D-R-J

Sorry to hear that

Administrative processing is normal, everyone goes through it. Hard to know how long it will last. Your status will changed to “issued” when the visa is issued. You are getting closer, all you can do is wait patiently.

If you are over 100k, there is no way you need a joint-sponsor, the question is whether or not the person reviewing your case understands your situation. Did they ask for or mention a joint sponsor in your RFE? If not, maybe they just needed the documents you are providing. I think it would be a separate i864 if your children aren’t in your household and you decide to go that route. Their spouse would fill out an i864A.

Are you talking summer ‘24 or summer ‘25? With a job offer with a fast approaching start date you might qualify for direct consular filing (DCF). It is by far the fastest way to get a visa and usually involves no time apart. The issue is that it is up to the discretion of the embassy whether or not to accept your petition and you can not have previously filed an I-130 petition for your spouse. Something to look into and consider.

If you make over 100k a year you should be able to sponsor your spouse. In addition to the documents, I would write a cover letter that explains your situation in detail and gives a clear picture of the resources you have to support your wife. Maybe one of your children would be willing to act as a joint sponsor considering you are unlikely to actually need their support. I like the kitchen sink approach so their is the least chance of being denied.

They gave us a new vaccination card with all vaccines my wife received.

See below to make sure your friend’s child qualifies: A child born outside the United States out of wedlock to a U.S. Citizen father may be entitled to U.S. Citizenship providing the U.S. citizen father has been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for five years, at least two years after age 14. In addition, the U.S. citizen father must acknowledge paternity and agree in writing to provide financial support for the child until s/he reaches the age of 18 years. Please read the information on proof of physical presence in the U.S. If he qualifies, then follow instructions for CRBA: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/while-abroad/birth-abroad.html

Go to this site: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country.html Choose your country and read how they want the document.

Ok see this: Note: USCIS does not authorize the Department of State to accept a local filing abroad if the petitioner has already filed a Form I-130 domestically for the same beneficiary. If exigent circumstances exist, the petitioner should request expedited processing for the electronic or domestically filed petition. Exceptional Situations: The U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez has limited authority from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to accept certain I-130, I-360, and I-600 petitions. This authority only extends to U.S. citizens filing petitions for Immediate Relatives and to self-petitioning widows. DHS is normally responsible for adjudicating these petitions and only permits the Consulate General to accept petitions in narrow circumstances. The applicant and petitioner must meet specific physical presence requirements in Mexico and have authority to remain in Mexico for the duration of consular processing. Petitioners must also show exceptional circumstances, which can include adoption, short notice of job relocation, U.S. military emergencies, or beneficiaries who are close to aging out of visa eligibility. Petitioners should be prepared to provide documentary evidence supporting the basis for local filing. USCIS has published guidance on circumstances that may qualify as exceptional and more information can be found in the Foreign Affairs Manual . Petitioners may not locally file at the Consulate General to circumvent DHS processing times. Individuals who believe they qualify to file a petition at the Consulate General may contact CDJFilePetition@state.gov to request more information.

The USCIS site does mention DCF, it’s under other services: If you are a U.S. citizen residing outside of the United States and filing for your immediate relative (spouse, unmarried child under the age of 21, or parent (if you are 21 years of age or older)), you may request to file your petition with the Department of State at a U.S. embassy or consulate in certain limited circumstances, as described in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 6, Part B, Chapter 3. Please contact the U.S. embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction over the area where you live for further information.

They are going to look at both those documents. I think I would start fixing now.

This link has information on how to obtain the proper police certificate: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Bahrain.html You will need a police certificate for the Philippines too. You can see how to get that from the same site, just go to top and change the country to the Philippines.

This USCIS site references the same State document. Seems to indicate they have the same policy, but instruction everywhere say names should match passport. Hopefully we will hear from someone with first hand experience. I would be hesitant to do anything that would delay immigration if I were in your shoes. I wonder if it’s the kind of thing that can be addressed at the interview. I wonder if it would be helpful to have moderators move this to a regional forum.

The DS-260 instructions definitely say names should match passport. 🤷‍♂️

Ok, check this link: https://fam.state.gov/fam/08fam/08fam040301.html 8 FAM 403.1-5(A) Acceptable Immaterial Discrepancies … (5) Drop a last name if the applicant has two or more last names (e.g., “John Smith Jones” to “John Jones”). There is no restriction on which of the two last names the applicant may drop. Even if an applicant drops a last name, it must still be entered into the name clearance field in TDIS/ACS (see 8 FAM 501.3 on entering names for clearance)

Hmm. Maybe others will chime in. My wife changed her name during her citizenship process and that was pretty easy if it comes to that.

You would need at least 3x whatever the shortfall in income. If it is close, they may still insist on a joint sponsor. See: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/i-864-affidavit-faqs.html#:~:text=actual household income.-,What can be used as assets%3F,%2C stocks%2C bonds and property.

Our experience with non-immigrant visas is that they generally don’t look at evidence. I have heard that COs have often pretty much made up their minds before the interview. It can make it really difficult for people seeking to visit who have family in the US and could adjust, especially coming from countries where that statistically happens more frequently. We sent in land documents, photos of the newly built home, letter explaining why the family member would return. It didn’t help. They didn’t want to see any of it.

Yes, it’s important to know where your husband is now. If he is in the US he can adjust status. If he is outside the US, he cannot enter the US with a B visa with the intent to adjust status; this is fraud.

By Indonesian law she was never married.

They will give you a document like this:Then you will need to do this for divorce: Dissolution of customary marriage: Documentation of the dissolution of a customary marriage is a decree, issued by a High Court, District Court, or Circuit Court along with a statutory declaration by the couples’ families, stating that the marriage in question was dissolved in accordance with customary law. You may find a record of the dissolution of a customary marriage on the reverse of the customary marriage certificate.

Go to the municipal or metropolitan assembly. They should be able to help you with the documents.

I think the question you mentioned says “willful misrepresentation.” This is definitely not willful and not providing the information only hurt your chances of getting the visa, if anything. I would check “no” on the DS-160 and not worry about it. If the discrepancy comes up in an interview you can say that you worked for such a short time that you forgot about it.

A lawyer is only as good as the information you provide. You are going to be doing the vast majority of the leg work. I would always carefully review their work for errors too. With all that, you are essentially doing everything yourself and they are just filling the forms. If you’re willing to put in the work this is a manageable process.

The CO told my wife that they would be issuing her a visa, but my understanding is that there is more processing that needed to happen. It is possible that they may need additional documentation or find some issue upon further review. There is always administrative processing after the interview. It’s no sure thing until you have your visa in hand.