AfroKing

Thanks so much. My recent experience showed me social networking might be one of the profound ways to getting a great job in the United States. i'm working on joining more local, church groups.

This is golden, thanks. I attended a Chess game hub competition over the weekend through searching through my State's events and it was nice.

I have a Bachelor's degree in Agronomy (Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences and a Masters Degree in Genetics. The thing is, i followed and built a career in Entertainment as a content Manager/writer for a Media and live broadcast firm with more than 12 years experience but i also consult for private small scale business, which i consider my side hustle. I tried applying at a signage firm here as a have proficient graphics skills but no degree to back it up.

Oh My bad, i didn't state all the in-between information. When my wife came visiting a a point, she went to our family Doctor in my country. So they have the records. I just had her medical records in the United States and in my country with the past prescription she got and the recent one. These are what i carried on me. I was asked and i explained and there was no hassle whatsoever. I was also told at POE 10-15 inhalers(with appropriate prescription) is like just 6 months supply, so no big deal and YES, you are allowed to carry meds (with all the right documents on behalf of others as long as they are immediate relations.

1. I came into the United States end of last year, (Dec 29th) and was hoping my SSN card will be delivered within the shortest time frame. Its been more than four weeks and its not been delivered. I got tracking from USPS on my green card to be delivered today. I thought the SSN card should or usually arrives faster than the GC. Is it the right frame of time to approach an SSN office and apply physically since its going to be 5 weeks by next week? I don't want to appear overzealous ..............( Just so you know, i opt to have the SSN sent in my DS260) 2. What is the best way to find a lucrative job? I have a Master's Degree but the jobs I've scouted so far are offering low pay,even lower than some of their workers with no Educational qualifications or as much work experience as me, which makes me think i might not be doing something right. Maybe there's a smarter way asides Linkedin, i hate to be idle. 3. lastly, the cultural change is not that shocking but its a bit. Folks who immigrated, how did you cope when you first moved here? I would like to learn on the things,activities i can do to meet people, make new friends,network. Thanks

UPDATE: I came in with 15 bottles of inhalers and some other meds and medicated creams for personal use and there was no hazzle whatsoever.

Thanks to V.J for being an amazing community!! I had my interview and got visa in hand two days after. Now, i'm prepping for my trip to the U.S, and want some insights on the following 1. I will like to bring with me a couple of inhalers (Ventolene) for my Spouse, maybe five but i'm wondering if 10 would be an overkill. It's cheaper down here than in the United States, so i'm of the thoughts if i will be allowed to bring them since i'm not the one with the condition. More-so, does it require a medical prescription? 2. I want to go on several road trips as soon as possible when i move to the States. What's the fastest way possible to get a driver licence? I will like to get one within a month of entrance , is that feasible ? Thanks

My short answer is NO, age difference will not be a problem. The consulate do not decide on cases based on assumptions but rather, on facts tabled before them in documents and evaluating the totality of the case's circumstances. Will noticeable age difference make them shine the light on your case? Yes or maybe, but they have to look at other factors. All you need make sure is that you have good physical time together. On as a side note, i see lots of folks here throw around *cultural norms* in cases related to Africa when it comes to age difference. It is important for people to understand that what is perceived as cultural norms are mostly old practices that deprived people of their fundamental human rights. The consulates are well grounded in this and they see a rising numbers in people now acting on their own, so age difference is not a cultural thing,at least, not anymore, its just an assumption. No one should be deprived of love just because of the year their spouse was born and NO, not having a child is not a big deal in Africa...Lots of people are starting not to have one here.

OP, like others have pointed, If i was the IO, i would be very puzzled as to why a couple who haven't seen each other in 3 years would have one of them in a neighbouring West African country, less than 2 hours flight apart, and not seize that time to see each other; a time span of almost 3 years with no physical presence with each other is bad already. That said, i'll like to point you a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel, which is the Interview officer telling you about the fraud department getting to you. They don't often let out that information, especially if they will be investigating the beneficiary-in my view, that would be counterproductive. They might just want to establish that your marriage is bonafide which i assume might involve checking the Petitioners past records with USCIS to establish a pattern since she's sponsored before or probably going to the petitioner's residence to confirm some things. But then, that's just an assumption, you should get ready for a potential visit from them too and even a stoke interview. Secondly, I will STRONGLY suggest you avoid any steps that might look like you are forcing evidence out of the norm, that's more suspicious and might seem like someone covering their tracks, even if the motive is honest. If your wife work don't permit her to leave for a long time, it would be absurd for her to now take months off just to be with you, stick to the what's natural. on a final note, if its possible that your wife can visit sooner, make an appearance at the Lagos Embassy, that will help your case. They have different departments for Citizens but its still within the same establishment. i wish you the best

OP, this is not an immigration issue......You have 90 days to walk down the aisle, that's the part that concerns immigration. Now, for your own good, ignore all relationship advises here, that's why counsellors and therapists exist. Consult one and they will help you make a life long decisions from a neutral angle;they are trained for that. There different folks here, from different background and each will give you advises based on who they are and what they feel is right, you will be doing yourself a lot of harm taking some of these. Stick to visa journey for immigration related steps ONLY............IMO

By my understanding, reporting any account above the threshold is just for information purposes only and not for taxation, right? I don't think it's morally upright for the U.S Government to tax an income that was made before that individual becomes an LPR/USC. For instance, A has like $10k equivalent in an account while working over the years in his/her country in 2022 and they migrate leaving that in the country's local account in 2023. Does it mean the IRS can tax what i would consider a labor and savings from another country even before that individual ever becomes an LPR/USC. I think most immigrants don't know this topic as this is the first time i'm hearing it. Thanks for shedding more light

I'm just trying to learn a thing about this FBAR as a potential LPR and maybe a U.S citizen in the future. If an individual had an equivalent of $10,000 in their foreign account before becoming an LPR or a citizen, will they have to file the FBAR when they become an LPR/USC or the FBAR has to do with income earned within the time of becoming an LPR/USC? My second: Let's say A becomes a USC, but sends some money occasionally into the foreign account and the account accrues to the $10k limit, will they have to report such account to IRS, even though it's just a saving put in there and not an active income from an occupation. Thanks

I think all US Embassies are USC friendly. One thing i know for sure is that the US prioritise the citizens. I don't know what you did but i know for sure two cases here in my consulate where USC flew over and was able to get them to schedule another interview for her and spouse. They were questioned separately on the second interview. Did you go to the Embassy physically and flash your U.S passport?

On paper, yes but with USC physical presence, things could be swayed a bit. These are just office sections within the same premises. Although they play different roles, USC could literally be offered help to speak to someone at the other section or directed to someone. We all know how this works is just to fulfil some official protocols and all that. If a USC gets into the USC service centre and tell the official their ordeal, they don't get turned away. Its happened in my consulate severally. I'm not saying it would change any outcome, but its worth a shot since the USC is in the country. if i'm in this shoe, i'll go all out for it

OP Since you are in Egypt at the moment, i suggest you make your presence count. Make a copy of EVERYTHING you could think of as regards to your relationship. Every consulate have specific appointment days for USC, find out what day that is and go into the consulate as a USC. I believe when you get in there, you can ask to speak to a supervisor at the Consular/Immigration Unit. If you're lucky enough, you might be asked some questions which will help influence your case. Since your case is still on Administrative Processing, going there will influence some of their decisions. They might call your husband back for a second interview and clear things up...Show up there and try to speak to someone who matters. Sometimes, these IO are grumpy, tired, going through life difficulties and unleash this on interviewee. A good case might have a bad IO and vice versa. I wish you luck

I'm making this thread on behalf of a friend. He's been having issues with NVC submission for over a year now. All the AOS and supporting documents for both Petitioner and Beneficiary has been accepted over a year ago, the issue seems to be with their joint sponsor. So, i will like your help with these questions. 1. What is the appropriate way to submit the joint sponsor's documents? Should both the sponsor's i864 and all other supporting documents like his transcript, w2 be in a single pdf or the i864 in a pdf and then other supporting documents in another single pdf? Thanks

Like some early suggestions provided you, only you can decide what you want, from the Immigration angle. Let me give a little advice though, when you're sure you want to end the petition process, visajourney is very resourceful to guide you through but if you're yet to decide and needs to find reasons to make decisions as per your marriage, then here is not the place. This place is like a market place, which encompasses happy, sad and also damaged people and whatever opinion you get here definitely stems from individual's experience which should NEVER define yours. So, stick to ONLY immigration process advice here. If you want to fix/end your marriage, talk to a counsellor. That way, you will have an unbiased opinion. Good Luck

It's natural for USCIS to question any alteration, even if it's the fault of the issuing body (Public workers are known for such laxity and nonchalant attitude). That's why they request a letter from the Registry to signify that they know about the alteration. Now, this is where it gets tricky, make sure you do not send a Certified copy ALONE. USCIS knows how major Nigerian Government institutions are tainted by irregularities. You should send the exact copy to which they asked the original, which to be safer can also be accompanied by a certified copy and an explanation letter, signed and stamped by the registry on official letter head papers (which should contain Telephone numbers and email just in case they want to confirm). Not to sound overkill, you can also have a Notary public issue an attestation letter too( but notary will ask to see the original cert or certified copy though). I also see they issued Rfe for your birth certificate (I hope what you submitted is the NPC's). It's a Technique to see what you (possibly changed, if any) on your marriage cert. Since your Birth cert has the name of your father, they will compare the letters to know if its just a simple alteration or a complete letter change. Above all, give them EXACTLY what's asked, which is the original copy of both NPC birth cert and Marriage cert; they will be mailed back to you.

You are 100 Percent correct! Anywhere in world, be it a Consulate or an Embassy(whichever term is used in that particular country), the welfare of the U.S Citizens is topmost priority. As a matter of fact, that's the primary reason they are there. Visa services are secondary to the U.S consulates/Embassies. They might stop visa services BUT will never stop citizens services. Many U.S Foreign offices have different lines or days for citizen services but will never turn back a USC, no matter what. All a USC needs do is just show their passport and they will be granted audience, even with no appointment. So, all OP need do is get there and make his case. If it's something not handled at a particular centre, they will put a call through to the appropriate channel. Like my consulate, Thursdays are designated for USC appointments but people have seen it multiple times that USC comes around, show a US passport and they are granted entry in a blink

By your logic, the SSN space should be left blank since the "NRA" status gets attached to the name as illustrated, right? I have tried looking up your claim, "The old instructions of writing NRA in the SSN field have changed" but couldn't find any thing related. As this seems a deviation from the usual practice, by most folks here (writing NRA on the SSN column), i'll like some official link pointer for assurance. Thanks

Can you please recommend the software you used? My wife uses Turbo tax but it won't allow her proceed unless a valid SSN is put into that space and it won't allow her type Letters but numbers only. We filed her 2021 taxes already but due to the backlogs at my consulate, the next tax season will be due before i have my interview, so we'll probably need the 2022's at that time. I'm asking these questions ahead. I assume you used the software to calculate, downloaded the filled form and then sent it to IRS via post/fedex etc right? Thanks for your response

For the year 2020 that you filled MFS, did you prepare your form 1040 yourself or had a tax preparer do it for you? I have gone through the form and the instructions seems pretty straight, that i think one could easily navigate but if a tax preparer is recommended, then we might look that way. My wife filed wrongly(single) for the past year which we are looking to amend later, we didn't know we could avoid the ITIN stress and just write NRA. Please find the attached form 1040. The space i marked with orange ink is where the Alien spouse's name and the NRA goes right? Thanks

Congrats. I will just like to say having a Lawyer don't speed up a process with USCIS, it only meant you gave someone else to do the hard work for you. If you look around here, you will run into so MANY threads where this feat was achieved through DIY route, so it's really no big deal. If one is a good and attentive reader of instructions, then you wouldn't need to pay anyone. For instance, an attorney was going to charge us 5k for the process. Then i looked at the forms, followed the instructions and asked some questions here. No RFe whatsoever! Just so you know, there's someone in one of my Whatsapp group that missed interview and had to reschedule just because the attorney didn't upload documents to the Embassy on time. Attorneys don't speed up processing times, that's a misconception

Whatever happens is at the discretion of the CO. They know what to ask and what not. Like i said in my earlier post, this person was interviewed at that Consulate and had EVERYTHING you can think of, both Primary and Secondary. I sat with him over a coffee and he showed me evidences. Still, CO decided to just call a third party affidavits to see if the story correlates. What i'm trying to say in essence is, i have noticed how many people here tend to encourage folks to knock out affidavits since it's perceived weak. Rather, people should be encouraged to put everything that would help in there as you never just know what CO might just do or want to verify. One is to be a paper instruction follower, the other is to be a realist to the trends of things happening. More-so, its a different strokes for different folks with Embassies. I urge anyone reading this, throw in that affidavit, ONLY a CO will determine what's weak or not.

My point is, if a bride price was paid at the traditional marriage, you are officially married in the eyes of the Nigerian Law. All you need do is just get a certificate at the Local registry. I made that point to inform you of your status so you don't unintentionally make a misrepresentation since you assume you're not married yet, in the eyes of the law. Your Partner's chances for B2 is slim, but it never hurts to try. Cheers