max+patricia

An "account transcript" is not an acceptable substitute for a complete tax return. It's complete tax return or tax return transcript. No need to amend the return now. You can amend it when she's here and has a SSN.

Thanks for pointing that out. To clarify, I meant you could include your "Account Transcript" with your complete amended return (all forms and attachments) - showing that you did indeed actually file the amended return and the IRS processed it.

yea but i heard some embassies will not take amended tax returns is this correct ?.. also if i would do an amended, should i do it now or later when she is here in the states ?

how hard is it to get ITIN# for her ? would it affect our case any how or at any stage ? and how long did it take you to get her one ? i was just looking at that a while ago . thank you .

As mentioned above - your tax situation isn't likely an issue for your interview - so don't stress it.

If you're set on amending your return now, you could always send your IRS "Account Transcript" and not your "Return Transcript" with your I-864 - since the former includes any adjustments made since originally filing. I had to make an adjustment to my return and this is what I did - approved without issue.

Getting an ITIN takes time and there are a number of things you'd need to collect to get one. Lots of threads here have more info about the process. I filed for my wife's ITIN at the same time I filed my annual return and it took about 6 weeks to get it. YMMV. I'd probably wait and file an amended return once your wife has her SSN - it's one less thing to mess with.

If you were married as of Dec 31 2011, you should have filed as either MFS (Married Filing Separately) or MFJ (Married Filing Jointly).

I don't know if this will be a problem for NVC or the Embassy - but you can always file an amended return (MFS) or look into your options for getting her an ITIN (and filing MFJ). Besides knowing you did it correctly for your filing status, you'll probably also get some extra $ back. The difference between my wife and I filing MFS and MFJ was an additional $1500 refunded (MFJ with her ITIN).

Call NVC everyday and ask for a status update. They'll probably give you the generic "please allow up to 20 business days" to be processed, but keep at it.

We sent both packets on the same day and our Affidavit of Support (AOS packet) got approved last week. I got the checklist email for the DS-230 the next day, likely because one packet was complete and they hadn't reviewed the other. If you included everything required and your checklist doesn't ask for something specifically (birth certificate, police certificate, etc) you're probably fine - but you should keep calling.

the ds-3032 my wife emailed and i had her forward to me and i resent again but its been 2 weeks and still no answer?

It took us 11 days to get a response from our emailed DS-3032. Check your spam folders and make sure you provided everything necessary in the email (look at the sample forms here).

If you don't hear anything in the next few days, it probably wouldn't hurt to give NVC a call. (603) 334-0700

Doesn't matter at all. Just make sure it gets to the right place.

I think the wording on NVC's webpage is what confused me - and probably means this thread can be closed. Sorry!

Translation Requirements

All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations and submitted to the NVC. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the: Translation is accurate, and Translator is competent to translate.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html

Hey all,

I'm about send off our IV package to NVC and have read a million different things about translating documents - whether it needs to be certified professionally, can be translated by me and signed, whatever.

So I called NVC tonight and asked - and the lady I spoke with said I do NOT need to translate these forms AT ALL. She said to send the ORIGINALS to them and they'd be reviewed at the embassy because they speak spanish there - basically leading me to believe that as long as the embassy speaks the language the documents are in, they're fine. She said USCIS is the only part of this that wants translations - NVC doesn't.

Does anyone have any input on this?

For one, I'm nervous about sending the originals of something that took a month to get in the first place, and two, if it turns out the person I spoke with didn't know what she was talking about, I'm looking at another month or more for an RFE.

Thanks for your time!

No one is going to want to read thru someone elses chat history, let alone a history of fighting.

I'd leave anything like that out, period. Stick with the good stuff. Hopefully you have more of that than the bad!

+ Medical exam fee

+ Passport courier fee (whatever your embassy charges you to return your passport after the interview)

You need the 6a return transcript it has all the forms, W2's everything the immigration and embassy folk want to see. But why not go online and order you will have with a week or so.

That is the easiest way - assuming the person requesting the transcript is still at the same address as listed on their tax return.

An alternative to mailing or faxing Form 4506 is to visit your local IRS office in person. A trip to the office near me took less than 10 minutes to get all 3 years of transcripts.

Thanks for your reply.

How about the name in the Green Card? I am wondering whether I need to change my last name to my husband's on the Driver license and bank account , etc.

The name on the GC will be the same name on the visa - so if your name on your passport is your maiden name - your visa and GC will have it too.

If it's easy to change your name in your passport and you have time before your interview, it's not a bad idea to get it done now. You can change info on a GC at a later time, but it costs upwards of $450, via Form I-90.

You can use whatever name you want, but your visa will be issued with the name in your passport.

ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE DOES IT SAY THAT YOU NEED THE LAST THREE YEARS OF TAX RETURNS -- That is something that was created here in VJ and people get stuck on it. Here is the original documentation FOLLOW IT!

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-134instr.pdf

This is incorrect.

First of all, each embassy has their own preference and requirement as they have final say over approval or denial. Second, you are referring to Form I-134, not Form I-864. Read: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864instr.pdf

Part 6, #25, Federal Income Tax Information:

You must provide either an IRS transcript or a photocopy from your own records of your Federal individual income tax return for the most recent tax year. If you believe additional returns may help you to establish your ability to maintain sufficient income, you may submit transcripts or photocopies of your Federal individual income tax returns for the three most recent years.

That's very confusing. All of the other info forums here that detail how to prepare and what to include in the I130 specifically say to include as much evidence of bonafide relationship, including financial support and comingling of accounts.

It's confusing because it's an issue for some and not an issue for others. The only "co-mingling" of anything my wife and I had was her as the beneficiary on my life insurance and her name on my car insurance (even though she never drove in the US). We were approved in faster-than-average time - no RFE.

Think about all of the other evidence you have detailing your relationship - and if you have little to no "evidence of bonafide relationship" then yes, send everything you can. If you have an adequate amount, don't stress it. Keep in mind that showing "co-mingling of finances" is not a requirement for anything. It is VERY typical of couples petitioning for a CR-1/IR-1 to NOT have much documentation like this considering most are newly married and live in different countries. USCIS/NVC/USEM knows this.

Showing that you have provided long-term financial support for your spouse is a non-issue, especially at this stage. Showing your ability to provide long-term financial support is VERY important at the NVC and interview stage.

Good luck

Find someone to co-sponsor or find some kind of work making at least the required amount. As your timeline says you were married in May, you likely have several months ahead of you waiting before needing to show your finances. You have time.

Another option that I have read about (but will leave to others to discuss in depth) is having your husband potentially sponsor himself. If he has a substantial amount of money in the bank, this may be an option in London. Something to consider, if it's still possible.

We are getting married the beginning of November and I am preparing my documents in advance to make sure I have everything I need prepared so we can file as soon as we say "I do!"

It's a good idea to be prepared, but understand the timeline involved with a CR-1/IR-1. If you are filing in the US, you're looking at about 5-8 months at USCIS and another 2-4 months at NVC. These times can vary widely depending on your case and your luck. With that said though, you're looking at an average of anywhere from 6 months to a year before you need anything dealing with your finances. They are needed at NVC and again at the interview.

If I understand correctly, you originally filed for a K-1 and now a CR-1 - both for the same beneficiary, right? I was in a similar situation - we made it all the way to the consulate for the K-1 but canceled it to allow time for my now wife to finish school. We later married and filed for a CR-1. In our case - we submitted ALL of the paperwork we had for the K-1, and almost NO paperwork about our marriage other than the marriage license and certificate. We didn't even send pics of our wedding because we didn't have them developed yet - and we were approved without issue.

I only mention all of this because I think having applied for the K-1 originally (for the same person) was actually beneficial for us. It showed that we had had a relationship for a long time and had already been over the USCIS and NVC hurdles. Obviously, if you don't have much to show about your relationship, that may be an issue for you. In our case, we sent about 30 pictures over a span of 3 years, every boarding pass we both had from at least a dozen flights (including several where we sat next to each other), and a few Fedex receipts from letters sent back and forth. I'd bet that if you have at least a few things showing you've known each other for a few years, your marriage paperwork and a few pictures - you'll be fine. Japan typically isn't considered a high-fraud country anyway.

the affidavit of support will be taken to the interview not sent to NVC, your post is a bit confusing, american citizen needs to send it by post to the person having the interview and will be presented in the embassy. If American part is a teacher making more then 20 000 dollars an year for two people( him and spouse) you are fine, if american citizen has kids he need to make more then that. There is a form with minimum household requirements, needs to do a little bit more then the poverty line. With the affidavit you only need to have the last years tax return form and the other documents, no need to present the past years tax return.

You need your NOA2 for the interview, american part should send you a copy of the one he received by post, they will ask for it at the embassy, if you don't have it call uscis to re-send.

Good luck

This is incorrect. You send ALL of your paperwork (sponsor paperwork included) with the AOS/I-864 packet to NVC.

The affidavit of support (I-134, not I-864) is taken to the interview in K-1 cases, not CR-1/IR-1.

Applied for and received it in February.

I also requested a tax transcript a few weeks later, got it without any issues. After April 15, I have no idea.

My wife received her ITIN in 2-3 weeks, which was applied for when we filed the joint return. We received our refund about a week after receiving the ITIN.

Stay busy and distracted by working as much as you can. The more $ you can show you make, the stronger your affidavit of support will be when it comes time for that.

Also, if you and your fiancee have internet access, consider getting phones with front-facing cameras for video calls. My wife and I have the same Andorid phones and use video calls (Skype/Gmail) over wifi all the time. It helps.

Look at the bottom of your timeline -> http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=132357

It's an ESTIMATE ONLY compared to others on VJ with similar timelines, but it's something. Plan on 5 months, hope for less.

10 days earlier I had Initial Review and now updated to Post Decision Avtivity. so someone must be doing thier job? im worried though that i never received an email saying NOA2

You won't receive an email saying anything unless you specifically sign up for alerts on the USCIS website.

Being in "Initial Review" 10 days earlier means nothing. Some people can go from NOA1 to NOA2 in only 10 days, some less, some more... most much more. You can call the USCIS contact number listed on your NOA1 and ask about your case. If your case has been approved, it can take a few days to a week or more to receive NOA2 in the mail. Congrats!

From USCIS:

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.

When you receive your NOA-2, it will likely show as post-decision activity which means it has been forwarded to NVC. Some people, however, don't have any updates on the USCIS website regardless of the progress with their petition. There are people on VJ that have been married and done with USCIS for years that still show "initial review"