Nutty

Our CR-1 application was completed at the NVC as of October 11th, 2007. They say I have to wait 8 more weeks for further instructions.

Does this mean interview date or package 4?

Congratulations!!!!

I just want to thank everyone for all your words of encourement.

My husband just had his biometrics appointment and now we're playing the waiting game. Today we received a 'Request for Initial Evidence (I-485)'

This is what it says is needed:

" F. (x) (25) The petitioner or joint sponsor's income as reported on the federal tax return submitted with Form I-864 Affidavit of Support does not meet or exceed 125% (100% if military) of the poverty line. The petitioner's or joint sponsor's current income as reported on Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ Affidavit of Supoprt is sufficient but no evidence has been submitted as proof of the current income. Submit evidence of the sponsor's current income. Evidence includes a letter of employment from current employers and should show dates of employment, the nature of the job(s), wages or salary earned, number of hours/weeks worked, and prospects for future employment and advancement. The sponsor should also include pay stubs for the most recent 6 months. "

I DID submit proof of current income. ?? My employee letter didn't include all of that information; it was on company letterhead stating my employment since the date I started, but didn't include hours, future advancement, etc. (How were we supposed to know they wanted all of that info on there?) So, I will be getting a new one & sending that in.

Should we use a co-sponsor? I have one who has filled out all the paperwork, but we didn't submit it, as we realized we didn't need it. My income from last years tax return was not enough, but my income this year IS enough. I submitted pay stubs to show current income.

*sigh*

Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks so much.

YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER SHOULD WRITE A LETTER.

1) Your annual gross salary ( if you are an hourly employee, then an approximate estimate of what your annual gross salary would be)

2) That you are a PERMANENT Employee (not a temporary position)

3) Additionals would be your start date, your title...

As long as you meet the PERMANENT requirement and the dollar amount needed, I think issues of bonuses or full time, part time are not needed.

* If it's just you and your husband (2 people), then you should be making this much money per year at your current job:

STATE OF ALASKA: $15,963

STATE OF HAWAII: $14,688

ALL OTHER STATES: $17,113

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_1327.html

hi guys!!!

I have a question - Can my wife sign instead of me on this form, if my agent?

No. You need to sign it. Your wife is only a middleman for receiving mail.

Sign Part I now. Complete Part II (BUT DON'T SIGN IT). Send Part I and Part II to the NVC. Part II gets signed by you after your interview.

Seems like everyone is sending the original docs to NVC (like marriage certificate). Can I make a copy, translate it and notarize and sent NVC? Will it be ok? as I am afraid the original might be lost even observing your advice (writing a case number on every doc)

Dear Mariya,

I made a copy of my marriage certificate, took it to a notary public, had it notarized (certified) and sent it to the NVC.

I was RFE'd for this.

Instructions for DS-230 state

"...Married applicants must obtain an original marriage certificate, or a certified copy, bearing the appropriate seal or stamp of the issuing authority. ...."

This means a copy has to be certified by the same office that issued the original marriage certificate.

You need to fill out your timeline and tell us what country you're going through. It'd be good to add that on your profile so that people will know where you're coming from.

I did, but the times may not be accurate since I haven't got all my papers with me.

What country is NVC sending the case to? Your profile lacks details that can help answer your question, the different consulates handle the P-3 and P-4 differently.

Please fill in profile details, you have not filed for N/A and there is no country called N/A.

Yours: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=39900 This helps others know processing times fro the various centers, and consulates.

My husband is an Iranian national. The USA does not have consulates in Iran. So all Iranian nationals go either to Ankara Turkey - or - Abu Dhabi, UAE for processing.

The NVC designated Abu Dhabi as the consular post to process our application.

Congratulations!

Yes, I am feeling sooooooo much better now!!!! But I should temper this elation with the thought we're not "out of the woods" yet.

The message said to wait for further instructions within the next 8 weeks.

What does that mean??? Interview date or package 4....

Yes we have met last year in Sweden at his sister's house. He really does not want me to come to Iran until we are married because of the issues it would cause and the limitations on us. I do plan to go after we marry for certain to mmet the rest of his family and see all the wonderful olc places.

I guess, now that I have cooled down a little, what really upsets me is that the embassy knew like the next day he would be sent back to DOS for more checks and never bothered to tell us. His email, sent after almost a week was responded to with "due to heavy caseload we are still processing your case". We made jokes about how long can it take to put a visa in a passport.

If he had not managed to get through, the phones are only answered for 1 1/2 hours each day and this week they were only open Tuesday and Wednesday, he would still be sitting in Turkey wondering where his visa was. I mean how long were they going to let him stay there and keep his passport without updating him?

That was $1500 down the drain as far as I am concerned for his flight, hotel, missed work, etc. and no one seems to care.

But I will try to be positive and hope this "serious hit" is resolved quickly.

Thanks for letting me vent and all the support. Maybe one day I will be able to fill in the visa received part of my timeline

Dear Belinda,

Yes, your fiance is right about the hassles you would have in Iran not being married at the time. First it would be difficult period for you to visit Iran as an independent traveller without a government approved tour guide or part of a tour group. I remember how confused the Iranian police were when I showed up in Customs. They didn't believe me when I said my husband was waiting for me in the arrivals lounge.

Secondly, staying with your fiance in hotels is not possible without a marriage certificate.

I doubt your husband had a "serious hit" in the security clearance. Just a hit or possible hit.

However, you are right about the Embassy being unprofessional in not advising your fiance about the nature of the delay. Maybe I will have better luck with the Abu Dhabi Consulate.

Best of luck to you.

Our CR-1 application was completed at the NVC as of October 11th, 2007. They say I have to wait 8 more weeks for further instructions.

Does this mean interview date or package 4?

I filed for my husband on 08/04 I upgrade my application on 12/19/06 on 02/21/07 my application was approved by USCIS, then on 07/23/07 NVC done completing the case. Now at any time I called NVC when my husband is going to received his interview, they only thing they said is to check back with then every2nd wks of every month. I'm tired of that can someone tell me if this thing is legimate.

Dear Chantal,

I can not imagine why it is taking so long for the NVC to send your completed case to the Embassy. Unless it received some "hits" on the security checks. The only other thing I can think of is if the Embassy in Haiti is backlogged with their schedule.

When my DS-230 was RFE'd to me on missing documents, the NVC wrote in the letter that I was to write your CIS or NVC case number on the upper right hand corner of each document I was sending in. On originals I wrote in pencil.

Hello

I was bashing my head up against the walls trying to decide which way to go (K3 or CR-1). This was my logic, It's going to take long no matter how you look at it. After waiting for so long I can't see what the big deal is accelerating the process 3 months, with a K3. And after all that he still is a non immigrant. All of a sudden it just didn't make sence to me.

So I chose the CR1. I am going to stay with my husband in Costa Rica and wait it out.

Is there a CR1 (I 130) October Filers thread?

Kristy

I think the filing fees are cheaper for CR-1 too. But one thing, can you work in Costa Rica to meet the requirements to be a sponsor (financial sponsor) for your husband? The petitioner (you) needs to sponsor your beneficiary or have a co or joint sponsor if you can't.

i have not been to iran, yet, but it is looking like if this takes much longer I may be going after christmas. I am just so angry at the money he wasted. They didn't even attempt to contact either of us, by phone or email, to let us know he was being sent back to DOS. If he had not managed to get through by phone he would still be sitting in Ankara wondering what was going on.

I pray this will be resoved soon, don't give up hope, but don't buy the plane tickets either no matter what the embassy says, until visa is in hand.

Have you met your fiance in person yet???

I've been to Iran. The people are friendly, very friendly and genuinely like Americans. But I could not get used to wearing a scarf and jacket all the time.

I'm contemplating moving back to my home country - India since the visa bottleneck seems to be going nowhere and also loosing hope in this whole retarded process. What is the outcome of leaving the process at where ti stands and picking it up from India? Would that affect the processing of this stupid case?

I do have 1040 from previous years and also W2 for this year to back up my earnings(assuming interview sometime in 2008).

any insights and reflections would be greatly appreciated.

I definitely would explore my options to return or to stay back(more favorably) if I do decide to go back to India.

My question mainly centers around the aspect that I have paid the fees and taxes till date so would like to get the adjudication as an option.

I respect the long wait of many members on this forum but since I do want to get practical in life events.

any insights would be greatly appreciated

cheers

M

All fees are paid and non refundable. If you want to stop the process of immigration, then you should notify the NVC that you want to terminate your petition.

OR

You could continue with your petition and just take a month away from work to visit home and "connect" with loved ones.

I would suggest this as compared to quiting your job and having to be re-employed later.

We had made our phone call to a VISA specialist a couple of days ago. She told us that our case is in "Administrative Review" Forgot to ask what does that exactly mean?

Is Admin. Review a step forward from Admin. Processing? They used to tell us for the longest time that our case was on Admin. Processing. so... Can someone in V.J. tell us...

IS Admin. Review a step forward from Admin. Processing?

Thanks much

I think that is investigation on your case, they are doing security checks etc. I think...

It means the NVC is checking your name with the FBI databases. AR can take a long time since the FBI is backlogged.

my wife and i share herpes 2, will this be an issue at the medical appointment? if so, how do i circumvent it? send proof that i have it too?

thanks,

Steve

I don't think it will be a problem. They are concerned with HIV, TB and those kinds of diseases.

long story... but basically my fiance has a k-1 visa, is here with me already, but for private reasons...we're considering moving back to his country together, waiting a while, then get married there and reapply...but for a cr-1 visa. would already having a k-1 visa and not following through with the marriage here in the us hurt our chances for the cr-1 visa in the future? (or k-3 for that matter) any other advice?

help meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Are you crazy????!!!!

He's here now and you want to start the whole process again!!!!

The only two differences between the K1 and the Cr-1 is cost. The CR-1 is cheaper. But the waiting time is LONGER. You need to go through all security checks and everything again!

Explain one thing....how will you be a sponsor on the Affidavif of Support while living in Morroco? Will you be earning 125% above poverty level in Morroco???

I just don't understand it.

You can get married cheaply enough if you want. Just go to Las Vegas and do a drive through wedding. Then have a big wedding party later in Morroco.

Hi guys,

Because there is no US Consulate in Iran, we have the option of going to Ankara, Turkey or Abu Dabi, UAE.

Which should we choose? Is there anyone that went to those places that could help us choose which on is better ( that would have advantages vs. disadvantages).

thanks.

My husband is also Iranian. But did we did not get to choose which consulate we wanted to be processed at (we're married and applying for CR1).

It guess it would be good if you could select the Embassy closest to your husbands home. Ankara is good for Northern Iran and United Arab Emirates for those in Southern Iran.

Sorry but I am pretty angry right now. My fiance's clearance was completed the last week of September, he travelled to Ankara to get his visa, gave them his passport on October 1 ( a week after the clearance was complete) and waited. He emailed, I emailed, finally he got through by phone and was told it was being sent back for another clearance. This was not even three weeks after his clearance was complete. And no one bothered to contact him or return his passport until he called. He could have been stuck in Turkey for weeks not knowing what was happening with no passport.

I just called DOS who stated it is not uncommon for a clearance that is complete to be redone several times because of hits that may occur between the completion time and the visa issuance time. In other words it was complete but when he went to get his visa less than a week later some hits had come up. Now he must go throught the entire clearance process again. And when that is complete and he goes to get his visa if there are hits that have happened in the interim he will be rejected and have to have another clearance done yet again. And this can go on forever.

Maybe this explains why some ppl have such long AP, just as the clearance is complete a new hit comes up and they must start all over again.

At this point I am writing my congressman. I know everyone says it does no good but he wasted a lot of time and money going to Ankara and waiting for nothing.

Hello,

I am sorry that your husband was kept in limbo (without a passport) in Ankara. How stupid and bureaucratic to not notify him about the delay, give back his passport and let him go back home and wait.

My husband is also from Iran. We were notified by the NVC he will be processed through Abu Dhabi Consulate instead of Ankara. Our DS-230 is at the NVC now and being processed.

I hope my husbands incredibly long and unique name will incur no "hits" when it comes to checks. Not many people have such a name as his.

And whatever checking they do I want them to do it NOW. Get it out of the way so that nothing like your situation happens.

Have you been to Iran? Met his family....?

hello fellow Vjers

I hope everyone is having a GREAT day so far inshAllah Alrighty...this is something a cousin of my friend is dealing with and I would like your opinion on it. Her cousin is married to her cousin (yes it happens...not so common but in the middle east and other areas it does happen sometimes...and plus its a long story and it had to happen). Now, she is waiting for the interview...but at the interview should her hubby state that they are related or not?? I guess this info would arise during the "How do you know this person? or How did you first meet?". She is worried that stating that they are related may be a good thing...but also may be bad in that some states in the USA do not allow for these marriages. So what do you all think?? Honestly my friend is freaking out in trying to help her cousin and does not know what advice to give...any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I have been reading about this on the web. Some states do prohibit marriage between cousins. Not all. I have found nothing in Federal law that prohibits marriage between cousins.

hello fellow Vjers

I hope everyone is having a GREAT day so far inshAllah Alrighty...this is something a cousin of my friend is dealing with and I would like your opinion on it. Her cousin is married to her cousin (yes it happens...not so common but in the middle east and other areas it does happen sometimes...and plus its a long story and it had to happen). Now, she is waiting for the interview...but at the interview should her hubby state that they are related or not?? I guess this info would arise during the "How do you know this person? or How did you first meet?". She is worried that stating that they are related may be a good thing...but also may be bad in that some states in the USA do not allow for these marriages. So what do you all think?? Honestly my friend is freaking out in trying to help her cousin and does not know what advice to give...any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Honesty is the best policy....I think the people at the consulate, having lived in a muslim country, know about the custom of cousins marrying.

It is frowned apon in the US culturally because of the higher risk of genetic defects on the children born to wed cousings. That and the idea that only mountain hill billy's do this sort of thing.

I need some guidance:

Situation: My wife had filed the certificate that she had received from the union council in karachi, the embassy in islamabad sent her back with a blue letter with a 221 (g) asking for court documentation.

Question: How do I acquire a court document, and what are the necessary steps needed to get this done in karachi pakistan. If anyone has been through this please advice. Thank You.

First step is to GO INTO the court or office where the divorce was done and ASK.

Instructions say, "Evidence must be in the form of ORIGINAL DOCUMENT - or - certified copy bearing the STAMP or SEAL of the ISSUING AUTHORITY.

That means you need to get a copy of the divorce from the CLERK at the courthouse or government office where the divorce took place. They have to stamp it with their official stamp.

OR

Make a photocopy of the divorce paper (to keep for your records) and just give the NVC the original divorce paper.

My wife will be coming here from Russia at the beginning of December on her CR-1 visa. Her passport with the visa in it was going to expire in December, so she got a new passport.

Will she have any problems coming here with her two passports, the current one and the "expired one with her visa in it? Or do we need to ask the embassy to put her visa in her current passport?

Thanks,

Bob

Someone asked this question before....maybe you. To be on the safe side, I would have the Embassy re-issue the visa in the current passport. Call or better yet, email the NVC and ask them the same question.

That way if the customs and immigration officials at Port of Entry don't let your wife in, your wife can show the NVC said it was ok to come to the US with a current passport and no visa in it (with old passport and US visa)

Do we need a joint sponsor if my hubby was making over poverty but under 125% last year (as he spent 5 months with me in Ukraine not working)??

I am the only immigrant.

------------------------------

It does not matter how much money your husband made in 2006. Just as long as he is making 125% this year and at the time he files the Affidavit of Support.

He should get a letter from his employer or human resources department stating the details of his employment

1) Full time, part time, permanent...

2) Job Title and date of hire

3) Annual salary (GROSS)

4) Make a copy for your records and send the original with the Affidavit of Support.

For last year...make copy of tax return, w-2, any 1099 and send it in. OR get a IRS transcript of his 2006 tax return.

Next - write a letter stating....

I, (First name, last name), made this amount last year in wages because I took a leave of absence from my place of employment from (enter date) to (enter date) in order to visit my wife back in

Signature and date

Attach this letter to 2006 tax return