ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures2012 Tax question
Just write NRA. Stands for non-resident alien, you can write it out like that too if you want but they know what NRA means.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-30 01:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDomicile Proof
Ok so I've got to prove domicile here's what I've got so far:

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:
? Maintained my XXXX voter registration
? Maintained my Virginia drivers license

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:
? Copy of Voter registration card showing permanent US address
? Virginia drivers license showing permanent US address

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:
? Made arrangements for us to move in with my parents
? Contacted Fairfax County Public Schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school
? Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings
? Purchased one way air ticket, leaving on DATE

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:
? Lease agreement between my spouse and I with my parents (or maybe just an affidavit from them stating that they're going to help us until we get on our feet)
? Email from Fairfax County Public Schools regarding registration requirements as well as copies of all documents I have prepared so far
? Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings
? Copy of our eticket

Does anyone have any ideas on what else I could do? I know a bank acct would be a big plus and I've been trying to open one but it seems like I can't unless I'm actually physically present in the bank to sign the paperwork and stuff. Anyone know of a way around this?

Also, we might not have the air ticket as proof depending on when my husband gets his visa. I HAVE to leave in the beginning of August, but if he gets his visa earlier, then we'll leave earlier. So that piece of proof all depends on when his interview will be.

Thanks everyone!!

Edited by Roosha, 30 January 2013 - 01:23 AM.

RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-30 01:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAOS I-864 Employment
Thank you :)

Yes I did see this table when I was doing my own research, I just had the number $3500 stuck in my brain b/c I filed married separately and that's the threshold for my filing status! Thanks for the info!
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-30 12:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAOS I-864 Employment

AND:

Regardless of where you live now, being a United States citizen requires that you file a yearly tax return with the IRS. Green card holders and all US citizens are required to file a US return, no matter where they live, as long as their income (earned in-US and abroad) is just over $9,000.

I make under that.


Are you sure it's $9000? I also live abroad and did a lot of research about this, ended up filing 3 years worth of taxes. I never saw $9000 as the income threshold. If I did I wouldn't have filed for 2010!! So, could you please give me the link or information about this? Thank you so much!!
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-30 00:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling from abroad?
I didn't send anything, no visas, nothing here in my name. But my address on the I-130 is the same as my husband's as well as the address I put under "address last lived together" There are other questions on the I-130 that show you live abroad and also you can mention you live abroad in the cover letter. My son's CRBA is from here though, that might have helped. Also writing in big block letter "Filed from Abroad" probably drummed it into their heads more! :lol:
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-30 22:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling from abroad?

You must be living in the foreign country and be able to show proof of joint residence.

What do you mean by proof? As in a joint lease or something? I def did not submit anything like that as our accommodation is provided from my husband's company so nothing is in our name.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-30 16:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling from abroad?

you need to be living (not visiting) therew with legal status and all for at least 6months.


That's for DCF, which is not what the OP is asking about.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-30 03:45:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling from abroad?
No, you need to actually be living overseas.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-30 01:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCo-Sponsor?
I wouldn't move too soon. I think a good time to move would be once you get your case complete from NVC or maybe once you've sent all your packages and are waiting for case complete. He doesn't need to be in the states for 6 months before you to prove domicile, one or two months is enough, I think! If you have a chance to stay with your loved one, take it!
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-22 06:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCo-Sponsor?
No, having a co sponsor has nothing to do with proving domicile, it won't make it easier or harder.

No need to be sorry, that's what this forum is for, weird questions that you normally can't get answers through the guides and stuff!

Edited by Roosha, 21 January 2013 - 04:45 PM.

RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-21 16:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCo-Sponsor?
Then accept the offer for a co sponsor, that's the only way that the consulate will approve your petition if he does not have any income from a US source. Also, make sure you study up on proving that he will re-establish domicile as from what I understand the consulate in Montreal is very harsh on that point :(

There's a forum for Canadians and you might get more country-specific information there.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-21 16:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresBirth Certificate detail on translation
The document can be translated by anyone, as long as they include this statement and their signature: http://www.visajourn...nt/translations
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-30 23:27:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling soon and have ??s
If you've still got the old case numbers at NVC/USCIS then I'd mention those in your cover letter. Here's the template for the cover letter in case you haven't seen it before: http://www.visajourn...130_Cover_Sheet I'd add a couple lines saying that you applied before but withdrew the petition for <this reason> and <these> are the case numbers. That should be enough.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-31 23:45:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling Taxes Jointly
Yes but when you file jointly you're choosing to treat him as a resident. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p54.pdf On page six it details how you do this. That link should answer most of your questions, you might want to give it to your accountant also! :lol:
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-31 04:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling Taxes Jointly
Nope, there's no requirement for foreign income that requires you to prove how much you made. Just make sure you fill out form 2555 to exclude his income from being taxed.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-31 02:25:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresShould we find a co-sponsor?

But from what I have read, the answer appears to be 'how long is a piece of string?' :)


Welcome to the immigration process! :rofl:
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-21 16:06:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresShould we find a co-sponsor?
Get your brother to co-sponsor, it'll be much simpler than gathering all the proof you'll need so that they'll accept him as the sole sponsor. Why wait and see if they'll send an RFE? Cover your bases and get a co-sponsor.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-21 05:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNew passport just before interview?

No not yet :) I am just thinking ahead! I don't really want to get one now because it has all my work visas in it, and I will need it to get my police clearance done within the next month to avoid delaying the case. I guess I could apply for a new passport now, but it would mean my NVC docs and the USCIS docs don't match?

I am trying to work out if it is easier to get a new passport after NVC case complete (and have to renew my work visa, which could be a pain), or change my greencard/get a new one, after I go to the USA (also a pain).

I didn't change my name on the marriage cert. (because of the visa issue), so I am not even sure if the UK will let me change my name tbh.


Ah ok, I was confused there for a min! Yea I'd actually go ahead and start doing that now. My husband's passport expires in August so we're getting it renewed now, the copy I send in the IV packet will be of the new passport. I just felt like it would be the easiest time to do it.

How long will it take for you to go through the name change/passport process? If time is more important then I'd just wait until getting to the US. It's a pain to change your name in any case, might as well just wait until you're in the states and this whole process is done, then you can take your time and do it at your leisure.

I also need to change my husband's name b/c the spelling is atrocious, I hate it. And my kids will all carry that last name! But we're going to do it when we get to the states, right after we get there or right before naturalization.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-30 22:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNew passport just before interview?
You already sent PC to NVC? How? I mean, you just got your NOA2, right? If you can get a new passport in about a month or so you should be able to send a copy of that by the time you get to the IV packet stage of NVC...
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-30 12:31:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-184: Working long term abroad for company that only paid cash -- no taxes deducted
You don't need to submit any paperwork proving what you made, like pay stubs from overseas company. You just claim it on the form. Go to taxact.com, it's free to do 2012 and it'll input everything for you on the right forms. I just did 2010/11/12 on there, it was really easy once I got the hang of it. I also live overseas.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-17 12:17:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-184: Working long term abroad for company that only paid cash -- no taxes deducted
I have the same problem. Just file your taxes for the last three years. I see that you already got your NOA2, so you should be prepared or are preparing for the NVC stage, right? If that's so then file your taxes for 2009 - 2012. They will not require to see your 2012 tax return until after April but you should file them anyway b/c your husband might have his interview after the April 15 deadline for taxes and so the consular officer might ask for 2012 return.

Read all the information in the first post of this thread: http://www.visajourn...s-january-2013/ including opening all the links and reading all the guides, all the information you need is there.

Regarding not having a paper trail, it's not a problem when you've been working overseas. If you meet the requirements you can exclude all income up to $92,000 from taxes. Go to taxact.com and do your returns, it's the only place I found that has the forms for overseas citizens online. You'll have to pay about $25 for past year taxes, but 2012 is free. Good Luck!
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-16 07:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPolice Clearance addressed to whom?
On the form to request a police clearance there's a question asking where you're going to submit the clearance, as in who should they address the police certificate to. They also ask for what purpose, which we chose immigration, but should I put NVC or the Embassy as the agency who's going to receive the PCC? I was thinking Embassy since they're the ones actually going through the papers, NVC just gathers it and makes sure everything is there, right?
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-02 22:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling a K3 while I-130 is in process

Maybe you'll get lucky and ATL will go on a petition approving streak and your I-130 will get approved.
But what if they don't and you're still sitting here in 7 or 8 months?

:thumbs:
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-04 10:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling a K3 while I-130 is in process
The facts are that we have no facts :) Ryan's answer is basically everything we know so far since they started sending petitions to be processed at field offices. No one can tell you if the K3 will beat your CR-1, but since everything is up in the air and your office hasn't even started on August cases and you filed in December, I'd do it. It won't cost you extra to file it and you it might get processed faster. Although the K3 will cost you a lot more later once your spouse arrives in the states and starts the AOS process.

Are you sure you've been transferred to Atlanta? If you filed in December it might be too early to tell. I'd make sure you were transferred there first before filing for the K3. If your file stays at NBC you could get approved in 4 months or less.

Edited by Roosha, 03 February 2013 - 11:55 PM.

RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-03 23:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIV Packet Assembly

i suggest colored paper.

using a laser printer - in portrait mode...
print in big letters the name of the thing (birth certificate, pcc, etc)
under that, in smaller letters, write the NVC Casefile #, the Beneficiary's name and DOB and the petitioner's name and DOB.

then once it's out of the laser printer - TURN IT SIDEWAYS, take yer civil doc, put it behind the colored paper, fold the colored paper around the civil doc without creasing the civil doc.

Ok maybe I'm not visualizing this right, but isn't this just making a pocket out of paper? You hole punch the paper/pocket thingy you printed and place your original in it. If that's the case, then transparent sheet protectors are the same idea, right? I could just add a label to the outside of the protector with all the biodata and case #. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong!

Paper clips might work...just paper clip the document to the paper before or after it that IS hole punched and secured in the folder.

Thanks everyone for your replies! (L)
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-01 21:50:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIV Packet Assembly
So we all know that it's advisable to use acco fasteners and not staples when putting together your packets for immigration. Thing is, with the IV packet, there are original documents (birth and marriage cert, police clearance) that I'd rather not punch holes through! So I was going to use a transparent sheet protector thingy, like this: http://i01.i.aliimg....White_strip.jpg but then I read a lot of people saying that's a no-no too! So how am I supposed to put together this packet without damaging those oh-so-important originals? Ideas? Suggestions? Thanks!
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-01 11:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAnother tax question-
Def joint. Filing joint gives you more tax breaks and since he has no income only your income will be calculated. If you're willing to jump through the hoops in order to file joint then by all means, do it!
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-04 21:39:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswill i need to present my husband BC
The only reason they would need the US citizen's birth certificate would be to prove US citizenship, which you can do with a copy of his passport so calm down, breathe, you'll be fine, there's no need for his birth certificate!
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-05 01:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswill i need to present my husband BC
Are you the US citizen or the beneficiary (immigrant). The citizen does not need birth certificate for the beneficiary's interview. If you're the beneficiary you should have send your birth certificate to the NVC already, you would not have gotten an interview date without it.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-04 21:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNow What?
No, you need to send the original or a copy certified by the issuing agency. Meaning a copy of the birth certificate stamped/certified by the birth registrar, same for the marriage certificate. The police certificate should be original as there's no reason to keep it since you're getting it for immigration purposes anyway.

Translations don't need to be certified, just a statement attached and signed by the person translating that they are capable of translating that language. Like this: http://www.visajourn...nt/translations
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-05 10:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNow What?
Congrats on getting to NVC!

Go here: http://www.visajourn...s-january-2013/ and read all the information in the fist two posts, as well as opening any links that pertain to you and reading the guides. It's kind of overwhelming at fist but you'll get it! And everyone in that thread is super helpful in case you have any questions.

Good Luck! Oh, and :time: !!!
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-01-29 10:06:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPlease Help.....AOS
Yes definitely you'll have to send AOS to NVC. you shouldn't have sent it with the i130 in the first place! So that was useless :( but at least you already have the paperwork done, shouldn't take you long to send the package to NVC.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-05 00:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDo I have to file 2012 taxes before submitting I-864
No, your 2012 returns are not mandatory until after the deadline to file, April 15. I'd file asap though just in case the interview takes place after April 14, b/c then the CO might request them.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-06 02:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures2ND NOA sent since 14 Jan 2013 and No trace at NVC
Did you wife get notice that her file is in Post Decision Activity? That would mean the the file has been sent to NVC. It might not have been sent to NVC yet in which case she'll have to call USCIS to inquire about exactly where the file is. Don't panic though, it's been taking 3-4 weeks for people to get their case numbers from NVC after the holidays, so it's normal.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-05 00:57:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresProof of Domicile?
Yea proving domicile sucks, I've got to do it too and my situation is almost like yours which means I can provide very few things that will prove that I'm returning. Let me know what you come up with! Here's what I have as my list of evidence so far:

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:
• Maintained my XXXX voter registration
• Maintained my Virginia drivers license

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Copy of Voter registration card showing permanent US address
• Virginia drivers license showing permanent US address

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:
• Made arrangements for us to move in with my parents
• Contacted Fairfax County Public Schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school
• Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:
• Lease agreement between my spouse and I with my parents
• Email from Fairfax County Public Schools regarding registration requirements as well as copies of all documents I have prepared so far
• Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings


RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-07 00:49:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow did you find out you were approved?
I think mine would count as both email and text. I put my sister's number for the text since I'm overseas and she got the text at almost the same time I got the email. I get emails on my phone so I knew instantly that I had an email from USCIS.

Also, something that's not mentioned very often, if you get a notification (email or text) saying that they've changed the Alien number on the case it means you should be getting your approval a couple of hours or the next day. (I got mine 5 hours after)
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-06 06:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHELP THIS PEOPLE GOT ME SO CONFUSED
The governor is the one who gave the ultimatum, I'm sure USCIS is used to that by now with the way they work!

I'd call NVC and make sure the case is there, and keep calling every day after that just to make sure.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-08 03:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFilling jointly or separated
try using taxact.com, you'll have to pay to file previous years taxes and you kinda have to play with the program a bit, takes a couple of hours to get used to, but I found them to be the best for USC filing overseas.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-08 13:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFilling jointly or separated
If you don't file, you still have to include a letter stating WHY you didn't file with the AOS form, as well as the IRS publication that pertains to your case (a copy of the filing threshold for the past three years would be fine, I think).

But not, if you were to choose married/jointly as your status then you wouldn't have to file a return, so you're good there, but make sure you state that clearly in your letter!
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-08 03:06:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow to file back taxes?
um actually I would get started ASAP b/c you're going to need those transcripts from the IRS, and even if you just submit copies of your returns you can't submit them until IRS has finished processing them. Right now I'm hoping that the IRS will finish processing my returns by the time that I need them to submit for the AOS, as it is it looks like I might be held up waiting for them :( So I suggest getting those done and submitted asap so that they're ready.
RooshaFemaleQatar2013-02-12 03:46:00