bt1

My children reside in Serbia in legal custody of their mother. I have acquired US citizenship 2 years ago, but have resided in the US for the past 6 years altogether (the first 4 of which were on a green card which I received through marrying a US citizen).

Can my children (both of them are under 18 years of age) obtain US citizenship through me?

Thanks everyone for your input, much appreciated. I don't think she wants to do this "forever"...she just has several friends and relatives throughout the US and now that she is retired, she has the time to visit. She never wants to stay longer than 3 months at a time and certainly no longer than 6 months in one year. Personally, I think that after 2-3 visits, she will have enough of being away from home and won't do it for a while.

A friend of mine got a 10 year multiple entry tourist visa. She will go back home after a 3 month stay and is planning to come back 3 weeks later for another 3 months. Is this allowed? Also, how often can she come in a calendar year, is there a limit? She is always planning on coming for 3 months, back and forth, again, is this allowed?

She is not working, she is retired and just visiting friends.

We filed the 1-751 in September (Vermont Service center) and promptly received a NOA1. After about a month we received a letter stating that they transferred the case to the California Service Center: that was on 10/10/2013. Since then, we have heard nothing re: biometrics appointment and I know they usually send those out soon after the receipt date. What makes me even more suspicious is the fact that today we wanted to change our address on line (since we bought a house) and we keep getting the error message that the case number does not match the type of application we filed. The case numbers were also different from the NOA1 and the following letter telling us that the case was transferred.

Any suggestions? Is this unusual?

OK, thanks

We know it was definitely delivered, we have confirmation. Should I call someone: it's kind of hard to do because you don't have a case number or anything

We applied for ROC 2 weeks ago and still have not received a NOA1 letter. The check has not been cashed either. Is this a reason to be concerned?

Hi everyone,

my husband has two children from his first marriage that live with their mother in Serbia. We are now removing conditions on his green card. Do we need to list the children on the 1751 form even though they are not removing conditions? I remember having to list them on the original K1 visa application and petition, but there was a box to tick if you are bringing them over or not. We are not bringing them over and thus there is no condition to remove for them, but do we still need to list them on the application?

Let me just ask this, is your fiance British, was he born in a different country? I am asking this based on the language you use, it sounds like English may be your second language, based on which I am presuming your fiance also may be from a country other than the UK. I say this because you may be scrutinized a bit more than average if this is so. Please accept my apologies if I am presuming too much and getting you worried for no reason. I just thought this may be an importation variable in the equation.

Helloo every body

I need your help

I'm US citizen, i applied for K1 visa to my fiance, she got it and she came here to usa. We got married, and for family issue she left before i file the change of status application. Now she is stuck back home. what should i do? is it true that the only way is to file i-130 all over?

When i check with the USCIS, i have been told that she entered the usa on U visa, which is totally wrong, it looks like the officer on the airport entered the data wrong, can i use this glitch?

Please reply me ASAP

Yes, you will need a spousal visa now. You should have applied for an advanced parole before she left: if it was an emergency,, they approve these in a couple of days and that would have allowed her to come back. As is, you will need to apply for the spousal visa.

Hello All,

We received our approval today. 10 days ago I emailed my US Senator's office. I included all of the information that I could about the process. I included the Visa Journey site so that they could understand how I was coming up with my information. I included excuses given to other congressional offices, as found on VJ. I talked about the fact that CSC has been working on July 18, 2012 for the last four months. I preemptively agreed with the whole first come first serve basis of approval. What I pointed out was that there were 11 million applications that seem to have cut in line. That, I was not above the law but, I did not feel it fair that many people who are following the law, now seem to be affected by those who have not. I basically thanked them, informed them of what they could expect as an answer from CSC.

I received an email today from the Senator's office stating that the info I had given allowed for an informed argument and dismissal of the excuses given by CSC. I was told to expect to hear from them soon as the USCIS representative was confounded with the informed person on the other end of the line. The Senator's aide also told me that she had no idea of the things going on and could only take what she was told by USCIS at face value in the past. Well, I received an email from the USCIS 3 hours after hearing from my Senator's office, our approval.

My suggestion to all who are still waiting. If, you have been waiting longer than 6 months, email your US SENATOR'S office. Be very polite letting them know you do not seek preferential treatment but, to be treated fairly. Give them the VJ site for their research. Our Senator's office said that they found out a huge amount of information about the process and current state of affairs from VJ that they had never been privy to in the past. Take your time to document all of the inconsistencies from the USCIS i.e. the plumbing problem that was expected to cause no delay, only to be used as an excuse for 48,000 applications. Give the people you are asking help from the tools they need to help you. My letter to my Senator was a couple of pages of clear, concise information as it pertained to my case.

I wish you all of the best of luck. I thank you all for your help and information. I especially thank all of the people at VJ for this site.

Chris

Probably a coincidence: I don't think your Senators office did anything in the 3 hours you say it took from the time you spoke to them until your approval. Congratulations nonetheless!!

I arrive to the U.S. with a K1 visa and marry me but I went back to my country but I am living with my wife who first asked me as a boyfriend, still married .... because right now I do not want to live in USA but travel with visiting my family so I want to know if I can apply for a tourist visa because immigration issues ..... call last eight months to see if I could get out of USA without this bring me problems could not re-enter but as I told me to marry the person who had no problem to go out alone if I wanted to apply for residency would have to do it from DR (

I married before 90 days) and I could not send the application to the USA but I left home because I have a health problem which I came out very expensive there.

I can go to the American consulate in my country that is the Dominican Republic say they do not want grenn card for now because I do not want to live there but I want a tourist visa to go with my son to visit his country because he is American but lives with me.

Please help because I want my tourist visa

Just apply for a tourist visa and see what happens, nothing to loose.

First of all, thank you. These forums are an awesome resource and I have been a lurker for a long time. I hope to now finally contribute with questions and the eventual story of my experiences.

So, I filed the k1 for my Canadian fiancee in mid February when we decided job wise and financially we would be better off living in the United States. Prior to that, I the American citizen, was going to university in Canada and have been with her for five years there. I have a work visa and study permit.

Prior to deciding to move to the United States we had a wedding date planned for July of this year. Catering is set, photographer, tent, etc. Money has definitely been spent. However, I think I may have underestimated the time it would take for us to get the K-1 to all come in.

There are two problems here:

1. First, we have a wedding planned and know that we now have to marry in the United States. We have decided we will just make it a religious ceremony, unrecognized by the U.S. Government (as their website states) but, are torn with how to do it. We have all of these services rented, a dress bought, a pastor coming, etc. However some of the advice I have been reading here suggests it cannot resemble any form of wedding, ie - dress, honeymoon, rings, etc. Should we make it a really little celebration or suck up the costs and redo it after we eventually marry in the US?
   I'm not looking for legal advice, just practical advice. It is to be a small gathering of family, mostly those in Canada. However, discovering this it hurts me to admit we may have to reschedule and I know her parents have been planning and spending to get ready. Thankfully, invitations have yet to go out.
   
2. We may have that celebration and then have to worry about the prospect of doing it and me moving back without her as we continue to wait for the visa to come through. I have a pretty good job so I cannot afford to just stay with her and wait. How do you guys manage that kind of seperation? We have done summers apart (3-4 months at a time) for four years now and it really sucks. Since leaving Canada in December, this is becoming our longest distance apartment. Skype is only so good...
   

Any theories or ideas we should think about for the wedding? Something I may have missed?

After a religious ceremony in the US you will be LEGALLY MARRIED, so you will no longer qualify for a K1 visa. Under the circumstances, what I would do, is go ahead with the wedding party but without the ceremony (no pastor!!). You can still wear your wedding dress, but no rings exchanged and no papers signed. You can then get married legally once the visa is issued and you move to the US.

I need help please when I check my case status online at /ceac.state.gov

they show me that messssge please I don't understand it what is this ? can anyone tell me please this im so worried about it

Case Creation Date: 13-Feb-2009

Status Updated Date: 02-Apr-2013

Section 203(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act requires that your registration be canceled and any petition approved on your behalf canceled, if you do not apply for your immigrant visa within one year of being advised to do so.

You were advised of this requirement over 1 year ago, but we have not received a response from you since then. As a result, your application for a visa has been canceled and any petition approved on your behalf has also been canceled.

Your application may be reinstated and any petition revalidated if, within one year, you can establish that your failure to pursue your immigrant visa application was due to circumstances beyond your control. Please provide a written statement to the Embassy or Consulate outlining the circumstances beyond your control and noting that you still wish to pursue this

Looks like your petition has been approved some time ago but you never applied for a visa. It is possible you never receive the letter so sis not know to act on it. Contact your embassy right away, as per the instructions at the end of the letter!

Hi,

I stumbled across this great website when trying to get my head around the complex immigration process!!

I'm a US Citizen, living and working in the UK and engaged to a UK citizen (i've been here 6 years, studying and now working). When we get married we would like to move to the States. From my research it seems the best way to do this is via DCF.

Before I get married i'd like to know if to apply for DCF if I have to get married in the UK? Does this make things easier ? We have a wedding party next year in the States however thought we could do the official paper signing and kick off the process before this.

I'd be keen to know if anyone else here has done this? and will this affect the proof of relationship status?

Thanks in advance

Carly

It doesn't matter where you get married, but in order to do DCF you have to be living abroad (i.e. other than the US). So if you do DCF after marrying in the UK and you still reside in the UK at the time you file, then this is OK: you would probably have your visa by the time you want to have a party in the US and you could then move to the US permanently at that time. Not every country allows DCF: I am not sure if the UK is one of those countries, someone from the UK may be able to answer that.

Sorry about the dramatic title.

What I worry about most now is our Affidavit of Support, as our situation is pretty special. My husband , the USC, has never worked in the US up until January 2013 and therefore has no W-2. We wrote a letter explaining our situation. Also, its gonna be a few weeks until we get our tax return transcripts so we're sending photocopies of the 1040 and 2555 of which he filed recently. This I'm gonna assume will end in ######, but it's all we got for now and I want to get the travel document AP thingy in asap as I wanna go home in the summer.

To prove his "financial excellence" (...) we're including bank statements, both from swedish and american banks where he has over $50000 in savings.

Also, we have swedish tax records.

If they don't accept this - will we be denied all together and will I be deported..? Or can we send in the tax records when we have them later?

A US citizen, regardless of where they live are required to submit tax returns every year.

Hi,

My boyfriend will be going to the US next month for flight training

For 2-3 weeks. I want to travel with him. US has very strict visa laws for Indians. How should I go about this? I am working permanently at a reputed firm and can get a letter from them confirming the same.

My dilemma is that is it reason enough that I show that I will be going with my boyfriend because he has work... is there any reason that they might not accept it? Or should I take the more popular choice of getting an invitation letter from a relative in the US to visit them?

What should be my plan of action and how can I make my case stronger?

You don't need an invitation to come to the US nor a specific reason (maybe you just want to see the statue of liberty, it's a good enough reason). You just need to show strong ties to your homeland: a job, assets, family etc. With that, you can apply for a visitor visa. Good luck!

Quick question,

What USCIS address to use for Fiance Letter of Intent?

United States Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

[ADDRESS OF FILING LOCATION]

Do I use the Dallas Lockbox I initialy send the I-129f to or other? I'm filling From St. Paul, Minnesota

Thanks!

You are sending the letter of intent on it's own? Did USCIS ask you to send it in? If not, there is no point sending it as they will never match it up with your application. If you realized you forgot to include it, it is too late: wait until they contact you for additional information.

I agree with the advice that the best (and possibly only) course of action is for your husband to go back to his country of origin and wait for a CR-1 visa. Knowingly or not, you have made not one, but two cardinal mistakes (immigration is very seldom sentimental and is unlikely to "understand" that you were just misinformed). It is unfortunate that you find yourself in this situation, but there is still light at the end of the tunnel, just make sure you have the correct information and follow the rules.

Hi VJ family I am getting ready to send evidence package to my fiancée and I wanted to find which of the two I do send W2 or form 1040. Thanks for the help.

They prefer neither of these, but the official tax transcripts from the IRS you(you can order from them).

hi everyone,

i tried to find some info but couldnt see anywhere,

im getting married in the US in 2013 (waiting for K-1 fiance visa approval) and i wish that my family from Poland could come for the wedding,

but im affraid that my brother wont recevie tourist visa because he was convicted with a crime in 2012, he is not in jail, and his sentense will end in 2014, he works legaly, he can prove his connection with Poland.

I wonder if my brother can apply for a tourist visa? and what documents he will need to get tourist visa/to be approved?

Does he have a valid passport? If he is serving a sentence, it is possible that they would have taken his passport away until he serves it. What other things does he have to prove strong ties to Poland: property perhaps? Job alone may not be enough.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I'm curius....How does someone "accidentally register to vote"?

No, you are not the only one, I was wondering that myself!

It should not cause problems but you will need to bring proof of traveling to the interview and report the trip to them at your interview.

Hi VJ Family,

What does terminating your status means from this message :

"On March 18, 2013, we mailed you a notice terminating your status. If you have not received the notice within 30 days of the date above, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for further assistance. If you move, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address.

During this step the formal decision (approved/denied) is written and the decision notice is mailed and/or emailed to the applicant/petitioner. You can use our current processing time to gauge when you can expect to receive a final decision."

Thank you

Hmmm, probably that your petition is no longer valid, but I could be wrong.

We got married last friday (yay!) and it was very romantic. I was told however that it might look suspicious if we apply for the green card just a week after the marriage.

Honestly, I feel that we have nothing to hide, as we are a "real" couple who did this marriage because we want to spend the rest of our lives together. :-) . But I want to send in the documents asap so both of us can go home over the summer and visit family and friends and get the travel documents approved - which I've heard can take up to three months!

Also, we dont have any joint bank accounts or own any car or apartment together. His name is on the lease of our apartment and Im an occupant... Our evidence is mainly photographs and such... Is that too weak?

Not too soon. We also applied 4-5 days after the wedding: they understand the urgency in needing to get work authorization!