Redro

Is the joint sponsor already on file or ?

As your partner is going to interview in their home country. It doesn’t matter if you get married in the US or another country. You need to be aware of consular processing times. There are several steps. 1. SUBMIT I-130 and I130A to USCIS- average processing time is about 11-13 months. It might be quicker it might be shorter. (USCIS has time at 14 months at the moment). 2. Case is approved and goes to NVC. UNLESS you receive RFE which can prolong the period by a few months before it is approved. Sending case to NVC can take 5 days or as long as 60 days (it varies) 3. Pay immigrant fees and I864 fees and wait 2-3 business days. 4. Submit DS260, I864, civil documents and police clearance certificates. 5. Wait for documents to be checked - time taken 1-3 months (time fluctuates - for us it was 3 months currently it takes 10 days). 6. If everything is correct you will go into line for embassy. If there are some issues you have to resubmit and wait another 10 days to 3 months. 7. Wait for interview date- usually 1-2 months NVC stage is complete for “fast consulates” but up to 2 years for slower consulates. There is no way to “speed up the process” if you have no extenuating circumstances and pregnancy is not a reason for expedite.

If you want to travel to all three countries you will have to apply for all three visas. Maybe only choose one of those countries. Requirements for France are fairly strict and she might not get the visa as a brand new resident. (think 3 months of bank statements) and of course with Schengen she will have to get travel insurance. I also know for the UK she will have to send her passport off to get the visa in her passport. Probably the same requirement for France. Not sure about Ireland…

@Orchid9090 the K2 visa is the visa you’re using to allow you and your child to enter the U.S. while waiting for your green cards so your child can go to school.

Many au pairs are denied student visas especially when they are sponsored by their au pair host family. The CO believed your girlfriend was looking to stay working for her au pair family while “studying” English. This won’t have any impact on her immigrant visa.

Where was the visa denied? Did she travel to Brazil for a new visa or did she extend her stay in the US, where she was denied? Maybe we can help you figure out the reason. As your girlfriend is Brazilian living in Australia, I recommend you go the spousal route for 2 reasons. 1. While you can file the K1 now. If your gf moves back to Brazil or moves to another country before she interviews for a visa. Moving the visa from the Australian consulate to the second consulate might not be smooth or easy and could add several months to your process. Or you might not be able to change the location at all and your fiancé might have issues staying in Australia with no visa… 2. The same is not true for spousal visa. Changing the interview from one consulate to another is time consuming but not as difficult.

I agree with @Crazy Cat. Reach out to the embassy/consulate and request DCF for your child.

Research daycare or schooling options for your two children. This is additional evidence they suggest for proof of domicile. Maybe have your wife enroll in some classes, too. And I agree the domicile requirement is extremely burdensome for USCs living abroad. But, the CR1/IR1 visa is about family REUNIFICATION in the US. So, the thinking is if you’re already in another country together AND if the beneficiary does not get a visa the family can and will remain in the other country… there is no reason for the consulate to issue a visa. So, your wife needs to plan things as if she HAS to go to the US with or without you… Which embassy will you interview at?

This couple had AP in South Africa. It might be this post or another but I think at one time they explained how long it took to get passport back/get passport after they requested they return the passport for visa.

Yes, I started applying to jobs before I received my visa and started working 2 weeks after my arrival. Another member on here started interviewing before the I130 was approved and had a job waiting for her when she landed. I forget her name but she was looking to expedite based on job offer. ETA I had a profile on indeed and received a message from a recruiter a week before flying to the US. So, I also suggest having a profile on indeed and LinkedIn and start making connections.

You can request the passport back and return to Botswana while you wait. But usually it takes around 1-2 weeks. I recommend booking your medical now (and planning for at least two trips to SA) as there are only 2 places to get it done in SA. And many people have issues after interview as the embassy is still waiting for the medical report.

Here is something that might help you. https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/817458-filing-i-485-after-90-days-is-over/#elControls_10942784_menu

Quite a few people do not adjust status immediately/late (before the 90 days is over). I’m aware you do not want to work but if you apply for EAD and receive your SSN you can open a bank account and get a driver’s license which you can show at an interview or send as additional evidence after you submit I485. Generally, K1 visa applicants do not have to add too much evidence as the relationship was evaluated during the embassy stage. You will also have to do another medical (as I believe your K1 visa medical expired) so you can send it in when they request it AND evidence you get after the SSN is issued. Send in any evidence you have now. Proof of living together. Photos with family and friends. Birth certificates of any children you have together… What evidence do you have now without bank accounts?

We forget how important it is to drive here in the States… or at least here in Michigan. You really need a car here to get around and keep a job. So, I can see why you’re issued a DL if you have work authorization. Work authorization without a DL is useless. There are no jobs I can do in my area within walking distance.

You need EAD or GC. I did this in 2022. Read proof of legal presence #2 on the list. You will see that K1 visa holders are not one of the proofs accepted.

You will need to wait for your EAD or Green Card to get your driver’s license in Michigan. In addition, you will have to take the written and the driving test. You cannot exchange your license unless it is from Korea, Germany or Canada. Source: I went through the process in 2022. For proof of residence you’ll need bank statements sent to your home address or credit card statements. If you don’t have them in your name you can also your the social security envelope addressed to you (once you get your social) and mail addressed to your future spouse with marriage certificate to show you are married.

I believe the waiting time is very long. When were you DQ’ed? https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/796797-2023-cr-1-visa-timelines-with-interview-in-cairo-egypt/

How many times have you met your partner? The OP in the post hadn’t filed yet (April 2023), had only met their partner once and has not returned to VJ to give an update. So we don’t know if they were successful or not. Everyone else in the comments met their partner more than once before the K1 visa was issued after interview.

Green Card replaces the EAD and travel permit. EAD and AP are issued to allow an applicant adjusting status to work and leave the US while they are waiting for the GC to be issued.

If the K1 is denied because they don’t believe the relationship is bonafide what is your plan? Will you fly to Madagascar to marry and then file I130 or will you end the relationship? If you were told the chance of denial is higher because you only visited once but there is a higher chance of the visa being issued if you are in country before/during the interview period what would your actions be? I’m not sure where Madagascar is when it comes to high/ medium/ low fraud… Immigration is extremely expensive. If you can swing some PTO to visit your partner I would definitely do so… but if you can’t I would prepare for the worst and get married and go the spousal visa route. But, if you go the spousal route you might have to consider 2-3 visits while visa is processing to indicate the relationship is serious…

Your journey is not over. If the doctors/ the embassy feel your partner’s use is an issue he will have to refrain from using marijuana for the next year. I’m not sure when the medical is, but I suggest he speaks to his prescribing doctor and requests he 1. Asks the doctor to write a reason behind the past prescription 2. Prescribe something different 3. Start documenting that your partner has stopped using marijuana. Another member based out of the UK starting documenting he stopped drinking several months before his medical and this shortened the period as his year look back was not from medical but when he stopped drinking. I want to repeat YOUR JOURNEY IS NOT OVER. if you want, if your partner is refused you can consider getting married and going the spousal route. A refusal is not the end of the road.

We used the phone number of a family member for our DS260 (discovered later the phone number had been deactivated but that didn't seem to impact anything). Used the international address for the USC. Had no issues at NVC stage but USC was asked to provide more proof of domicile at interview- bank account and credit card was not sufficient.

When they return the passport you can expect a longer wait (as you will have to return the passport to the consulate). Hopefully, they request it soon... Be hopeful, I know sometimes they do not return the passport but the beneficiary still has to wait many month.

There is no standard time for Administrative Processing unfortunately. It can take as little as 1 week or as long as a year or more. With the consulate in Canada if someone is missing documents/has to submit additional it take about 6 weeks. Did they keep his passport or did they return it? You can check the CEAC page to see what the status is and how many times it updates to try to guess if they are moving on his case or not.