ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIR-1/CR-1 Spouse Visa. About to submit. Gray area question.

 
Your timeline scares me a little.  When I have talked to the visa office via phone they have made comments like, "Straight forward case from Australia shouldn't take more then 6 months, year at worst case scenario."  Yet damn near everyone's timeline I have seen is a year or more.  My spouse and I spent the majority of our relationship at long distance.  We are really hating the fact we may be in for as much as another year of it after filing for a CR1.


6 months from start to finish is a dream, for some it happens for the rest of us no.
The waiting part sucks! Skype gets old and even though my husband flew over to Sweden as often as he could it was still never enough. BUT I have now been in the US for almost a year and you know what? It was well worth the wait!!!
A year seems long when you have it ahead of you but when its over you got the rest of your lives together!



Alaska2012FemaleSweden2013-06-14 15:26:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIR-1/CR-1 Spouse Visa. About to submit. Gray area question.
She must go back when her 90 days are up. She can still come and visit again but she can't move here until visa is in hand.

She doesn't want to over stay the vwp, that can hurt her down the road.


Alaska2012FemaleSweden2013-06-14 14:51:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresConfused- IR2 upgrade (Merged)
Is the us citizen the father of the baby?
Alaska2012FemaleSweden2013-06-11 17:34:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresChild Interview
The kid must at least attend, the only thing they asked my son was if he was looking forward to move. But since they didn't let him leave his finger prints he was grumpy and never answered...
Alaska2012FemaleSweden2013-06-30 16:27:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHusbands interview tomorrow-question (London embassy)

 
Uh. I don't know?  The visa fees stated on the embassy website right now says the fee for immediate relatives is $230. Maybe it's gone up?  

 
The $165 fee is a different fee (the IV fee) and paid whenever you want before you travel.
 
Again, I'm looking at this page: http://london.usemba...as/iv_fees.html
 
EDIT. I think I know why I'm confused.  Normal CR1/IR1 pay something to the NVC for the affidavit of support? I assume that is taken away from the final fee cost?  








With cr1 you pay everything to the NVC before the interview, so the only fee left to pay is the $165.

Edited by Alaska2012, 08 July 2013 - 11:25 AM.


Alaska2012FemaleSweden2013-07-08 11:23:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHusbands interview tomorrow-question (London embassy)

I just figured that after the application fee, affidavit of support fee of $88 I paid then on top of paying the IV fee online (I think that was $230) then the medical exam that I was done with fees.....


You have to pay that $165 fee when u are approved. ( don't ask me what its for cause its a "new" fee so I didn't have that one) Since u are doing cr1 all your other fees are paid already...

Alaska2012FemaleSweden2013-07-08 11:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurescomputer crash
We didn't send any emails, worked just fine!
Alaska2012FemaleSweden2013-07-09 11:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMy lawyer wants $600 for ONE email to NVC
Wow! What did you get for those $9000???

We also had a lawyer, mostly because my hubby was on the road working the whole time, but anyway she charged us an amount and that covered everything that needed to get done in order for us to get our visas. And we weren't even close to paying 9000!! Pay extra for an email....that's just ridiculous!


Alaska2012FemaleSweden2013-06-25 11:50:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresi-130 Filed
The next step for you is wait! Wait and read the guidelines here on vj. They will tell you everything you need to know on future steps. You will have plenty of time to prepare cause it is a long wait, usually anyway. Some lucky people fly through the process by fluke but most of us wait for 4-7 months just to get the I-130 approved.

You are doing right by waiting to send the passport pictures, they will ask for them.


Alaska2012FemaleSweden2013-09-07 19:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCan I add my daughter to an approved I-130
Are you a USC? If so, why not register your daughter as a USC?
Alaska2012FemaleSweden2013-01-14 16:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIs there any way to "merge" my NRA wife into my financial affairs here in the U.S.?

Thanks for your answers. My wife is very independent, and when I visit her she NEVER lets me pay for anything. I know that if I add her to one of my credit cards, she'd never use it in China. The only point of adding her now would be the extra "evidence" that this would provide. But as I wrote before, I'm a little nervous about any possible effect a change like that might have on my credit score.

I'll call my company's HR department and ask them about what their rules are on insurance beneficiaries.


Mine refuses to use hers too.

As far as the credit is concerned, giving her a card that is under your name shouldn't have any affect on your credit. Your score is based on spending habits, total debt, late payments etc. If you are wanting to use her name as a co-applicant on the loan, then her information would come into play, but if you have the finances to qualify on your own, her name on a card won't change that.
UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-02-12 18:53:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIs there any way to "merge" my NRA wife into my financial affairs here in the U.S.?
I can't answer for 100% certainty on the Patriot Act, but I know my bank also requires the same "in person" data and I'm not with BOA.

As for the Life Insurance, standard issue policies the beneficiary is the wife unless it states otherwise (at least that's how mine works) You should be able to make a quick call to your insurance agent or if it's through work, whoever sets up and runs the policy for them may know.

Credit Cards are a little more tricky. Some of them require a SSN and others do not. I currently have a Discover, Visa, AMEX and Master Card from various banks. I was able to add my fiance to my Discover and Master Card just by accessing my account online and adding her name, they sent a card to me and I sent it on to her. As for the other two, they required SSN like the bank, and I couldn't add her to them. Another note on the credit card, before you choose to get one for your wife, you may want to check and see what their policies are regarding fees for foreign transactions. These can add up quickly. Also, if you do get her one, be sure to give them notice that she may be using the card outside of your home location or she may get declined often.

Hope this was of SOME use to you. Best of luck
UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-02-12 18:22:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresBona Fide Marriag Proof

Nope ... people use that all the time for fake marriages to get green card.

You need joint account statements, joint credit card stmts, marriage/wedding photos, joint tax returns, etc.


Yes, there are two types of marriages (for visa purposes), one is bonafide, where the couple honestly love each other and are in a committed relationship which they expect to spend their lives together. The other is a sham marriage which is presented as real for the purposes of receiving immigration status. Both marriages will receive a certificate of marriage, but only one legally qualifies for immigration. Thus, to avoid as many sham marriages as possible, there must be proof that the marriage is real. The more proof you supply the better. If you just supply a marriage certificate, it's going to likely get you a lot more questions and a more difficult journey.
UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-02-13 15:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresG325 photo dilemma
If you are concerned that the photo may not be proper, you could either scan it into your computer and print a glossy or take it to a photo printing place and have them do it. Either of these options would be much faster than waiting for another to be mailed to you.

Or now that I saw a post was made while I was typing, you could just do what they said :thumbs:

Edited by UK-USA-K1, 15 February 2013 - 08:13 PM.

UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-02-15 20:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhere to get married for CR1
Pretty much everyone is correct. The answer is that yes, it is perfectly acceptable to marry on a visit then return to the home country. When I was looking into my options, before deciding the K-1 route, I called them and asked them about us marrying on her VWP, and they said that was fine, but she'd have to return to her home country before the visa expired, and wait for the Spousal visa to process. This was directly from USCIS. I'd recommend calling them, if you want reassurance, but honestly everyone is spot on. You can travel here and marry here all you like, but you cannot come here on a tourist visa EXPECTING to immigrate. As long as the spouse returns to the home country while you file for the visa, you are following proper legal channels. Whether they are approved or not depends on your particular case
UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-03-11 13:46:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNOA 1 Priority Date

I see what you're saying, but there's also a "received date" on there. Granted, it's the same date, but then why would they have received and priority date as 2 separate things?


Although they are often the same date, they are separate as far as application. Received date is ALWAYS the date the application arrives, the priority date is the date which it is put into the system. For example, my I-129F application arrived on February 6th, but it was processed into the system on February 8th, so the 8th was my priority date.
UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-03-12 17:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNOA 1 Priority Date

Hi all! I have a question about this priority date thing. I've read on the USCIS website that there's a limited number of visas granted each year and that the priority date shows your place is a queue for applying for a visa. However, for the immediate relative immigrant visa they allow an unlimited number of visas. So my question is, if the number is unlimited, why is there still a Priority Date on our NOA 1? thanks!


The priority date is the date which they received your application. They process them in order, so your NOA1 priority date is how they decide the order in which they process applications
UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-03-12 17:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresA little confused with$165 fee..
The first 2 replies in this thread do not match up with what I've seen on the London Embassy website regarding this fee.

First of all, it's not if you ENTER the us after February 1, 2013, it's if your approval is after February 1, 2013.

Secondly, It must be paid after you are approved, but BEFORE you enter the US

Effective February 1, 2013, all individuals issued immigrant visas overseas must pay a $165.00 USCIS Immigrant Fee before traveling to the United States. Only prospective adoptive parents whose child(ren) is/are entering the United States under either the Orphan or Hague Process, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants who were employed by the U.S. government, returning residents, and those issued K visas are exempt from the new fee.The fee must be paid after the immigrant visa has been issued but before the applicant travels to the United States on the visa. <br style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Immigrant visa applicants attending the Embassy on or after February 1, 2013 will given a letter with instructions on how to submit this payment once they have received the immigrant visa. Further information is available from the USCIS website at www.USCIS.gov/immigrantfee.

Applicants issued immigrant visas before February 1, 2013, are not required to pay the new fee, even if they travel to the United States on or after February 1. Only those applicants issued immigrant visas on or after February 1 must pay the new fee.


It is important to note, that if you applied for immigrant visa prior to February 1 but your application was refused under Section 212(g) pending additional information or refused pending receipt of an approved waiver, you will be subject to the fee if the immigrant visa is issued on or after February 1, despite the fact that you may have begun the application prior to this date.



US Embassy London: New Fee

UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-03-07 12:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI can file for my wife on cr-1 to come come faster with this?

http://travel.state....pes_2993.html#5


Posted Image

The way I understand it is that the I-130 had, in the past, taken a LOT longer than it does now, so while you waited you could apply for a k-3. The k-3 visa still takes months to process, but was faster than the year+ wait for the I-130. Currently, the I-130 is processed in a similar timeframe to the K-3, so although the K-3 is still "a thing" it no longer really applies because it takes as long as the actual I-130. At least this is my laymen's understanding of it, and one of the reasons we chose the K-1 visa
UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-03-18 13:39:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresEmployment letter

I told my HR that..all I want is basic letter, but they insist of putting a name & address to whom it will be sent to...yikes! I hate dealing with this with the HR..their giving me their run arounds.


Seems they are quite a pain. I'm glad I work at a smaller company. I already talked to them and they told me to just type it up when it's time and they'll sign it for me.
UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-03-26 11:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresEmployment letter
Between the choices of USCIS or the Embassy (state department) I'd go with the latter, but I planned to make mine a generic "To whom it may concern" as shown in the guides here at VJ

Affidavit of Support Tips


Basically, your employer letter should state "To whom it may concern: (first name,last name) has been employed<br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px;">full-time with the XYZ Company since 200_ as a (name of your job), and is an employee in good standing with an<br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px;">annual salary of $XXXX. Signed, John Doe, Supervisor (or whatever title)" The letter should be on company<br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px;">letterhead.
UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-03-26 11:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCancelling CR1 and AOS

Hey everyone,

I am a USC and my wife is from UK. We have applied for CR1 and she is in US with me at the moment on tourist visa. She came to go back after a while, but now after living with her, I am very reluctant to let her go back. Can we just cancel the CR1 and apply for AOS from B2 visa? Is it illegal? She came with intention to go back, she has got car, insurances, mobile contracts, life insurances from UK.

thanks


This is just my take on it and NOT a LEGAL opinion. Bear that in mind please when reading.

Once you filed the paperwork for an immigrant visa, you declared intent to immigrate. They allowed her into the country on good faith that she would leave. It should be nearly impossible to not prove intent, since you had already declared such intent when applying for the CR1. I think it would be in your best interest to continue to be patient and follow the path you were originally on through it's conclusion.

my thoughts to you would be to contact USCIS and ask them if there is any type of waiver or anything you can legally do to have her stay here for the process, then follow what direction they point you in. It may not be the easiest thing to do, but who knows, they may have some type of waiver you can file to help in your situation. It won't hurt to ask, but it could hurt to overstay her current visa.
UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-04-11 13:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresTravel to US during application process

Thank you Harsh and UK-USA.

UK-USA: I remember back before my wife and I got married, we had read something about the Fiance visa allowing you to get married in the states, and your non-resident fiance can stay there for as long as it takes to get through the green card application process. We found this appealing, but since we both lived and worked at the time in Germany, that of course wouldn't have worked out for us.


If you are already in the country on a visa and you fall in love and get married, you can adjust status and stay together during the process, but you can't come here with the purpose of marrying and stay here while you adjust status. It's one of those technicalities built into the system.

For us, she had things she needed to get done that would take through this summer, so using the K-1 process should work out well for us.

We all have different stories, and no matter how similar, each case is different. Hopefully though, we can all get through our processes in the best way for ourselves and lead happy lives with the ones we love
UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-04-09 17:30:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresTravel to US during application process
The only answer I can give is a resounding MAYBE

My situation is a little different as I'm in the K-1/fiancee visa process instead of spousal, but my fiancee is actually here right now visiting. She did get red carded at passport control coming into the country on the VWP (she's from the UK). The agent she spoke with said that they were letting her through since she has a good travel history in and out of the country, but also told her it would be best if she didn't come back again until the process was finished.

I think a lot of it will depend on your personal situation, your history and who you get at your POE.

I don't know if this was much help, but I thought I'd give a more recent occurrence in a similar situation (she just came here April 4
UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-04-09 16:46:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPost Decision Activity On Old I-129F
I'm sure other more experienced folks will chime in, but If I'm reading correctly, you were denied the fiancee visa at the Embasy (State Department) and they sent your application back to USCIS to be reviewed (assuming to look for any sign of fraud). You decided at this point to marry and file for the Spouse Visa, and that one is currently pending. You now have notification that USCIS is reviewing your original fiance visa application. In My Opinion, the petitioner will need to contact USCIS and withdraw the fiancee visa as being married, you no longer qualify.

I have no idea how this affects your current spousal application, but I know you can't qualify for the K-1 if you are now married.
UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-04-08 16:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSupport Documents - Pictures

All good ideas.  Mostly you just want to use them as secondary evidence that you've been together.  Boarding passes and such are better as far as evidence is concerned, but it can only help to add the pictures


UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-04-30 17:27:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhere to get married?

 

K visas, although considered non-immigrant, are handled by IV (Immigrant Visa) Units at US consulates.

She will have to interview in Stockholm, no matter CR-1 or K-1.

 

Yes, she replied and told me they are both handled there, but thanks for the info


UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-06-06 11:25:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhere to get married?

We were thinking about it at first, but we have heard that it's better to do the CR1- Visa (cheaper and takes less time).

The embassy in Oslo only do interviews for the following: 

  • students (F or M visas)
  • exchange program participants (J visas)
  • work petition beneficiaries (H, L, or P visas) who need to report to a U.S. educational institution or employer by a certain date, and
  • medical emergencies
     

So I guess I will have to go to Sweden no matter what Visa we apply for. 

 

It is cheaper, but I wouldn't count on the less time part.   It definitely can be less time, but you just can't count on anything being done in any time frame when it comes to these types of visas.   This isn't to say the advice you received was wrong at all, just a warning to be aware that unexpected delays should probably be expected to keep you from going totally insane during the wait.  It does sound like a pain that your embassy won't do the interviews, so that's another thing you have to plan for.  It really sounds like you have a fairly solid base from which you are starting to make your plans.  I wish you nothing but the best in however you choose to go forward, not only in the Visa process, but in your marriage and everything else.  


UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-06-05 16:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhere to get married?

It made a lot of sense, thank you smile.png I was hoping it would be possible to do the interview in America, because unfortunatley the American embassy in Norway doesn't do immigrant visas (only non immigrant visas), so I will have to go to Stocholm, Sweden then, which is rather far from where I currently live. 

 

If your wedding plans aren't already locked in and paid for, you could look into the fiance visa (K-1) it works in a similar fashion to the spousal visa, but you don't get married until you come over here.  It is considered a non immigrant visa and may get you an interview closer to where you live and be a little less hassle.  

 

I have no idea if this is even feasible for your personal situation, but thought I'd mention it in case you hadn't considered it yet


UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-06-05 16:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhere to get married?

 

Thank you so much for your answer! Of course I am gonna leave when my tourist visa expires, that's always been the plan, and I would never overstay the 3 months. For some reason I thought it was illegal to get married at all, not only if you have no intention of going home. So if we get married while I'm on my tourist visa, I go home after 3 months, stay home for a bit, can I get back and then we start the process of applying for the CR1 Visa? 

 

You will have to be in your home country to go through the interview process.  You should be able to enter for visits on the VWP if you have strong enough ties showing you will go home, but  a part of the process is that you be interviewed at the embassy of your home country, so you will have to be back there for this, and not in this country.  Basically you can visit, but you can't live here while waiting for your visa.  Hope that made sense


UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-06-05 16:24:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhere to get married?

 

It's entirely legal to marry in the USA whenever you like, however you like (including on VWP).  People get married all the time in the States, who are from abroad, but the clincher is that they go home after the marriage before their tourist visa expires. What's not legal is marrying on a tourist visa with the intent to not go home when your tourist visa expires.  

 

If you want to marry in the USA, do so, but then you should return to Norway and follow this guide to file for your I-130 petition and then CR-1 visa: http://www.visajourn...tent/i130guide1

 

The reason people do the K1 is it is a legal means for someone to marry in the US and then also adjust their status to immigrant without leaving the country.

 

Wouldn't have said it any differently.  good.gif


UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-06-05 16:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPort of Entry Location

Yes, anywhere in the US.  The port of entry is simply the place where you first enter the US.  If you do enter the US in one place but need to catch a connecting flight into Atlanta, be sure to allow plenty of time between flights as it takes a little extra time to get through customs with your Visa paperwork.  Of course this all depends on which port, and how busy they are at the time you land.  


UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-06-21 14:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMarriage by Proxy Can You do this and How???

I don't know about how one would do it, but here is what I-130 instructions have to say about that:

 

 

 

I can see a time where one might want a proxy for the first part, but I certainly hope they aren't planning to proxy out the second part of that no0pb.gif


UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-06-27 17:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling for Spousal Visa

I can't really help you a lot personally, because I'm working my way through the fiance visa process instead of spousal, but try the guides here at Visa Journey.  They are very helpful.  Anything they don't answer can be answered by asking in the forums.  

 

Here's a link to the main page for all the guides:

 

http://www.visajourn.../content/guides

 

Here's a link to the page for the Spousal Visa Guide specifically (I see this particular link was already posted above):

 

http://www.visajourn...tent/i130guide1


Edited by UK-USA-K1, 08 July 2013 - 12:54 PM.

UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-07-08 12:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresGeneral Question

If you want to marry in the Philippines, you will have to file for a spouse visa petition.  


UK-USA-K1MaleUnited Kingdom2013-08-28 11:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDS-230 Help Please
Correct. Take it with you and it will be signed there.
revtech100MalePhilippines2012-09-03 21:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhen did you meet your spouse?
Just pick out a few over the course of your relationship. We picked 3 each month from fist week, middle and end of month from beginning to just a week before our interview. But they didn't ak us for them either. I think that was because I was there.....
revtech100MalePhilippines2012-11-17 13:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDS3032

The beneficiary.....

revtech100MalePhilippines2013-05-19 05:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAOS Package . . . .

Wife: I-864, tax return

In-law who makes the most money: I-864, tax return, another form of income documentation, proof of US citizenship.

If in-law doesn't make enough by himself/herself to sponsor, he/she can add his/her spouse's income in 24b of his/her form. (income from household members).

If he shows his spouse's income on 24b, then his spouse does an I-864A.
If he doesn't need his spouse's income to qualify, then nobody is listed on 24b and nobody does I-864A



AMAZING!! Thank you for clear instructions!!!
David&AmiMaleEngland2012-09-18 15:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAOS Package . . . .
Hey, so i was wondering what the AOS packet needs to contain? My wife cannot sponsor me, so my sister in-law and brother in-law are going to be co-sponsors, so what form does my wife need to fill out and my sister in-law? and what else needs to go with it?
David&AmiMaleEngland2012-09-17 11:41:00