InaneTripe

7 hours ago, Victory Banner said:

Hi everyone, my fiance had his interview at the embassy March 7th, he was approved by the consular and his passport was taken. However since March 7th, the CEAC status update remains “application received” anyone experienced this? What does it mean? It’s been more than 2 business days. 

This is common; it happened to my spouse as well. It takes them a few days or a couple of weeks to finish their processing and to print your visa. Be patient; the site will update soon enough.

6 minutes ago, Selena123 said:

How did you upload passport on their website ? 

After you pay for a service such as the CES Professional Report, you will find a link under "My Dashboard" containing the status of all the documents you've submitted (transcripts, licenses etc). You can upload your passport using this link. I don't think we were able to upload the passport at first; we had to pay for their service first. 

Just now, Selena123 said:

Any experience with CGFNS ? 

We paid for their CES Professional Report have have started the process of submitted the forms and transcripts from her nursing schools and licensing authority. The process could take several months because we have to do everything from the US and most Japanese schools are still paper based for their records.

35 minutes ago, Selena123 said:

Where is your spouse from ?

She is from Japan.

4 minutes ago, Selena123 said:

I’m applying to New York 

I’m applying to New York 

Details for NY are at https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions-index/nursing. Note the different choices depending on whether you are applying for RN, NP, CNS or LNP. 

Just echoing what others have already said about looking into the requirements of the state in which you'll reside. Each state has specific requirements regarding foreign nursing license/education credential evaulation, criminal background checks, English proficiency requirements etc. I know because I am now helping my spouse wade through the requirements of the Texas Board of Nursing. Good luck!

On 2/9/2024 at 6:05 AM, InaneTripe said:

My foreign spouse's details are:

 

POE : LAX (Los Angeles)

Category : IR-1

Date of Entry : 13 December 2023

 

The online status still reads "Visa Fee Payment Received" and so the wait continues.

 

I might add that we never received her SS card although we responded "Yes" to the corresponding question in DS-260. The local SSA office in Austin doesn't accept walk-ins for new SS cards (which is not mentioned anywhere online, btw) and so we are waiting for our upcoming appointment date as well.  

USCIS responded today (March 11) with "We need additional time before replying to you with information about your case" in response to my service request dated Feb 14, 2024. They asked me to submit another SR if we don't receive the GC or more updates from them within 45 days. I am thinking this will turn out to be a new biometrics needed type situation.

15 hours ago, x_Jade_x said:

Hi all!

 

I filed the forms I-130/A for my husband last week and have his I-485 packet ready to go.  The only thing holding me up is the part where it asks for an online account number on his forms.  Is that the same OAN that I was given when I submitted the I-130?  Or will he have his own OAN?  I signed him up for an account several days ago, but he doesn't have a number yet.  He doesn't have a profile section yet.  Thinking back, I didn't have a profile section or number either until AFTER I submitted and paid for the I-130.  Any advice here?  

 

Thanks,

Jade

You can put down "NONE" for this field. That is what I did for my spouse and it was never an issue.

13 hours ago, btravels said:

 

Thank you!

 

Sounds like it worked out well for you then while in JST (work wise). In my case, my co-workers are in ET, I currently live in PT, and I have to be pretty present during their normal hours.

 

And that's correct, the 1/3 year Japanese spousal visa seems quick and easy to obtain (wish it was the same case in the US). The true challenge is finding a job over there indeed... now I'm wishing that I was fluent in Japanese. If I do temporarily relocate, I'm thinking I will head there by mid June - which gives me a few months to build up my side business. Perhaps I can get that going in time as well.

There are a bunch of Japan related groups on the site that rhymes with "Read It" where I see frequent discussions about seeking work there for expats/gaikokujin. I hope things work out for you soon!

On 3/4/2024 at 7:06 PM, Merappi said:

Hello, 

 Has anyone added their non-us citizen spouse to their health insurance before without a SSN? I am trying to add my Ghanaian husband to mine to support our IR-30 Process

I was able to add my spouse to my employer provided health insurance during the annual enrollment period. Our portal only asked for her name and DOB. The provider is Cigna, if it matters.

7 hours ago, scaredCat said:

Hello dear community. I am the petitioner (US citizen) and my spouse is getting documents to be submitted to NVC.

My wife and I are both from same country but she is in her home country and I live/work in the usa.

 

Can you please tell me:

1 - I (US citizen petitioner) need to submit civil documents like police record, birth certificate(i'm also foreign born) or are these documents only needed for the beneficiary? I don't live there so i cannot request these legal documents.

2 - As petitioner, do i need to submit anything other than financial document? marriage certificate, US passport, proof of living in the usa? 

3 - As a dual citizen - do i need to submit criminal report from my home country to the NVC or embassy? Or the police report is only needed(like other civil documents) for the petitioner? 

 

I live in the us, so i can't get these without being present in my home country but if they are required, how can my spose finish the interview process?

 

thank you if you can help.

1. Civil documents such as the police report and birth certificate are for the foreign beneficiary. See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-5-collect-financial-evidence-and-other-supporting-documents/step-7-collect-civil-documents.html for the official requirements.
2. As the USC petitioner, steps 4 & 5 apply to you. This includes the I-864, your proof of US citizenship and US domicile and marriage certificate.
3. If you or spouse were previously married then a original divorce decree or certified copy must also be uploaded which shows the dissolution of the previous marriage.

Good luck!

6 hours ago, MariAndJoseph said:

Hi, I am naturalized us citizen and married my spose in our home country. We are originally from same country, my wife asked me a question and i cannot find the answer. of course i came here. thankful for you guys.

 

I had a marriage and divorce years ago in Atlanta, Georgia. I don't think I registered that marriage/divorce (don't know if it is a requirement) in our foreign home country. My previous Marriage took place in the usa and we got divorced here legally in the usa. 5 years after this divorce i married my current wife. We married in our home country and she is now going through green card process there.

 

She needs to submit divorce decree for my previous marriage which is fine. I have divorce decree issued here in the us. it is valid and good. Is the divorce decree acceptable and enough? in our case, it was issued by the state of Georgia.  My wife asked me if the embassy needs to see divorce decree from the country where the embassy is? I am still a citizen of my home country but divorce doesn't exist there because marriage and divorce happened here in the usa years ago. I didn't even visit my country during that marriage so i think they were never informed about the marriage and divorce. 

 

I have submitted my divorce decree with I130 application. is that documentation enough for my wife to bring to interview?  thank you guys, my question is simple but i hope i didn't make it sound complicated.

Joseph.

The final decree of divorce from Georgia is sufficient. However, be sure that your partner brings the certified copy issued by the relevant county or court when they attend their interview. Basically, they need the piece of paper with the raised stamp and all the wording that declares the divorce to be final or absolute. Good luck!

14 hours ago, btravels said:

 

Congrats on the success. It's a much longer journey/wait than we ever expected... 

 

I've had to re-evaluate what my wife and I's next 1-2 years may look like. 

 

Like you, I also work remotely. Decided to visit Japan for around 3 months in 2022 while sticking to the US working hours (had to work at night) - And that trip is what led to us meeting. Since then and before our marriage in Japan, we had traveled back and forth many times (she has an ESTA). But now, during this I-130 wait, it seems as if it will be even more difficult to see her. I would not want to risk a potential ESTA/I-130 conflict. It's obviously easier for me to visit her in Japan during this process. Though I don't know if I want to go through the mentally taxing schedule again of working late at night (with my current job) and going to sleep almost literally when she has to wake up.

 

The longer I wait, it's seeming like my only choice is to temporarily relocate to Japan. Two hindrances with this though - I just bought a house here last year, and I would have to find a new job/source of income while I'm staying there on a Japanese spouse visa. 

 

Stressful time, lots of decisions to be made soon..

I totally understand the difficulties of living in JST but working American hours. I was lucky because my co-workers are in PT and being an earlier riser, I was able to schedule meetings their afternoons which was ideal for me in Japan. I did my actual work, which requires no back and forth with others, whenever it was convenient in JST. I cannot imagine how we'd have handled the ~17 month wait if this hadn't been possible.

The new house and all its attendant expenses is certaintly a concern. Are you considering one of those 1/3 year Japanese spousal visas? They ought to be available in relatively short time provided the Certificate of Eligibility is obtained from the relevant Japanese ministry. And then there is the challenge of job hunting in Japan...

All the best in your endeavors!

3 minutes ago, mam521 said:

CBP won't touch the status.  I asked about it when we did ours.  It is not within their jurisdiction to change the status of an immigration application.  That is entirely up to USCIS.  CBP pull the records from the repository, verify the records are available, they match and that the immigrant is entering prior to the expiration of the visa in the passport and that's where their job ends.  The information is sent onto USCIS to issue the green card.  

I see, thanks. My wife hasn't yet received her GC but the CBP officer did write "IR1" in her passport stamp along with her A-number. Fingers crossed that she will get a 10 year GC.

My wife is amongst those who never received her SSN despite having checked the DS-260 entry. You'll find many others here in this situation. We had to visit the local SSA office and submit the SS-5 form with the relevant documentation. The card then arrrived 8 days after the office visit.

Just now, kidcapone350 said:

he did mention it but the officer still stamp cr1 

Sorry to hear that! I didn't read your follow-up posts. Good luck with your I-90 filing! 

On 3/5/2024 at 5:20 PM, kidcapone350 said:

 

i am being told since he enter the U.S. after our two year marriage anniversary he will get 10 year green card .

This is correct; he will be admitted in IR1 status which will result in the production of a 10 year GC. It would be a good idea for him to mention this fact to the CBP officer upon admission so that they can make the correct annotations on their system and ADIT stamp.

10 hours ago, SDMO said:

Ok good!I am still waiting for my ssn

When did you enter the US? If it was more than 4-6 weeks ago then you should go to the nearest SSA office with your passport and IV and check with them.

9 hours ago, Dante2019 said:

@Daphne . @Boiler

 

It seems like I need to login to my USCIS account. Silly question, but do I need to login with the account I made when I applied for Form I-130 on the USCIS website? Or do I need to create a new account?

Thank you.

Use the same account/login that you used for the I-130 petition. That will help ensure you receive email/text notifications from USCIS if you had these set up in your I-130 account. 

On 3/2/2024 at 5:52 AM, Nto said:

Thank you for responding. I dnt know what to do now. We are awaiting DQ, so cannot make any changes either. Well i might have to wait and see what happens, explain to the CO and hope for the best!

Just my personal opinion, but I doubt this is a major issue because as an intending immigrant you will have the right to work in any field in the US. If your future plans in the US do come up at the interview, just explain your situation and you ought to be fine. All the best! 

3 minutes ago, Osee said:

Is this submitted along with the i30?

Yes!

5 minutes ago, Osee said:

Probably a stupid question to you more knowledgeable guys, but could you list what is considered valid evidence in this regard? Preferably starting from the best (if i can be picky with the request 😅)

My marriage happened during the height of the pandemic and by proxy in Japan. To prove that our marriage was "consummated" before filing the I-130, I submitted:

1) Printouts from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home showing that my wife entered the US after the marriage to meet me.

2) Copies of her Japan->US itinerary and boarding passes.

3) Pictures of us together in the US  with dates and times.

4) Pictures of us together with my brother and cousin.

YMMV, but we were never questioned on any of this. My wife is now in the US in IR-1 status. 

4 hours ago, btravels said:

Hello all,

 

I've had a very eventful year - namely in regards to marrying my Japanese spouse last year in November (2023).

I'm a USC, she's 100% Japanese.

 

Since she will be moving here, the next step was of course to file the I-130. My research at the time made it seem like processing times could be around 6 months. In hindsight, it's clear it can take much longer and that I should have researched further.

 

I filed on January 9, 2024 and received the "Case is being Actively Reviewed" status on January 11.

 

Our plan was that around June/July this year, she could expect to visit the US (with no intent to permanently stay yet) while we wait for the I-130 to progress.

She's currently in Japan. By July, she may no longer be employed at her current job and also may not renew her apartment lease.

 

She currently has a US visitor visa (ESTA?) and has visited a few times already (unsure about the specifics of this, I will check).

 

Since we are now already in the month of March - I'm starting to feel some stress and anxiety about what likely will happen.

Planning for the worse, I will assume that this I-130 will not be processed before July 2024.

Therefore by July she will not have a processed I-130, no job or apartment (because of the planned eventual move to the US), yet also cannot temporarily stay in the US for longer than the ESTA allows.

 

I'm beginning to research alternative visa's or processes that will allow her to temporarily stay for a longer duration during this limbo period.

 

Does anyone have any insight on situations like this? I've learned quite a bit already, but I'm a bit stuck now on the best path forward.

I, too, am a USC with a Japanese spouse. Take a look at my timeline for some relatively recent dates. Basically, I filed I-130 on 22 April 2022, it was approved on 09 May 2023, and her consular interview was on 05 September 2023. Admittedly, there was an RFE at the I-130 stage and a minor hiccup at NVC which added roughly 4 weeks to our processing time. We basically had to wait for a little under 17 months from I-130 filing to when she had her IV in hand.

She quit her job and relinquished her apartment in Tokyo only at the end of September 2023, after she got her IV. I work remotely and could make multiple trips to Japan during those 17 months and stay with her while on visa free 90 day trips. We consciously decided not to have her visit me on an ESTA while the I-130 was pending. We chose to do so because I had the ability to work remotely plus I am very risk averse when it comes to immigration issues. There are also many threads here of people making successful trips on ESTA or B visas with pending immigrant petitions. Read through those and discuss things carefully with your spouse. All the best to you both!

On 1/23/2024 at 2:59 PM, InaneTripe said:

Hello y'all,

 

My foreign citizen spouse and I visited not one, but *two*, SSA offices in Austin, Texas today and were told at both places that appointments are now required for all first-time SSN/card applicants. The Kafkaesque element lies in the fact that nowhere on the blessed ssa.gov site can I find a link to schedule an appointment. It does give you the option to schedule at the end of the online SS-5 application but that requires an account which you cannot create witout a SSN in the first place! Of course, my wife doesn't have an SSN and couldn't avail of this "feature". Furthermore, an agent on the 1-800 line told me that they couldn't schedule in-person appointments in Austin. 

 

An employee at the second Austin SSA office did schedule us for a late Feb date using their terminal. He was insistent that he did so from www.ssa.gov but in all my searching I couldn't find the page where outsiders such as myself could schedule without a login.gov or ID.me account. My question is whether others have run into this issue? The helpful SSA officer did tell me that the process for first time applicants changed around 6 weeks ago. Not sure whether this is a Texas only thing or nationwide. I'd really appreciate some insights, recent experiences with SSA. Thank you!

 

 

 

My wife had her scheduled appointment for a new SSN on February 23, 2024. I had already started the SS-5 application online which saved time at the office. They only asked for my wife's foreign passport with I-551 MRIV and admission stamp and gave us a notice telling us the new card would arrive in 2 weeks. My wife's SAVE status showed "Returned to office" for SSA the very same day. The card arrived by mail on March 02, which was 8 days after the appointment. Much relieved that this, at least, is done! 

15 minutes ago, Nto said:

Dear all, 

this query might be too specific even to get a response, but please do try as I am panicking now!!! Any nurses who have a licence in USA but never practiced in USA and going through i130 process?

For context- I am from the UK, during COVID i had an existential crisis and felt i was not doing anything with my life so i went ahead and appeared for NCLEX and surprisingly cleared it!!!!! So I now I have a RN licence for a state i have never been to, which will expire this May and never thought about it again.

 

Fast forward to 2024 we are at the stage nearing interview, for  the below question ( image attached)- I answered no. My rationale- i never did CGFNS, I am not moving for work etc. Now after many sleeps I feel I should have answered yes- but i am conflicted coz that wont be fully right either. You see my predicament. 

What is the best way forward. I dnt want them to think I knowingly didn’t disclose any detail and they d refuse me a visa. 

My wife, a trained and practising nurse, is now in the US after I130/consular processing. We answered Yes to the question because she will eventually work in healthcare in the US *after* she clears her NCLEX. When we filled the DS260, she had neither passed the NCLEX or applied for evaluation with the CGFNS  and so it felt to be the appropriate choice. As explanation for the Yes, I added "I AM A NURSE AND I INTEND TO WORK AS A NURSE AFTER MIGRATING TO THE US AND PASSING THE NATIONAL COUNCIL LICENSURE EXAMINATION." Sorry for the all caps!

Perhaps more knowledgeable members will chime in with their own takes. Good luck!