Rachel & Ghassan

We got approved!

PD: Sept 26, 2019

RFE: June 5, 2020

RFE response: June 22, 2020

NAO2: July 31, 2020

Anyone get an RFE and then approval? If so how long did it take to process the RFE?  

15 hours ago, Mamila86 said:

Hey guys, Finally got an RFE for BONA FIDE MARRIAGE. They send me a long lists of documents that I need to submit. The only ones I have is the marriage certificate and photos with her.

Can anyone advise what are the appropriate documents to submit to proof my marriage is real.

I don't have any bills or expense receipts from our marriage. 

Back home everything is cash and all contracts are verbal.

Please help!

 

PD: SEP. 23RD 19

TSC

 

 

Hey so I live in Lebanon and similarly we do not have a lot of things in our names, especially like the USA. There is no mobile family plan or car insurance.

So my husband and I made sure to:

1. open a joint bank account and leave some money in there.

2. Get a rental contract from our landlord that was notarized (kateb 3adel) and I forced the landlord to put my name on it because in Lebanon it is patriarchal and the women normally is not on these type of documents. 

3. Provide them with a copy that he is the beneficiary of my life insurance through my job

4. Provide them with a translation of my family book (ikhraj el qaid 3a2ley) to prove our marriage is registered here

Other than that we do not have much besides travel itineraries and an adjustment on my 2019 taxes where I requested an ITIN for my husband and amended to married filing jointly.  

Hi everyone,

I have some updates. On December 23rd, I submitted an expedite request via phone and on Feb 23rd I had a date change. Since then I have been trying to figure out what is going on with my application. I live abroad with my husband and cannot speak to a Tier 2 representative because of the call back system. Finally, on Monday March 23rd I was able to speak with a Tier 2 officer directly (no wait time... shocking). 

I originally filed at the Texas Service Center, however my application was transferred to California. My expedite request was denied. None of this information was relayed to me. I did not receive any 797 or email communication, which is really frustrating. I am not sure why they are not obligated to inform us of any changes/even a denial. 

Anyways, I resubmitted the expedite request this time they contacted me via email. I will keep you all updated on what happens. 

3 hours ago, Shemuz said:

Thank you. Mine doesn’t show up in myuscis either; only on egov. How did you put in the expedite request? Did they ever ask you for evidence? Maybe you can try asking a live representative on the Ask Emma chat. They might be able to give you an idea how to check the status of the expedite request. 
 

And I will definitely keep you posted. Thank you. 

I called and mailed in the evidence but did not receive any confirmation that they received my evidence..just silence. Thanks I'll check out Ask Emma

That's great @Shemuzthat you heard back. I sent an expedite request at the TSC in December and it does not show up on myuscis, however it does on egov. I have not had a response and since myself and my foreign spouse live abroad, I cannot call and inquire because I need to speak with a Tier 2 officer and they have a call back system. 

Please keep me posed on your request! Good luck

Hey.. I am going through the same thing.  I filed single on my taxes because my accountant told me that there is no way to file married since my husband does not have a Social Security # or ITIN. He also told me he doubts the IRS will issue an ITIN for my husband because he has never stepped foot in the USA (he also had a previous case denied). 

So I winded up filing an amendment and requesting an ITIN for my husband, just in case. At least I have proof of trying to file as married. We'll see and good luck!

Thanks @MBKT Let's hope for the best  

Anyone know how the Public Charge Rule will affect our applications? My husband and I live abroad, not sure if I should move and get a job in the states before him in order to avoid any issues with perception of a public charge. 

https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-announces-public-charge-rule-implementation-following-supreme-court-stay-nationwide-injunctions

So I filed my 2019 taxes as single because both myself and my husband reside in a foreign country. My accountant told me that there is no way to file "married" because the IRS will reject my return since my husband does not have an ITIN or SS#. He also told me the ITIN would take 3-4 months from now. 

I am not sure what I should do and if this is going to negatively impact our petition. My accountant did say he would provide us a letter to explain the taxation laws and the reasons for filing single. 

Any advice?

Just to note, I would also file 2019 tax returns as soon as you are able to. I'm in a similar situation as you so part of proving you are still upholding your duties as an American citizen is filing taxes. Also, you may want to have a joint-sponsor just in case or move a couple of months before him in order to provide pay stubs, etc. Good luck

Hi Ann. So from my understand you will need to fill both out, however, your primary application is the I-130. I found this website that is informative https://learn.simplecitizen.com/2017/06/form-i-130-form-i-130a-updates/. You should not have to pay multiple filing fees, I submitted my 1-130 in September and only paid the $535.