munamubarak20@gma

Congratulations. I just got my visa last week so our visa journey is over. And we're living proof that it's definitely possible to immigrate with the USC in prison.

This is some information I PM to people about to do interviews. I've gleaned it from VJ posts, books I've read, attorney's I've spoken to. For those prepping for an AOS interview, I can recommend a small but very informative book titled "Green Card Interview Questions and Answers: Dos and Don'ts, Keys to Success", by Joseph Rotomi Famuyide, Esq. It is self-published, and although I found it through interlibrary loan, he lives in Brooklyn, NY and a copy can be obtained from him directly. These tips and questions are applicable to any country.
Here are some tips for the interview:
1. Do not volunteer information. For most questions, the shorter and more direct the answers are, the shorter the interview and the higher the chance of success. If the question is a yes or no question, give yes or no answers only. If the question is a simple question like "What is your name?" answer simply with your name.
2. If you do not know the answer to a question, do not lie. Say, "I don't know the answer to that at this time." or "I don't remember."
3. The answer to many questions will be in the papers that were sent in the petitions. Questions like, "what are your husband's parent's names". They will expect you to know the information given in your petitions. Review everything in your paperwork with your wife before her interview, and do a mock interview to see how the information may be applied.
4. Avoid saying "I think . . .". Women do this a lot. The examiner will expect you to know not be unsure, of your answers. Also, avoid adding "umm", "you know" and "ahh" type fillers to your speech.
5. When applicable, don't just state, demonstrate. If the examiner asks a question that can be answered with a document or photograph(s), provide it along with your answer.
For example, if the examiner asks, "What does your family think of your husband?", give them a picture or two with your answer; "They like him very much. Here is a picture of him with my mother and father at my parent's home."
Or, "How many attended your wedding?" Answer, "(give a number, then say) We have some lovely wedding photos of our guests having fun. Here are a few that I can show you."
6. Give American answers for dates and times. 12/24/07, not 24/12/07.
7. Dress well, but not overdressed.
8. Try to appear calm, well organized, and friendly. Nervousness raises suspicions.
9. Remain focused. If the examiner makes jokes, smile and enjoy, but do not make jokes too.
10. Make proper eye contact when conversing with the examiner, and try to control your own facial expressions so that your face remains pleasant and cordial.
11. Be audible so that your examiner doesn't have to ask you to repeat your answers.
12. Organize your papers in a way that will allow you to retrieve them easily and quickly. Examiners appreciate order and someone who doesn't waste their time.
13. When the interview is over, always ask for the results. "What should I now tell my husband about my visa status after our interview?" Before you leave, have them explain any papers they give to you and/or any procedures they will be taking to complete your case. Try to get the examiner's name for future reference, if needed. Write it down.
14. If the interview is in another city than the one you live in, arrive a day or two early to complete biometrics and get the results of your medical exam.
15. Arrive early to the consulate, but also be prepared to wait for a time past your scheduled interview appointment time. Be careful of thieves around the consulate if you have to carry cash. Bring ID; you cannot enter without it.
16. It is rare for the consulate to give you a visa on the spot. Be prepared to return for it, if approved.
For the interview, your SO should bring:
1. Original marriage documents, translations and certifications.
2. Formal, long form birth certificate.
3. Copies of any divorce records or death decrees of former SO(s).
4. Passport, with an expiration date of no earlier than 6 months. Try to have more than 6 months before expiration.
5. Police certificate with "Nothing" written on it, indicating no criminal record
6. Fingerprints (consulate will instruct you regarding how, when and where these will be taken). There is a fee for this.
7. Medical exam results (consulate will instruct you regarding how, when and where this will be taken). There is a fee for this. Make sure you get a copy from the medical examiner.
8. Passport type photos of each of you. (consulate will instruct you regarding these)
I made a list of what I've seen other people say their SOs were asked at consulates. Make sure that your fiancé can spell your COMPLETE name.
Possible interview questions:
What's your SO's full name?
Has s/he used any other names?
How many times have you met?
When and how did you meet?
When was the last time you were together?
How long have you known each other?
How long were you together the last time?
How long were you together any other time(s)?
What are the dates of the visits?
What have you done when your SO came?
Where did you go?
Where does your SO live? Which city and state?
What does your SO do for a living?
Where does your SO work?
What is your SO's phone number?
Do you know how long your SO has had this job?
Did you have a wedding ceremony?
Please describe your wedding ceremony.
Are you planning to have a wedding at any time in the future?
Questions about the pictures; when, where and who.
Where will you live?
Have you met your SO's family?
Where do your SO's parents live?
How do you communicate with your SO?
How do you keep in touch?
What language do you use to communicate with your SO?
How many times do you and your SO talk on the phone each month?
Why did you want to marry your SO?
Why would you choose to marry so much older/younger than you?
Do you want children?
What do your parents think about your marriage?
Do you love your SO?
What do you love about your SO?
Does your SO own or rent their home?
How much does your SO earn?
Write your SO's full name.
Have you ever been to the US?
When, for how long, and where did you live?
Do you have any relatives/friends in the US?
Where do they live?
What are your SO's parents' names?
Does your SO have any brothers or sisters?
What are their names?
What are your SO's hobbies and interests?
What are your hobbies and interests?
What do you have in common?
Do you know if your SO was married before?
How many times?
When did your SO divorce?
Does your SO have any children?
What are their (exes) names?
How do you get along with your SO's child(ren)?
Were you married before?
What is your SO's religious background?
Does your SO speak and understand your language?
Why do you want to come to the United States?
Do you have children?
How old is your SO?
What is your SO's birth date?
Where was your SO born?
Do you speak and understand your SO's native language?
Where and when were you engaged?
What do you do for a living?
Where do you work?
What do you plan to do once you are in the US?
Do you plan to work in the US?
Do you plan to study in the US?
What company does your SO's work for and what is their title?
What is your SO's favorite food?
Where did your SO work in the past and for how long?
What color are your SO's eyes?
What color is your SO's hair?
Did you prepare the forms yourself?
Which university did your SO graduate from?
Which subjects has your SO studied?
Have you been in the military?
Talk about your experience in the military.
Who is the petitioner?
Please tell me more about your SO.
Do you plan to stay in the U.S. forever?
What is your SO's name?
How did you meet your SO?
When did you meet your SO?
When did you become engaged?
What made you decide to use the internet to find a SO?
How long was your SO married before?
Does he have children? How many?
What are their names?
How old is your SO?
When was your SO born?
How long has your SO been working for XYZ?
Have you met his/her parents?
Have you talked to them on the phone?
Do they approve of your relationship?
Does your family approve of your relationship?
When was your engagement party?
Who was there?
Was any of her family there?
Why weren't they there?
Where did you have your wedding?
What religion is your SO?
What is your religion?
When did your SO visit you?
How long did your SO stay each visit?
What do you do for work?
How do you communicate with your SO?
How many times a day do you talk to your SO on the phone?
Where is your SO from?
What does your SO do?
When is your SO's birthday?
What did you send your SO?
When was your SO here?
Did you have an engagement ceremony?
Where do your SO parents live?
Where do your SO's siblings live?
What does your SO do?
What is your SO parents address?
What does your SO do?
What do you do?
Who are the people in the pictures?
What did you send to your SO?
What did your SO send to you?
How many times was your SO married?
What are the names of your SO's exes?
When was your SO's last divorce?
When did you meet your your SO?
When were you married?
What were the exact dates of your SO's visit?
Does your SO have children?
How many and what are their names?
Where do your SO 's parents live?
What did you do when your wife was in your country?
Where was the wedding?
Do you talk to men online?
How to you talk to your SO?
When did you meet your SO?
Were you talking to a lot of men on the Internet?
What do you and your SO talk about on the phone?
Do you have family in the US?
Who has custody of the children?
Where do your SO's exes live?
Will you be a good parent to your SO's children?

I was interviewed at the US Embassy in Djibouti on October 17, 2021
 He gave me a white paper asking for it
 Proof of age
 Prove the relationship
 We submitted documents to prove age and relationship on November 8, 2021. It was not accepted.
 Relationship proven when I did relationship DNA January 4, 2022.
 We have made many transfers that do not confirm the age, but it was not accepted.
 Proof of age documents were submitted on April 21, 2022. It was not accepted.
 Age proof documents were submitted on July 30, 2022. It was not accepted.
 The documents proving age were submitted on August 4, 2022. It was not accepted.
 Documents proving age were submitted on September 5, 2022.
 We received an email requesting passports to complete visa processing on September 8, 2022.
 We handed over the passports to the embassy window on September 11, 2022.
 We also renewed the medical examination on September 24, 2022.
 My visa status changed to (expiring soon) October 18, 2022
 We closed Form DS-260 on July 21, 2022. The visa status was changed to Denied on October 25, 2022.
 My visa has not yet been issued, what should I do?

That's not your business, how does that relate to his questions. Ever heard of people past life. Get a grip!!. Noisy asf

I did. People change. 

It means the officer, for some reason, could not IMMEDIATELY issue the visa.  It is very common.  Just be patient.  THIS IS NOT A DENIAL.  

He gets out in 8 months. The rate things are going he will be out long before the interview and like everyone else who doesn't work or doesn't make enough they get joint sponsor. 

I don't know if some people are still following this thread, but I got into the US with a K1 visa and married my man, incarcerated in Nevada. He has a life sentence, and we got the K1 visa without any problem. Now we are in the adjustment of status process. It is very difficult because we have no income right now and I can't work. I'm only living on my savings, so I really hope the EAC will not take too long.
 
Just wanted to say that it is totally possible to get a K1 visa with an incarcerated husband  Just make sure you have someone to sponsor you, since your spouse can't, for obvious reasons.

My husband is in prison too. I filled out the I-130 on the computer, put together all the back up and then sent it to him to sign and send to USCIS. On the last page of the I-130, you can fill out if someone other than the petitioner filled out the form. Our I-130 petition was approved within the standard 5 months roughly, no RFEs. Just make sure to send plenty of pictures, including of you meeting his family, plus passport stamps/tickets from your trip over. My husband's aunt will be our joint sponsor and she wrote an affidavit about the bona fidas of our marriage including that she will be our joint sponsor, which we included in our I-130.
Please feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions about immigrating with spouse in prison.

Thank you very much, our application is approved and we are now dealing with the NVC, we will put in the last pile of paperwork. and hopefully i'll have my interview soon!
I'm really happy to hear other success stories! Good luck to all of you!

There are no waivers for AWA; you’re at the mercy of USCIS and their decision. The approval rate for AWA cases is extremely low. 
 
“For years after its enactment, the USCIS has either outright denied or intentionally stalled thousands of family petitions that it determined to fall within its own AWA policy. By 2011, after several years of long delays, the USCIS denied virtually all AWA applications held at the agency for review since 2008. The agency reports that it receives 400-600 AWA application per year and boosts that it has denied 99% of all AWA family petitions received:
In July 2013, USCIS reported receiving about 400 AWA cases in 2012, approving just two cases. In May of 2014, the agency reported that 601 cases were reviewed the prior year, with “fewer than 10” approved. The agency reports it reviewed approximately 2,500 cases since 2008. In July 2016 the agency reported reviewing approximately 340 cases the prior year, with approximately 1,300 cases pending review.  The agency declined to give statistics regarding approval rates. from: https://fightawa.org/adam-walsh-child-protection-and-safety-act-of-2006/
 
You’ll need to prepare for a very long journey ahead. I’d also advise to work on plan B if the case is denied - there are no appeals for K1s. In which case you’ll probably need to look for a third country you both can reside in since UK wouldn’t be an option either. 
 

Just curious:  how can your husband travel back to the US if they confiscated his passport?  Will the embassy escort him to the flight and hand it over once he's on the airplane?
 
1.  I have no idea.  For a K1 the petitioner was obligated to disclose their criminal history, for an IR1/CR1 the petitioner does not need to.  It was up to USCIS to conduct a background check, but apparently they missed it or thought everything was OK since they approved the I-130 and you are DQ'd.
 
2.  Yes,  I would request an expedite in your circumstances.

As a side note, if you are using Emma, please be advised that an expedite request only has a 1,000-character field available. It is worthy to have the text on standby in a notepad file or like, ready to be pasted over. For USCIS agents have zero patience, and they will shut down the chat if one is slow to type.
 
I wish I'd known that off the get-go. Perhaps my fails can help someone else.

Once the citizenship claim has been approved, the CRBA will be printed in the United States and sent to the address you designate in the United States or the address you designate abroad in countries where the mailing of U.S. citizenship documents is permitted unless you indicate that you will pick it up at the U.S. embassy, consulate or consular agency. Applicants are responsible for any mailing costs related to the mailing of the CRBA.
 
So, very likely the embassy has no information for u
 
Since this is done in the US,   there is a site to track your passport
 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/status.html
 
and the following site if it shows "as no information:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/contact-us/passports.html
 
Phone: 1-877-487-2778

I did apply for passport application and  social security number at the same  time  of crba appointment 

This is incorrect, you can file regardless of ban. Ban comes into effect at stage of getting interview/visa.

you can apply/  the paperwork will go thru the process at 1st stage USCIS stage but will be held up at NVC stage

^ That is your biggest issue right there.  By submitting that tourist visa application form, your husband swore to the US government, under penalty of perjury, that his answers were true and correct to the best of his knowledge and belief.  Submitting a visa application with false statements is misrepresentation and can lead to being inadmissible to the US.
 
By submitting evidence that your husband was in fact not married in 2011, you are actually providing evidence that your husband misrepresented himself in an effort to gain entry to the US.  In other words, proving that he was not married means proving that he committed immigration fraud back in 2011.
 
If you still want to pursue US immigration for your husband, I suggest you do research on I-601 waivers and find a good immigration lawyer with lots of experience with such waivers.  This is not a DIY case.  I wish you well.
 

I am so sorry. Please make sure she fully understands what Lucky Cat has mentioned above. Has she given some time to really think about it thoroughly? It is a really REALLY tough time being apart especially during these crazy times. I wish you both all the best whatever happens. 

This is posted by a lawyer who wants your money. Look at the official government websites for the rules on who can and cannot come, not a lawyer who wants to scare you into needing their (expensive) services. 

What can an immigration attorney do that you, yourself, cannot do?

It's been a crazy week!
 
Just a quick update!
 
To board a flight from Pakistan a covid test must be taken (and negative) a few days before.  My husband traveled back to Islamabad to complete the Covid test and fly to USA from there.  He flew Qatar to (stopping at Doha) JFK  (JFK POE was quick and smooth).  He was out of the airport after landing in under 45min (this includes getting off the plane, immigration and bag collection).
 
We both still feel like this is all a dream and so very Thankful!
 

Some have gotten waivers after initial refusal: "An applicant who is subject to either P.P. 9645 or P.P. 9983 and otherwise eligible for a visa, but who does not qualify for an exception, will be refused but is automatically considered for a waiver by the consular officer during the visa interview.  Each applicant’s eligibility for a waiver is evaluated on a case-by-case basis; waivers may not be granted categorically." https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/presidential-proclamation-archive/presidential-proclamation9645.html

You need to seat down cool off and think clearly about this first... Once it's done it's done

How did she obtain her residency?