MeghanK

15 hours ago, NineDev said:

I called them up today for another reason (I received what I assume to be a text scam about a courier service unable to deliver a document to me today, and wanted to make sure it was not related to my visa).  

FWIW, I've only ever recieved mail scam texts when I actually have a package on the way. Maybe your visa is already en route and they forgot to update your status. Expecting any other packages/traceable mail?

First, don't freak out. I was also freaking out over this (assuming you read my previous thread 🙂) and it ended up being not a big deal.

IIRC we contacted the company who provided the J1 to my husband, they did not keep records longer than a few years. We kept that email exchange for evidence.

We also submitted a couple FOIAs to try to track down records of the J1, we recieved replies that they did not find any records. We kept that exchange for evidence as well. 

At some stage (maybe AOS, honestly can't remember), we included all that evidence with an explanation letter detailing everything we remembered about the J1. Basically just the year it was given and used and the agency it came from.

No one ever asked us about the J1 at any stage and it was never a problem. 

I could be wrong but I think the only thing they are looking for is related to whether or not the J1 had the home residency requirement and if so, that it was fulfilled or could be waived. Was your fiance in their home country for 2 years cumulative time after the J1 was done through when you applied for K-1? Because if so, I think you're fine. If you dont lie/withhold info, there is no available evidence of your J1, and you prove you did your due diligence to search for it, what more can you do? The chance of this messing with your K-1 is incredibly low IMHO. 

5 minutes ago, cocoVA said:

congratulations!!! that’s amazing. 
Do you mind sharing your timeline and which service center?

Thanks so much! Nebaraska/LIN service center - applied Feb 17, 2022. Biometrics were waived in late March 2022 iirc. 

If it helps your stress, we didn't have a honeymoon, nor a proposal, nor have engagement/wedding rings during any part of our journey starting from K1, currently awaiting ROC (and still don't). Courthouse wedding after work in street clothes, greasy $6 burgers at a bar afterwards. Never had a later formal ceremony/reception either. Not a single raised eyebrow about any of it at any point. The full picture of a relationship of course is different for everyone but you definitely don't need to worry about a honeymoon, just focus on the big ticket items required for proving bonafide (as others have said). 

42 minutes ago, Tbritt8 said:

Yea i thought maybe the Mexican police certificate would be an option but that seems to only be for Mexican citizens…I’m not sure what to do. I feel like if i just tell them what happened and that I couldn’t get the documents they could run their own backround check on me and find it. And if they don’t find it then it doesn’t seem like it would be a big deal. I just don’t want to get an RFE for not submitting proper documentation.

Ah, frick! Well in the bigger picture I really don't think you have anything to worry about. The offense is nothing alone that would affect the immigration journey, for something this minor they more likely care that you disclose it and your fiance is aware of what happened. I'd be willing to bet that arrest doesn't even show up on the background check they do based on how you described it.

I genuinely think a well-written and detailed explanation will be okay. Have your fiance sign that letter as well which will showcase she is aware of it. USCIS does a lot to make people unhappy but I highly doubt they will deny your opportunity to pursue legal immigration for a document that can't be obtained. I also doubt it's the first time they've seen this type of situation. 

Have you read the details for obtaining Mexican police certificates here https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Mexico.html (scroll down to the police certs tab)

I believe this is typically for the immigrant to utilize (it's been a hot minute since I used the reciprocity pages) but these routes might help uncover documentation and/or uncover clean record docs for you as the USC too. The results at worst might be helpful to include with a detailed letter about the whole situation, if you want more proof that you've exhausted all means. Heck, maybe the docs you need might even be found. 

I'm sure you already know this, but no matter what, be fully truthful, even if you only submit a letter detailing your situation. On our immigration journey there were required documents (not criminal records related though) that we needed for a unique situation that we could not obtain for similar reasons (i.e. records not kept for more than a year) and we submitted our own letter detailing the steps we took to try to find the documents that we were never able to obtain. No one ever asked us anything about it after that.

I hope this helps, but hopefully others have input too. Good luck, don't stress, telling the whole truth goes a long way when it comes to immigration.  

Just saw today that our case was updated with "Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken" on March 28th (biometrics waved, I assume). Looks like the notice is due to arrive in the mail today as well  🙂 

20 minutes ago, updown said:

Did you receive your NOA in the mail yet? 

 

It hasn't arrived in the mail for us, but I'm hoping it will tomorrow or early in the week.

We just got ours in the mail yesterday, hopefully yours will be tomorrow!

11 hours ago, alongwayfromhome said:

🎉 received a text message from USCIS this evening with the receipt number.

 

So, i751 sent 02/15 

Lockbox received (via UPS) 02/17

Text message receipt 02/22

Cheque payment not yet processed

 

Exact same dates here! And looks like they cashed our check today (23rd)

Hello Feb filers! After a month and a half of procrastination we finally mailed our ROC packet yesterday via USPS Priority Express.

We sent off a lighter packet this round in comparison to the last few. All the basic supporting evidence: joint lease, bank, taxes, bills (car/utilities/phone), insurance (life/health/rent/car), and about 10 photos since we have been mostly locked indoors since AOS 😅

Good luck to everyone, looking forward to spending the next 1 to 2 years (haha, hopefully way less) with you all here, we're almost to the finish line 😃

23 minutes ago, Isabel&Will said:

Hey! I remember you from the K1 process, glad to see you've made it here as well! Best of luck to you too!

Great to see you here as well!! 😁

Hello everyone! After 2 years or however long it was (I repressed all thoughts of immigration until we got here lol) Dec 23rd is the first day of our window to submit removal of conditions so I'm hopping back into this community and trying to digest all of the refreshers for this next step. We started as K1 (I'm the American) and Husband K1ed from Canada. I hope we actually get our packet mailed out before January 😅 I'm so excited to join the immigration waiting game once again. Happy holidays and best of luck to all of you through this part of the process!

Our case was approved!!! Changed to "new card being produced" yesterday and to "case was approved" today.

11 hours ago, ErickandLeo said:

yeah they have nothing to do but to work on those filed up applications for approvals, hang tight you’ll get yours too the soonest. 

It finally happened!!! Card being produced this afternoon! PHEW!

Thanks to all for the updates on your approvals! It's giving me hope. PLEASE FIND OUR SHIZ USCIS!! 

20 hours ago, ErickandLeo said:

Thank you @CharleneB and yeah you’re right I just got an update finally

 

Yay congrats!! I hope ours will update soon too. Maybe with offices closed to the public officers will have nothing to do but work on all the pending approvals. 

Still no updates here either. So frustrating 😣

Still no word from our interview on Feb 20, I feel like once they put you on hold, you never hear from them again. Feeling depressed about more living in the dark when we were so close to the finish line.

On 3/9/2020 at 9:51 PM, HF & HB said:

Hi MeghanK,

 

I was hoping I could ask you about how you guys did your Canadian and US taxes since our timelines are similar. I entered on a K1 July 15, 2019 (married the next day, currently AOS pending). I pass the substantial presence test so I'm understanding I'm a US resident for tax purposes ( I visited a lot before moving here). What about the 6.5 months I lived in Canada prior to moving here? Did your husband mark his residency in Canada for tax purposes as non-resident (as of  what date?) or deemed non-resident? Just curious to see how you guys understood the residency requirements for both countries.

 I'd also love to hear about your experience with H&R Block if you don't mind. We visited a local branch recently and we're are still unsure whether their going to be a good fit for our situation. 

 

Thanks for reading all this !   I know it's a lot, much appreciated !

I'm not sure how my husband filed his Canadian taxes. He did those on his own. I believe he put married filing separately and that he was not a resident of Canada on Dec 31 or something? He did exactly what folks suggested to do in this thread.

Unfortunately our H&R block person also had no idea what to do and had to "send it to corporate" so we have another appt this Sunday

We are working on our taxes today and are soooo out of the loop lol. Husband just finished his Canadian taxes (looks like he did everything as suggested here) and we have an appt with h&r block to help us figure out how to file in the u.s. I need an adult!

1 hour ago, Hazelnut said:

Now I'm thinking this is what happened to my medical exam. I have not been told anything since my interview (which was completed in April last year) until recently (I got a RFE last week for it).

 

I hope they all find your medical exams. Good luck everyone. 🙏

Oh geeeezzeee! This is the scenario I'm afraid of. The not knowing + no movement at all. Sorry youre dealing with this. So was the RFE for a new medical? 🙁

Just now, MCGino said:

Thanks. Good to know there's actually successful case to hold faith for... It's been a week for me already. 

13 days here. Anxiety has set in lol. 🤞🤞

On 3/1/2020 at 10:34 PM, MCGino said:

Thanks for your reply. 

Wonder if there was any successfully found case ever....

Yeah it's pretty common. We are waiting on USCIS to get our medical as well.

Here's the most recent thread I can recall with the same sitch:

Just finished our interview in Portland OR. It went nice and smoothly and the officer was very nice. Mainly asked us about my employment and husband's (applicant) new job. I have a new job since we applied, she asked if there were any changes to my affidavit and I provided her w a new I-864, letter of employment, and 3 months of paystubs. She also added husband's job info to our I-864. She then asked for any addition evidence of relationship and went through our new photos and shared bills and such.

She said she hadn't received the packet from when he entered the U.S. yet, that it should take about two weeks to arrive and that she would approve our case as soon as it came. We are currently on case under review status. Hopefully that will all go smoothly as well!