While I cannot comment on whether you have other options other than filing for a CR1/IR1 from overseas, I hope you realise that your paperwork must be in order if you want your case to proceed smoothly. 'Thought I had done it' should not be something that happens at all in your next step. My husband and I live on almost opposite ends of the planet. We have a 13-14 hour time difference. I am the one who's good with paperwork but he's the one who has to assemble packages and send off the papers. We have had to be meticulous at every stage to ensure all papers are submitted, all forms filled in correctly etc. so we got no RFEs nor checklists. It takes us up to 3 weeks to put a package together because everything has to be checked thoroughly. Immigration is not something you can hurry or rush through, or you will just end up prolonging your separation.
Whatever your next step is, study very carefully every single form. Read every single word of whatever instructions there are. Search this forum if you have questions. Good luck.
Welcome to VJ! You have made a smart decision to belong to the group to help you along with this incredibly complicated and emotional journey. I congratulate you on finding us and posting your concerns.
Let me first begin with my story, it might help you relate. I am part Italian, formerly married to an Italian and my former in-laws were from Santa Croce de Magliano, so I get your heritage and cultural ties. I have been to Italy 4 times, 3 times visiting for 3 weeks touring the country and living with the locals and once an impromptu short visit while touring Croatia. I totally get why you're apprehensive. Your country is amazing and I would drop everything to go live there!
As you can see I am Canadian and began researching this immigration process back in 2007 with my now husband. I came on VJ to get information about the immigration process and to seek advice specifically on how do mature people with several children in their late teens (eg. finishing secondary school), with established careers, independence, nearing financial freedom and approaching retirement severe ties from their country and smoothly transition to a new country while still keeping their identity, autonomy and independence. For me, this process was more than just applying, getting the visa and moving stateside.
I saw my move not just embarking to live with my husband but as ending my life as it had always been and beginning a new one. That's how it is when your independent, established and mature. I had to sell property and assets, downsize, pack, severe financial ties, uproot my children (they lived with me), quit my job (my sense of security and my livelihood,), leave family and friends. It was big and I was just moving countries not continents!! By the sounds of it, you are older and therefore it's not just a matter of packing one suitcase and starting over. I suspect some of your concerns are similar.
As a former ESL teacher, I will assume English is perhaps a second language to you, so allow me read into your post a little. While this process is extreme and USCIS wants a lot of information.....and just a side note....the process isn't over with paperwork until you become naturalized, you want that! You want to be safe here when you move, right? You want freedom to move about safely without worry, you want laws in place to protect you, you want democracy, you want rights. This is what the motto "land of the free" basically implies. You are right in saying nothing is free because that is true. Many countries today are not democratic, people suffer, are oppressed and live in fear. America grants you freedom from all this and you have a voice, you matter. This process is laborious for a reason. Along with providing opportunity, it's too keep America safe, keep it's identity secure and protect it's people. You want that. Hang in there!
You are smart to be thinking about all the things you will miss and how and where you will live. I did the same, however in my situation I was moving to more sun and blue skies and less humidity which was an added bonus. I did a quick google and saw that Oregon has on average 126-214 days of sun depending on where you are living. Sure its not Italy weather but its better than 350 days of rain! as you mentioned! You won't find Italy weather here and that will be an adjustment. You will find Italian communities, some states have a higher Italian populations than others. You will find, as I am sure you have already, Italian food, restaurants and goods, are readily available here. Others you will need to hunt for. I might suggest you begin to stockpile specialty items only found in Italy when you and your fiance see each other. As for the place you will live. If moving to Oregon is temporary, you will manage...it's only weather. You can rise above those rain clouds. But, when it's moving time be sure you chose wisely. If humidity is your thing then Florida and Texas are ideal, if not best you be looking elsewhere. I will suggest holding on to property in Italy if a) laws allow and b) you plan to return there one day. This also provides great comfort when you return to visit.
As for feeling American; don't. You never have to surrender your heritage, your culture, your identity, your language. As he doesn't have to surrender his. You will acclimate eventually and adjust as you want. I will never stop spelling colour, colour,; honour, honour and cheques, cheques.
Ultimately, you need to talk to your fiance about your worries and fears. You are the one giving up a life you are so comfortably living in. He may not be able to understand this 100% but he needs to know exactly what is going on inside your head and heart. The feelings you are feeling are true, he needs to be there to comfort you now. He has to support you now. Once your here, you're here and believe me there will be some tough days ahead when you're feeling homesick and you'll need his love and understanding. If you have that then the transition will be so much smoother.
I`m sorry I have read every single suggestion here......This isnt about whether or not USA is/not a freedom country....it almost looks like you are victimizing yourself.
There are options out there...you and your husband as a adult couple can seat down and talk whether or not it is beneficial for you guys move to US, or get married in Italy. Whether or not he thinks you cant support or provide finally to you both has nothing to do with K1 or CR1 process, this is a personal issue.
Lets just get down to earth and understand what are your options within your relationship and go from there, USCIS will not change and there are PLENTY of reasons why they require what they require for visa and what not.
Question about the Affidavit of Support (485). I am working on the form to sponsor my husband (I am the USC) and I was wondering how I should fill out things in my situation.
I got a teaching job for the next school year that begins July 31st, however, I have no job currently. The teaching job will be more than enough to sponsor my husband, but I am wondering since I am filing for AoS now, if I should use my parents as our joint sponsor since my income right now is zero. If I can use the teaching job, should I just explain it in the notes? Do I need to include a contract or letter from my employer with the income listed?
When starting out a co-sponsor is always a nice thing to have if you have someone who is willing to be. It helped us when I was still finishing my last quarter of school to be guaranteed that our income was over the threshold.
Answers:
No
Don't wait on a job to file your petition, given current wait times, your job situation will probably work itself out before the time comes to submit the I-864.
The I-864 is not filed at the same time the I-130. As for the semantics, joint sponsor is the proper term when referring to the I-864, not co-sponsor.
These are the correct answers to your questions. By the time you submit the I-864 and it is decided upon at interview, you will likely be working for 6 months or more. No reason to delay filing the I-130 package. Start by becoming an A-Student of the I-130 and I-130a instructions. Doing so will be critical to your ultimate success.
As an update, my husband and I have received text and email confirmations that our i130 was accepted and transferred onto processing in Texas. This past weekend we also got our NOA1 in the mail. My husband has been asked no additional questions when crossing at the 1000 island bridge since our application was processed. My son and I will be heading up to visit him and his children and our family this weekend. This will be my first time crossing since our application was filed and received. I will be carrying every possible document with me. I'll let you know if there are any differences in our crossing routine.
Chevriaines reacted to ms_bobdog in Can you put our minds at ease? (merged)