timeforeverything

9 hours ago, Ontarkie said:

I'm going to mention something as everyone else has covered immigration. She would need the fathers consent to take the kids. I highly doubt that he would be willing to give her a way to escape with them. 

Very good point, but luckily in this case not an issue as his name is not on their birth certificates and they don't have his last name. So in the eyes of Guatemala law there is no father on record. A pretty common occurrence there.

14 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

If they have Italian citizenship, is Italy perhaps a short term solution to get them away? Do they have any family there?

No family in Italy. My husband's family got Italian citizenship fairly recently because of some long passed relative. 

They do have family in Guatemala, but the man knows where everyone lives so no real safe place. The police won't be helpful.

i guess one option is come on an ESTA vida and secretly return to another town in Guatemala at the 3 month mark.

I'm not sure which forum to post this on.  I am a US citizen and my husband has a green card.  We are trying to figure out how to get my sister in law and her two children (they have Guatemalan and Italian Citizenship) from Guatemala to the US.  The father of her children is threatening her and the children, and there has been some domestic abuse (I'm not sure to what extent).

Are there any options for her to come and stay with us long term? We as a large family can pool resources so she doesn't have to work.  Her and her kids could come for 3 months on an ESTA visa to at least get a break from him and the country, but we fear that when she returns he would kill her.

EDIT: I forgot to mention the man has been in prison two times.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

We will be arriving in FLL about 4pm local time. We have a 3 hour layover before we catch our next flight. Should this be enough time to get my husband (IR1 Visa, direct consular filing) through and make the connecting flight? 

If for some reason immigration takes too long, would the airline (Spirit, ugh!) be helpful with rebooking or would we be screwed?

Thanks so much!

We applied for my husband's residency through direct consular filing in Guatemala. We are ready to move to the U.S. but my husband will need to return to Guatemala to finish the sale of his business. 

Would it be a problem for him to enter the US with me and our daughters (USCs) and then leave about two weeks later (he would be out of the US for about a month). 

What exactly will be put in his passport when he enters the US? 
Thanks!

1 minute ago, Jojo92122 said:

Marriage certificate is good.

 

There is no need for his high school records unless he intends to enroll in college.

 

There is no need for a criminal background check since no one is going to rely on a background check provided by the person.

For sure if a background check is needed it will be done by the employer, but I assume those background checks don't cover foreign countries? Thats why I figured it would be good for him to have a criminal record check from Guatemala showing he doesnt have any records there. Does that make sense or am I overthinking?

Hello! I am trying to make sure we have all of our ducks in a row. What kind of documents will we need? We are moving from Guatemala to the US, and were married here. Husband has his visa approved, we are moving in a few months.

So far I have thought of...

~our Guatemalan marriage certificate, legalized and authenticated by the US embassy

~Is it important to have my husband's high school records to prove his education level for employment? (this will be a big pain/cost for us, long story)

~Should my husband have a criminal record check done and translated into english for employment?

Thanks for anything ideas/comments!

My family lives in Guatemala, my husband was recently approved for his residency visa.  We will be moving to the US in a coming months.

I remember once during a US Embassy Town Hall meeting here in Guatemala that there is a possibility to bring a caretaker or nanny to the US for a temporary visit, but I don't remember which Visa it is.  I remember something about having to have a work contract, etc.

I am trying to figure out if it is possible for us to bring our Nanny for a temporary visit to help with our kids while we are getting settled into the US.  I assume there is no possible way for us to get a work visa for her.

Any advice is welcome! Thanks!

1 hour ago, Georgia16 said:

We had bought insurance from the day we landed to the day we got added to my husbands insurance after we got married.

 

2 days after we arrived we actually needed it. My son got a bad shot at a health care center and ended up at the ER with ambulance.

 

Now the insurance did not cover it all far from but it did cover a piece of it which was nice for us.

The company we used really sucked but I'm glad we had some.

Do you mind if I ask what company you had the insurance with? Even a crappy company is better than nothing I guess

We had the interview on Thursday, everything went well and we were approved! I posted a review of the interview experience on the consulate reviews section.....

There was no problem with my baby and I entering with my husband, I just presented my passport and went in with him.  All in all it was a very easy interview, but I think it is because our two daughters were born in Guatemala and registered their birth abroad with my husband as the father.  The interviewer didn't ask for a single proof of marriage other than the marriage certificate! Just need a lot of patience and be prepared to wait in line. Our appointment was at 7:20am and we were out of the embassy at 9:30am.

Good luck to everyone going through the process! And thanks for all of the advice

3 minutes ago, discoverusa said:

At the end of DS 260 is the question whether you want to receive Ss card at you US address. Did you check that box? Did you make copy of DS 260 for your records? Refer to that.

DUH. Haha Thanks got it!

Hello! My family is finally moving back to the US (I am the USC, so are our 2 kids, husband just approved for IR1 visa). I haven't lived in the US for about 10years so I feel very out of touch.....

I have been thinking about how to handle health insurance for the first few months.  We will be on a very tight budget and I am really worried about someone in my family getting sick before we have got set up with work and health insurance.  In the past for our visits to the US we had travel health insurance.  I am considering if that would be a good option for the first 2 months while we are back getting life set up, or if there is a better option. 

Thanks for any input!

My husband's IR1 Residency Visa was just approved through Direct Consular Filing.  In the info sheet we were given it says something about applying for SSN, that we may have already done it during the process.  I feel so stupid because I don't know if we did apply for my husband's SSN already with all of the other paperwork. What is the best way to check this?

Sorry for the silly question!

Okay, finally got a good answer!

I emailed another address from the Guatemala Embassy ( GUATEMALAIV@state.gov ) and now I have been told that yes I can attend if I want, but it is not required. And that our baby can come too. I am going to print out that email just in case to bring with us.

I emailed again to confirm, and explain that I would like to have it in writing for my husband to bring to the interview explaining why I am not present for the interview. This is the response I received:

Thank you for writing to the U.S. Visa Service Desk.

Regarding your concern please note that if the embassy did not request that the petitioner need to be at the embassy is not necessary please also note that even though you are a US citizen the part of the embassy were is going to be take place the interview just the applicant of visa are allow to enter.

I am so confused. We have scheduled my husband's interview at the Guatemala Embassy and I have always been under the impression that the USC spouse can attend the interview. When I emailed to ask the Guatemala Embassy if it is possible to bring my baby (who breastfeeds, I cant leave her with anyone), I was told that only my husband could go to the interview. Is this normal? Thanks!

Hi! Yeah from everything I read it varies a lot by embassy/country.....I'm hoping that someone that has done medical exams in Guatemala will have some input....or even someone from other Central America countries. It seems like such a hot topic. I have no idea how this slipped my attention....we have been married for so long and have two kids so I was hoping the process wouldn't be complicated. But guess so!

I am curious of other's experiences in Guatemala as to what happened when you admitted to prior drug use during the medical? Obviously, if you are answering truthfully you must admit even if you only smoked pot once or twice in your life, years ago and would not have a problem taking a drug test.

So if people actually answer honestly to that question at the medical.....it seems like it is an issue that has been run into before. What would be the consequences? It seems like it varies by Embassy/Consulate.

And NO I am not asking if lying is an option....because I know that is illegal

On ‎10‎/‎7‎/‎2016 at 5:01 PM, inguatemala said:

Hi there

We just completed our DCF process here in Guatemala, everything went well and we completed the process in less than 3 months from filing the I-130!

Our situation may be a bit different to yours, but this is how it all worked out.

I'm British, my wife is a USA citizen. We have been living in various parts of the world since we got married a few years ago. We have been living in Guatemala for the past year, engaged in volunteer work. We decided before coming here to try to apply for my US residency from here.

The DCF process is different from what is described in the US Immigration website.

Roughly one week after filing the I-130 we received an email saying it was approved.

We were then invited to fill in the online DS-260, which we did. It's a fairly detailed form where you need to list your work and home addresses for the past 10 years.

The email we received from the Embassy said to fill in this form and then let them know.

We did that and they said to wait until they scheduled an interview. We did not have to send any documents to them or NVC.

We had already got together the necessary documents such as police certificates, original marriage and birth certificates, I-864s, etc, so we were ready.

We received the interview appointment letter just one week before the appointment! So there was bit of a rush to get the medical done, but it's a pretty straightforward process. Allow 3-4 hours to get everything done.

At our interview we first submitted our documents, then waited for the interview proper, which was very brief with just a few questions regarding dates in our relationship. Then I was approved!

Received my passport a few days later with the visa, and we're ready to go.

So we can definitely recommend the DCF process here, although everyone's case and experience will be different.

From our experience you don't need to worry about the steps indicated on the website (eg sending docs to NVC). Just follow the instructions given by the Embassy.

Hope that helps a little!

For some reason I am just reading this response now, I am so sorry I didn't see this earlier! I really appreciate your info.  I am curious, for your I864, did you have a joint sponsor? My parents will be joint sponsors because I haven't had to file taxes (my husband and children are supported by my hubs business)

We are doing DCF for my husband, I am US citizen and so are both our daughters.

I am currently filling in the DS 260 online and I don't know how to answer this questions about "Will this child immigrate with you?" Yes, she will travel with us but obviously since she isn't an immigrant, she wont be "immigrating" right?

I should answer NO correct? Thanks!

I am really confused as to how to do the i864.....I've lived abroad and have not had to file taxes because whatever income I have had hasn't reached the threshold.

My husband has had a business for the last 6 years that has provided all of our household income. Everything is in his name, and he pays taxes in his country. I personally don't have any income although I help him with the business. From what I have read I would have had to file married but filing separately.

My parents will be joint sponsoring. So how the heck do I fill out MY I-864 (I understand I have to fill it out regardless)

Thanks for any insight, I'm so confused!

Now that the i-130 has been approved (only notified by email, I haven’t received any other instructions yet), I am trying to wrap my head around the i-864! I will be back in the US visiting for the next month so I want to get any documents I need while there.

I (USC) have lived abroad for the last 7 years or so, have not filed taxes during that time because my husband and I have been financially supported by his business. I have maintained some bank accounts, US credit cards, drivers license.

My parents (father & step-mother, or mother & step-father) have offered to be sponsors. Their income will be more than enough to qualify, I’m sure.

Questions:
1. I must choose between my two sets of parents, correct? They cant both be sponsors? They live in different states. It doesn’t matter if we plan to live with one of them?

2. Would it be recommended to back file taxes for the last few years just in case? I would have been filing married but separately, with my income being under $300 a month. All income has been from my husband’s business and he pays taxes accordingly in his country.

3. From what I have read, my husband would not be eligible for any government assistance as an immigrant. I am really curious about this, because since I am a USC and so are our two daughters…..so what if we end up needing to apply for Medicaid or something for our girls? Would that not be allowed?

Sorry for all the random questions….but the i-864 seems rather daunting and I am pretty confused and I am sure many have!

*UPDATE*

We received an email yesterday stating that we were APPROVED for the I-130 for my husband! Very fast response, about 2 weeks. When we applied the embassy told us 2 months, so we are very happy! The email also stated we should be receiving further instructions in the next 3 weeks, and if we don't, gave us the email to contact.

Yesterday we had our appointment at the US Embassy in GUATEMALA to file the I-130 and I just wanted to share my experience.

We had our photos taken outside the embassy, we always use Hermanos Sanchez Fotografia. Q55 for 3 passport size fotos.

We waited outside the embassy until about 15 mins before our appointment, then they started calling names. We went through security (if you have an American passport they will allow you to leave your keys/cell phone in the security so you don’t have to leave it in the car) and then went straight to the waiting area inside the embassy. We waited about 10mins and they started calling names. Luckily we were second on the list. The lady that attended us was nice enough, but you could tell she felt a little rushed. Didn’t ask us any questions, our paperwork and documents were well organized so that made it less complicated. She didn’t look at the cover letter, but it did stay with the application. The only original document that stayed with the application was the beneficiary’s birth cert and translation and our wedding cert and translation. All others were copies.

We were told we would be notified by email in about 2 months. No other information was given, and the only document we were given was the receipt of the payment of $420.

My best suggestion is to be very well organized and have all your paperwork in order. There were other people trying to file but just came with a big stack of disorganized paperwork and couldn’t even explain well what they were trying to do. ALSO make sure you have plenty of evidence of living in Guatemala for at least 6 months prior.

I will keep this thread updated whenever we get our response, and I would LOVE to hear other people’s experience with DCF in Guatemala!

I am looking for other people who have had experience doing DCF for a spouse in Guatemala. We just filed today at the embassy and we were told it would be about 2 months to have a response on the I-130.

Thanks!