ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresJoin wife for her Interview

Hey Guys,
My wifes interview is next week. Because of work I cannot travel and join her, but my question is

1. Will it be a PLUS sign if I join my wife during her interview? I found that consulate allows US citizen inside along with their spouses for the interview.

Looking for urgent advice.


The VAST MAJORITY of interviews happen without the fiance/spouse present. I would not think it is a + or a -. I think it does not matter ie. non-issue.

Good luck
gary9891MalePhilippines2010-02-22 16:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureshow will i know my date of interview

do i have to call us embassy in manila to know my date of interview or is it written in the appointment letter??


Once I got the NVC letter, I waited a few days for the embassy to receive their copy. Then I called the 1-800 number (actually a toll call, $18 USD) and set up the appointment time/date with the operator. I scanned and emailed the letter and forwarded the embassy confirmation emails to my fiancee (now wife!) which she simply printed out at an internet cafe. She used these documents for the medical and embassy entrance (with ID of course)..........all no problems. She did get her appointment letter the embassy sent her....2 weeks after her interview! (which she passed). Philippine mail system for you.

best wishes.
gary9891MalePhilippines2010-06-04 12:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat are biometrics?

Can somebody explain what biometrics are?


Digital pictures and fingerprints which are electronically encoded on your green card. It is to prevent forgery or if stolen, someone cannot use your ID etc...........

Biometrics was the easiest part of our journey!
gary9891MalePhilippines2010-06-14 18:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurestax copy or transcript for I-864

I was just looking at USCIS instructions for the 864 and it says to send a tax transcript. I had previously not heard anything about this and thought a copy was ok. Is this correct? Do I need to request one? Also it really just one year's needed?


You can send copies of you returns but they must be printed/copied without the signature then signed. The copies must have an original (not copied) signatures.

I feel IRS transcripts are the best way to go. Call the IRS toll free number and navigate the menus and order the last 3 years of your transcipts. No signatures required, 100% free and takes 5-7 days to get in the mail.
gary9891MalePhilippines2010-10-11 06:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPoint of Entry in USA

The process is also STANDARD for international Travels entering the USA.


1. Deplane
2. Enter Passport Conrtol / Immigration
3. Go to Secondary to complete the paper work.. fingerprints etc.
4. Go to Baggage Claim to pick up luggage/s
5. Go to Customs to Declare Any Goods
6. Go to Delta to drop off bags
7. Go towards connecting flight/s


ps. in some airports travellers are required to go back through security screening prior to going to the gate... like in Miami.


ps. Also LAX (groan)

Edited by gary9891, 17 October 2010 - 02:42 PM.

gary9891MalePhilippines2010-10-17 14:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDS-230 Question 13

Posted Image

Does question 13 ask about living address or work address?


Question 13 is the current living address of your fiancee.
Mark and CarolMaleColombia2010-02-05 18:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresi-864a one parent joint tax return
No problem!
Young LoveNot Telling02010-06-23 13:30:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresi-864a one parent joint tax return

Does she file a i-864a form on her own or do we have to include my FIL in the process and so, he has to file an i-864a too, due to the their joint tax return?


Yes, she files the I-864A on her own.


If she can file i-864a on her own, what amount do we fill in in Part 1. 11 as the total income(adjusted gross income) as my parents-in-law have a joint tax return. Do we just use the amount indicated in W2 form?


In Part 1 #10 you put the amount on her W2, and on #11 you put the amount from the joint tax returns.
Be sure to include copies of the the joint tax return and her individual W2.



Good luck :)
Young LoveNot Telling02010-06-23 13:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresG-325a Help Emplyoment History
Hi :)

Yes, you would state that you have been unemployed.

Are you submitting a I-485? If so, you would list your missionary service under Part 3, C.


Good luck :)
Young LoveNot Telling02010-06-23 13:23:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-864
1) Will I have to fill out the affidavit of support form?
A: Yes, but state unemployed from _____ to ______ where it asks.

2) If so, what will I do about my tax records? I have no tax records for the past 5 years.
A: Include a statement explaining why you weren't required to file taxes. Be sure to title it appropriately and put your name, SSN, and sign and date it.

3) Will it be enough to have 1 joint sponsor that meets the 125% of the poverty guideline?
A: Yes, as long as they meet the requirement for their household size (including your husband and children).

4) Can I have more than 1 joint sponsor???
A: Yes, but it's not necessary if the first sponsor meets the requirement.
Young LoveNot Telling02010-07-11 09:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresplease help me on I-864A
Yep, you need to include bills addressed to him at the residence of the sponsor, 3 if you can. A copy of his birth certificate listing him as the father is good too.
Good luck!

Edited by Young Love, 11 July 2010 - 07:18 AM.

Young LoveNot Telling02010-07-11 07:16:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresRequest for Evidence - G325A

Thanks! Do you think after I've sent the forms in, I should offer to send a correct, signed form in later?

Hm, I don't think that's necessary since you're allowed to hand write the forms, and since it's his mom's birthday that was incorrect and not his, a correction should be fine :)
Young LoveNot Telling02010-07-19 17:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresRequest for Evidence - G325A
I think hand correct with a signed letter of explanation is your best bet. Definitely don't photocopy it.
Young LoveNot Telling02010-07-19 15:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresG-325 Question
If she wants to her change her maiden name to your family name, then she puts YOUR last name under her FAMILY NAME section. Her maiden name goes under the "Other."
Make sure that you consistently use her new last name on all the forms filed.

Good luck :)
Young LoveNot Telling02010-08-24 19:39:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresmoney transfer
yes u can use it. also use pics, phone records, emails, letters..Anything u can think of. it's better to have to much proof than not enough
Nicole-N-NattoyFemaleJamaica2010-05-31 22:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresElusive divorce decree
I don't think he did it because you have to sign papers on the divorce.
Nicole-N-NattoyFemaleJamaica2010-07-19 20:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDecember 2007 I-130 filers
QUOTE (Amastar @ Jan 9 2008, 05:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Mailed the I-130 packet on December 24 2007 as well.
I'm leaving for Tokyo next week. I figure it will get here while I'm away.


You got your papers so fast from the vermont service center I was wandering did you use a lawyer? because i sent my I-130 off in dec of O7 and I recieved NO1 on Feb. 21 of 08 and nothing more.
Mrs.WalkerFemaleJamaica2008-08-24 18:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling for I-130 real soon
Another thing,

Does it matter if my US wife doesn't change her surname? We are already married but she probably will not change her name for awhile.
Does it look bad to USCIS etc if her last name isn't the same as mine?

Edited by Paloma&Adam, 16 September 2010 - 04:47 PM.

Paloma&AdamMaleUnited Kingdom2010-09-16 16:46:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling for I-130 real soon
awesome. Thanks guys.

So am I right in thinking the address she must put for her residence on the I-130 is her current apartment address? Or her parents address? Do I need to include a note to tell USCIS where to send mail if it is different to her current address? I didn't see anywhere on the form for a mailing address.
Paloma&AdamMaleUnited Kingdom2010-09-16 15:38:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling for I-130 real soon
Hello everyone!

This is my first post and my first experience of immigration :)

I recently married my wonderful USC wife over in the good old USA before returning back home to the UK. We have both decided we don't want to be apart any longer than we have to and so she will be filing the I-130 to bring me over to the US soon.

I do have a couple of minor concerns. Firstly, she has just recently moved out of her parents house and has taken up a years contract in a student apartment (we figured we'd allow a year before the CR-1 visa would be issued). Does correspondence from USCIS etc have to be sent to her current address? (address she will have to put on I-130). We would rather have mail sent to her parent's house (Her permanent address)

Secondly, I understand USCIS must know where I'll be living once i arrive in the US. We have worked out I shall stay at her parent's house while we find an apartment for the both of us. Will this be a problem? Do we need a tenancy agreement for the both of us in place beforehand?

Thanks everyone.
Paloma&AdamMaleUnited Kingdom2010-09-16 15:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresYahoo Archives as evidence.. How?????
My husband and I have been speaking mostly on Yahoo Instant Messenger since we met, If I were to print out all of our conversations, even only 3 months worth... the number of pages would be 1000+, wayyy too many to include with our CR-1 visa application. Also, we have been unable to find a way in which the time and date signature are included.

Is there anyone who has been approved with this type of evidence, and what did you include?

Please help!!
Paloma&AdamMaleUnited Kingdom2010-09-21 17:58:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresA couple of questions regarding assembling of I-130 package and affidavits
Also, do you think the fact we will have no affidavits from the witnesses at the wedding ceremony will be a problem? Would it be a good idea to get one of the members of staff at the courthouse who witnessed our marriage to write one?? No family were in attendance as we eloped! (L)

We have two affidavits from family already, who we have spent LOADS of time with and have known us since the beginning of out relationship
Paloma&AdamMaleUnited Kingdom2010-10-07 13:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresA couple of questions regarding assembling of I-130 package and affidavits

Beneficiary's passport copy or birth certificate copy are not needed with I-130 filing.

I think it was recently. When I filed I-130 2+ years back, it was the requirement.

Loto


Is there an official source that confirms this is true?? I'm still going to make sure my wife includes a copy of her birth cert. As far as I can see, there is nothing on the USCIS website that says that it's no longer needed.
Paloma&AdamMaleUnited Kingdom2010-10-07 12:58:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresA couple of questions regarding assembling of I-130 package and affidavits

There are several ideas of what you should send in with the I-130. The ACCO fasteners are not required. You can just paperclip things together and your application will have a smooth journey as well. The important thing to include are the actual forms (I-130 and G325A for yourself and your wife) plus the 2 2X2 in. passport style pictures of yourself, and your marriage certificate, and the copy the USC's brith certificate or ALL pages of their passport.

The other things are extra. This stage isn't as important to have the bonafide marriage materials...that will come later at the interview. You can send as little or as much as you would like right now. Some affidavits will suffice for now. You can also send some pictures of the two of you before or after the wedding as well as wedding pics. :thumbs:

Good luck on your journey! If some of the info seems a little off...it is because it has been a while since I assembled the package myself. :star:


Thanks :)

Also, question 21 on the 1-130 form.. I've visited my wife in the US several times, but we have never officially lived together... we've just visited eachother. What do I put for this question.. if anything?

And is it ok for some papers in the I-130 package to be the larder A4 size?

Edited by Paloma&Adam, 06 October 2010 - 06:54 PM.

Paloma&AdamMaleUnited Kingdom2010-10-06 18:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresA couple of questions regarding assembling of I-130 package and affidavits
My Wife and I will soon be ready to file our I-130 package,

Since I'm in the UK, the standard document size is A4. In the US, obviously it is Letter size. Do all the documents in the I-130 need to be the american letter format, or is is ok to have some pages that are the larger A4 size? Also, what it the correct way of assembling the thing? I read somewhere that the document should be fastened at the top with an ACCO fastener?

Also, since my wife and I eloped, we had no family attending the wedding, the only eye witnesses where a few members of staff at the courthouse. We already have a few affidavits from members of my wife's family who know our relationship and marriage to be genuine, but do we also need affidavits from the witnesses? We have quite a few wedding ceremony photos.

Many Thanks
Paloma&AdamMaleUnited Kingdom2010-10-06 18:38:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresEvidence for I-130 - Boarding passes..

Can't hurt to show matching boarding passes. :) Though the stamps in your passport will also support them even if you didn't supply matching passes.


awesome thanks, that's what I was thinking too. Already including copies of passport stamps :)
Paloma&AdamMaleUnited Kingdom2010-10-20 16:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresEvidence for I-130 - Boarding passes..
Hello all you good people:)

We're almost done with our I-130 application. As part of our evidence, I'm including copies of old boarding passes to visit my US Citizen wife. Is it necessary to includes copies of my boarding passes heading back home to England too?? Just was wondering.

Thanks!
Paloma&AdamMaleUnited Kingdom2010-10-20 16:22:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresYeah!!! Interview date
Great news!! B-)

Just out of curiosity, why did your I-130 take so long to get approved? You sent it at the beginning of 2008 right?
Paloma&AdamMaleUnited Kingdom2010-10-21 15:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion about addresses
Hello all you kind people

I've just realised something that I'm afraid may cause issues.

I have just mailed my G-325A to my wife in the US in preparation for sending our I-130 application. In the section that asks for all addresses lived in for the past 5 years, I included only my permanent address (the address I have lived in my whole life and my mailing address) however, I have also stayed in college dorms in other cities on 2 occasions. Should I have included these addresses too? (Even though I would frequently return home to my permanent address)

I also looked at the DS-230 and it too asks for all addresses lived in for 6 months since turning age of 16. Would I have to include my college dorm address's here too??

Thanks guys

Edited by Paloma&Adam, 22 October 2010 - 12:05 PM.

Paloma&AdamMaleUnited Kingdom2010-10-22 12:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurescr 1 visa section 21

Loto will say yes, I say no. visiting is not living together

Good luck


Thanks, this was my thinking too. :)
Paloma&AdamMaleUnited Kingdom2010-10-24 09:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 Question 15
"Name and address of present employer"

Does this only apply if someone is still in the US? My wife has been back in Russia for almost 2 years. Are they asking for her employer in Russia? This info is already on her G-325A.
FLPilotMaleRussia2010-02-18 18:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 Question 22
Thanks CW!
FLPilotMaleRussia2010-02-18 20:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 Question 22
Right, so...I answer the right side of the question and put "Moscow, Russia" correct?

I think I was reading too much into the question, and putting N/A for both the AOS blank AND the "applying for visa abroad" blank.

Now that I think about it, you HAVE to be doing one or the other!

Sorry, all of these questions are running together and driving me crazy.

Thanks for everyone's help.
FLPilotMaleRussia2010-02-18 19:10:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 Question 22
Does this ENTIRE question only apply if you are not in the US? The right side of the question says: "If your relative is not eligible for adjustment of status, he or she will apply for a visa abroad at the American consular post in:"

My wife is in Russia, so obviously is not applying for AOS. She will be going to visa interview in Moscow.

Maybe I am reading too much into this question and making it more complicated than it should be.

Sorry for all the questions, but the attorney I hired was WORTHLESS and you guys have been WAY more informative!

Thanks!
FLPilotMaleRussia2010-02-18 18:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow to assemble I-130 application packet?
Thanks! Sounds like the way to go.
FLPilotMaleRussia2010-02-18 21:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow to assemble I-130 application packet?
Thanks TheBears. Sounds simple enough!
FLPilotMaleRussia2010-02-18 18:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow to assemble I-130 application packet?
Thanks TheBears. Sounds simple enough!

One final question (I do NOT want to screw this up!)...just to confirm, I do NOT have to submit my wife's Russian birth certificate at this time, correct? I saw on the guide that it says no longer required, and it is not listed on the official instructions (that I can see).
FLPilotMaleRussia2010-02-18 17:38:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow to assemble I-130 application packet?
Thanks for the quick response Old Dominion.

So, don't even bother with an index at this stage? Just put the documents in the order shown on this website and use one big paperclip?

I want to keep it as simple and fast for USCIS, and not p*** anyone off!
FLPilotMaleRussia2010-02-18 17:32:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow to assemble I-130 application packet?
I am submitting my I-130 packet tomorrow and am wondering if there are any no-no's regarding how you put it together.

I bought a 1/2" 3-ring binder, clear sleeves to hold documents, and a color coded index tab packet. My plan is to put my cover letter as the first page, then the index sheet showing where all the documents are located, then each document in its own clear sleeve which is attached to the 3 ring binder under the appropriate color tab. I figured I would put the passport photos in their individual clear, labeled ziplock bags, attached to a piece of paper and paperclipped to the back of the G-325A's (per the instructions on this website).

Will this be ok, or do they prefer it just to be all assembled with paperclips?

Thanks
FLPilotMaleRussia2010-02-18 17:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCheck or Money Order for I-130
Thanks everyone!
I ended up sending a check, and my I-130 application is on it's way to Chicago!
FLPilotMaleRussia2010-02-19 16:36:00