Luni

I'm a bit confused with the DS-260.

Does my husband fill it out online and then mail out a package of the required documents? I'm not exactly sure what he needs to do at this point and I don't want to screw anything up. Which civil documents should I give him to send out aside from birth certificate, passport, and our marriage license? Are they able to be copies until his interview date?

I've read instructions and what not, but sometimes it's just better to talk to ppl who have experience with these things.

Oh, oh! Also...

Do I include copies of me W-2 forms AND copies of my filed taxes? (or both?)

I do not have transcripts from the IRS, just the e-files of what H&R block provided me and Turbotax.

Before I continue filling out my I-864 form, I have a quick question.

I currently make 28k annually. I'm slightly confused however. Do I meet the requirements for the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a 2 person household in the States? I want to know if I need to include my assets or have to include a co-sponsor. I'm thinking I'm double the amount, but I suck at this stuff and wanted to be safe.

ANY help is great!

Questions, questions! It's so wonderful to have this forum as a resource so I'm not listening to an automated system...

ANYWAYS, I just got confirmation that the NVC received my husband's choice of agent form. I payed the AOS fee, and we have the invoice for the Immigrant Visa Bill. Now... my question is this.

Will I receive the I-864 package even though we haven't payed the Immigrant Visa Bill yet? The bill is so huge so it's probably going to take me a month or two (since my previous company still hasn't given me my W-2 I was depending on) to get the funds. I want this to go perfectly and as quickly as possible so I was hoping I would get this package before and fill that out while I'm waiting for my Husband and I to get the money for the bill.

The NVC is closed today due to the weather so.. I just had to ask an actual person. I really appreciate the help!

It seems a little .. ridiculous that they want so many fees all at once when you've barely done anything. It's just... ungh agitating in this U.S. economy.

Personally, I prefer to use my home phone. I get unlimited international calling for $35.00 ontop of my local calls of $19.00 with AT&T. If I AM using my cell phone to say a "Hey, I'll be home late tonight- I'll call you at such and such time", I use SPRINT and have their International Plan that is an additional $5.00 a month and charges $10 a minute instead of the $45 a minute I'd get without it.

Other options is this little device called the magic jack! You buy it for $19 and it allows you to use your phone through the internet FOR FREE. Basically, it's a free land line phone you can use to call ppl international. My Step-Mother uses it to call her daughters in Brazil.

http://www.magicjack.com/6/index.asp

Another option is Skype! At the time I used it, it was FREE for international calls. It worked okay.

My Husband and I are both video game nerds, so we use the internet to communicate and spend time together A LOT by playing multi-player games online and use our web cams every so often with Skype.

Oh, how I'd love for NVC to not have a busy signal for 2 days and also answer my e-mails!

Because of that... here I am asking you guys!

On the top left corner of my husband's NVC "Choice of Agent" form, it says "Expiration Date: 12/31/2006". Obviously it ISN'T 2006, so I can only assume it could possibly be 2010 or 2011, by which.. I'm waiting to know an answer to a question I have for these people that is left unanswered and the deadline could possibly be up to send it out.

IS there a deadline...?

Both my Husband and I received e-mails from the NVC and on MY side, I know what I have to do (the whole pay 88$ to continue stuff..), but on my Husbands side (the e-mail he received) it wants him to appoint a choice of agent. Now, we didn't go the route of attorney and I've been filling all the papers out, etc. Should he just appoint ME or himself?

The header of the form reads:

"U.S. Department of State

CHOICE OF ADDRESS AND AGENT

For Immigrant Visa Applicants"

Thanks for your help!

Hello there!!!

With the Holidays arriving, my Canadian Husband is a few weeks away from visiting for 2 weeks (yay! Our first anninversary too!). Needless to say, I am hella excited cause it's been since January. I wanted to be sure to give him enough ties to Canada so we wouldn't have any problems with customs.

ANYWAYS, aside from giving him a copy of our NOA1 (or possibly a copy of our approved I-130 that I'm waiting to get in the mail?), I want to have him get a letter from his company that he will be returning home within 2 weeks. Now, should the letter from his boss say anything specific? I imagine the date they expect his return, but I would appreciate it if anyone can give me some tips on what else to include or direct me to some examples of what to give his employer.

Thanks again and Happy Holidays!!!!

So what I will be relieving in the mail will be my NOA2? I'm sure they'll have instructions on what fees I'll be needing to pay and what not, yes?

I have a little thing from my step mother's immigration lawyer, but it may be out dated. All the huge steps with all the terms and not is simply confusing. I find it easier to HEAR it from someone. It makes it easier.

Now... what comes next? What should we be expecting? What almost exactly 4 months!

------------------------------

Application Type: I130 , IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN

Your Case Status: Post Decision Activity

On December 2, 2010, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

For approved applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include USCIS sending notification of the approved application/petition to the National Visa Center or the Department of State. For denied applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include the processing of an appeal and/or motions to reopen or reconsider and revocations.

------------------------------

Thank you! That's helpful.

Also, I was just curious for everyone doing this process: did you get an immigration lawyer? I've heard some people say the process is pretty much impossible without one, but we certainly can't afford that. How about you guys?

Good morning

I did not use a lawyer. I found it a waste of time cause I don't believe my case is THAT complicated and I would rather trust myself then put something that means so much to me in someone else's hand. It was easy after finding instructions on how to do EVERYTHING and using this site for questions I may need. Unless you have like... terrible background, I don't see a need for a lawyer unless you have the $ to blow.

You can visit your husband for Christmas, etc. You can NOT work in the states (unless you want to do it illegally under the table) if you have no visa to work here. If you are going through the immigration process, I suggest stepping lightly. Have the required paperwork for "ties" to Canada. That's what I am doing for my husband. Making sure he has bank statements (like it was mentioned to both you and I) and a letter from his employer on when he is returning to work so customs will let him through and we can spend Christmas together for 2 weeks. I'm also giving him a copy of our marriage certificate and a copy of our NOA1.

Though... I'm not quite sure what the letter from his boss should say fully.

Letter should have an expected return date. Also a lease/mortgage papers would be good, banks statements, and utility bills or car payments would help too

Good luck

He doesn't have any lease/mortgages, but he could prob make some copies of his bank statements and maybe Student loan stuff.

Hey Guys!

After starting our I-130 (Sept), we're playing the waiting game. Alas!

My Husband and I are planning on spending Christmas and our 1 year anniversary together and he's bought his ticket, etc.

He already asked his boss for proof of employment/proof he's on 2 weeks vacation, and I plan on sending him a copy of our NOA1.

Is there anything else I may need by chance and what should the letter from his employer say and be?

Just so I don't have to send things separately.

Thank you muches!! I can't wait! It's been shy of a year since he was last here.

I used USPS because it was a PO Box and got a delivery confirmation. Costs me about.. 11 bucks?

Make SURE to keep your money order stub!!!!

Thank you! It appears I have been "touched" !

Sweet! I don't always trust my e-mail completely and ...sometimes still don't even trust my mail man! I would prefer to simply have both. I'll go for it.

Sry, I feel so squeamish and unsure! I don't want anything to get messed up. =D Almost ####### actually.

Thank you! If I register through here, will I still receive confirmations, etc through regular mail? I wouldn't want to miss anything important. Or is this simply a way to check on the updates of your petitions?

What is a "touch" ?

I see a lot of people putting that into their timeline after their NOA-1. Since I just received my NOA-1, I wanted to be sure I wasn't missing something! This stuff seemed so hard to understand at first, but it seems to be simple in the end.

If someone could explain what I should expect at this point, I would be most grateful!

Much love!

There's already a topic for Sept Filers =)

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/272787-september-2010-filers/

What he'd be doing is FRAUD and an insult to ppl here that work and wait to be with their family and loved ones the right way. I don't think the US would even... allow a brother and sister to be married. They do background checks and everything. Does he honestly think that would get past them?

It may sound easy to him, but they'll investigate it and possibly find out. Explain to him the consequences.

Sept filers! Sent in Sept 1st! =D Not sure what to expect next now that we got out NOA 1 @___@

I'm sorry this had happened to you. If he was pushing and shoving you the first thing you should've done was filed a report with the police so the abuse was on record and perhaps there COULD'VE been a way. If there is nothing tying you to the States and the only reason you came here was for him, the best bet is to return to Ukraine. I'm sure your career AND family are waiting for you.

You guys have an open option to visit at least and the cost to travel between Canada and the U.S is pretty cheap as well.

Think about others who are in a distant country, no visit visa and stuck for many more months to meet their beloved until IR1/CR1 completion. Only option for them is the petitioner to take the vacation and visit them in their country

Loto

Cheap? I WISH! I fly out all the way to Newfoundland. The worst is 1k a pop lately. The flight prices are crazy. He has a good boss atm so I know his boss would vouch for him. Even so, he does have friends and family here other than myself so I guess that would be helpful in his defense?

Gosh, I wish it was that simple with my Husband. I actually think his whole office thinks it's this easy. It would've been so if friend's did not take forever to get me their affidavits and then send things to me. I swear it feels like this whole package has taken 5 years to complete on its own! Ahahaa! It's so very discouraging and I'm worried I won't get to see him at all until this whole ordeal is over. It's comforting to know I can come here for help though...

I can't thank you all enough so tons of thank yous WAY ahead of time.

Thank you again.

My Husband seems to think that this thing will take a month to finish and so does his job. I can only sit here and put my hand to my head and sigh. He goes "Don't doubt" and I go "I don't doubt, I KNOW! These things are not instant!".

What types of ties would he need? I don't think I can stop him from putting in his 2 weeks notice or anything. Is there anyone in immigration I can call to let them know or?