Robyn-n-Kris

Hope everyone still going through the process is making great strides. I just wanted to give a quick heads up for anyone that may need to know. It looks like the I-864W form has been reinstated for use by the USCIS. For those that do not know what it is, it is the form used to waive the requirement of filling out the I-864. It is based on earning 40 credit quarters with the social security office. It would have been helpful last year for hubby and I, though we were still able to get approved with the exemption, just not with the form. You can find it here:
 
https://www.uscis.gov/i-864w
 
The core requirements are these:
 
You have earned or can receive credit for 40 quarters of coverage under the Social Security Act (SSA). If you have 40 quarters of SSA coverage, you are exempt from the requirement to file Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ. You can acquire 40 qualifying quarters in the following ways:
 
A. Working in the United States for 40 quarters in which you received the minimum income established by the Social Security Administration;
 
B. By being credited under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 213A(a)(3)(B) with quarters worked by your spouse during the marriage or a parent during the time you were under 18 years of age; or
 
C. A combination of the above.
 
If you are claiming credit for quarters worked by a spouse or parent, you may not count any quarter in which your spouse or parent was receiving means-tested public benefits. Include all SSA forms necessary to establish that you have or can receive credit for 40 quarters of coverage.

Hope everyone still going through the process is making great strides. I just wanted to give a quick heads up for anyone that may need to know. It looks like the I-864W form has been reinstated for use by the USCIS. For those that do not know what it is, it is the form used to waive the requirement of filling out the I-864. It is based on earning 40 credit quarters with the social security office. It would have been helpful last year for hubby and I, though we were still able to get approved with the exemption, just not with the form. You can find it here:
 
https://www.uscis.gov/i-864w
 
The core requirements are these:
 
You have earned or can receive credit for 40 quarters of coverage under the Social Security Act (SSA). If you have 40 quarters of SSA coverage, you are exempt from the requirement to file Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ. You can acquire 40 qualifying quarters in the following ways:
 
A. Working in the United States for 40 quarters in which you received the minimum income established by the Social Security Administration;
 
B. By being credited under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 213A(a)(3)(B) with quarters worked by your spouse during the marriage or a parent during the time you were under 18 years of age; or
 
C. A combination of the above.
 
If you are claiming credit for quarters worked by a spouse or parent, you may not count any quarter in which your spouse or parent was receiving means-tested public benefits. Include all SSA forms necessary to establish that you have or can receive credit for 40 quarters of coverage.

So happy you finally made it over! We are settling in fairly well. I've started back with  my old employer and hubby is looking for work.  

So happy you finally made it over! We are settling in fairly well. I've started back with  my old employer and hubby is looking for work.  

Nm the above. Our status just changed to issued!!!!

Yay! Congrats. 
 
side note, hubby’s visa came by courier today.

Nm the above. Our status just changed to issued!!!!

Nm the above. Our status just changed to issued!!!!

Thanks! I am so flipping relieved. Now we can start actioning any plans.  

Nm the above. Our status just changed to issued!!!!

So, hubby had his interview today. Everything went just fine. They were happy with everything he had. Unfortunately, they couldn't give us our instant approval. As some of you know, we are applying without the I-864 because we are exempt due to hubby having accrued 40 credit quarters with social security. The guy at the embassy knows he qualifies and knows it is fine, but because they discontinued the I-864W and they cannot ask for the DS5540 (which was to replace the need for the 864W) they were never given guidance on how to approve our situation. The guy knows we meet the criteria for approval, but apparently it has to be approved by someone in the US (supervisor I'm guessing). According to my husband everyone around him that works there knows he is good to go, but no one there can do the final approval because we fall through the 'cracks'. <headdesk> 
 
So, we are taking it as an approval that is just needing someone in the US to say 'Yes". 
 
Sadly, there was nothing else we could have brought in to assist on this according to the embassy, mainly because they have just not been given guidance from the US on these such cases. I guess we are rare lol. He thinks it should only take a few days to get the official okay from the US though. So we are planning based on that.

So, hubby had his interview today. Everything went just fine. They were happy with everything he had. Unfortunately, they couldn't give us our instant approval. As some of you know, we are applying without the I-864 because we are exempt due to hubby having accrued 40 credit quarters with social security. The guy at the embassy knows he qualifies and knows it is fine, but because they discontinued the I-864W and they cannot ask for the DS5540 (which was to replace the need for the 864W) they were never given guidance on how to approve our situation. The guy knows we meet the criteria for approval, but apparently it has to be approved by someone in the US (supervisor I'm guessing). According to my husband everyone around him that works there knows he is good to go, but no one there can do the final approval because we fall through the 'cracks'. <headdesk> 
 
So, we are taking it as an approval that is just needing someone in the US to say 'Yes". 
 
Sadly, there was nothing else we could have brought in to assist on this according to the embassy, mainly because they have just not been given guidance from the US on these such cases. I guess we are rare lol. He thinks it should only take a few days to get the official okay from the US though. So we are planning based on that.

Passport (no issue there) 
Photographs were done in US sized
Birth certificate (No issue there they are listed)
The email we are bringing includes the courier confirmation. (meant to include that when I posted. oops)
 
We've confirmed payment options, and have cards available of every type. So should be good there as well. So barring anything bizarre, I think we are good. 
 
Thanks Wuozopo!

Hubby had his medical today. Went off nice and easy (i sat at a nearby costa coffee while he was in there). They did make him get a shot though. 2 weeks and his interview. Can't wait. 

Hubby was able to book an interview for Oct 15th. So happy!

Hubby was able to book an interview for Oct 15th. So happy!

Hubby just called me. Our LND came in the post today! I’m so flipping relieved.

no luck here either.
 

Someone in one of my FB groups got her I-130 approved early July and got her LND August 12th. So ya.. 

I know where you are coming from. I sent another email off as well. Doubt it will do any good, but at least it feels like i'm doing something (even if it is for naught). I want to be back by December. My old employer keeps having jobs open that I can apply for, but we don't want to do that until we have our approval. It's frustrating, especially since it is such a simple part of the process that shouldn't be taking this long.

Happy birthday!

Someone from the Facebook group I’m in got their number today. 

so, nothing in the post here except for coupons for pets at home. (one of our little ones.)

so, nothing in the post here except for coupons for pets at home. (one of our little ones.)

nothing here yet. I did get a response from my congressman. They sent me a form to fill out and send back, so that they can inquire on our behalf. NO idea if it will do any good, but i'm game to try at this point. No response to the last email I sent.