knmuffin

Hi all! 

My spouse has a visa interview on March 9th. I start a new job on March 11th. 

I originally filed the I-864 in 2020 with my old job info (quit in Nov 2021, unemployed til right now). I know I need to write up a new I-864 now. Can I still sponsor them via the I-864 and my new job, even though it technically starts 2 days after the interview?

I have tax transcripts from '18, '19, and '20 and a '21 W2 that all show I make well above the limit, and I have a signed contract for my new job, too. 

Will I need a joint sponsor for them or can my new job work? My tentative thought is to send my spouse with a joint sponsor just in case, but want to know how likely they would be to need it. 

18 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Whether a new job will suffice to avoid using parents as joint sponsor will depend on the actual facts including how long the person was out of work between jobs and their totality of other circumstances.  You actually do get sent a link to what to bring and that would include, at minimum, the latest newer tax return.  It's  always advised to bring a current pay stub to show you are still employed, but it is often not asked for.

 

DO...expect your spouse to be asked where you work and your occupation. If you are not employed on the interview date, she MUST tell the truth.  It is this truth or the truth of the job change that dictates what the Consular Officer will require/request at interview.

Thanks for your answer! I'm in grad school - I quit my full time job in November 2021, just do contract work for now for the same company but not near full time. My 2020 W2 shows sufficient $$ and I'll be employed again by March. No intention of my spouse lying though. 

 I didn't get any link of anything to upload - this was mostly what I was curious about. I know it says to bring updated tax docs, but I was just trying to find out if I had to also upload them to CEAC, or if I choose to use my parents as a joint sponsor, If I have to upload their docs to CEAC or my spouse just brings the completed and signed I-864s and their tax info in hand to the interview. 

Hi all! So happy, we just received our interview date for next month! 

When we originally filed at NCV (way back in 2020), I filed the I-864 as I was working full time. I submitted tax transcripts from 2017, 18, and 19. I have since quit, but I expect another job offer before March (I am actively interviewing). Either way, the I-864 is incorrect. My parents have agreed to act as the sponsor for now just in case I don't get a new offer before March. But I'd like to wait a bit to see if I get an offer first. Just as a note, we never got any request to update anything or submit new documents. 

My questions:

1. Do we have to upload my (or my parents') new I-864 to CEAC or just bring it to the visa interview? Will this impact our interview if we upload new docs to the CEAC website? 

2. Will a new job contract (signed and accepted) count as proof of income?

4 hours ago, sweetk328 said:

Thank you for the information. That helps a little and yes, that is all they asked for. Regarding common sense...nothing is common about immigration if you have never been through this process. I've googled my way through this journey, no attorney, no outside help. I've done the best I've could with the little knowledge I have. I made a mistake. That is common. I've made several calls with immigration and Nvc and was told certified copies would be fine. 

I am SO happy you posted this - we also got a certified copy for my partner after reading online and getting confirmation from NVC that it was fine. Luckily I'm heading to GH next month so I can bring the original back to them! Total agreement with you - nothing is common about this process and there's conflicting information at EVERY turn. Good luck, I hope your husband gets his visa quick! 

55 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

The I-865 must be mailed to USCIS.  It cannot be done online.   I see no reason to inform NVC.  

 

We recently moved.  I mailed the I-865 to USCIS, and I received a conformation, by mail, about a week or so later. 

Awesome, thanks! I figured I had to tell NVC for interview purposes, incase they ask where I (the petitioner) live, and NVC only had my old address on file. Thank you for the confirmation though! 

I've done a bit of searching but can't seem to find all the info/have it confirmed:  

My spouse and I have been stuck at NVC for over a year- we were DQ'd in May 2020. I (petitioner) have moved addresses in the US and I'm trying to figure out how to make sure everything is changed over adequately. These are the two pieces of information I found: 

1. For USCIS: I have to mail in the I-865 form to USCIS. There's no way to do this online? 

2. For NVC: I have to fill out the public inquiry form with my new address. 

Does this sound correct? Am I missing anything? I want to make sure I'm not missing any steps! Thanks in advance! 

We were DQ'd May 2020- not a single peep from NVC or the embassy. On an FB group I'm in, someone mentioned getting a "pre-interview letter" from the Accra Embassy saying they'd hear something in 90 days. This apparently happened last month to an IR1 case where petitioner was a LPR and they were DQ'd in May 2020 as well. If this is true, it makes no sense! 

My partner and I were DQ'd on May 19th, 2020. I've heard that Ghana is still rescheduling cancelled interviews from March/April 2020, so I assume we're still a few months out from an interview (which just plain sucks). 

Since we were DQ'd on financials and information from almost a year ago, is there precedent for being asked to resubmit forms, or should he just show up to the interview with up-to-date tax returns, my paystubs/work contract and such? Anyone in a similar boat with insight?  

On 3/2/2021 at 3:09 PM, unique5589 said:

How's everyone doing so far? 

 

I'm fine but becoming frustrated and impatient with this process. There are days when I reflect on when I had the chances to visit my husband but didn't due to prior obligations. I understand that no one knew this virus and quarantine would turn out to be so devastating for so many of us, but I do regret not visiting my husband when I had the opportunities to do so. I won't be able to leave the US until later this year, which means I won't see my husband physically until toward the end of this year, and that's very psychologically and emotionally damaging! As mentioned before, I requested an interview expedite about a month ago. The embassy denied my request. I will try again soon.

I feel you- I actually just got approved from work to head to Ghana for a month. I'm spending an arm and a leg to make this work, and I'm worried to travel during COVID, but I haven't seen my spouse in more than one year and it's just too much now. I am hoping the email to schedule an interview will come while I'm there so we can properly celebrate, and so I can leave Ghana knowing we'll be together permanently soon! I have faith things will turn out well!

On 2/8/2021 at 10:47 AM, unique5589 said:

Have you all heard?! The US Embassy in Ghana is back at it again. They're cancelling some appointments!

I was so upset to read that yesterday. It ruined my whole day, as hard as I tried to remain positive. I just wish I had ANY idea of when we MIGHT get an interview so I can plan my future with my spouse. I wonder sometimes if I should give up and move back to Ghana and try again in a few years. 

Hi Ghana filers! Do you all know if the "one year contact rule" for NVC is by priority date, or DQ? Our PD is Feb 19th, 2020 and we were DQ'd at NVC 19th May. I would assume it's the 19th May date, but I'd like to be sure. Have any of you contacted NVC? (Also, have any of you tried to contact the embassy in Accra?) 

This is getting REALLY tough, I hope to hear some news soon, and I wish the same for all of you! 

2 hours ago, Ricca711 said:

I have our original marriage certificate and registrar's certificate here in the US with me as well.  Why are you sending the certificates back to your spouse?  

He will need to bring the original with him to the embassy interview! 

Just now, pushbrk said:

You don't have an "original" anyway.  You have an original "certified copy".  He can simply get another certified copy from the court.

Oh! I have the wet ink signed one that I, my husband, and all of our witnesses signed. The court has a sort of receipt-like smaller version that I seem to remember signing, but I’m not even sure at this point. I assumed mine was the original. Thanks! 

28 minutes ago, designguy said:

Must be one big marriage certificate!

 

He should be able to get a copy from court. 

I think maybe it’s because borders are still closed and very few flights are going?! I was so surprised to see that cost! I’ll try calling next week to see if that quote is accurate, but that’s nice to know in case! Thank you! 

I very stupidly took our marriage certificate back to the US... I wanted it here to have everything in order for the I-130 petition, in hindsight I didn't need it here at all. I was planning on going back to my Husband's country this summer to bring back the marriage cert among other things, but now no longer will be (thanks global pandemic). Now that we've been DQ'd, we want to be very ready for when the embassy opens back up again. 

DHL shipping is quoting me $400... I am worried about sending it by normal post in case it gets lost. Can my husband get a certified copy from the court, or do we need the exact copy we sent to USCIS and NVC? 

Any insight appreciated! 

14 minutes ago, MS&JA said:

Wow! Congratulations.

 

I didn't even know this was possible. What's your PD? What embassy are you waiting on?

PD is February 19th, 2020. Waiting on Accra embassy! 

2 minutes ago, HKS said:

I'm happy for you, but #######!! 

I cannot even believe it! We submitted all our documents yesterday at 4:30pm ET, and got our DQ this morning around 9:30am ET! Our I-130 process went super quickly too, I cannot even believe this is real life, I have never been happier! 

Hi everyone, quick question again- we submitted our AOS and DS-260 this weekend, and are now just waiting for the police report (coming tomorrow) to upload and submit all civil documents... do we have to re-submit the Affidavits of Bonafide Marriage (from friends and family) or the photograph/WhatsApp documents, or does everything we submitted with our I-130 get transferred over so that NVC has access to all of that? 

Hi All, 

Why do we also have to email documents to NVC when we are uploading and completing everything on the online portal? 

The instructions say:

"If your case IS processing electronically, please scan and email your documents to: NVCElectronic@state.gov"

Is this just the required documents for the Immigrant Visa or the Affidavit of Support, as well, and if we have to resubmit, do we send another email?

Hi everyone, getting ready to submit the Affidavit of Support info - I see this question is asked a few times but still doesn't give total clarity -- 

Do I put N/A for absolutely everything that does not apply to us?

According to the instructions, you put N/A when a question does not apply to you (so I did so for immigrant's middle name, etc), but what about the entire sections with Optional written in parenthesis? Did you put N/A in ALL those spots too? Or because it's optional already, it can be left blank? 

I'm getting ready to submit my online I-130, and I didn't realize that after "Evidence to Support Your Petition" There is another page entitled "Additional Evidence." We were able to upload things for EVERYTHING on the first Evidence page, but this comes up on the "additional" page: 

"If a required document is unavailable, you must provide a typed or printed explanation of the reasons that document is unavailable and submit secondary evidence to establish eligibility. Secondary evidence must overcome the unavailability of the required documents. USCIS may request an original typed or printed statement from the appropriate government or other legal authority to support your claim that the documents are unavailable.

The following types of secondary evidence may be submitted to establish eligibility:

• Religious record
• School records
• Census records
• Written statements"

But we have uploaded all documents required on the previous page. If I try to skip this page and go to a new page, it says 

"You should provide evidence. If you do not provide evidence, your petition processing may be delayed." - under the religious record upload section, school records, etc... 

What's going on?