JustJimothy

Great points Mike, that's exactly what we'll do.

In fairness yes, the pandemic was the reason to check it but as Mike said, entering with an intent to immigrate I'd imagine theyre gonna have the same question this time.

We filed it this morning so we're going to find out! I'd like to think there were some conversations had after our event. We kicked up quite a fuss and hopefully it was a chance for them to educate themselves a bit more on zoom weddings and it's legality for immigration. If not, it's lawyer up time but I don't even want to think about it 🤮

It was after, my visa was approved in time for Thanksgiving!

We have travelled there a few times since under the B1/B2 after I got it and had no issues. The embassy were as perplexed as we were and the lady interviewing just said wrong guy on the wrong day! Perfect time to exercise self control and not unload about it 😂

Yep it was the middle of the pandemic We were fully vaccinated and had all the info with us

Sure, I can elaborate. We used Webwed to officiate, a zoom wedding basically. My wife and I were in the same physical location in Ireland with our folks on the call with the officiant in Utah. Everything went great! We got our marriage certificate, with the seal and stuff. At the time the proclamation to travel to the US was in place because of the pandemic meaning only citizens and/or their spouse could enter. I was entering using my ESTA/VWP with no intent to immigrate just to visit family. When going through pre-clearance in Dublin I was called into the back room to wait while they scrutinized us. After a while he called me to the counter to ask about the wedding. He said something along the lines of not everyone was physically present at the wedding and we proclaimed that we were. He retorted by saying the officiant wasn't so not everyone. He denied me entry saying I'm legally married in Utah but it doesn't work for immigration/CBP and quoted an immigration act partially: (35) The term "spouse", "wife", or "husband" do not include a spouse, wife, or husband by reason of any marriage ceremony where the contracting parties thereto are not physically present in the presence of each other Anyone familiar with it might notice the bit that's missing from that. Here it is in full: (35) The term "spouse", "wife", or "husband" do not include a spouse, wife, or husband by reason of any marriage ceremony where the contracting parties thereto are not physically present in the presence of each other, unless the marriage shall have been consummated. He never mentioned it nor asked about consummation, how we'd prove it would be another story but he picked and chose what parts to use. CBP are human and make mistakes like the rest of us, that day we got a dude who made a mistake and revoked my ESTA and my ability to use the VWP. To fix it we had to make an appointment to apply for a B1/B2 visa to even visit family. It took us 2 years to iron out.

That's a good idea, you've saved me at least $800! I guess I could continue with my application and kick the kids one around for a while until they're ready to move.

My wife and I did something similar to this during the pandemic as we had little other choice, our wedding was cancelled multiple times. We were both in the same country at the time of the ceremony and we still got stopped by CBP and they refused entry for me! I've seen cases where nobody had any issues and everything was fine but I had a different experience. You're leaving yourself at the mercy of CBP to refuse entry over their interpretation of immigration acts. It took us two years to iron it all out at the embassy in Ireland to even visit family. Beware!

We can apply online via https://www.uscis.gov/. Not sure it would expediate it much but at least rules out packs getting lost in the post. We're not really in any rush with it so I don't think we'd risk anything by trying to finagle it through. My son wants to go to college there and we want to be there a little while before to setup. It puts our goal of the move to be 2025 timewise so it's fine with a regular application. I think it may be a separate I-130 application for each person from the bits that I'm readying but I'm not sure.

Ah! I had previously thought that DCF was open to anyone living abroad, you sent me down a rabbit hole and proved me otherwise. Thanks for the information, looks like we'll have to do it all via snail mail

Hi! My wife(Shari - USC) and I(Irish) are thinking about beginning the process, with the children, to move to the US this year as we heard it can be a lengthy process. We have a son (7 months) who is already a duel citizen. I have a son(15) and a daughter(12) from a previous relationship who are flirting with the idea of moving after they finish high school here. Shari's folks are willing to be our co-sponsors for the application and the household income is a multiple of the poverty line. I've been contracting to a US company from Ireland for a few years through an Irish umbrella company, paying tax in Ireland, and they're anxious that I become their W-2 employee once we move over and they are willing to provide anything I need for the application such as affidavit of guaranteed income etc. My questions are as follows: Can I add my income to the I-864 form in the household income section with the US company stating in an affidavit they have been contracting me and employment once I land? If my two kids are on the same application, can they come back an forth every couple of months to finish school here with their green card? They'd be out of the country(US) no more than 4 months continuous or 9 months of the year in total. Our thoughts are to avoid having to get them visas at a later date and ensure they're set up for college when ready. I have consent from my kids mother if they choose to come and can have whatever needed in writing, is there form or anything legal that she would need to complete? Appreciate the attention in advance! James