Terca

We were placed "In line for interview" in April as well and received an interview appointment Letter in mid June.

Hello June filers. I have been reading trying to obtain more information. I see there are still many June 2016 filers that have not been scheduled for an interview yet (especially those with IOE notices). 

How can i make an infopass appointment? any guidance is helpful

If you are the petitioner you need to send the affidavit of support form, she is right. It seems to me though, that you would still qualify to send the I-864W unless you don't meet the requirements listed on the instructions pertaining having met your stepkids in person and blah blah.

Thx for the information. I just included this information in the Dominican Embassy Info page the other day. It's much easier to do this and it saves people are an extra trip.

You are right, it's one less thing beneficiaries have to stress over.

Hello Guys,

I just wanted to provide a bit of information for the friends who have beneficiaries in the Dominican Republic. Consultorios de Visa (the place everyone goes to get their Medical done for interview) sent my uncle's medical exam results directly to the consulate. It used to be that people would pick up their exams the day before the interview. I was helping my uncle get ready for his IR-5 Immigrant visa interview on July 27th, 2012 and when he went to pick up his medical exams they told him "The results were sent to the consulate already"

He was not able to discern if others were in the same position, nor did he ask other beneficiaries waiting in the consulate. This may be a particular case or it may be a change in their procedures. When others go for their interviews please confirm!

So this is a just a heads up, people should still GO TO PICK up their exams but now you won't be surprised if they tell you the same.

BTW he was granted a visa.

how about medical examination package? im guessing your wife will take care of that in Juarez closer to interview day.

You will be ok with copies of the tax returns. I can't think of anything else at the moment. good luck

Yeah, they told me the police certificate is not necessary in Mexico .. and thanks.. I only have the birth certificate for the petitioner(me) in there just in case..

is there anything that I may be missing? any documents I should take just in case??

Well if you want to bring extra things, how about insurance policy listing your wife?, or prove of co-mingling of finances if you have those. Can't hurt.

well...

1. celebrate

2. wait for Green cards

3. apply for Social security cards (if they don't come in the mail)

in the future...

4. Drivers license

5. removal of conditions

Seems Odd a Transcript would be available for free. Did you File Late?

I see No reason why a 1040 Copy of 2011 would not work and a letter as to the circumstances of getting a Transcript.

the transcripts are free but the poster is referring to the federal return copies, those are expensive.

by the way there is No need for including a letter as to circumstances of getting a transcript since you can send either a transcript or the federal tax return and w-2 for that year.

there will be no problem with using a copy of your return along with pertaining schedules and w-2 form. no need to order their expensive copies if you have them at home. I have had no problems with using return copies on several immigrant visa cases.

Welcome Yoly, another consejo is to keep your "timeline" up to date. When you have questions people can refer to it to better help you.

I filed as single one year without problems with uncle sam. BUT I amended this return from single to "married filing separate" because I didn't want it to be an issue during the interview process when the consul noticed I filed as single while being married.

Now I know it wasn't going to be an issue, but back then I did not want to take the chance.

What I highlighted in Bold, isn't the w-7 and notarized I.D's only for if you filing "married filing Jointly"?

Matt

That's a good question, I did the same thing you are doing this year using the turbotax software. I ran different scenarios and was actually getting more money back if I filed as "married filing jointly" but since my husband wasn't here and wasn't my dependent I felt it was wrong to claim the extra cash from the EIC. BUT Turbotax needed my husbands ITN/SSN even if filing as "married filing separate" (at least back then it did). So I printed out the forms and was about to send them snail-mail with "NRA" in place of my husband's ITIN/SSN when I came across this bit of info:

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=222209,00.html

IRS processes returns showing SSNs or ITINs in the blanks where tax forms request SSNs. IRS no longer accepts, and will not process, forms showing "SSA205c," "applied for," "NRA," blanks, etc.

I wanted no problems so I left the space blank and sent the W-7 and necessary docs anyways.

Writing NRA is acceptable if you are married filing seperately and you don't claim your spouse as an exemption. It's spelled out clearly in the 1040 instructions for 2011.

Oh that's great! I'm basing my answers on the ITIN info from the IRS website so it's a bit misleading that they state one thing on the form and another on the website pertaining the ITIN number. Thanks for bringing this up!

I have a hot sealer at work so I custom made my bag to fit the passport photos. Then I found they actually make tiny ziplock bags lol

Here are 2 escenarios from my personal experience:

-For tax year 2009 I wanted to claim the "Married Filing Separate" option on my taxes. Using online software to E-FILE didn't permit me to file without my husband's SSN/ITIN. I needed my refund money ASAP in order to pay for my college courses and waiting for an ITIN number and filing snail mail were not good options for me. I decided to file as "single" and ammended my taxes a couple of months later. I received my refund fast paid for college and only then did I ammend. When I ammended my taxes I didn't claim the EIC (earned income credit) in order to avoid complications and keep the refund as it was. I received a letter accepting my ammended return but letting me know that the "change" was not going to show on my transcripts. I saved the letter in case I needed it for the interview in order to explain why I filed single while being married. Thankfully, this was not an issue during the interview at all.

-For tax year 2010 I wanted to do things right plus I didn't need my refund ASAP. I snailed mailed my federal return as "married filing separate" along with form W-7 and notarized copies of my husband's IDs. I got my refund no problem but received an official letter addressed to him saying that they could not provide my hubby with an ITIN number because they had not received HIS return. I didn't give a ####### because I only wanted the number in order to fill out my taxes correctly, and he was going to receive his social security card anyways upon entry to US.

-For this tax year husband is here so I'm filing "married filing Jointly"

p.s Keep in mind that IRS is no longer accepting 'NRA' or anything other than the ITIN/SSN for foreign spouse on the forms.

I am thinking to write NR where form 1040 asked to provide SSN/ITIN. and post it by mail to IRS.

Don't take that risk. This is an excerpt from IRS.GOV general ITIN information page

To obtain a SSN, see Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card. To get Form SS-5 or to find out if you are eligible to obtain a SSN, go to Social Security Administration Website or contact a SSA office. By law, an alien individual cannot have both an ITIN and a SSN.

IRS processes returns showing SSNs or ITINs in the blanks where tax forms request SSNs. IRS no longer accepts, and will not process, forms showing "SSA205c," "applied for," "NRA," blanks, etc.

For 2010 I wanted to claim the "married filing separate" option when my bubby was overseas, But I had read on the IRS.GOV website on a publication that they were no longer accepting that people write NRA (non resident alien) on the form.

Since I still needed my husband's SSN or ITIN I submitted via snail mail my return along with form W-7 and notarized copies of his IDs.

I got my refund no problem but received an official letter addressed to him saying that they could not provide my hubby with an ITIN number because they had not received HIS return. I didn't give a ####### because I only wanted the number in order to fill out my taxes correctly, and he was going to receive his social security card anyways upon entry to US.

Keep in mind that a person cannot have both a working ITIN and SSN. If your spouse is assigned an ITIN now, make sure that you cancel the ITIN upon receiving the SSN.

p.s

In 2009 I needed my refund money ASAP so I wanted to e-file instead of snail mail. I was not able to do it with the "Married" options because the software did not let me continue without a SSN/ITIN for hubby. So I chose the "Single" and then amended my taxes to correct the mistake a couple of months after. When I ammended my taxes to married I did not claim the EIC (earned income credit) in order to keep my refund as it was and avoid complications.

Thanks guys

p.s sam&jensi My husband never showed interest of living in the US either! that is until he met me of course and started really thinking what it would be like. We talked about the move here, i was willing to relocate to Dom. Rep. (still am) but we decided that it would be beneficial for both of us as college grads to work in the US instead. Sadly, in the Dom. Rep. the most important thing that gets taken into account when finding a great job is if you have money, know people, and look nice and lastly your professional credentials. So it was a mutual decision of moving to the US, the problem is that all his good friends and close family members live back home. I must confess that i was terrified of making him miserable even though he assured me a million times that he just wants to be with me where ever that happens to be.

I had nightmares in which my husband would stop loving me or die , or was always giving me his back and I could never reach him lol. Now i am doing everything possible so that he feels at home, we met with some of his highschool buddies who live here and that was loads of fun! I have him enrolled at my "fitness club" (they hate it when i call it gym hahaha), we found a dominican restaurant close to my house and he swears that the meat tastes just like in DR lol

I also got him a DMV booklet and his own subway maps, and NJ rail maps, and he meets me at the train station when i get home every night. We go to the mall and to eat out and I let him pay, I know that he is not working and its depleting the little money he brought from DR but it makes him feel good and I love that

Overall i think he is not going to be grouchy like when older people come to the US to live, because i am here and also because he loves how organized things are. He was astounded that we don't use personal pictures in our resumes lol... and is now addicted to avocado eggrolls from Houlihans hehehehe

Hello guys!

I just wanted to give you an update of the latest in our case (for those who do not know me the rest of my case in my signature)

My husband has a CR-1 visa attached to his passport because at the time of visa interview we were married for less than 2 years (june 2011). We bought his ticket for october 2011 (after our second wedding anniversary) so that my husband would be entitled to IR-1 status upon entry and not have to deal with removal of conditions.

He arrived at JFK at 1:50 pm and was done by 2:30 pm. He waited until the consular officer was opening the yellow envelope to point out nicely that "my wife wanted me to point out we have been married for more than 2 years now" . CO answered "sure let me double check that" and that was it.

Everyone here keeps asking him how he feels about the new country and he says he loves the organization, the fact that we live in a safe small town (he is in love with all the foliage lol), and the variety of cultural backgrounds (he just learned how to say hello in arabic and thank you in chinese). Hates how expensive cell phone companies are and how expensive healthy food compared to junk food.

His friends from back home ask him about the weather if its cold yet because it never gets cold there lol.. I got him a couple of sweaters and a jacket before he came and that was a good move since it snowed on halloween!!! He was freezing those days so we purchased a heavy winter parka he thinks he looks huge but i keep reminding him he never wore anything heavier than a hoodie so it takes some getting used to.

i'm working 2 jobs now and was not able to stay as much as i wanted with him, but he is doing great considering i dont have as much time as i would like to walk with him. Yesterday he took the train to meet me in lower manhattan after work, i felt so proud!!! I must confess it does feel kind of weird that he is now here and we dont have to chat or skype anymore it's a learning experience for both of us

No green card yet, but he has been applying for jobs online. He has an interview on Nov 9th i'm crossing my fingers!!

It could be that the checklist was mailed to you and as that was intransit your case was completed. Keep in mind that it takes sometime for them to upgrade system.

This is not uncommon, for example I received a RFE for missing documents that had already been mailed, but it took them sometime to realize that they had them. This is what is commonly known as a "false RFE"...

IF your wife is not able to sign in to the NVC payment portal, and has been confirmed by the NVC operators that your case is completed I don't think you have to worry about the checklist.

-Have all your documents ready and organized.

-Be pleasant and say good morning.

-Dress appropriately, not like a clubbing scene, not like a CEO.

Good Luck!

Do not stress out about the interview to the point where you guys look like you are rehearsing something. Be prepared (documents, cause knowledge of each other shouldn't be a problem) and you will be fine.

The day of our interview my husband and I brought more pics, letters addressed to both, gift receipts and my car insurance where he is also listed. The consul asked us NOTHING, no questions whatsoever aside from the oath, she didn't ask to see our pics either lol. On the other hand, there was another couple and as soon as we saw the couple we knew they would get drilled and They did get drilled, about 15 min each separate. In the end they left with big smiles and visa. The fact that we were able to tell that the couple would get drilled lead me to think that the way you behave says a lot. They looked like something "was up" hence they got drilled but paperwork in order so left with a visa (that's my guess). So that means they need something definitive in order to deny your visa, not just some gut feeling, or how you look you know?

We had a straight forward case both my husband and I are college graduates, and we are both Dominicans, we have been together since 2005, same age etc... BUT He had one work related visa denial (while being engaged to me before we started our process)and that had me worried.

What do you feel are your weakest points? perhaps you can address them now and feel a bit more secure about how to approach them during the interview. I don't think that they are out to deny people, but if you look a nervous wreck they may get the wrong impression.

Sleep well, eat well and say good morning a big smile goes a long way . people forget their manners sometimes specially under so much stress.

SOmethings to keep in mind:

1.You have been to the DR enough times to know that you can't trust just anyone. Those "buscones" who are always so eager to help outside the consulate know less about the process than you do.

2. There are no "cyber cafes" close by so in case you need to receive a fax or print something find out before hand where you can do so fast the day of the interview, saves time in an emergency ( you don't want to know what I went through)

3. If you can help it don't bring a purse to the consulate, I had no purse just my documents but my hubby had his memory stick on his keychain and it got disposed of.

4. Dress appropriately, you wouldn't believe the number of guys and ladies dressed as if going clubbing, then there were others dressed as if they had a private dinner with the president. I wore jeans, flats and a simple short-sleeved button-down shirt. Hubby wore relaxed jeans, boat shoes and a simple button down shirt.

First you need to read the guides in order to figure out what course of action to take. Why do you think you need an Immigration lawyer?

Is your wife still in the dominican rep?

Is your wife in the US right now?

Did your wife overstay her visa if she is in the US?

1. MOthers e-mail is ok

2. you can Write "present" in with pen

Was this in Mexico or Dominican Republic?? K1 visa? Scary. Did you get the notice of AP within the week though?

I'm sorry I didn't read this sooner. But by now you know it was in Juarez, and yes 3 days after interview he received the DHL package with AP notice. All in all keeping his passport was a great sign, it may be a short AP wait or you may have been approved

Same thing happened to my brother in law, my guess is that they found it "strange" that everything was so perfect and organized. they kept his passport but he was put on AP for 3 months. He is here now though

p.s We made the mistake of celebrating after the interview and then got hit with the DHL package and AP decision what a blow :S .. good thing it is only for 3 months my sister was going crazy