Mel.King

Awesome, thanks a lot!

Basically you have to proof that you never had the intent to give up your US domicile. Everything @Caro1 said as well as proof that you filed your taxes yearly would help. I would suggest an affidavit as well saying you never had the intention of giving up domicile and attach all the evidence with explanations. Your only other option if this fails would be the USC moving back to the States ahead of time to reestablish domicile. Good luck!

Thanks for the casecheck link, will keep checking on there.

If I'm not mistaken, your friend will have to declare under oath during the interview that all information provided on the form is correct to the best of his knowledge. Regardless of whether the Consular Officer asks about the previous information or not, your friend did not list his stepchildren from previous marriage as pointed out that he should have. So the information provided is NOT correct to the best of his knowledge. So is he planning to just lie under oath about it? I don't think I even need to say this, but this is not a good idea....

Hi all! My IR1 visa was approved and issued, YAY! So happy and thankful for all of you guys on VJ. - What are the next steps to get my SSN? - Do I need to apply for it or will I automatically get it with the GC? I read something about applying for it within 90 days, is this correct? - And then do I file I-485 / Form S-5? I plan on working as soon as I can, I know I can with the VISA but I think some employers prefer the SSN? Will the GC be mailed to my US address ( I did check that on the DS-260) and what do I do if it doesn't come? How long should I expect to wait? I tried to find the answers on here but struggled because some were for K1 visas and I think the process is different, but not sure. Anyways, thanks in advance.

When did it change to AP? I had my interview and right after that my case changed to AP. The next day it changed to ISSUED. It happened to another person at the same embassy as well - after interview it was AP then for her 2 days later ISSUED. My heart sank when I saw Administrative Processing but now I'm wondering if sometimes AP just means they are working on it? Like processing it? I know for lots of ppl AP takes a long time, but don't lose hope, yours might not be one of those cases where they do extensive background checks. The fact that they kept your passport is a good sign. Good luck!

I second this - getting your name on utility bills are a good step to take. Credit card statements are also a possibility - maybe get a credit card as well when you open the bank account. You can also use pay slips from your employer with your address on it.

Yes, this! For me, the date that my marriage was registered is my date of marriage - but this was not the same day we exchanged vows. We registered the marriage first and later did the ceremony. But on my official marriage certificate the date is listed as the day we registered the marriage. What is weird is how the lawyers and the OP's first husband, the USC, all got this confused. So it makes me think we also don't have the whole story. Maybe they knew they were 3 days late, and tried to play it like the marriage was August 1st.

It's incredibly hard! We were in a similar situation - my husband and I worked in a 3rd country when we started this process and he left for the US with our 2 kids in December last year. I ended up staying alone in the third country instead of going back to my home country because I could still keep my job and income that I won't have if I move back. While it was a good financial decision, it is very lonely here with no family 😞 Back in December we didn't know how long it was going to take as we were dealing with tax issues and RFE from the NVC as well as a huge uphill battle to get my birth certificate (I paid a ton of money to get it only to get the wrong one, twice. Pleasures of dealing with the South African government). I can't even tell you how many nights I've spend crying myself to sleep. It's been the worse experience of my life and I don't wish it upon my worse enemy. But here are some things we did that helped ease the pain a little bit: 1) We watched Netflix together. We would just both play the movie at the same time while video calling. We love Stranger Things and saw the first seasons way back, so we watched the new one while video calling. This creates some fun and anticipation - "What's gonna happen next? I can't wait for the next episode, let's watch it on Saturday so we can binge it together!" 2) We love the MotoGP, so we would watch that together on Sundays and chat about it. Maybe if you share a sport interest? 3) Our time difference is 12 hours apart, which worked out not that bad. So we would decide on a meal to cook and both cook it together while video calling (yeah, I had some Indian curries and beer for breakfasts many times) 4) We play Fortnite together! This turned out actually to be loads of fun because you can talk to each other while playing. We even had family sessions where the kids joined and all 4 of us played squads. I've gotten quite good at Fortnite, lol! Maybe you can play an online game together? 5) We learned a new skill together - the rubics cube. We both learned how to do it from Youtube and showed each other different methods and timed each other completing it while video calling. So yeah, I can now complete the rubics cube. 6) I did their shopping from the Walmart app! This was great because it felt like I was helping and involved, and they got a surprise every time they got the groceries because I would add something fun or new or something I know they liked in there. 7) Then constant messaging - this was nice but also depressing because every morning I would wake up to swarms of pictures of them doing fun stuff in the US. While it was great to get photos of them it did just remind me that I am not there. But I still loved waking up to messages and pictures every morning. 😎 We met up in South Africa for their summer holiday (We're both teachers so that helps - get holidays off). But with your wife being in China I know that makes it difficult for you to do. None of this compares to time actually being together. Also back the NVC stage we dealt with loads of uncertainty, not knowing when the end will be in sight, and if there is even going to be an end line! We are nearing the end now, my interview is next Tuesday, and I still have tons of anxiety about it. I am terrified something will go wrong and that I'll be placed on AP!!! You guys can get through it OP. It's not gonna be fun, it sucks, and it really puts your relationship to the test, but love will prevail! Most ppl on here have gone through this, and while they will all agree that it's the absolute worse, I know they will all say it was totally worth it. Just adjust your mindset, and think big picture. Keep the end goal in sight! I wish you all the best!

Just make sure the embassy received your file from the NVC. I tried to schedule a medical after I got my IL but had a wait 4 days for the embassy to get my file before I could schedule it. The hospital refused to make an appointment before they got confirmation from the embassy that my file is there. Also - better check how long it takes for the hospital to finalize your report. For my medical it stated I need to schedule the medical at least 2 weeks before the interview for the doctor to prepare the report - but it was actually ready and sent to the embassy on the same day! But all hospitals are different, so better make sure from the hospital you'll go to. Also take in mind like @Crazy Cat said, the date of the medical determines the expiration date of the visa, so I guess it depends on when you want to enter the US as well.

Yes, it does feel like we did something wrong and are being questioned, even though we didn't! My interview is coming up in 3 weeks as well, I am sooo nervous too! Good luck to you! And please come back and update how it was, I really do enjoy reading success stories.

My husband reached out to his Senator for an interview date as we were past processing times and I know the embassy do very few immigrant visas per month. I contacted the embassy and they informed me that they are understaffed, and might have more interviews in November. We reached out to the Senator on the Thursday, filled out the forms, and on the Friday their office replied that they will "work tirelessly on our behalf". The Monday we got the interview letter, we were flabbergasted because the email came through on Labor Day (we did not expect anything on a holiday). The interview was scheduled for October! Another person that was waiting with me also got her interview letter on the same day. So yeah, maybe it was also a "coincidence" but I like to think the senator had something to do with it.

I would upload a statement or a letter to the NVC explaining that she does not require the police certificate, and highlight the relevant sections of law like @powerpuff suggested. This will help you not get an RFE (hopefully - because and RFE will slow down your case). BUT - I would request the police clearance certificate now so that when the interview stage comes along, you have it. It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Your wife has to be in the country already when requesting to switch - since she will only move in 3 months, technically you can only apply for the switch then.

Just an update: I was able to contact the hospital after my case was transferred to the embassy. They confirmed that the vaccines are given as 1 dose all at once. (for the clinic in Jakarta) The only requirement is that at least 28 days should pass since your last vaccine (any vaccine). So luckily my last vaccine was COVID and that was back in March. Also - it is required to be fully COVID vaccinated as well, and you can't do the standard vaccines (the one dose shot) and COVID at the same time. So if you have no vaccines, there will be a 28 days waiting time from getting the COVID shot and then the other childhood vaccines. I'm just updating for others with the same question.

Thanks for clearing that up!

So sad that it's completely normal! But it is! So many ppl separated from their families during this lengthy process. I feel like the NVC needs to do a better job at checking documents, just my opinion. Isn't that the whole point of the NVC? If this issue came up during the NVC processing time, it would've been sorted by now. Most people assume that the fact that they got DQ'ed means that all documents are there and in order, but many times that is actually not the case. To get this news at the interview is absolutely devastating, so close to the end only to be pushed back again. I really feel for you OP.

This is the problem. Your husband has to either take steps to re-establish domicile (move back without you - I think for 3 months but I am not sure) OR he has to prove that he never gave up domicile and only lived in the UK temporarily and always had the intend to move back to the US. We had to same issue. We met in South Korea and got married there, traveled and worked abroad for 10 years before we started the immigration process to move to the US. During our 11 years abroad, my husband still filed his US taxes, kept his US bank accounts and sent money back into them every month. He kept his US credit cards and used them, and renewed his US drivers license when it almost expired. He also wrote a full affidavit and explained in it that he never had the intention to give up domicile and attached all these documents as evidence and submitted it to the NVC with our application. Not that it mattered for us anyways, because he still ended up moving to the US before me 😞 I'm really sorry this happened to you. I can imagine how shattered and devastated you must be - finally getting the interview and then being denied because of this. Can your husband prove he never gave up domicile? I hope you get the email soon that explains what you have to do to sort this out.

Maybe you should start a new thread for this question - I'd like to know as well.

Awesome!!! I just got mine too, woke up to the BEST email ever! Oct 18th! We'll be there before the holidays! 🎃🎄🎁 Hoping it all goes well for the medical and interview. We're almost done!!!

I feel you.... still waiting for my interview date too. Missing my husband and kids so much 😞 We've been apart since Dec 2021. Hang in there, I hope you get it sorted soon.

Ok great, this helps a lot! Thank you!

Thanks a lot, I'll start getting my vaccines with proof.