biggish data

Where to apply for this visa IR-/CR-1 ?

Where would we find "adjustment of status" ? Thanks

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-06-26 19:32:00

Where to apply for this visa IR-/CR-1 ?

We have an interesting and unusual situation. I am an American Citizen and my wife is Colombiana and we both have residency in Panama where we were married 3 years ago in Panama. A year and 1/2 ago we applied for a B1/B2 visa which we received for 5 years. I wish now to move to the USA with my wife and get her permanent residency. A situation occurred in Panama where I was shot many times during a robbery but lived. My wife was with me at the time. I can identify the perps so we are afraid for our lives there. We are both suffering with PSTD , and are afraid to continue to live in Panama so we have been traveling back and forth from USA and Guatemala or Honduras (where we have only tourist status 3 months) using the B1/B2. We have had no problems leaving or re-entering the USA and she has received 6 months max every time without question. Immigration have always been courteous to us with not problems.

My understanding is that we need to do a direct consular filing but do not want to file in Panama because we have to live there again.

Can we file in the USA and where can this be done? We have a place to live in the USA in Southern California.

Thanks for your help.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-06-26 13:55:00

I 864 My credit good/bad

When you fill out the I 864 , will the government check your credit. Mine is only fair with some issues. Does good or bad credit have an effect on my approval as a sponser. Do they check your credit?

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-06-28 12:54:00

Can my spouse enter the USA while the CR1 visa is in process.

You r wife is free to travel but must be able to show strong ties to home vd her ties to the US. Bring documentation to back up claimed ties.

I am not sure about the strong ties as we already proved that to get a tourist visa.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-02 14:25:00

Can my spouse enter the USA while the CR1 visa is in process.

I found this in one of the question answer sections: on the miniuses

Separation from family may be longer than if filing for a K-3 Visa (or K-1 visa for a non-married fiance). The applicant will most likely not be able to enter the US while their IR1-CR-1 Visa is being processed.

My wife has a B1/B2 tourist visa. Will the filing stop her from using her tourist visa? Will we be able to interview in the USA?

I realize there is no K3 visa. I am also thinking that AOS may be not the way to go, but still not sure

Edited by Tradewind, 02 July 2013 - 01:30 PM.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-02 13:28:00

Do I need a lawyer? CR1

I am hiring a lawyer. Price is $1150. I think its a fair price. I am college educated but so far I like getting questions answered by someone in the legal field. I do not want to make mistakes on this.

I do not like to give away money and I am a brave guy but I don't want to do this alone. I am curious what happened to the people who started this post.

Ours is a somewhat complex and at the same time simple filing, but I remember the comment my dad used to say. He who represents himself legally has a fool for a client. No offense to anyone here that did the process themselves. I just want advice along the road with this. I am thinking this is cheap legal advise because if we need and hour of some lawyers time it will be $300. I am sure I will use the 4 hours I am spending here.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-04 21:45:00

Do I need a divorce decree as I am already married

photocopy is totally fine

no certification needed

the other member says it must be certified. Who is right?

Straight talk says: Posted Yesterday, 08:17 AM

You need to submit a photocopy of a certified copy of any and all divorce decrees for all parties. Yes, the court will mail a certified copy upon request. Don't look for shortcuts. If the instructions say to submit a supporting document, obtain it and submit it. Bigamists also have marriage certificates. A marriage certificate is no evidence a divorce occurred.

Edited by Tradewind, 08 July 2013 - 01:30 PM.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-08 13:29:00

Do I need a divorce decree as I am already married

Does it have to be certified and do you think the court will mail it to my current location as I am 1000 miles from the court that has the decree? Of course I will call the court tomorrow to see if they will do that. Thanks for your answer

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-07 10:08:00

Do I need a divorce decree as I am already married

We have been married for 3 years. When I file my I -130 do I need a copy of divorce decree from my marriage 10 years ago. If so, does it have to be certified or can it be photocopied.

I realize for unmarried people you have to have it, but I am already married. Thanks for your help

It appears I am going to do this without a lawyer.

Edited by Tradewind, 07 July 2013 - 09:52 AM.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-07 09:50:00

Question about needing a Birth certicate for my wife for this process.

She told me they did not ask for a birth certificate for that process.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-10 15:54:00

Question about needing a Birth certicate for my wife for this process.

Yes thanks I found it and printed it out. Difference between IR1 AND CR1 and "Remove conditons"

Edited by Tradewind, 10 July 2013 - 01:55 PM.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-10 13:54:00

Question about needing a Birth certicate for my wife for this process.

Wow, I am learning here. 3 years on July 23, 2013 and we have not filed yet. Interesting What does "you simply don't have to remove conditions" mean?

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-10 13:30:00

Question about needing a Birth certicate for my wife for this process.

If your case has no complications ...yep you can do it
however the rules are in place and goes for everyone whether
you had a visa before or not. Originals are expected at NVC
stage and no Senator or Congress-person can dictate to USCIS,
they are however able to check on the status of a case, find out
whats going on if its processing time is passed, just get your
docs together and good luck

Just to make it clear. The U.S, Senators office from the state I have been a resident most of my wife wrote a letter at my request to the US Embassy asking to give Liliana a full and fair consideration for a B1/B2 visa at her interview. Nothing more.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-09 19:23:00

Question about needing a Birth certicate for my wife for this process.

Her tourist visa has nothing to do with this new process. There are separate process and separate purposes! One is for tourism the other one is for immigration processes. Is she already living here with a tourist visa?
Actually when I apply for my fiance visa, my tourist visa was completely cancelled.

I am asking this question for clarification. When you applied for your K-1, your tourist visa was cancelled. Does anyone know if my wife's B1/B2 visa will be cancelled when we file for the CR-1?

Thank You

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-09 18:54:00

Question about needing a Birth certicate for my wife for this process.

Just to clarify, the foreign spouse's birth certificate is not sent to USCIS with the petition package. It is not needed until the NVC stage, AFTER the petition has been approved.

Thanks for that information. I understand, every piece of info and clarification is valuable to us. I decided to go without a lawyer and am doing it myself as recommended by VJ people.

Although the attorney was very knowledgable and proficient. I have a little bit of law background so I can handle this myself, I am sure. We have lots of time to do this and are not in a rush.

We will take our time and do it right.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-09 16:57:00

Question about needing a Birth certicate for my wife for this process.

Because this is a whole new ball game dear. It's immigrating now. When you get to the NVC stage you will have to provide an original or certified copy of original that will go with her DS-230 which is the actual Immigrant Visa application.

Having a current Visa counts for what it is a visitor Visa there's no guarantee to a Green card just because you got a B1/B2.

She will also later have to get police report that cost and many other things.

We think we have a reasonably good chance for this visa but there are no guarantees. Been together 5 years, married for 3 and B1/B2 for 1 1/2 years, and we had help from my United States Senator's office. I am hoping they will help us again. We have stayed in communication.

Edited by Tradewind, 09 July 2013 - 03:11 PM.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-09 15:10:00

Question about needing a Birth certicate for my wife for this process.

I presume she was issued a tourist visa by US Embassy. For CR-1/IR-1 you have to send the papers to USCIS first, then to NVC and then at the end they go to the Embassy again. The fact that she has a tourist visa does not mean anything in the process, neither does the fact that her Embassy already saw her birth certificate.

I am sorry this is an inconvenience for you, but it will be needed.

I completely understand. Just wanted to clarify things. Looking forward to the Journey. Thanks for your help.

It makes sense that a tourist visa would be cancelled with a K-1 filing. I don't believe this will happen with us as we are already married and already have the B1/B2..

Edited by Tradewind, 09 July 2013 - 03:04 PM.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-09 15:02:00

Question about needing a Birth certicate for my wife for this process.

Her tourist visa has nothing to do with this new process. There are separate process and separate purposes! One is for tourism the other one is for immigration processes. Is she already living here with a tourist visa?
Actually when I apply for my fiance visa, my tourist visa was completely cancelled.

She is not lving here on a tourist visa. She is here for a month so we can visit 7 National Parks in that month for camping and hiking. Have her return ticket and already showed to CBP. No problems.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-09 15:00:00

Question about needing a Birth certicate for my wife for this process.

Why does my wife need a birth certicate for CR-1 when she already went through the B1-B2 process and was accepted. Doesn't some of the things we provided for that visa count for the new process we are starting and don't have to be repeated. I don't understand why this has to be repeated, We have been married for 3 years and we proved her age and that was accepted in that B2 process.

Doesn't having a current visa count for anything in the new process? It means extra costs and trouble to obtain a new one from Colombia as she is not living there.

I was told in this forum not to use shortcuts, BUT if there are any I would like to know about them and use them. OR if things are not required of us because of an approved B1-B2 visa does anyone know what they might be.

Edited by Tradewind, 09 July 2013 - 02:09 PM.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-09 14:00:00

Question about needing a Birth certicate for my wife for this process.

Doesn't having a current visa count for anything in the new process? It means extra costs and trouble to obtain a new one from Colombia as she is not living there.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-09 14:00:00

Marriage certificate possible problems for our petition app.

I realize I have to have it translated. Its not what I mean. I mean the expiration of the certificate.

It seems like you do not get a permanent marriage certificate in Panama. Your marriage is permanent but the certificates they issue, which are used only when you need to prove you are married, have expiry dates so they can keep charging you the little Timbres each time you need to use one. More revenue that way!

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-21 07:03:00

Marriage certificate possible problems for our petition app.

I realize I have to have it translated. Its not what I mean. I mean the expiration of the certificate.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-20 14:27:00

Marriage certificate possible problems for our petition app.

My wife and I were married July 23, 2010 in Panama. When we obtained a certified copy of the certificate it shows the date and is stamped properly certified. When you obtain this marriage certificate it says on the bottom that the certificate is valid for 6 months to a certain date. What this means (we have been told) is that the validity for signed legal papers is good for 6 months. My PROBLEM is I am not sure this will be accepted for my marriage certificate because they may fail to understand the language below.

The language reads as follows:

Expedido en Chriiqui, el diecisiete de junio de dos mil once.

ESTE CERTIFICADO ES VALIDO HASTA LOS DIECIOCHO (18) DIAS DEL MES DE DECIEMBRE DE DOS MIL ONCE (2011) ******Inscripcion No. 4-219-929

At the top the certificate says

NO ES VALIDO SIN LOS TIMBRES FICALES (B/3.00) ( not sure what this means )

I am asking this forum to get a opinion other than my wife's.

Edited by Tradewind, 20 July 2013 - 02:02 PM.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-20 14:01:00

Police certificate. Can it be obtained in USA for Colombia and Panama

I printed my wifes Antecedentes judiciales from NYC, just needed her CC # adn full name (This is for Colombia).

Could you please give me the website where I can do that. Obviously they accepted that. Where shall I go to get that info please. Thanks

What is NYC ?? New York College, New York City ??

Edited by Tradewind, 29 July 2013 - 06:00 PM.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-29 17:58:00

Police certificate. Can it be obtained in USA for Colombia and Panama

My wife is currently visiting in the USA. Can she obtain a police certificate for Panama and for Colombia at the respective Consulates in Los Angeles USA that will meet the requirement for her upcoming visa journey to residency.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-07-23 15:57:00

hi tradwind,you can send a scan copy of your wifes birthcertificate but later on you will receive a rfe from nvc will require you to send a certified or original birthcertificate if not in English must be translated in English. her passport just needs the bio page with picture not translated,.don't forget the G-1145 notification e.mail or tex, put that on the very top of your file,.write a short letter how you met sign an date.an send a few picture together,

Thanks for your advice. We have her passport and it is in English and Spanish, I will send the passport Bio page with the I - 130, Later when we file other papers we will use the translated birth certificate from Colombia. Her father is sending us an original birth certificate from Colombia. In Colombia do you know if there is any certification process other than just obtaining one from the authorities? Thanks again.

Edited by Tradewind, 10 September 2013 - 03:43 PM.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-09-10 15:42:00

i didnt send it first but i got RFEd . then i had to send it(3 weeks ago). got NOA2 today

REALLY, glad I wrote this ...did you have it translated ???

Its NOT ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS ON THE USCIS SITE. I wonder why the rfed you.

Edited by Tradewind, 09 September 2013 - 08:19 PM.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-09-09 20:18:00

i sent a scanned copy to USCIS. and got approved. its in NVC stage where you need originals

But it appears by the USCIS requirements you did not need to send it in with the I-130. In the VJ list you do but I believe you do not have to at first.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-09-09 20:09:00

_{I went to the instructions for I-130 at the USCIS and it does not require proof of birth for my spouse. VJ checklist shows you need it for the I-130. hmmmmmmmm}

I know we till eventually need the birth certificate for my wife

_{We are filing the I-130 now and then in a month or 2, filing the remainder. We dont have everything together yet to file everything at once. We just want to get the process started.}

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-09-09 13:49:00

On the VJ website it shows on #7 proof of birth is needed for the I-130. Is this up to date?

Assembling the I-130 Package: Checklist
Forms and Documents (follow these assembly instructions. All supporting documents must be in English or be translated as noted here.):

1. Payment as required by USCIS. Use a money order so you can track the payment. If a personal check is allowed, use that instead. 2. Cover Letter. Should include a description of what your are petitioning for (I-130), a table of contents (list everything in the packet). If you need additional room to explain your case, attach a separate sheet (list the attachment on the cover sheet). Make sure to sign and date the cover sheet. 3. Form I-130: Petition for Alien Relative 4. Copy of the Full Birth certificate (front and back) for the US Citizen or a copy of ALL pages of the US Citizen's passport. This is used to establish citizenship. 5. A copy of petitioner's proof of naturalization. (If applicable) 6. A copy of petitioner's proof of permanent residency. (If applicable) 7. A copy of the intending immigrant's birth certificate and/or passport along with English translation. (If in any language other than English) 8. A certified copy of your certified marriage certificate (again, translated if not in Engligh) 9. A certified official copy of the petitioner's and/or intending immigrant's divorce documents. (If one or both of you have been divorced before) 10. A copy of a prior spouse's death certificate. (If filing for a spouse, and one or both have you were married before, and the prior spouse died) 11. G-325A filled out by the US Citizen, signed and dated. 12. One passport-type photo (see specification) of the US Citizen. Write the full name on the back. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of <Insert Name>". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding G-325a. 13. G-325A filled out by the foreign spouse signed and dated. 14. One passport-type photo (see specification) of the foreign spouse. Write the full name of the beneficiary on the back. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of (insert name) ". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding G-325a. 15. Evidence of a bonafide marriage (see note below for what to include)

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-09-09 13:42:00

Okay for your I-130 petition the beneficiary does not need to submit Birth certificate (even though I have heard some local offices ask).

At the USCIS level a copy of birth certificate is fine. So yes they can scan it. HOWEVER a few months down the road you will have to have that original sent to NVC they REQUIRE the original or certified copy of original.

But again yes with your I-130 submission a photocopy/scan copy is fine.

Another question, does the birth certificate have to be translated at the USCIS level need to be translated from Spanish? She has her passport here and we can copy the pages easily for the 1st stage but does it have to be translated (the passport) too. I know we have to do all this later (translate the birth cert.) but want to get it in within a few days. I hate paying $50.00 to get a few lines translated on the passport when the birthdate, picture and name are obvious.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-09-09 13:21:00

My wife's birth certificate is in Colombia at her family's home. Can her father scan it and send it to us so we can use that in the I-130 application? That would be a copy, correct?

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-09-09 11:14:00

i-130 Filed

I just filed the i-130 with the Phoenix location since I'm in California, petitioning for my husband's visa--he's in Amsterdam. We were married just three weeks ago, so lots of new things to deal with. I'm just hoping some of you can give me an inkling of what the process will look like from this point forward. I realized, after I sent everything in, that I had forgotten to include the two recent passport photos, for example. I'm assuming they will request these from me when they see that they are missing. I included everything else. So, I don't plan to send them until they give me a case number and let me know what's missing--best plan, right? I hardly imagine they'd reject the application because of the missing photos.

Anyway, if anyone has experience and can tell me what to expect, I'd appreciate it. I feel a little like a fish out of water. I did see that the processing times are slow, up to a year. Has anyone got any idea why, and if they have sped up at all?

Thanks for any and all input!

Wow you were approved in 15 days and without the pictures ???? Your I-130 was approved in 15 days from your NOA1 date. Just read your timeline. Did I read this correctly? Good luck

I just filed my I-130 from California to the Phoenix Service center, they received it on Oct 18 and they have not cashed the check or replied. Just waiting.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-10-22 14:51:00

i am 40 years older than my finance

And I cannot believe how obnoxious your assumption is Tradewind. You are obviously not familiar with this regional forum.

Sorry, read all the posts. It is common sense that's all. Obnoxious not! I do have half a brain.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-09-18 16:43:00

i am 40 years older than my finance

please please pray for my finance...he has been in an accident and is in serious condition in Nigeria..i am so upset and troubled..he is laying in the hospital bed and I am here in usa...I have to send all my money to him to get the operation he needs...please pray he survives so we can be together forever.the driver of the motorcycle died in the accident....please tell me everything is gonna be ok

I think this is a joke being played by you on this group by you. My opinion and not funny.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-09-16 20:29:00

i am 40 years older than my finance

I am 35 years older than my wife of 3 years (5.5 years together). My advice would be to get married, spend as much time as possible together and then around 2 solid years into the relationship, then apply.

If you are madly in love, you will still be in 2 years and have a much better chance in my opinion. Good luck!

I believe we will have no problem getting a visa for my wife as we have 5.5 continuous years living together and did not have a problem with the B1/B2 visa.

By the way I got a letter from Nigeria the other day and I am to receive 5 million dollars from a dying businessman.

Tradewind

Not Telling

Colombia

2013-09-16 20:25:00

IR-1 Interview in Sydney on 4th Feb - travelling to the US on the 10th Feb?

We had our interview this past Tuesday (the 28th) and got our visa in the mail yesterday (Friday the 31st). It does say it can take longer, but the turnaround right now seems to be pretty quick. We checked the case before ours on CEAC (we just changed the last digit of our case number) and their visa was issued on the same day as ours. So if this all works out for you, your husband won't have to enter as a visitor and you'll be fine.

However, I'm not sure what the logistics of entering the country would be while your visa is being processed, but they do strongly advise against having flights booked before you have your visa in hand. This is different, of course, since these flights were purchased with the intention of entering the US as a visitor, and now your interview has conveniently been scheduled shortly before the flights. Still, I can't imagine this to be the kind of circumstance that sways a consulate into expediting the processing. Furthermore, as long as his visa is processing, his passport will be stuck with the consulate. I suggest you either change the date of your tickets now or regularly check your status after your interview and change them if it doesn't look like you will be getting your visa before the 10th.

Good luck - we're leaving on the 10th as well!

willboffa

Male

Australia

2014-02-01 00:14:00

Need advice on financial side of K-1 visa

Thank you for your help! We will check back here if we have any more queries, but should be filing tomorrow.

willboffa

Male

Australia

2013-09-07 20:45:00

Need advice on financial side of K-1 visa

And another question!

In the hope anyone reads this, we're filling out the I-129f now, and have no idea whether to list my fiancee's current address in Australia, or her old American address (since the petitioner seems to already be in the U.S. in most cases).

Thanks!

willboffa

Male

Australia

2013-09-07 04:26:00