Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Cover Letter, Evidence Check	This is what I used as my I-130 cover letter (sent in with my AOS, not for CR-1) but just to give you a point of reference:   I-130 Cover Page:   [Insert Petitioner/Beneficiary Names Here] [Insert Your Address Here]   [Insert Date Here]   [Insert Whichever USCIS Address]   Nature of the submission: Form I-130, Petition for Alien Spouse or Relative [Insert Beneficiary's Name Here]   To Whom It May Concern, please find enclosed:   Form I-130, Petition for Alien Spouse or Relative and all supporting documents. I, [Insert Petitioner's Name Here], a USC, am petitioning on behalf of my spouse, [Insert Beneficiary's Name Here].   Form I-130, Petition for Alien Spouse or Relative 1.     Check in the amount of $420 2.     Form I-130 3.     Copy of petitioner?s birth certificate 4.     Copy of beneficiary?s birth certificate 5.     Copy of certified marriage certificate 6.     G-325A completed by petitioner a.     Employment attachment        7.     1 passport-style photo of petitioner (name written on back, sealed in plastic bag)        8.     G-325A completed by beneficiary a.     Employment attachment 9.     1 passport-style photo of beneficiary (name written on back, sealed in plastic bag) Proof of Bona Fide Marriage 1.     Documents showing co-mingling of financial resources: a.     void check with both petitioner and beneficiary?s names on it b.     (6) most recent bank statements for RBC Canada joint account c.     (6) most recent bank statements for RBC US joint account d.     legal letter from RBC US e.     debit cards with petitioner and beneficiary?s names on it 2.     Current rental agreement with petitioner and beneficiary?s names on it 3.     Proof of marriage trip (hotel booking, gas and food costs) 4.     Affidavits: a.     (aunt of beneficiary) b.     (mother of petitioner) 5.     (11) pictures of petitioner and beneficiary   Kind regards,     [Insert Petitioner/Beneficiary Names Here]   As for evidence, someone who has gone through the spousal visa process can give you more of a concrete answer than me   Edited by Erica & Lily, 29 April 2014 - 04:02 PM.	Erica & Lily	Female	Canada	2014-04-29 16:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Can girlfriend come here then file?	Everyone is rambling about TOS. The OP doesn't care. If something is against TOS click the report button there's to beat a dead horse.   To the OP. Entering the US on the VWP with intent to immigrate is visa fraud. It is not fraud to enter the US and then decide to immigrate but you posted on an internet forum so you already let the cat out of the bag.   Your fiancee can join you in the US on the VWP and get married in the US. You can petition the K-1 while your still together in the US. As long as you fiancee doesn't overstay the VWP you should be fine. Your fiancee will have to be in Canada for the medical and interview.  Canada isn't a participant in the VWP, though? Edited by Erica & Lily, 26 March 2014 - 12:16 AM.	Erica & Lily	Female	Canada	2014-03-26 00:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	What counts on Poverty Guidelines for 864? 2012 taxes or current income?	Current income counts more than prior income.     Thank you!  I'm hoping that's what they solely base it off of...if so, I should have no problem.  Just wanted to ask for advice before I "assume" all is well and then I get something back holding the whole thing up.   Current Income   Thank you!!!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-07-16 14:22:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	What counts on Poverty Guidelines for 864? 2012 taxes or current income?	Hello!   My 2012 taxes put me below the poverty guidelines because I had a full time job and did direct sales and with all the write offs put me just below the poverty guidelines.  The two years prior to that I was above it.  This year, I hardly do anything at all with the direct sales and rely solely on my full time job income, which is higher than the poverty guidelines.   My employer has already put together a letter stating I am a full time employee with a yearly income that exceeds the poverty guidellines and I am including all of  this years paystubs.     Will the 864 be based off of this year's income or will the 2012 tax return come in to play that I was about $3000 shy of poverty guidelines?     Thanks in advance for your help!!!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-07-16 13:24:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Mail or Email I-864	No DR is not eligible for Electronic filing. I would strongly suggest you go to the NVC filers thread and read Post #1 and #2.   http://www.visajourn...lers-july-2013/   Thank you!!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-07-16 20:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Mail or Email I-864	Hello   Do we have the choice to mail or email the I 864 package?  I am seeing some people talk about emailing it???  Can someone please help clarify?  My AOS just showed paid today and I was able to get the cover sheet sent to my email to print out so I want to get this package out ASAP....Thanks!!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-07-16 19:49:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Do I send Part 2 of DS 230 with Part 1, just unsigned, or take it to the interview?	On my checklist of the interview packet it said part 1 but then again I am filing K1. I would just take both in case. Better to be more prepared then unprepared!   Thank you.  Mine says Part 1 also, but I just wanted to make DOUBLE sure so I don't have any hold ups....REALLY hoping for an Oct/Nov interview.  Good Luck on your upcoming interview!!!!!!!!!  I assume you only sent Part 1 then because it's what your checklist stated.  :-)	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-07-29 16:28:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Do I send Part 2 of DS 230 with Part 1, just unsigned, or take it to the interview?	Do I take Part 2 of the DS230 with us to the interview or send it with Part 1, just unsigned?	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-07-29 15:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	DS 260 Document ID #...I'm confused!	Thanks, but no, it doesn't help.  I know I have to do it online now...What I'm trying to say is that on a Dominican Passport there is a Document ID# and a Passport #.  The DS260 says "Document ID".... I don't know if I'm suppose to put the document ID # on the passport or the passport #.  Common sense tells me it should be the Passport #, but all the hold ups I've been through, I don't 100% trust myself.  Guess I will just call and hope the person I speak to at NVC knows what they are talking about because I tend to get all kinds of answers from them.	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-09-12 11:39:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	DS 260 Document ID #...I'm confused!	Anyone?	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-09-12 08:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	DS 260 Document ID #...I'm confused!	Hello   Now that I am being told that I have to fill out the DS260 after being told I didn't have to, I am confused about the Document ID part...It is of course my husband's passport that I am using.  It asks for Document ID....On his Dominican passport there is his Passport # AND a Document ID#....does anyone know which one belongs in that space for sure?  I really can't handle another checklist that will take another 30 business days for my own sanity!!!     I don't trust getting the answer from the people I talk to at the NVC because it seems I get told something different every time I talk to someone.   Thank you!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-09-11 22:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Interview Date	That is so awesome. Did you send a lot of documentation with i130? I filed before I joined visa journey. I would have sent more than just marriage cert. please help me. I am gathering my documentation now.   I sent whatever was required, nothing more.  I will bring more evidence to the Interview.	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-10-10 08:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Interview Date	I was in SHOCK the way mine worked out.  I had a checklist that NVC received September 13th.  Then I was told to wait 30 business days for a case complete. I thought for sure we wouldn't end up getting an interview until next year at this point, BUT, to my surprise, I got an email on October 2nd telling my case was on it's way to the embassy WITH an Interview Date of November 20th!!  I read it while I was in the car, I thought, "Oh Great, here goes another Checklist!!"  LOL  I screamed, then I cried, then I called NVC to make sure it wasn't a joke or a mistake!!  So, if all goes well and God is Willing, my husband will get to spend his first Christmas with us in the United States!!!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-10-09 12:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Interview Date	We just got our interview date because we called the Embassy. We still haven't received a hard copy in the mail yet. We thought we would have had an interview date for late October or early November. To our surprise our date is December 23. I wanted to be here in the U.S. for Christmas this year...but God had another plan. This will be the best Christmas ever I just know it :-)     That is AWESOME!!!  Felicidades!  Mine is November 20th...God knows what he is doing because I have a son that I would not of been able to buy a ticket for to go down for Christmas...so, He is making a way to get him here BY Christmas!  What an AWESOME Christmas for both of us!!!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-10-09 11:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Husband has CR1 Visa...What does he need to start working?	Hello,   My husband just arrived to the states on Weds, Nov 27th.  He is ready to start working right away.  Will his visa be sufficient since he is here on a CR1 visa or does he have to wait to apply for jobs and work until he receives his SS Card/Greencard?  I'm a little confused on what comes next and I know he doesn't want to sit at home long.   Thank you in advance for your help!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-12-02 14:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	heartbroken :'(	There's only 3 in your household? And the $30,000 wasn't enough? What did his 2012 income come to? That seems weird.   And you weren't denied you were given a 221g, correct? So you have time to try and find someone else.   I know many Embassies don't just consider current income they look at last year and render a decision.     I have a CR1.... just sent my AOS packet...  my last three years of tax transcripts were sent....the last year, I fell $3,000 below poverty guidelines because I was self employed with direct sales as well as a full time job and the write offs put me below.  The other 2 years I was above it.  However, this year the direct sales do not factor in and my income from my job alone puts me $7,000 above  poverty guidelines.  I sent an employment letter from my boss stating my job is in good standing and I have been there since 2008 with my current income as well as all of this years pay stubs.      Do you think that I will have a problem because of last year's taxes???  You have me nervous now as I was thinking they would base it more off the current situation.	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-07-18 12:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Mixed messages on Affidavit of Support: asking for both the I-134 and I-864	We just received our NOA 2 and I'm collecting everything, but I have contradicting statements from the State Dept website and the Embassy website.    The Embassy Consular Section in San Salvador says I need the I-864: http://travel.state....L-0002-1212.pdf   Then the embassy K-1 packet page tells me I need the I-134.... http://sansalvador.u...packets/k1.html   THEN the spanish version says I need the I-134... http://photos.state....a_o_K1_Dec4.pdf	newsboy	Male	El Salvador	2013-05-25 15:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	I-134: Do I need to find a co-sponsor? Do I make the cut?	If your [yearly] income meets or exceeds the income requirements of the Poverty Guidelines you do not need to list additional assets...   I'm short by $87...   But I easily cover that 5 times over and then some.   Thank you everyone for the quick answers!   Does anyone know what constitutes "other encumbrances" though? that's the one question I still have   ...but doing that may mess up your other plans !!!! Yeah, it's definitely not on the to do list lol.	newsboy	Male	El Salvador	2013-08-15 01:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	I-134: Do I need to find a co-sponsor? Do I make the cut?	Hi everyone,   I'm filling out the I-134 and I'm hoping this is convincing enough for my fiancee to get the visa. Here's the facts:   $19,300 a year    $5,400 in the bank   $4,700 property (my car)   $4,800 401k $45,000 life insurance No real estate   I also have other liquid assets like my Macbook Pro some video equipment. I could live without the car and use public transportation.     What constitutes "other encumbrances"? Basically any outstanding debt like student loans?  If so I have $19,000 in student loans.     Is this solid enough or would the consulate in El Salvador be hesitant to grant the visa?	newsboy	Male	El Salvador	2013-08-08 03:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Spousal Visa Journey began in January	Thank you!  I just looked and it is NBC because my number starts with MSC.	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-05-03 14:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Spousal Visa Journey began in January	Hello Everyone!   I have been using VJ for quite some time now and have been following "quietly".  I figured I better get on here and start posting!  LOL  This site has been wonderful and I expect it to help me keep my sanity through this whole process.  I married my husband in the Domincan Republic 12/13/12.  I just took my 8 year old son with me and we had a "courthouse ceremony" with us and a couple of his friends.  We plan to have a ceremony in the United States when he returns.   I look forward to getting to know some of you throughout this journey!   One question I can think of right off the bat is the email I received that they received my I-130 paperwork says it went to the National Benefit Center.... is this how I can check on an average wait time for certain centers before I should expect the NOA2 acceptance?  I thought it would go to a location, such as Vermont or Texas?     Have a great day!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-05-03 13:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	NOA2 Approval! Poverty Guideline Question	Thanks!!!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-05-15 18:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	NOA2 Approval! Poverty Guideline Question	Thank you!!!!  I have been worried about them making my last tax returns lower than poverty guidelines as I have no one to co-sponsor.	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-05-15 16:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	NOA2 Approval! Poverty Guideline Question	Hello Everyone,   I just received notice that our NOA2 was approved!!  Our initial paperwork was received January 22nd.  I did not receive a text or email alerting me to the approval.  I just logged on to USCIS.gov and it said it was approved May 10th and the paperwork was on it's way!!  YAY!!!!!!          My question is regarding the poverty guidelines.  My tax return from last year puts me below the poverty guidelines because I work full time and I am self employed, so the write offs make my income look lower.   I make above and beyond the poverty guidelines at my job alone.  Will USCIS use my current income or the income from the tax return that puts me just below the line for a family of 3?	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-05-15 15:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	How long can I postpone the process after NOA2 approval?	Great!  Thank you so much!  I hope to resolve the issue in plenty of time before that, but I do think we need to wait a few months before proceeding any further.  Thanks Again!!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-05-29 17:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	How long can I postpone the process after NOA2 approval?	Hello!   Money has unexpectedly become very tight right now for both my husband and I.  We were just approved for the NOA2 and are awaiting for our paperwork to go to the NVC.  If we need to postpone things a bit before continuing the process to get our finances in order, does anyone know how long we can do that?   Thanks	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-05-29 16:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Embassy in the Dominican Republic interview questions	I have just been approved for the NOA2 on May 10th and it is being sent to the NVA and I am awaiting a case #.  Do you have any idea why they denied you the first time?  Were there any factors that you felt were "red flags" for the embassy now that you are looking back?	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-05-24 14:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	HELP! With Husband in his country..leave Saturday..what do I need from him?	I just want to be clear... All the documents you listed are to be sent with DS230, none of them are to be brought to the interview, correct? And yes, I do need to be at the interview and I will be, but I am down here now and just want to get everything I need from him that I need to send in DS230 so he doesn't have to mail anything. It's so expensive to mail things, so we avoid it as much as we can. :-)	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-07-05 01:07:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	HELP! With Husband in his country..leave Saturday..what do I need from him?	Hello Everyone!   I know this answer is probably posted in a few places but I am in the Dominican Republic with my husband only until noon this Saturday.  We FINALLY got notice while I was down here that our NOA2 was received at the NVC and will be getting a case # shortly. YAY!!   I want to get anything I need from him WHILE I AM HERE...my question is...What do I need from him BEFORE the interview to be sent with the DS 230 form?   Birth Certificate?   Marriage Certificate?   Police Certificate?   2 Passport Photos 2x2 in size   Are these all things I need to send in the DS 230 packet or can some of it be brought to the interview?????  Please let me know....I don't know if I can get a police certificate from him before I leave so I am hoping we can just bring that to the interview.   Thanks in advance for your help!!!!!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-07-04 20:10:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Keep getting different stories on what to send with DS-230 forms	Send the complete packet to nvc Birth certificate Marrige license Police papers Then for your interview get a copy of each and take it w you The police report will have to be updated for the cita Good luck girl !! Thank you so much!  I see you just went through this process and your spouse is with you!!  How exciting!!   Can't wait to get where you are!!  Take care and thank you for your response!!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-07-13 14:46:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Keep getting different stories on what to send with DS-230 forms	Hello!   Could someone please clarify with me if I send all the supporting documentation (police certificate, birth certificate, marriage certificate, copy of passport biographic page, etc...) WITH the DS-230 to the NVC or do you take those to the interview???  I have read two different things and I don't want to screw it up.     I was under the impression I send the certified originals with the packet but make a copy of everything to take to our interview.  I only have one certified copy of each document, so I am hoping this is correct!!     And, lastly, do I send Part II of the DS-230 with the packet or take that to the interview?     Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!	trixiechick75	Female	Dominican Republic	2013-07-11 16:50:00
Canada	Canadians and CRA t4s	I already got the PIN in the mail and made the account about 2 weeks ago. I'll probably call them next week just to make sure my PIN for it is working and my SIN was identified properly etc.	Erica & Lily	Female	Canada	2014-03-05 22:43:00
Canada	Canadians and CRA t4s	I haven't worked since last March and I don't have any pay-stubs still. I used to have an online employee login account but I can't remember the address because it's some weird specific url or if that even had our pay information on it, I only ever logged on to see my schedule.   I'll try and ask one of my old co workers on Facebook if they remember.   So, should I wait 2 weeks and then call CRA and make sure it's not an issue with my account? I know that each company probably sends their in at a different time but it shouldn't take more than a few weeks I would think?   I have until April to file, I just kind of preferred to get it out of the way.	Erica & Lily	Female	Canada	2014-03-05 20:21:00
Canada	Canadians and CRA t4s	Hi there,     Can you contact your former employer and get them to send you another copy of the T-4 to your US address or a scanned copy via e-mail? As for the CRA it may take them a week or two to load the what they receive from the employers.     My last job and I didn't end on good terms (I was sick in the hospital with on-going health issues and they basically said I missed too many days of work and that they were annoyed even though I had NEVER missed a day before that in 3 years of working there) and essentially I just went on sick leave and never returned because I was so emotionally stressed out.   If I can avoid contacting them personally, I'd rather do that, because I know they're going to be less than helpful and they don't legally even have to send me another copy. If it's just a case of the t4s taking a few weeks to load that's fine with me, I just wanted to make sure they WERE going to load and there wasn't an issue accessing my information! Edited by Erica & Lily, 05 March 2014 - 03:27 PM.	Erica & Lily	Female	Canada	2014-03-05 15:25:00
Canada	Canadians and CRA t4s	Hey guys,   I'm in the US right now, and I'm trying to access my t4 slip online because my previous employer most likely sent it to my old address and who knows what they have done with it. I emailed and asked if they could keep an eye out for it but I doubt they'd be paying that much attention.   Anyways, I made an account on the CRA website to access it, and I've been checking every day to see if I could pull it up, but still nothing. When I spoke to CRA on the phone two weeks ago they told me they usually get the t4s from the employers by the end of February.   Is anyone else having trouble accessing their t4 online? I'm just worried that maybe it's my account or something.	Erica & Lily	Female	Canada	2014-03-05 15:14:00
Canada	Pros and Cons of getting US Citizenship as a Canadian	Well, after I receive my 10 year GC my wife and I will hopefully be done our school by the end of that and have degrees and careers that would make it easier for her to become a Canadian citizen. As for the oath, because it doesn't actually take away my Canadian citizenship, those are just words to me and I wouldn't mind going through the whole speech, I just don't see it happening for our long term plan. Timelines can always change but we do know that we don't want to live in the US for the rest of our lives, but like other poster said, tuition and the cost of living etc is a lot more affordable down here and our only option at the moment. My wife hates the US and would much rather live in Canada now if we could, she fell in love with it the first time she traveled to meet me! Edited by Erica & Lily, 20 March 2014 - 04:32 PM.	Erica & Lily	Female	Canada	2014-03-20 16:31:00
Canada	Process Started	The EAD/AP takes 30-90 days from the date on your NOA1. If your case is simple with no RFEs, most people receive their EAD/AP combo card around the 60-65 day period from most of the timelines. The EAD is free when you file with the AOS, it is only an extra cost if you file it separately.   Also AOS will not necessarily be approved that fast, even though you're adjusting from a K-1 visa and may not require an interview, so getting the EAD/AP card would come in handy if your GC process happens to take longer than you expect.   Correct me if I'm wrong, but once you leave Canada, you are no longer eligible be for EI? I could be wrong, but I thought it was based on residency.   P.s. hello from a fellow Vancouver born poster! Edited by Erica & Lily, 11 April 2014 - 05:48 PM.	Erica & Lily	Female	Canada	2014-04-11 17:45:00
Canada	Going to miss Canada	I always miss Ice Caps until I actually have one or two.. then I miss the Frappe's from the US. LOL   I don't mind the frappe's but I prefer a weaker coffee flavour which is why I really like Tim Hortons, at least their iced caps anyways.	Erica & Lily	Female	Canada	2014-04-18 20:28:00
Canada	Going to miss Canada	There's no Tim Hortons down in the good old south Erica (or is it Lilly?) lol I'm actually lucky there is one on the other side of town where I will be living in Michigan!   Canada_socks - glad we could make you feel a bit better! Canada is definitely so amazing that of course we will all feel homesick from time to time but being with the one we love will make it all worthwhile in the end <3   It's Erica haha and ugh, you're lucky! They only seem to be in the NE part of the country. Maybe Portland will get with the program and open one when I move there	Erica & Lily	Female	Canada	2014-04-17 21:29:00
Canada	Going to miss Canada	I could go for some vegetarian sushi as all the sushi places here have very limited options or you pay like $5 buck for a 6 piece maki roll.   I MISS TIM HORTON ICED CAPS.	Erica & Lily	Female	Canada	2014-04-17 20:46:00