DamianB

In case this is useful for anyone else. I've done more research and LPRs don't need a passport to enter the US (absence for less than 1 year): https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2011-title8-vol1/pdf/CFR-2011-title8-vol1-part211.pdf
GC + Extension is specifically mentioned in CFR 211.1(a)(5)

Quote

(5) An expired Form I–551, Permanent Resident Card, accompanied by a filing receipt issued within the previous 6 months for either a Form I–751, Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence, or Form I–829, Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions, if seeking admission or readmission after a temporary absence of less than 1 year;

31 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Some CBP officers are unhappy when the only valid passport you have does not match the country noted on the green card.  Legally these officers have no basis to deny you entry or fine you, but they will grumble / threaten you. 
 

Generally the remedy is to just present a valid I-551 and not present a passport.  IME when I had a 10 year gc, 75 percent of the time the CBP officer didn’t ask for my passport (because the sole entry document for LPRs is a valid I-551). However, my experience traveling with my wife by commercial air is that the CBP officer has always asked to see her passport when we’ve presented her gc + extension letter. 
 

So in summary, you can use your Irish passport, but expect grumbling,  barking, and/or screaming at the border check point.  Enough of these incidents might prod you to renew your Polish passport.  

Thanks Mike! This is very helpful. As long as there's no legal basis to deny entry, I don't mind their grumble  

Renewing my Polish passport defo on my radar - some serious logistics involved to get it done in the US. 

3 minutes ago, Mike E said:

What country is listed in your green card?

Poland (Country of birth). Irish passport also states country of birth (in case that would help?).

Hi everyone, 

First of all, Happy Friday! Since my situation involves GC extension (removing CR1 condition), I thought this will be a good place to post it. 

We are planning vacations in Mexico later this year but in the meantime: 1) My Polish passport (where I have my CR1 stamp) will expire, 2) My 2 year Conditional Green Card will expire and I will apply to remove the condition. 

My understanding is that upon applying to remove the condition, a receipt is sent which serves as a 1 year (or similar) extension of the green card. 

Question: Since I have a dual citizenship (Polish and Irish), will I be able to travel on my Irish passport (since the Polish one will be expired) and return back to the US with the Irish passport and GC + extension? In short, does it matter which passport has the initial I-551 stamp and if I can travel on another passport + GC (+ extension).

Perhaps some has had a similar experience - I will appreciate any information

10 hours ago, Kate.Alday said:

Hi! Maybe it’s late response but we have our interview at 19th of October in Warsaw. What about you? Maybe you had already? I would like to know how it was. 

Hi! Yes, I had my interview a few weeks ago and it went very well. Everything ran quite smoothly and people working at the embassy were very nice. The interview itself with the consular officer was more like a casual chat rather than questioning. Just make sure you have the documents as listed here - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/WRW-Warsaw.html. Let me know if you have any specific questions. Best of luck tomorrow! 

The interview went fine and the visa was approved with just returns (in fact, they didn't even ask for transcripts during the interview). Just in case I had with me all other documents proving income (W8, pay stubs, letter from employer) but they didn't ask for it.

12 hours ago, Sm4598 said:

Very true. 

 

I guess my question is: will the NVC make the call that the paperwork proves me eligible as a sponsor? Or will they just see a tax return, go “yup, that’s a tax return” and okay our application even though it might not be enough for the consulate?

 

Obviously I know the NVC doesn’t grant visas. But I’m wondering if they will send a response like “these documents are not enough to prove financial eligibility?” Because I’d rather deal with discovering the need for a sponsor at the NVC stage than get DQed and then fail to meet the actual case officer’s requirements. 

 

I could just be confused about the decision-making process. 

Speculating here, but I would think that NVC do go through the affidavit of support and financial documentation (tax returns, etc). However, it's down to the consular officer to approve your case. So even if it passes NVC, doesn't mean it will be approved at the interview stage. If your financial eligibility concerns you, can you find a joint sponsor (just to be safe)? 

1 hour ago, Sm4598 said:

Thanks, that’s what I’m considering.

 

The only potential complexity is that I’m self-employed so it’s a bit harder prove my income will remain what it is now. Coupled with the fact that my 2019 tax return STILL hasn’t been processed by the IRS, so I have to send my unprocessed return+schedules, etc. rather than a transcript. 

 

Did you end up getting any document requests or re-upload requests from the NVC? 

We submitted complete tax returns and w2s and that was accepted. Later my embassy asked for the transcript which we couldn't get because of the IRS backlog so they were fine with just returns.

In the end, if this is what you're worried about, I'm not sure what Boundless can do about it. Submit your last 3 tax returns and if they prove you eligible to sponsor that should be sufficient. Alternatively, is a joint sponsor an option? 

My gut feeling tells me it would still be quicker to submit, get a response from NVC and resubmit, rather than wait 2+ months just to complete paperwork. 

We considered an attorney too but in the end did everything ourselves. Unless your case is somehow complex, I think you should try yourself. NVC does list all document you need so it's pretty straight forward to follow.  

2 minutes ago, Murph4865 said:

May i ask how you uploaded your complete 1040 with all schedules being they are double sided and would be over the 5mb limit.  I am at the point of uploading my 1040 tax form to NVC but have not did do pdf format.

You can use software to optimize your files. I used Adobe Acrobat to get it under 1mb (48 pages).

8 hours ago, trucphong said:

US Consulate in Vietnam asked us to upload tax transcript, W-2 for 2019. My tax 2019 return is still at IRS. I uploaded my copy of I-1040 with all schedules, W-2 and paytub on CEAC. They dont have issue with it at all. Good luck.

Perfect. We are in the same situation so let's hope that will be sufficient 👍

1 hour ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

A copy of the signed tax return with W2's should be fine.  That is what we used for our 2019 tax. We had transcripts for 2018 and 2017.

 

Thanks for the response! Were you asked for the 2018/2017 transcripts? 

Hi guys, 

I have the interview coming up in less than a week. A few days ago, the embassy requested the IRS transcript (2019) to be uploaded to CEAC. Due to the IRS backlog, my wife's tax return hasn't been even processed yet so we are unable to get it - I called the embassy and they said to still come in to the interview but it will be down to the consular officer to determine if the visa will be granted. I should probably add, that on their website they do list tax returns. 

I have the full tax return ready, W-2, letter from her employer, pay stubs, etc. Is there anything else I can prepare to support our case?

Has anyone interviewed recently with just tax returns? Many thanks for any advice! 

5 minutes ago, Chancy said:

Please fill out your profile.  Which country?

 

Updated now 👍 The case is at the Warsaw embassy in Poland 

Hi guys, 

I have my interview scheduled for Oct 6 - got the Interview Appointment email last Friday, Sept 11. Just did my medical but the doctor mentioned that he can't find the case yet in his online system (guessing it's eMedical?). Just wondering if it's normal, i.e. delay before the case is available in the medical system? He said, he will try again in a week...

Anyone had a similar experience?

Thanks for sharing, I was actually curious about how that process looks. 

Did you have to bring any documents and hand them over to the CBP officer?

Slightly off topic but is there anyone here who recently had their CR1/IR1 interview? Just wondering what's the Warsaw embassy's backlog and the current interview waiting time. 

PS. Hopefully soon all this lockdown situation will ease out. 

11 hours ago, dwheels76 said:

Congratulations. what country so I can add you to the spreadsheet?

 

Based in Poland 

Just got DQ'd 😃

NVC submitted July 15

One document rejected on Aug 11

Re-submitted doc on Aug 12

DQ Sept 1

It needs to be translated by a certified translator who will stamp it, etc. 

Out of curiosity, has your interview been scheduled?

We submitted our request via their "Ask NVC" form.

When you submit it, make sure to add: 

- proof of citizenship (if you want to move it to your home country) or residence (if you want to move it to your country of residence);

- current address & your local phone number

5 hours ago, Keld said:

Finally submitted all our paperwork to NVC today, we got this message. I imagine it is just a generic message, can anyone confirm that?

NVC cannot review your submitted documents until we have received all of the required documents DS-260, Civil Documents and Financial Documents. Once these documents have been submitted, we will review your case. Please follow your CEAC Home page and https://nvc.state.gov.

 

It looks like some documents are still missing. Have you submitted documents for both: the petitioner and beneficiary (i.e. both sections say "Submitted")?

When we were starting the visa process, a lawyer advised us that it might be easier to wait with changing the name until the visa is issued. Mostly because all our documentation, flight tickets, bank accounts, etc was under my wife's maiden name. 

2 minutes ago, AnnaG7 said:

Yes, of course! But I wanted to get an idea if things have been moving fast at the Bucharest embassy and I should expect the interview to be scheduled within the next 2-3weeks. My DQ was received 16 days after I submitted the documents with the NVC - I think that’s pretty fast. 

I'd say it takes 2-3 months rather than weeks but as you said, things are moving pretty fast recently. Maybe this post will give you some reference: