as well for the flight, for Reference. 

Hopefully good for you to know... Your child will be eligible for a US passport if you stay, you just need to research into the process with your local embassy. If you're concerned about your partner missing the birth, he should check his paternity eligibility. You can also look at delivery options too, such as a planned c section if you haven't already. Your pregnancy is still Early. Remember a happy and stress free mama, is a happy bubba! Huge congrats on your little blessing, it's a beautiful gift and while it may be challenging, you will both be fine. X

On 9/23/2018 at 8:52 PM, debbiedoo said:

different consulates will have different requirements. are you listed on the birth certificate? if so, that may well be all that is needed. for some, a DNA test may be required for confirmation.

 

your birth certificate and passport prove citizenship. school records prove nothing other than where you went to school

It seems some embassy's differ in the DNA requirement, there is no consistent stance on it. Which is fine. It's just more stuff to do and sort. Thank you. 

On 9/23/2018 at 9:35 PM, ConOfficer said:

You need the father's passport to prove citizenship. The transcripts can prove he lived in the U.S. for the request 5 years (two years after age 14).

 

DNA may be requested if you have no other evidence that could establish a biological relationship. The consulate would give you instructions in that case. 

OK that's helpful. Thank you! 

On 9/24/2018 at 5:15 PM, Mrsjackson said:

My now husband and I were not married when I had our child in Canada. No DNA test was required. Make an appointment with the embassy close by for a CRBA. At the Vancouver embassy, her US citizen father was required to be there. So keep that in mind. Contact the UK embassy to see if the US citizen father must be present. 

Thanks so much, this is really Helpful. 

On 9/6/2018 at 2:30 AM, BJ & Christine said:

U will have to cancel ur K1 visa and start a cr1. Which will u have to start all over again. Plus it takes a bit longer for cr1. 

If u are a March filer u “should” have no issue with benefituary being in the states by March. Tbh if everything goes well u could possible make it by the end of this year or start of next year. 

 

Btw congrats on the baby. Hope she has a safe and healthy pregnancy.

@BJ & Christine so sorry for the delay in replying. I've had a crazy couple of weeks due to the pregnancy. We've decided to stick to the K1 and then go through the cbra process to enable us to then get the baby a passport. So many processes and such a wait. We're still waiting on the NOA2. X

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has gone through a process where the daddy is a US citizen but the mama is a Brit. I'm currently going through the K1 process and we are looking at the CRBA process. I wanted to know whether you had to get a DNA test and have it signed by a court?  Also, did the US father have to provide high school and college transcripts to prove citizenship to the US?

Any help or support as we navigate this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much! 

Thank you so much @Greenbaum!! I've had 5 hospital appointments these past couple of weeks so haven't been able to stay on top of this. My fiancé is looking into the affidavit of support documentation, so I can bring back to the UK all the things I need. It's quite the process but I'm hoping we'll have our k1 by December and that will be a major cause for celebration. 

Just now, Alan&Alex said:

My understanding that getting married while pending the K1 will disqualify you and you'll have to do the whole process over with another application specific to married couples. 

That's what I figured. But, wasn't sure. Thank you.

Hi all,

My fiancé and I are expecting our baby in February (not planned!). I'm going to stay in the UK. BUT I was wondering, can we get married while waiting on the K1 visa? OR, if anyone has been through something similar did they go through the US embassy once the baby was born and get the baby's passport and citizenship in their local country (i.e. UK for me) or wait until they enter the US on the K1 with the baby. In which case would the baby need an ESTA? Thank you in advance!! x

21 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

 

Yes some people have received RFEs when the person viewing the submission was not familiar with a UK divorce decree. Plenty others have not.

 

It has been resolved by sending a photocopy back with an explanation that the U.K. Decree absolute is the proper form and is only stamped by the court and does not receive a signature. Use a highlighter to mark the lines saying "made final" and the date and the tiny footer that says decree absolute.  Make sure you didn't cut off that tiny footer when you photocopied. 

Thanks! I called Bury St Edmonds Family Court yesterday and they told me to complete the D180 form, send the decree over and a judge will then sign/stamp it. I'm pre-empting an RFE here, and think it's just good practice to have it officially stamped. Hopefully it won't take too long and will come back before any potential RFE.  Cc @JMCKNG, @Ms kj

Hi all,

My decree absolute - divorce certificate - in the UK has not been signed or stamped. The UK courts no longer do this. Has anyone received an RFE for their decree requesting it be stamped or signed? How did you go about getting it 'authenticated'? Thank you in advance! 

Hi all,

My decree absolute - divorce certificate - in the UK has not been signed or stamped. The UK courts no longer do this. Has anyone received an RFE for their decree requesting it be stamped or signed? How did you go about getting it 'authenticated'? Thank you in advance! 

On 22/05/2018 at 3:12 AM, Ms kj said:

I got a REF that, my fiance UK divorce decree needs to be sign by a judge, we sent a copy to the UK court and it being signed by a solicitor and it has an Apposille stamp on it. Then I mailed it to uscis since the 3rd of May but I didn't highlight anything to explain to the uscis that UK divorce decree only has a page.... Am so worried ... do I need to call the uscis to explain to them and how can I get to talk to the uscis supervisor.... Please help me..... I really want my fiance here as soon as possible... Thanks for your response...

Hi, did you hear back on this? I'm a little concerned as I have a decree absolute but it is not stamped or signed. They do not do that anymore, apparently.

On 26/05/2018 at 2:59 PM, io.giuliana said:

It happened the same to us. We received the SMS and the email, but didn't get in the mail. We called and they said the same to us, that the SMS is the actual NOA1. Since we wanted the letter also, we insisted and they mailed a new one in a week.

Thank you!! We got the NOA1 via post, it ended up being lost at home due to my fiancé and his father sharing a name! Need to keep an eye on that in case we get any RFEs!!