April M

4 hours ago, DelayedinSS said:

I want to provide an update. I filed for divorce today. The court says the process can take 4 to 6 months to be finalized. I have not yet recieved my 2nd interview date. My husband is still refusing to attend the 2nd interview. Frankly, I dont want him there anyway. I feel like his attitude might be the reason we were not approved in 2015. I have retained a lawyer to help me convert the joint petition to a divorce waiver. He says I will not have to refile. This conflicts with what this forum says. I just hope I dont have to wait another 3 to 4 years before USCIS makes a decision on my case. Does anyone know how the divorce waiver might impact my n400 application? I filed that in Oct 2017.

I am so sorry to hear this. I just wanted you to know . 

4 hours ago, fem_femme said:

I wanted to update the thread for anyone else who will wonder how long it takes for SS # to arrive upon immigrant's entry it took my spouse a week to get his, so we are waiting for his actual g.c. to arrive now. The last time I checked through USCIS status it just shows that it's paid for but no other update. SS arrives fairly quickly! This is if you pick SS option on your immigrant visa application DS-260.

It took two months for my husbands to come. Then we ended up with two SS#s and had to clear up that confusion. 

9 hours ago, MercyDom said:

I’m not sure how long AP takes, it has been very frustrating for my husband and I to go through this but I got an email 1st of April to go have a new medicals done so I have booked appointment for that, also got another email from my husband’s Senator as he has been making inquiries on our behalf.

The issue with my case has been resolved and once I get the new medicals, my visa will be issued, we were very happy to hear this and it took them about 90 days to conclude AP for us.

The thing about AP is that there’s no time frame but if you case is been updated often then it’s a good sign that they’re working on your case, I hope everyone will hear some good news soon.

That is awesome!

On 3/30/2021 at 8:38 AM, fem_femme said:

Hi guys. So my husband just left the US Embassy with a CR-1 visa approved and stamped in his passport! He was already told a week ago to visit the Embassy again today to pick up his passport so he did and a week ago we booked his flight for the day after of his visa pick up to fly to the US (flying tomorrow early morning) and he also did his covid test for the flight and all he needs to do now after leaving the Embassy today is to go back and pack his bags for an early flight tomorrow. He was given instructions where to pay for his green card and it says to pay for it BEFORE he enters the US.

 

Because he just got his visa an hour ago or less, I tried to follow instructions to pay for it myself but it keeps showing 'error' each time and in one instance it says that if you received your US visa, to wait 5 days to try again and if it doesn't work to contact USCIS. Well, now we don't have 5 days to wait as he is flying to the US tomorrow and I can't seem to go beyond the 'error' notice on USCIS fee website. The instructions, as mentioned, says we need to pay before he enters the US and I'm panicking because we thought all we smooth and now I'm not sure what to do. We we cancel his trvael arrangement, it's going to cost us around $500 now to wait several days to try paying for it again. Please advise as I'm really upset now and not sure what to do as we are running out of time rpetty much considering that where my husband is it's mid day and he's supposd to go to the airport early morning tomorrow. There's no way for him to pay for his US visa later on at all? 

Call the USCIS , stay on the phone with them until you find out how to fix it. I had the same problem. 

On 4/1/2021 at 1:55 PM, Neesha051187 said:

Hello friends I got a interview at mumbai on cr1 and right after interview they gave me 221g n I check my online it shows refuse ...

they didn’t ask my any documents or anything They just gave me a letter which I have attached here friends...

can anyone tell me what is going on ...

they gave me my passport back n they gave me a 221g letter which is typed...

thanks good luck to all of you which have a situation like mine 😢😢😢

You need to know what is incomplete and find out how to get it to them. Then you might need an immigration liaison to get it moving once you have all your documents straight with them. 

On 3/29/2021 at 9:06 AM, Gahmad said:

We have been waiting for a Department's decision for over 14 months.....how long is too long?  what can we do?    

Keep communication with embassy and get an immigration liaison if it's been more than 6 months and nothing is moving. 

On 4/2/2021 at 11:50 AM, DelayedinSS said:

I would like to share some disgraceful developments at the Baltimore Field Office. I applied for my i-485 in September 2011 based on my marriage to a USC. I received my conditional green card shortly after that. I applied for removal of Conditions (I751) in October 2014. I have not yet been approved. I went for an i-751 interview in October 2015. In October 2017, I applied for my citizenship through the n400. I have not yet received a response on my i-751 case. It has been almost 7 years. I did not receive an RFE. In January 2021, I received a notice to appear for another i-751 interview. I did not attend the interview because my husband is in another state. I requested that my interview be rescheduled. My husband is frustrated with this entire process and does not want to fly back for an interview (COVID pandemic, and has a sick relative that he is caring for). I do not know what will happen with my case. It has been almost 7 years and USCIS has not ruled on my case. What if my husband refuses to attend the next interview? Will they deny my case? I just want a resolution so that I can move on in life.

I did not have to be at my husband's interview. I don't know why he would have to be at yours? I'm confused about this. My husband had to go to another physical and interview twice and a long time between because of Covid. We just got him there and gave the papers they wanted and everything was fine. What do you have to loose by following through, you already spent 7 years waiting. Go for it. Get it done. 

16 hours ago, Marthaeu said:

Thanks but yesterday they started assigning appointments for the CR1 / IR1 category so they started working on what we needed.

That is very good then 

On 2/15/2021 at 10:16 AM, Marthaeu said:

Very good that was the normal waiting time in Colombia before the pandemic.  Now 14 months and more because they say that until the middle of 2021 they will resume interviews for category CR1 IR1

We waited 2 years +

On 2/15/2021 at 10:26 AM, Marthaeu said:

Good idea .  There is a group on facebook of CR1 IR1 cases that we have written to the ambassador, to the white house, to the news.  help has been asked from everywhere and there is still no result.😞

Ask for the immigration liaison, they will assign one and then they have you file out a form to give them permission to view your case. We did everything through email. If the time was getting to long I would just email and ask for an update. I always talked with the liaison and the embassy to keep in touch with them. If they say they are busy that is ok but the case is still in progress and the next step is to be done. It is ok to ask for information and to find out what needs to be done next. 

7 hours ago, jess.y said:

Hi, can you explain how the US would ask you to report income if you made money from another country in another currency?

I've struggled with understanding how all this works, and no while I do not plan on continuing remote working in the US, I am very curious because it was something I wanted to do initially. Thank you! 

I am very interested in the answer to this question. 

We had to get an "immigrant liaison" from the "state department" to help move our case. Still took 3 months after that. 

On 2/12/2021 at 4:55 PM, Marthaeu said:

I'd like to know who controls the US embassies.  I know that due to the pandemic they were closed and reopened, but looking I see that everyone has continued to assign appointments except the Embassy of Bogotá in Colombia.  There are cases with DQ since November 2019 pending appointment for interviews.  We have written to the embassy and even the White House asking for help but there are no results.  hundreds of families separated by CR1 IR1 cases.  Any suggestions I appreciate.

Keep up the wait, but be diligent with asking for updates. It will happen, even if it takes a long time. 

On 2/13/2021 at 6:48 PM, LittleLune said:

Once I receive my K-1 visa, I plan to move to the US as soon as possible, get married and file for AOS along with an EAD. However, if I have a job with a non-US company that has me working remotely and I can continue to do so after relocating, would it be legal to do so during the period that I'm waiting for an EAD, since it doesn't involve a US company and I could presumably still be paid in my account back home? The job in question wouldn't allow me to take a leave of absence while awaiting the EAD, given the long expected processing times and the uncertainty about exactly how long it would take.

I would like to know how to work remotely. 

14 hours ago, HRQX said:

Line 30 "Recovery rebate credit. See instructions."

Thank you so much 😉

5 hours ago, mbssss said:

Hi everyone.

 

In 2019 and 2020 I was an F-1 student and worked on campus so I have an SSN and have filed taxes in the US before. Me and my husband got married in June last year (2020) and will be filing our taxes jointly this year. Will I be eligible to claim the stimulus check or am I ineligble?

I was told yes. I just don't know how that is done yet. 

12 hours ago, April M said:

1. I am wondering the same things. I need answers. What health insurences are except able? Or should I ask which are not except able? I can find many, even one with my employer for my husband but is it good enough to satisfy? How do I know? What are the guidelines (rules) that are clear enough to understand? 

2. As for the tax credit which I do not want to over Shadow the insurance questions, If my husband had a social security number in 2020 I can ask for the credit on my taxes but I don't know if they will give it considering there is a rule from the past that states the person has to be living for 6 months out of the year to claim anything. Does that rule disclude him then? Or it does not matter as long as he has a social security in 2020? 

Thanks to the one who posted this below, I an sharing again:

Attach a statement, signed by both spouses, to your joint return for the first tax year for which the choice applies. It should contain the following information:

A declaration that one spouse was a nonresident alien and the other spouse a U.S. citizen or resident alien on the last day of the tax year, and that you choose to be treated as U.S. residents for the entire tax year

The name, address, and identification number of each spouse. (If one spouse died, include the name and address of the person making the choice for the deceased spouse.)
 

4 hours ago, xoxox said:

Thanks  Just I wanted to know might new government issued new rules or made any changes regarding immigrant as usually come up with new rules . But now I understood receiving stimulus check it won't affect naturazltion .

Even Idk new rules with health insurance  Current I don't have health insurance for 2021 Might I was eligible to get it through Medicaid or market place with government assistance but I didn't apply due it considered public benefits would affect eligiblity for naturazltion so I would rather to stay without health insurance and pay the fine . 

1. I am wondering the same things. I need answers. What health insurences are except able? Or should I ask which are not except able? I can find many, even one with my employer for my husband but is it good enough to satisfy? How do I know? What are the guidelines (rules) that are clear enough to understand? 

2. As for the tax credit which I do not want to over Shadow the insurance questions, If my husband had a social security number in 2020 I can ask for the credit on my taxes but I don't know if they will give it considering there is a rule from the past that states the person has to be living for 6 months out of the year to claim anything. Does that rule disclude him then? Or it does not matter as long as he has a social security in 2020? 

15 minutes ago, xoxox said:

Just according this answers. I'm Green card holder through vawa. Currently I'm working as part time job since I lost my previous job    I received my first and second stimulus check in mail and i went to deposit at my bank account since I didn't provide irs with my bank account information for direct deposit when I filled my tax .

. Just I want to know stimulus checks will affect my eligibility for Naturalization in the future or anything ?

Good question

19 hours ago, SammyMiami said:

Glad I found your thread!! 🙌   ....With Joburgs consulate being closed, are they still doing interviews? We finally finished the paperwork today and are waiting for the NVC to approve. 

I think so but I would just email them like I did our whole journey. Just what I think.

8 hours ago, mrsminer said:

I’m in a similar situation.
 

Dec 16: Interview in Montreal, took passport, and denied visa due to pending medical results

Dec 16- 20:  Confirmed multiple times with the medical office that my medical results had been sent electronically. They said I was not the only one with this issue and suspected an issue on the US Consulate side (new system for receiving due to covid)

Dec 23: US consulate confirmed via email they had received my results

Jan 5: CEAC online status updated to "ready to schedule an interview"

Jan 7:  Have been sending e-mails to the consulate for status update  and on Jan 7 they replied again saying they have the medical results and my case is under review: 

Jan 11: Looks like the date updated on CEAC was revised to Jan 11, and status still says "ready to schedule an interview" 

 

I am so frustrated! Has anyone received their passport back? Any idea on timeline ? Is there a way to just get your passport back? 
 

thank you all!! 

I suggest you communicate with the embassy and clear up the discrepancy. If you have the email with the information email it to the embassy and request that it be updated and please do the next step. It is a matter of following the steps on both sides correctly. So communicate until follow through. That is what we did. Every time it got stuck we followed through to move it again. Hope that helps.

9 hours ago, mizzem said:

We are scheduled for Jan. 29 and not cancelling, hoping we won’t be forced to.🤞🤞

Keep it👍

1 hour ago, ughazi93 said:

Hi everyone, this is my first post but this topic has helped me a lot so I thought I’d post our experience. My wife had her interview yesterday was thankfully approved! We received the tracking number today. I posted a review of it but thought I’d post it here too:

 

My wife’s appointment was at 10:15am. She got there a little early and was told to come back as they were backed up (about 45 mins behind). She was let into the building around 11am where she waited in the lobby. Only 3 people were allowed in the lobby at a time. She was in the lobby for about 10-15 minutes before she was allowed to go through security. After going through security, she took the elevator to the first floor and was told to take a seat until one of the windows were clear. After 5 minutes, a security officer directed her to an empty window (it was either window #6 or #7). When she was called up, she gave her passport. She was asked to provide the following:

- Confirm Canadian and US address (I moved recently so she provided my updated address)
- Confirm Canadian and US phone numbers (you won’t have your phone so make sure you have this memorized!)
- Original Marriage certificate
- Original Birth certificate
- Police check (she had an updated one as the original one we submitted was over a year old. She only took the new one)
- Updated financial information (my wife gave my tax transcript from 2019 as well as an updated I-864 Affidavit of Support)
- Confirm lawyer’s name
- Fingerprints from both hands

Nothing was mentioned about her medical. (I know some people completed their medical in time but were told the consulate had not received it yet). She was given a pamphlet on domestic violence and then told to take a seat. After about an hour she was called up for her interview. The woman she interviewed with was very nice and conversational. My wife was then asked to give her oath and then provide fingerprints again as a digital signature. The interviewer asked the following questions:

- When did you get married?
- When did you meet your husband?
- How did you meet your husband?
- What does your husband do?
- What do you do for work?
- What do plan to do in the US?
- Have you been out of the country in the past?
- Have you read through the pamphlet? Do you understand it?

After these questions, she gave back the marriage certificate and birth certificate. She then told my wife she has been approved and handed her a white Welcome to the United States paper! The interviewer apologized a lot for the delay and that the system was running slowly. The interview portion lasted about 15 minutes, the majority of which was the woman entering things into the computer. The entire process took about 90 minutes and everyone was very nice. 

Her advice is the interview process is very easy so just try and stay calm even though all the waiting can cause your nerves to build up. As long as you’ve prepared all the necessary documents, you should have no issues.

Very fortunate because not all countries are this way. Congratulations. 

1 hour ago, rafale1973 said:

Yeah i know that. I told that to the employer. I said well my visa authorize me to work right now even if I haven’t recent SSN yet. But they said no we really need you to have your social. To call them once I receive it. My bet is the position will be filled once I’ll call back... 

We went to the office and gave the info and now have to wait 4 to 6 weeks for the social security number in the mail. We called the USCIS office and asked about the green card and they told us that we need to wait until the green card comes in even though his passport was stamped before he can get a job. What to do while waiting well... He's trying to get back on mated to the area, see if he can make some friends, and we have some other applications that need to take care of. Yes, it is hard to wait. We have waited long already but we want to do what is right. We don't wont to mess up all that we have done already. 

On 12/29/2020 at 9:11 PM, seekingthetruth said:

For all payments, SSN is required.  So you would need to be resident alien with a SSN.  If you have information contradicting this, please share the source.

So my husband just got here and waiting for his s.s. number. So when we do taxes he will get it then, right?