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We picked up my wife's passport with the visa today. There were about 10 people there who got their visas as well. I also heard that they conducted 47 Green Card interviews since September 16th. There was a news report that they're resuming non-immigrant (student, visitor, etc) visa interviews on limited basis.

48 minutes ago, Rinami said:

Looking at their website it appears the Consular Chief changed, as well as the Deputy Chief of Mission. Maybe that will improve things from terrible to just subpar. 

There were at least 10 people who picked up their passports with visas today. Non-immigrant and immigrant included. About 3-4 submitted their passports with visas to be issued until 9/30.

41 minutes ago, Rinami said:

That is great. Were you able to deliver the additional documents they requested or was it approved without them? Any outside help?

We tried hand carrying them twice (with and without an appointment) and they refused to accept, instead asked to email them. No outside help, although we did send them multiple emails asking to expedite for specific reasons. Not sure how much that helped. Somebody I know who indirectly interacts with the Embassy said that new Consuls have arrived in Tashkent recently, maybe that sped things up.

We got a phone call from the Embassy today informing us that my wife's visa is approved and asked us to bring her passport to them. CEAC status changed to "Ready". I think it will change to Administrative Processing and then Issued next. Thanks everyone for you guidance and help. Those who are waiting don't loose hope, God willing your cases will move forward soon. Good luck!

I went to the US Embassy today with a US citizen services appointment request and tried to explain to the consul our situation and asked to take additional proof of relationship documents. While they refused to help with our CR1 case, they provided some information regarding CRBA saying that the process should not take more than couple of months assuming that you can prove 5 year US domicile. They said the most important factor in establishing citizenship for the child would be to prove that the US citizen applying for CRBA has physically lived in the US for at least 5 years and is a parent of the newborn. They also said that Tax returns or transcripts cannot serve as proof of US domicile. You can provide apartment leases, pay stubs, employment letters, college transcripts as acceptable proof. Thought I would share this in case anyone is or may be in the same situation in the future.

2 hours ago, Ruben218 said:

Do you all have any updates on your cases? I have also been waiting, applied in May 2020. I didn’t receive the NOA 2 until July 8, 2021 and have not heard anything since. Are they processing CR1s? Thinking of just getting married and restart the process. This is very frustrating. 

My wife went to her CR1 interview in the beginning of August and was asked to provide additional proof of relationship. I went to the embassy with her as the petitioner, but they didn't let me in. Seems like they're slowing everyone down. I spoke to another person with a CR1 case who has been in administrative processing since November 2020. The day of the interview another older lady came out of the embassy saying that they requested additional documents from her as well. Not sure whether they're scheduling K-1 interviews at this point.

I suggest printing a copy of the IRS Tax return transcripts. The embassy might request the transcripts like they did from us.

10 minutes ago, Rinami said:

Unfortunate to hear, good to know before I buy a plane ticket over there though. This embassy is one elephant short of a circus. I would reach out to your U.S representative and senators to help if you haven't. They admittedly did not help me much with my case mired in the middle of the whole process. But they reached out twice for me and it might help since you have a singular entity to focus on.

I agree. I've spoken to another CR1 applicant who has been in AP since November 2020. We had zero email communication from the Embassy ever since we were scheduled for an interview. I don't understand what's the point of piling up additional work on the existing backlog. If all they need is proof of relationship, why not take advantage of my presence and ask me whatever questions they have. Our case is pretty straightforward - first marriage for both of us, no kids, I earn enough to support both of us, no need for a joint sponsor. Wife hadn't lived anywhere else, no need for foreign police certificates. If it's a security check,  we both have clean records. We didn't lie on any of the forms, specifically wrote that she was denied an F1 visa. Provided all IRS documents. I'll be contacting the US representatives office if we don't get a response in couple of weeks. I also wrote to the department of Justice asking for assistance (not a writ of mandamus yet). Hope you’re case will progress soon.

On 8/11/2021 at 5:22 AM, K888 said:

Let me know if you end up doing that. I sent them the documents they requested like 3 times and they haven't even acknowledged it so I'm thinking about dropping it off at the embassy.

I called the Embassy today and left a message with the phone operator guy asking him to pass the message to the Consular section and the citizen services department. I told him everything that I wrote here adding that my employer is being affected financially by my absence as we're trying to get a certification from another government office for the product we're developing. Don't know how much this will help or whether they will even take it into consideration. Has anyone tried to knock on their doors through other channels? Department of State? President's office? It doesn't seem like they sent our case back to NVC or USCIS.

4 hours ago, K888 said:

Let me know if you end up doing that. I sent them the documents they requested like 3 times and they haven't even acknowledged it so I'm thinking about dropping it off at the embassy.

Will do. We went back to the embassy at the end of the week after my wife went to the interview. The security guard called an employee to come out and speak to us. She refused to take the additional documentation saying we need to schedule an appointment through email (which they do not respond to) and said the immigrant visa officers only work on Wednesdays and Thursdays, as well as occasionally on Mondays.

I'm having a thought here. Do you guys think it would be possible to get in touch with the American Citizen Services at the US embassy to hand carry the additional evidence that they requested in form 221(g) and ask them to deliver it to the consular section? They haven't been responding to emails that we've sent a month ago.

47 minutes ago, K888 said:

This doesn't surprise me at all, they have terrible officers.

Incompetent and shameful.

I'd like to add to my initial post...

The US embassy website that is specific to the beneficiary's country states the following:
"

If the petitioner for your immigrant visa –your spouse, mother, father, sibling or child – is currently in Uzbekistan, please bring them with you to your appointment.  While their attendance during your interview is not required, the consular officer must verify that you and the petitioner have a bona fide relationship. It is almost always easier to demonstrate that you and the petitioner have a relationship if they attend the interview with you.  For step-child cases, we often need to validate the relationship between the biological parent and the petitioner, as well–so it often helps if they come.

We recognize that the distance and cost may prohibit the petitioner to attend the interview so this is not a requirement but it may expedite processing of your immigrant visa.

To schedule appointment petitioners must send an email inquiry to our Consular Section. For instructions please visit our Contact Us webpage."

I (the petitioner) did come with my wife to her interview and informed the security guard that I am the one who filed the petition. He responded saying he will ask the consular officer permission to let me in. The lady who collected the document said that I should wait outside. I don't believe she informed the consular officer that I came with my wife. At the end she handed the 221(g) form asking for proof of relationship. The text from the website clearly states that the petitioner's presence can help to verify a bona fide relationship. My wife did not inform the consular officer about this assuming that she was already informed by the lady who collected the documents. This just doesn't make any sense. They asked for proof and I am the living proof standing at their doorstep. And yet, they decide to not let me in and send my wife back asking for "proof of relationship".

I told my wife to not force any information on the consular, answer her questions clearly and elaborate on details. They just overlooked a lot of information that was presented to them.

Thanks everyone for your guidance and suggestions. I'll take them into consideration and make necessary documentation changes.

1 hour ago, dnyal said:

Lemme see if I get this straight. He is talking about embassies and student visas being denied because of lack of ties (let alone a B visa), and the post shows it is about a spousal visa. Doesn't it mean that his wife still lives overseas? If that is the case, he cannot include her in his taxes as she is not a resident of the U.S. for tax purposes. You can't add a person who's not a resident and lives overseas as a dependent on any kind of insurance. Same goes for authorized users of credit cards.

 

OP, is this your case?

This is correct. My wife is still overseas and is going through consulate processing. 

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

u made a big mistake by not filing married (joint or separate )  as far a immigration is concerned to start the process of commingling fiances /a  1040x form would correct this and see the IRS site about getting ITIN for non resident alien spouse as someone said above "start the process to commingle fiances"

after all you are now married 

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/nonresident-alien-spouse

July 2019 (as you say F1 denied 6 months before you married and you flew to meet her in November and married in December 2019

she should be on both 2019 and 2020 IRS tax transcripts if you want to prove a real relationship

CO did not see that type of evidence when the interview took place so they question the timeframe of her denial and your marriage /I hope your submiited petition mentions you knew her online for over 1year and a half before meeting in person and marrying / and i hope she disclosed all that if asked in F1 interview 

that's why they want to see chats / to see how long this relationship has taken place of if there are any misrepresentations 

they have to question when it appears a marriage happened too fast 

 

Suggestions 

Correct the 2019 and 2020 tax returns to show u have a spouse

you have spent a fair amount of time together and showed it although copies of boarding passes are better than airline tickets (even i can print out airline ticket and/or itinerary  and not actually get on the plane )

yes,  photos together help a lot but they specifically asked for chats so they have an agenda in mind

 

wishing you the best 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

so 

Thank you for your response and suggestions. 

I'm wondering whether the tax documents can serve as evidence in establishing genuine relationship. I've seen many post from other VJ members that say that tax return transcripts are used to verify sufficient income for the affidavit of support. Also, the CO refused the tax return form 1040 and requested the IRS transcripts instead (which my wife also provided). As far as I know, the CO only looked at the first page and verified my income. Additionally, the IRS transcripts do not list the full spelling of names, they only list the first 4 letters of the last names of all dependents which happen to match with the first 4 letters of my wife's last name (she did take my last name after marriage).

My wife says that during her F-1 interview she was asked whether she has any relatives in the US, to which she replied "no". At that time there was no proposal and no plans to marry. We first met in-person back in June of 2018, then I travelled to meet her in another country in November 2019. She did notify the CO during her recent CR1 interview that we've known each other since June 2018 and were texting each other online before I proposed.

We do not have the boarding passes unfortunately. 

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

Did they specifically ask for chats during the time she applied for the student visa when you say ""not engaged"?

Did she have proof (the I 20 ) that she was accepted to a school or college here for the F1?   or why did they deny the F1?

When did you meet in person?

NOA1 2/2020 so you were married in 2020 or 2019 (not on your timeline)  so did you add her as spouse on 2020 taxes?

 

not a good idea to send proofs of money transfers 

her pregnancy is not an issue to immigration 

The CO did not specify the timeline, she just said that she needs to see call/chat history and any additional documentation that we think may prove that the relationship is genuine. She said "I will not limit you on what you can submit."

Yes, at the time of applying for F-1, my wife did have an I-20 from her school. She was denied on grounds of lack of ties to her home country.

We met in June of 2018 for the first time. Then we went on a trip together in November 2019 (I flew from the US, she flew from her home country). During the trip I proposed to her. We then went to her home country and got married in December 2019. I stayed with her until February 2020. Then went back to the US and submitted I-130 online. Travelled back to her country in October 2020 since my employer put everyone on remote work and had been staying with her in her country until now.

I did not add her as a spouse on my 2020 taxes as she did not have a SSN. I also file my taxes as "head of household" due to other dependents I have.

1 hour ago, Josm said:

The denial of the f1 visa should not be any inconvenience for cr1 if I inform it when filling out the ds260

Yes, she did mention that her F-1 was denied in her DS-260 form and also admitted to it when the CO asked about it during the interview. Thank you for your response.

2 hours ago, carmel34 said:

Sounds like you sent them what they asked for--records of messages sent and received, call records.  It may be enough for them to approve the visa.  I would also suggest that you consider doing some financial co-mingling and send evidence of that so she can take it to a second interview if that happens.  Do you have a credit card that she could be added to as an authorized user?  Is she included on your health insurance?  Beneficiary on life insurance or retirement accounts?  You could also do a will, living will, and power of attorney and send all of that evidence to her if a second interview is requested.  Good luck!

I am talking to my bank to add her as an authorized user of my credit card. I also requested that she be added to my health and life insurance as the beneficiary.

As soon as I have the above mentioned actions completed, I plan to forward copies of these documents to the embassy. Thank you for your advice!

Hello guys,

I would like to share our interview experience and ask couple of questions.
My wife had her interview couple of days ago and was handed a white slip with 221(g) on it indicating that we need to submit additional proof of relationship evidence. The CO also mentioned the fact that my wife had been denied an F1 student visa on 2 occasions 6 months prior to our marriage while we were in a long distance relationship and were not even engaged. Despite the fact that during the interview my wife provided the family and private photographs along with the flight tickets, the CO requested a history of our text messages and calls. 
Yesterday we sent them 140 pages of new evidence of relationship:
1. chat and video call logs
2. Pictures of gifts exchanged 
3. money transfer receipts
4. Additional pictures together
5. Wife's doctor's note about her pregnancy
6. Flight tickets and hotel tickets.

Do you think my wife's previous student visa denials will have any effect on her current CR1 visa?

What else could be a reason for an administrative processing aside from a lack of email and chat logs as we previously have provided at least 20 pictures of us together in different times and occasions as well as our travel and hotel tickets and marriage certificate?

Is there any data that points to a significant number of applicants being put in administrative processing?

Thank you for your help and feedback.

Hey guys. My wife's interview is tomorrow and I was wondering whether the US embassies are requiring Covid tests to enter the embassy buildings? Also, after you pay the immigrant application (DS 260) fee, is there a separate fee for green card production (after entry into the US)?

Call USCIS and ask them to verify your service center. I would double check by calling couple of times because we've been given conflicting information in the past and had to reconfirm. They told us they have 3 separate "systems" (databases). Good luck!

11 minutes ago, Ammara said:

Thanks for ur help i really appreciate. 

Anytime.

Here's the myUSCIS log in page - https://myaccount.uscis.gov/

If he does not yet have a profile, he needs to create an account first.

Once you verify the service center, you can use the following page to filter on that service center, the beneficiary's country, and order by "I-130 NOA2 (NOA2 is approval or denial of the petition), select order direction as "DECENDING" and click on "Set filter". This will list the all the cases that were approved for your specific country and service center from the most recent to oldest. Looking at the I-130 NOA1 column (date when the case was received by USCIS) you can get the general idea of which priority dates are currently being reviewed and approved.

https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op6=All&op66=All&op7=Pakistan&op1=i&op2=&dfile=No&op3=5&op4=1&op5=5%2C6%2C8%2C10%2C11%2C13%2C14%2C15%2C16%2C17%2C18%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C25%2C26%2C27%2C28%2C108%2C110%2C111%2C208%2C210%2C211&cfl=0

Here's what I suggest. Since only the petitioner who filed the I-130 can inquire about the case at USCIS stage he should check the case status in their USCIS online profile. If USCIS sent an RFE, it should be posted on the documents tab if I'm not mistaken. If they find that RFE was sent, he needs to respond to it by providing information requested. If not, then he should get in touch with USCIS by phone and ask when was the last action taken on the case (case touched). He can also ask and verify at which processing center the case is being reviewed. If the case has not been reviewed for a long time, then request to speak to a Tier 2 officer. When we called USCIS, they told us that the case was going through a background check, and couple of weeks later the status went to "Case being actively reviewed" and then to "Approved" the next day. Don't pay attention to all the negativity. Just take the advice that is useful to you. Good luck!

Did they say whether the letter was sent through mail or Email? Can you call NVC and ask them to re-send it via email and make sure they have the correct address?