galephys

Got bio letter yesterday, scheduled for 7/16. Remember when they used to give a 30 days notice for these...

We got the 18 months extension letter! 2 pages... ugh, so many papers to carry around now to go overseas :-D

I didn't pay much attention to the NOA date, I assume it was June 11, but received on the 15th.  VSC.  We definitely plan to file N400 as soon as the window opens and hope for a joint interview.  Does anybody have a fresh data on traveling with extension letter? When I did it they would send me to a special room to wait an hour or more for a higher officer to spend 30 seconds on my expired GC and a letter and let me in. How is it now? 

Sorry, I couldn't figure out how to insert another line. I had to resubmit our form because the form was out of date... (no comment, I'm still mad about it).  Good news is, the check was cashed today. Hopefully, it will not take 18 months to get the card approved. And if it does, we'll be at the N400 window by then. 

I-751: May 2018 Filers

California Service Center (0 applicant, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName......................Date of I-751 Mailing.........Received .........Check Cashed.......NOA Received 
JMDI................................05/01/18..............................05/02/18...................--/--/18......................--/--/18

ROCK4BLAQKHEARTS...05/01/18..............................05/04/18...................--/--/18......................--/--/18

DOWNLOADER................05/02/18.............................05/04/18...................--/--/18......................--/--/18

SANIL1986......................05/05/18.............................05/07/18...................--/--/18......................--/--/18

XOXONEL.........................05/07/18.............................05/08/18...................--/--/18......................--/--/18

ALBOROSIE8090.............05/04/18..............................05/09/18...................--/--/18......................--/--/18

ASH.1101.........................05/09/18..............................05/10/18...................--/--/18......................--/--/18

Vermont Service Center (3 applicant, 0 approved - 0%)
VJName..............Date of I-751 Mailing.........Received ..........Check Cashed........NOA Received 
OCEANA15...........05/01/18...............................05/03/18...................--/--/18......................--/--/18

Galephys...............04/30/18...............................05/01/18...................--/--/18......................--/--/18

Yuna628............... 05/02/18............................. 05/04/18....................--/--/18......................--/--/18

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Hii!

I am back to this forum with second to the last, I hope, USCS submission. VSC. Mailed package on April 30, received and signed for on May 1. Check not cashed yet... I'm aware of the backlog there, so I'm holding on to the USPS receipt and tracking info. 

We sent an extensive package (I am no stranger to these things and I saved EVERYTHING for the last 7 years) and filed a week after the window opened. Hopefully, it won't take super long, because we have a trip planned for September and need to apply for a visa ahead of time. 

Wordy is good,

I am the Beneficiary in our K1 process but we might as well be married after 5 years and a baby .. We will be definitely looking into this as like i said i have a very high credit score and this is positive news for us. Were you with a Credit union for long or did you switch from a major bank ?

Sorry i am asking a lot of questions :-)

Questions are good too!

I am a member for 6 years as of now, I don't think it mattered at all. At least didn't look like it.

Wow ! i have just read your Journey ! you really battled it out to get your Visa through ... do you think that using a credit Union helped more ? This is exciting news ! I'll also take your word as gospel = (Aussie Slang) according to how much you have been through.

Let's say the process of immigration was quite interesting, LOL. Thanks though! Really.

I think credit unions are more client-oriented. They are smaller, not nation-wide and they don't have as many clients as the big guys and they care. I was always able to reach a person, explain my situation and get them to work with me. It was a credit union worker who told me while I can't force my ex to transfer his debt from a joint CC to his own, I can close the card and prevent him from adding on, when my lawyer told me there is nothing I can do. They provided me with any type of paper I asked, even if it was special, they made it meet my immigration needs. They were always patient and helpful, advising me how to do things more efficiently, how to buy a car, how to find a good loan, what to do with mortgage (hint: when you know you'll sell in the next 5 years, refinance to 5\5 variable rate, APR is often super low).

Major bank, on the other hand, always tried to sell me something, force me into a new credit card that doesn't fit me and if I asked something non-traditional, it either took them ridiculous amount of time or they just said no.

My credit union was able to offer me the best rate in the area because I was their rewards program customer and did my banking online. In general smaller companies tend to be better, and local companies care more. But I may just be lucky, I don't know. Do your research, compare all rates for different unions and banks in your state, consider what happens if you move out of state and what are the chances, don't forget to ask what are the restrictions for each offer: for example, some car loan rates are only for new cars. Take advantage of pilot programs (example: state housing department programs for first-time home buyers) and introductory rates. Recently I discovered that the city is not always evil too! They don't just want to limit what you can do, but they can actually help if you talk to them. My city has an English class for adults for like $50 per semester, 6 hours a week. They have all sorts of programs and workshops too.

It takes time and a few mistakes, but at least there is a starting point. Please, please, please participate in filling out all forms with your fiance\spouse. Learn to do taxes and bills so if you are left by yourself for any reason, you can do it.

I was super scared to do anything, but there was no one else, and I had to figure it out. I remember a time I wanted to buy a new car just not to deal with minor repairs on the old one (and I mean select breaks and tires kinda thing). I replaced suspension this year and worked on electrical systems in it by myself. Granted, almost lost my wheels later, but now I know how to tighten them properly. <-- this kinda sums up my experience with everything :-D

\\sorry, I'm wordy

Outstanding! Having a strong credit record will be invaluable for you and your husband. I'm impressed and very happy that you all are approaching this new phase of your life so thoughtfully. I sometimes see how people bumble through this process and then complain when things go wrong. I love to see people who take ownership and make it work.

Best of luck!

Thanks!

I knew nothing about how to be an adult in the US: taxes, insurances, utilities, loans... it was all very scary. But thanks to good people online and offline it's all better now.

I am actually very proud of this achievement: 5 years ago I had no savings, a conditional green card, messy divorce, and a completely new life: new accounts, new loans, new lease... now I am a USC, homeowner, have 3 months worth in savings and, until this Monday, when we bought a second car, I was also debt-free. I have a pretty average salary for my area and the house is not super big and expensive, but still, I wasn't sure I would be able to get out of that mess when I started.

Wow ! Thank you so much for sharing, i have a very high credit score in the Australia and i cannot have it changed over - so that was very disappointing to find out. We intend on buying a house as soon as my Credit score is high enough. My Fiance will be happy to read this as well .

We weren't even married when I added him to my credit card. Good luck with everything! Buying a house is stressful and they look at every little thing on your bank accounts, down to a $10 you found 3 months ago and stupidly decide to deposit.

I thought I'd share our success story, maybe it will help some couples to begin their new life in the US together.

I am a USC, my husband just moved 2 weeks ago on CR1, still waiting for SSN. Here is what I did to get his financial health started:

I am a member on a local credit union where I do most of my banking. Even before we were married, I added my husband as an authorized user to my credit card. I was told his name will be there, but they can't report it to the credit agencies until he has SSN, but when they do report, it will appear as he is a customer since the day I added him, NOT since the day he got SSN.

Later I was able to do the same with a major US bank just using his passport number.

When he moved, Credit Union told us he can't open an account without SSN with them, but a major bank may be able to help him. I recall I was able to open an account back when I was just a visitor on B1 visa, but we didn't want to complicate things right away.

Also we needed a second car ASAP, so again I went to the credit union, I wanted both of our names on the loan. Customer service said it wasn't possible at first, but then changed their mind since my husband already applied for SSN (DHS verification, 8 weeks to wait, blah-blah-blah generic response from SSA), he had his CR1 visa and passport. I think having a receipt from SSA was a big deal, it proved our intention to get his SSN.

When we went to get pre-approval for a loan,, they took his A-number as a SSN and passport number as ID. They also checked his visa. They were fine with him being unemployed at the moment. Again, we were told it will be reported to credit agencies once we add his SSN to the file.

Much to my surprise, when we finalized the loan, they gave us TWO credit reports with scores - one for me, one for my new immigrant husband! And his score was in high 700s! Not bad for 2 weeks in the country and no bank account! He signed car loan documents as a co-applicant with me being primary.

However, we couldn't register the car under both names because DMV required a DL, but we'll add him later. He is also now on my car insurance as a second "non-licensed" driver for the same reason, but a car dealership was OK with it and he is allowed to drive for 60 days in VA.

Funny thing: DMV only wanted his foreign DL, his visa, passport and proof of residence for DL, not SSN. I guess we'll get on that as soon as he's ready for a test.

Thanks for reading! I hope it was useful to some.

https://www.uscis.gov/save/casecheck

this is where you check (thanks google). My husband's status says the same thing - returned to Maryland. He applied in VA.

Does anybody know how long until SSN is on hand from the verification date?

Thanks for the info! How long did the whole process take? Where there any problems with the visa processing w/o you?

It took exactly 3 months, typical for consular processing in Moscow. I flew back in for my husband's interview just to support him, but it is not required. His visa was in AP for 59 days, got approved today. I don't think my presence made any difference for the CO, they were not concerned about the relationship at all.

At USCIS field office everyone was super nice and they told me I can fly to the US anytime.

I waited for the approval and left, but only because I already had tickets and approval took 2 days.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/times

Immigration intent. you invited him and offered to pay for him, you are in relationship.

He can apply again, but he needs to show more ties to the home country, maybe visit a few other places. However!! He already mentioned you and US consulate will now ask him about you again. Do not lie, do not tell them you are not in contact anymore! This will bite you in the back.

I would do this: get your work contract for Nicaragua, approved vacation time and other things proving that you will return. Write an affidavit that you both are traveling for a week and will return. Have a letter from your mother that she is expecting both of you for your regular vacation. He is paying for a trip himself. Apply again for your next vacation.

If you can afford it, go to Europe or Canada as tourists (hostels are cheap) first to create some travel history.

If she already has a tourist visa, she can visit. If not - she must apply for K3.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/479894-yes-you-can-visit-ir1-cr1-version/

Carry an original name change or marriage certificate along with GC and passport. Some border officers ask for it, some don't. Also she may be asked when checking in because airline is checking for proper visas.

You don't need a lawyer. It is an easy form, just check the "divorce" box, attach a divorce decree and proof of bona fide marriage. You may be asked for a proof that you really tried to make it work - personally I attached a summary of my therapy treatment and some police reports.

There are plenty of affidavit examples on this website, use search function. In general a person writing an affidavit should state their name, address, email or phone, date of birth and relationship to you, then how they obtained knowledge of your marriage, signature and date. Like this:

I, Jon Doe, born June 1, 1969, live at 123 Main str, City, State. Applicant, Jane Smith, is my friend and co-worker since 2013. I attended the wedding of Jane Smith and John Smith on July 1, 2014 at Place, City, State. We are close friends, Jane talked to me a lot about her new husband and a happy married life. I visited them in their house at 231 Second str, City, State on many occasions. In 2015 Jane told me they are having problems and she is seeing a marriage counselor. Despite their best intentions, Jane and John could not save their marriage. I helped Jane move to her current residence at 678 Third str, City, State. I am confident Jane truly loved John Smith, their marriage was entered in good faith and she did everything in her power to make it work.

Please contact me should you have any questions.

Jun1 8, 2016, signature.

That's how my friends and family did theirs. You can also find much more formal affidavits, it's really up to the writer. Just make sure to keep 3 things:

name, DOB, contact information

how they know you and your husband

how they obtained their information about your marriage (visits, conversations, etc).

sign and date.

Also a warning: some states require a long separation period before you can file for a divorce. Keep dates in mind. I had to first file I-751 because the deadline was approaching and my divorce wasn't final yet. I got an RFE, of course, mailed in the divorce decree and went from there. Because it all took so long, I had to get an extension stamp in addition to a NOA-1 letter. Good luck.

I was there for a spouse visa, but sevral K1 applicants were in the room, chatting. They all said nterviews were easy: how you met, how long are you dating, how often do you see each other, have you met their family\did they meet yours, what are you going to do in the US, where are you going to live. Standard stuff.

All 3 K1 visas were apporved that day.

The only thing to warn your fiance: be there EARLY. Like an hour or more before her scheduled time. There was a line and it was long. One K1 applicant was a few minutes late for her appoinment and a secretary who checks documents before handing them to the CO gave her hell. Also it will take time. We were scheduled for 9:30, but we were done only by noon, and the interview itself took maybe 15-20 minutes, the rest of it was waiting.

Which app is that?

I'd wait to answer that survey until the visa is in hand and you're in the U.S.

Oh, how I and my contemporaries wish that the infernal Guayaquil consulate had done this...

of course we are waiting... but I'm loosing my mind checking visa status 50 times a day and I hoped it's a good sign)))Why would any reasonable company send out a survey before completing a service, right?

Yes, take the ORIGINAL divorce decree with you and you'll be fine. But it must be the original. I went in and out f the country multiple times with different names in passport and green card and even with an expired green card under the ex's name, a never updated passport with a maiden name and extension letter\stamp.

Highlighted, circled, put post it notes and post it arrows, wrote notes right on papers - anything to direct the officer's attention to what I need them to see.

Our list said "even if you already submitted it with I-130", so we took what we already submitted and some more, but the officer didn't ask for any of it.

Don't be we were it isnt that bad. Breath

I have a questionr related to topic. Once aprroved do you book one way ticket or round trip?

Whichever is cheaper.

We did DCF for my husband's CR-1, visa is under administrative processing for his field of work as per case status check. CO said it usually takes 2-3 weeks and we can speed it up some, which we did. It's been a week sinсe the interview, status has not been updated for 3 days after it was looked at for 2 days in a row. USCIS field office there approved our case in 2 days, I know visa unit usually doesn't take long eigher.

Today my husband got an email from Immigrant visa unit asking to complete a survey about his experience. We are overthinking and anxious... Does it mean they are done with our case? If they are not, why would they send a survey?

I got a similar survey request about USCIS after they approved I-130. Did you ever get one? When, in relation to your case status?