foobaz123

I received the AOS bill and DS3032 today, just as Ryan predicted. :-) I am able to login to the payment center online. Even though we previously prepared the DS3032 form (downloaded & signed by beneficiary before), I plan to be cautious to have my wife (beneficiary) signed again with the DS3032 included from NVC since it has the case number & barcode on top. And send OPTIN email for EP with it tomorrow.

The AOS bill asks about whether the current address of the beneficiary is correct or not. My wife did move to a new address than the one when filed I-130. Because I am going with EP, I suppose I don't have to send NVC the new address as long as the new address is used in the IV DS-230 package later. Would that be an problem? Thanks!

I'm glad you got yours.

Ours is still in limbo somewhere

Good question. My concern would be less about what NVC would do with that address and more what GUZ would do. Unfortunately, I cannot answer that.

gosh....I am also worried about the unemployment issue. If that qualifies as public assistance (not sure of the terminology they use)

that would mean a REF and then a delay .....I'm just not sure.

I don't believe it would qualify as public assistance. I believe that is more things like food stamps and such. Why would it result in an RFE even if it was public assistance?

Wow, you've been waiting for 2 weeks. That's long. Hopefully, you'll get them tomorrow. Good Luck

Yeah

It seems that it's all because we tried to OPTIN to the Electronic Processing thing prior to getting the AOS/DS-3032 generated. If we hadn't done that, we'd probably be nearly done with NVC and close to getting our interview date.

Need some advice on this also please

I have 2008 ($52,000), 2009 ($48,000) and 2010 ($49,000) tax transcripts. I am well over the guild line.

2011 we are applying for ITIN married filing joint and I will also include this and send a copy of the entire doc and supporting documentation.

2011 I worked up until June 28th ($24,000)

2011 Unemployment of ($10,000)

2011 Temp position ($3500.00)

Do I still need a Co-Sponsor?

I just got a job today :dance: so I can ask for a letter from employer. Current position is for ($40,000.00)

However I do have a co-sponsor but would love to do this without her as she is going into open heart surgery in a few weeks and don't have the heart to ask her again if she will...I know she will but I don't want to put any more burden on her right now.

It would seem to me that you wouldn't. You made well over the line in all of 2011 and are currently making well over the line. That said, it might be a roll of the dice on it.

huh... NVC just told me that when I called this morning someone supposedly put in a request to have the AOS invoice and DS-3032 generated. They also said it wouldn't go out the same day and that it may go out by the end of the week or even next week (which is what they told me this morning). I guess we'll see what tomorrow and the next day bring.

On the subject of copies and what not....

When the wife goes in for the interview she'll be carrying:

A full duplicate of The Package that went to USCIS and of all documents, including supporting bits, that went to NVC

More pictures.

Blank and semi-blank copies of all forms (in case they suddenly decide they don't like how one was filled out/signed/countersigned/moon phase it was filled out under)

Any additional evidence that we may scrape together between now and then

Can i ask NVC if they received my package or if they are reviewing it. USPS notified the delivery was made today

You can ask anything you like. Whether they'll give a useful answer, that is a different question.

It's starting to look like we're going to lose another week before we even really start at NVC. No invoice this morning and still nothing of use from NVC.

Even if we did get the invoice tomorrow and pay it, we won't be able to send in any paper work until next week.

Another week gone....

The purpose is not to have the refund increased or either decrased, it is just to have married jointly showing to CO.however i fear that we have to return money if amending will require that we refund some of the 8.000 which we don not have now

A quick bit of calculation would show whether or not that is the case. Also, it is very likely that most, if not all, if your income would be excluded as foreign income. As such, it should have no negative impact on her taxes and should almost certainly result in a far larger refund. I can't be any more specific without additional information.

She has one kid of 6 years old and her sister is her dependent. She is 15 years old.

We are not ready to refund any money now as 90% of the money was already used for stuffs that she had to take care of

Well, unless you make a massive amount of money I don't see how adding you would increase her tax burden enough to override the increased deductions and lower rate. You'd have to be making enough to bump her into a significantly higher tax bracket and if she's getting a 8,000USD tax refund I don't see how that would be possible.

she told me that when somebody file married jointly the money decreased. As proof she has her sister's case. do you agree? if she file now married jointly will she have to refund some of the money. Her tax return was 8.000 dollars

I can't see how that would ever be true unless the newly added spouse made a lot more money than the other person. In that case you can file "Married, filing separately". It is still a Married status, but changes the way the tax is calculated.

I have to ask, that is a pretty massive refund. Does she make a very large amount of money or have lots of kids? Feel free not to answer if you don't wish.

I was able to add my husband to my bank account, a credit union. I had emailed my bank first asking for this, I was told to get a notarized copy of his ID, to sign the paperwork and go to the local branch to add him. I did, at the branch they didn't want to it, but I showed them the email I got from the headquarters and I was able to add him last week.

Huh... interesting... I'll bring this up with my bank again and see what they say. I'd love to be able to add her.

Damn.. Damn.. Damn...

NVC is still saying that they're "converting my case to EP and it will be a few more days". They even told my congressman's immigration guy that.

Just how in the hell can it take two - three weeks to "convert to EP" when most EP filers are completely bloody done with NVC in around that amount of time. Why did I have to send that damned email!

Did the return increased, decreased?

The increase would be substantial. Double the amount is possible, though a 75% increase is also likely.

I am getting beyond sick of NVC blowing me off with "They're still converting your case to EP sir, and until they're done we won't bother to do anything else."

I'd bet cash money that nothing is in fact being done and our case has actually been dropped into a bucket that must timeout before any forward progress.

Rujby,

What do you mean by it will delay the process?

I just amended it at the same Tax service place and got it in less than 15 min and so i will send the updated 1040X transcript to NVC when i get to NVC.

I know i will get returns a little late but at least i'll have an Amended 1040X Transcript which will show Married Filing Jointly.

I don't understand what delay you are talking about.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This

It would be better to amend, and delay the refund, so you can show the VO that the original "Single" filing was a mistake.

What else could be done, how about health insurance, or a letter stating i will be added once i arrive the US?

Health insurance should be possible. I added Sue as soon as I got back from the trip when we got married. As to the letter, I'm not sure that would really carry any weight. All it says is that something might be done in the future, not that anyone is obligated to do it. It isn't as if it carries any legal weight.

Of course, it also isn't likely to hurt either. The way I look at the tax thing is this. Filing together is a huge plus. However, if someone is led astray by HR Block or someone like that and they file as single it is probably a negative. I doubt it would result in a denial by itself, unless the case was otherwise pretty weak. It would seem to be that it is one of those things that may cause them to look closer at your case than they otherwise would have. You will probably have to have an answer if they ask why it is that way.

It usually comes down to having an answer and believable explanation for their questions.

Ok but i can not amend now it will delay the process. As to prevent impact on visa issuance we have some plans:

a) have her attend the interview, with doctor recommendaton, just to show to CO that our relationship is real. I hope i do not have my interview in june as she will be 8 months and i saw on some website that they allow pregnant woman to get to airplan until 7 months

b) she will be talking to her bank so that they could find a way to add my name or have a letter stating that i will be added once i arrive the US.

What else do you think i could do as good points in CO eyes.

As to adding you to her account, you cannot do that until you're here and have an SSN. I would have added my wife already if I could.

<--- hoping I finally get the invoice today or tomorrow

Thanks for the reply foobaz. How do I find out if Mumbai Consulate, India accepts EP?

Also, regarding sending your OPTIN early, I sent out my DS-3032 early (my AOS fees and DS-3032 are yet to be generated) and am wondering if that might clog up the system as well

I believe one of the links in the first post of this thread contains a table which will answer your first question.

As to the second, I don't know. However, it wasn't sending in the DS-3032 early that messed things up for me. It was sending the "magic" OPTIN email that did it. If you send them the DS-3032 before they are ready for it, they will likely just ignore it.

Hey guys. Quick question. I am having a few problems getting the police certificate for the DS-230 (hopefully sometime this week it will arrive). So my DS-230 and I-864 will be about 1.5 weeks apart. Does this matter at all?

They are different tracks/paths. So no, should be fine.

DS-230 == IV Track/Path

I-864 == AOS Track/Path

Week-ends are boring and lonely but the one thing I like about them is that we can spend time together on skype. During the week and because of the time difference, we can only skype when I get up to go to work, before 7am for me, and of course my brain is not quite functioning that early, plus we can only talk for 15 min or so, then I need to leave to catch my train.

So spending an hour on skype on Sundays is what I'm looking forward to all week long!

Yeah, I think we'd go straight insane without Skype. That said though, even the time we get on the weekends is short. During the week we usually get around 15 - 20 minutes in the mornings and around the same at night. During the weekend we can sometimes eek out as much a few hours, if one of us stays up crazy late. We also lose Sunday nights (US Time) since that's Monday morning over there. So the net result is that even with Skype we're still alone 80 - 95% of the time. She used to be able to chat while she was at work and that was awesome. Then she changed jobs and the new job doesn't allow her that option.

It'll be better after daylight saving time starts here in the US again. Of course, if all goes well she'll be here soon thereafter making the whole thing moot.

A couple questions:

1) Do you folks think OPTIN for EP is a substantial timesaver? Are you glad that you did it?

2) 'foobaz123, would you mind elaborating a little bit more on what went wrong on your sending the OPTIN early?

Thanks!

Well, my first question would be if you can do EP? Not all consulates can do so. As to what went wrong with my sending it in early, it appears that sending in the OPTIN prior to receiving the DS-3032 kit (via email) causes some kind of hang up in the system. The result is a two to three week delay before anything else happens. Calling the NVC just results in them saying that we have to wait until we're enrolled in EP to proceed.

As to the question of it being a timesaver, yes. If you don't mess up the process like I did it is a massive time saver, especially for people coming from China. For us it saves nearly three months or more off the process.

For the record, you don't have to wait, but seeing what Foobaz and Palladin experienced by sending the OPTIN early, I think it's a good idea to wait. I received my AOS bill and DS-3032 "kit" the very next day after receiving the GUZ case number. The soonest you are likely to receive your bill is Tuesday since Monday is a Federal holiday.

The thing is that it doesn't seem to make any sense. It almost seems like by opting in early, you get dropped clean out of standard processing until some timer expires and until it does the call center can't/won't do anything with the petition. Thus, no DS-3032 and no AOS/IV invoice. No processing at all.

I called NVC the past Friday (2/17) evening. I was told the NVC case number & IIN assigned and provided our email addresses. I will OPTIN for Electronic Processing. So far haven't received AOS bill and DS3032 kit yet. Should I wait for the AOS bill before I send OPTIN email with DS3032? Ryan's EP experience recommends us to wait, and now I see Foobaz having problems after sending it early. The operator told me it could take up to 10 days. :-(

YES!!!!!!!!

Do not under any circumstances send the OPTIN email prior to getting the AOS bill.

Just call them Tuesday and ask for them to generate the AOS invoice and DS-3032. If they say they can't yet, then just call every day until they can. DO NOT OPTIN PRIOR TO GETTING THE AOS INVOICE. YOU WILL REGRET IT.

I've already lost two weeks in what ought to have been only a three week (or so) process.

Ok...foobaz I do not really know what to do finish with that process. Living without my wife is not easy at all, plus she is having my first kid, I wish I could be with her now...

I know what you mean. No kid here, however, I can't go back to China until the interview (out of vacation time). After everyone of our previous trips we usually had a pretty good idea of when the next trip would be, if not the exact date. This time... No idea. Should be April. Though, with all the delays in NVC I'm not as confident of that as I was before.

With this process, I do not like when fridays come and where there is holyday. This weekend is very long, plus tomorrow is holiday in the US

Specifically, it is a holiday for the government and banks. Most everyone else will be working.