mam521

So a couple of things here for consideration. The timeline you're expecting isn't probably that quick. Especially with the current administration. You did mention that relatively speaking, you guys are not exactly rolling in the dough. Are you making enough to fulfill the requirements for the I-864? If not, you're going to need a joint sponsor. You may be well aware of this, but sometimes people aren't and it's a bit shocking to them. Same with income taxes - need to be up to date on US filings. If you do K1, it's going to cost substantially more money because not only do you have to do the K1, pay to adjust status and pay again to remove conditions. You would potentially still have to remove conditions with a CR1, but it's one less expense over the K1 with potentially a large number of freedoms that don't initially come with the K1. Yes, the CR1 takes longer, but your partner enters the US, able to work, travel internationally and really begin a new life. It's a lot harder to be the immigrant where you move to a new country, where you are completely dependent on your partner both for company and financially, especially if they had been independent previously, where the politics are different, where people behave differently, were customs are different and then to try and fit in and make friends with no driver's license and no job. If something happens back home, they can't just jump on a plane and go back to family. So while you both might think they aren't that important right now, really stand back and consider the imminent life change that's about to happen for her. The time apart is really a blip in time compared to the long term scale of building a life long marriage.

If you could kindly fill out your timeline, it would certainly assist the community and helps narrow questions down. https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=330598

If asked, you must be honest. This is pretty much key with this whole process. How long have you been together and how many times have you seen one another in person? Any reason you're thinking K1 instead of CR1?

You should probably find some high skool kids to come help you out for cheaper than the Ecu handyman. Take advantage while they're still outta skool! My mom has worked in a nursing home for many, many years. Sometimes all you can do is give her a big hug. It won't take away all the problems, but sometimes, that's all it takes to make them seem less overwhelming and show stopping. Maybe you need that hug, too.

Its up to the discretion of the CBP officer as to whether or not they admit you on a B visa or they activate your PR. It's less and less common for them to admit as a visitor. Keep in mind your visa has an expiration for when you have to activate your PR.

Please fill out your timeline: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=488531 Depending on the country, it may actually be cheaper to bring extra bags on the flights because you won't get stuck paying customs fees and whatever else gets tossed into the mix. Depending on the circumstances, sometimes a business class upgrade is cheap enough that three 70lb bags included with the ticket (airline dependent) is worth the offset cost. In short, your mileage may vary.

You have to get married then file the I-130 first and those are taking 16 or so months to be approved. After that approval, your partner would fill out their DS-260 and you the I-864. You can have a joint sponsor for the I-864. Adjusting status will cost way more money in the long term. Additionally, it puts strain on the relationship because your partner has to wait for work authorization before they can get a job and help with the finances. It's extremely difficult for people to go from independent to fully dependent, and in a new country with new culture, customs and often few friends. By completing consular processing, your partner enters the US on the same level as you - able to work, get a driver's license and really work on integrating into life in the US. No one wants to be apart from their loved ones, but the reality of immigration is that sometimes you have to be separated for a little bit of time. In the greater picture of your entire lifetime together, it's really a small amount of time.

Definitely becoming a thing of the past. In 2023 when we travelled to the UK, e-gates only, in and out. No interaction at the airport (entry and exit) with a human. The Chunnel wasn't e-gated yet and what a cluster that was. Italy was e-gate when we flew back to London. IAH has had facial recognition instead of scanning boarding passes for a long time now. Apparently there's facial recognition trials going on for Global Entry too - no need to stop at the kiosk. Just walk. We fly to Canada next month to take Kid1 to uni so I guess I'll have a chance to check out some of the changes. Hopefully the NEXUS kiosks have been replaced because they were a headache and rarely worked properly!

I'm not going to argue that. I got stuck...in Texas...without a license for 2 weeks because the system hadn't updated quickly enough. There's no public transit in the burbs of Houston. Luckily, I had friends who live in the same neighborhood that could take me to work daily and I had a nanny who used to come to us to look after the kids. The company I work for don't even have HR do the verifications now. They use an E-verify partner. HR (human remains, as hubs call them) never seem to be impacted by headcount reductions and don't seem to have to do anything locally so I was pretty irritated when I was told I had to go offsite to complete this task.

It was by design. He couldn't stand anymore and knew he'd try to get up in the moment of it all. He was frail and vulnerable and he knew it, but was pretty important to him to sing "Mama, I'm Coming Home" to Sharon one last time. Sharon planned the event according to Ozzy's wishes. His favorites came out to support and raise money for charity. It's funny...he said himself "the Prince of Darkness is still here" but that was just his alter ego. He was an ooey, gooey gummy bear underneath it all. The grandkids turned him into an ultra softie. Saw some video of them rockin out at that farewell gig, pink headphones and all. It will be interesting to see what Sharon gets up to now. She's apparently planning Kelly's wedding but Ozzy had always kept her pretty busy. They really one another's yin to the yang.

^^^This. Virginia uses SAVE verification to ensure you're legally entitled to be in the US. Hopefully your documents are approved and arrive quickly!

Oh my gosh...this grinds my gears so badly! I suspect the reason in TX DPS does SAVE verification is to save asking questions because it's easier to train and that's it. I had an SSA agent try to tell me I couldn't use my kids' passports with endorsed MRIV's to get their SSN's when it's right on the instructions for the application as evidence of immigration status! And HR - I'm fighting, despite quoting policy, to have my greencard removed from my HR profile because it's no longer a valid document since I have citizenship and have done an I-9 update WITH my US passport. Considering how challenging it's been in addition to some other incompetence issues, I don't put it past them trying to use it for something.

Yet, if you read the fine print, you are legally required to carry it at all times. I didn't say a state ID wasn't an option for non-drivers. It is. As you stated, it's your opinion. There's approximately 29 million voting aged Americans don't have a state ID. They may want that ID, but it's impractical for whatever reason. That's nice that you were able to take a bus. Here, your only option is an Uber or a Lyft. Not even a taxi.

If you don't drive, then why would you? Especially if you have to do to DPS/DMV to get that piece of ID? The cost of vehicle insurance is prohibitively expensive for a lot of people, so they don't bother because they'll never drive. Heck...the number of people operating vehicles with no license and no insurance around these parts is what's driven up insurance rates to ridiculousness. The only reason Kid1 drives is because Texas doesn't believe in comprehensive public transit, so said child has no choice. She MUCH prefers to be a Passenger Princess because it's bloody scary driving in the Houston metro area.

Would love to try the BC but it's not remotely close, especially when Houston is an hour or more from Houston! I think we were in and out within 45 minutes last time. Not too bad me thinks.

It doesn't say specifically that a foreign passport cannot be used for proving identity. It lists accepted documents and states, in the fine print, further documentation may be necessary. The fine print doesn't specify what does, or does not qualify. It's pedantic in the same way you mention a post office employee can't ask, but the DoS can. I do find a lot of policy to be small minded and based on the assumption that everyone has a DL or state ID in the US. I wish I would have gone the certified copy route because the Post Office defaced my naturalization certificate by stapling it when I applied for the kids' US passports. Apparently the PO staff are told NOT to staple it but you know...unless you have to pay to replace a certificate, you don't truly appreciate what you're doing when doing it incorrectly 🙄. That said, certified copies for certain things are definitely advantageous. I had certified copies of my kids' Canadian passports so I could get them ITIN's years back when we came on my L visa. There was no way I was sending their passports, the only piece of ID with their proof of status, away for an indeterminate amount of time for the ITIN's to be generated.

Happy Belated Level Up Day! 🎂 @Neonred hubs is delighted that Costco Exec members now get in an hour early. There was still a number of people waiting to get in, but it was less crazy than "normal". He hates stores with people shopping in them.

I'm sure it could be argued as @Fr8dog says, but the instructions also say additional evidence to establish identity may be required. One could probably use a foreign passport in the absence of a current DL. A certificate of naturalization that is being used as proof of citizenship, so infers one isn't "originally" American and likely has a foreign "passport of origin".

I feel like my friend who lives in Harris county gets called at least 2x a year. We're in Montgomery county and hubs just got his first jury summons. He naturalized in 2019.

All a matter of opinion, my friend 😉. Some couples get on well with shared bank accounts; others do not. It's easy to forget you have all of these other things because you're like "duh...that's just what people do"...because, well, you're in a real relationship 🙂. When it's legit, you take for granted the "obvious" things. Happy to hear you're feeling a bit of relief. You'll be fine!

The house in both names is definitely a huge investment together! We don't have a joint bank account. I was only ever an authorized user. We listed each other on other important accounts like pension, 401k, life insurance, house insurance, vehicle insurance, health insurance. Are your other accounts listing one another as beneficiaries? I'm a citizen now, so it must have been enough . I filed under the 3 year provision, too, and they still gave it to me. I wouldn't worry too much!

Big hugs, Friend. Big hugs. ❤️

As mentioned above, you will need to go through the visa process to enter Canada, the same as a foreigner needs one to enter the US. Which visa type will depend on the circumstances by which you'd qualify to enter Canada. USMCA visa (TN equivalent for Canadians who work in the US) may work if you are able to secure employment in Canada in an eligible field that meets the requirements. If you are in one of those fields, does your current employer have a Canadian division that you could transfer with?

You should start a separate thread outside of this one. Baby needs proof of identity before you can bring them to the US. Have you already activated your greencards or you have the I-551's in your passport and are waiting to come to the US for the first time? This has a big impact on the correct path forward.

If you could fill out your profile, it would be a great help to the community: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=490476 The Department of State, who determine eligibility and issue visas processed at embassies and consulates, have the information regarding K-1 visas here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/nonimmigrant-visa-for-a-fiance-k-1.html . The important part is in blue - K-1 visas are a single use only visa. You enter the US, you must marry and file AOS within 90 days of that date of entry. You cannot leave or you invalidate that single entry visa. Additionally, the DOS lists the criteria for AVR here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/visa-expiration-date/auto-revalidate.html#:~:text=Nonimmigrants who departed the United,Departure Record%2C endorsed by DHS. and lists F, J and M visas, but not K visas. IMHO, I suspect it's going to be an extremely challenging sell to try and pitch AVR when it's clearly stated that a K-1 visa is a single admission into the US and the categories of AVR eligible visas are limited. Typically, if people leave before they marry and adjust status, they have to start at the beginning of the application process and go through the wait times as they did in the first place. In the e-mail you received from CBP, it says: You would be marrying and filing for an adjustment of status, thereby not intending to resume the same non-immigrant status. IMHO, I suspect it's going to be an extremely challenging sell to try and pitch AVR when it's clearly stated that a K-1 visa is a single admission into the US and the categories of AVR eligible visas are limited. Typically, if people leave before they marry and adjust status, they have to start at the beginning of the application process and go through the wait times as they did in the first place. Apply and come back to the forum and let us know how you make out. I'm certainly interested!