Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	June 2013 I-130 Filers (merged)	To be honest, 10 months is my current hope. It may change with the new service center (and really should!), but processing for now is looking grim. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how October goes.   About a month after I filed, I started tracking our place in line on Igor's list. At that time we were in position 313 out of 339, meaning 92% of filers were ahead of us. I used the time elapsed and that position in line to estimate how long processing would take. It took a month to go through 10%, so I guessed 10 months. As of today we're position 358 out of 476. For one, this shows the backlog is growing, since petition submissions haven't spiked in the months subsequent to my filing. No news there. But it also puts us at only 75% with nearly 3 months gone since NOA1, which hints at more of a year long processing time. If the USCIS were processing according to its goal of 5 months, my position should be closer to 50% up the list. It's not terribly scientific, but the expectations this method has set seem to tally well with anecdotal evidence and tier 2 responses. Not much of a hopeful outlook, but it's easier to be realistic now than disappointed later. And again, who knows what October will bring   I, too, have an Overland Park, KS address on my I-797 (NOA1).  What I fear is that all the stand-alone i-130s from May onward have been stacked in boxes waiting for the Section 8 area to become operational.  So essentially, nothing has been done AT ALL on our I-130s except that they have been numbered.  I seriously do not believe that Overland Park will be staffed sufficiently to clear the I-130s at anything less than "normal" pace, which means we will have two - three months from our submission before they even start working on them.  Plus the inefficiencies of starting a new office with new employees....  I don't think our June submissions have a chance of even being looked at until early November.   And yes, the K-1 approvals are driving me nuts.  One would think that those of us who are already married have MUCH easier cases to clear!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-09-05 11:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	June 2013 I-130 Filers (merged)	Wow, thanks Boston-Heathrow!  That Q&A session was informative (and not just on the I-130 front).  I'm at the end of the line on the June NOA1 stats (sent June 27, but NOA1 date is July 1), so I figure I'll be last in line for either a decision, or any movement to a local office.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-08-16 18:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	June 2013 I-130 Filers (merged)	Patience has NEVER been my strong suit....   I received my NOA1 45 days ago.  Somewhere in this thread there was a quote about "average 36 days from MSC-NBC to Local Office".  I'm not an offshore filer (even though I'm currently with my partner in Australia at the moment), so I would have expected my I-130 to have shifted from the MSC to the Albany NY local office by now.   When you go to the USCIS site, the MSC doesn't even SHOW I-130s as one of the documents they handle.  And neither does my local office.   Are all the rest of the June I-130 filers still at the MSC (NBC)?  Has anyone been shifted yet?  Just WHERE are the I-130s handled?   Seems like I-129F filers are being shifted all over the place...   Thanks, Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-08-15 18:53:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	June 2013 I-130 Filers (merged)	NOA 1 ............... Nickname ................ Timeline Link  ................ Local Field Office (Name + Y/N) .....................RFE ..................... NOA 2   5.6.2013. ..........domwardbound............... Timeline  .................................. Houston (?) .......................................... ----- ........................... -----  6.6.2013. ..................Nodir........................ Timeline  ....................................... ? (?) ................................................ ----- ........................... -----  10.6.2013.................Nona ....................... Timeline  ....................... Petitioner in the Netherlands............................ ----- ........................... -----  12.6.2013............BOS_LHR .................... Timeline  ................................... Boston (?) ............................................ ----- ........................... -----  12.6.2013.................mayb ....................... Timeline  ................................ Petitioner in UK........................................ ----- ........................... -----  13.6.2013.............Larry&Sam .................. Timeline  ....................................... ? (?) ................................................. ----- ........................... -----  13.6.2013..............lisaxoxom ................... Timeline  ................................... Phoenix (?) ........................................... ----- ........................... -----  17.6.2013. ..............ahnnel ...................... Timeline  ....................................... ? (?) ................................................. ----- ........................... -----  21.6.2013. ................Flick ....................... Timeline  ........................................ ? (?) ..................................................----- ........................... -----  21.6.2013................kaiotes ..................... Timeline  ...................................San Jose (?)............................................----- ........................... -----  26.6.2013. .................Ivy. ........................ Timeline  ............................... San Antonio (?) ..........................................----- ........................... -----  29.6.2013.............mimistar44 .................. Timeline  ........................................ ? (?) ..................................................----- ........................... -----  Hi Ivy!  Next time you update this, will you please add me?   NOA1  1.7.2013           Sukie                                   (yes)                                             Albany, NY (?)   Many thanks!!!!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-07-31 19:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	June 2013 I-130 Filers (merged)	I'm confused about "field offices".  My local field office is Albany, NY (based on my zip code).  But if I go to the stats for Albany, they do not adjudicate I-130s.  They do AOS, Naturalization and Citizenship only.   The only dropdown selection I get on the USCIS page (where my petition is marked in "initial" stages) is the Vermont Service Center (VSC).  Is that where my I-130 will be processed?   Where are I-130s processed if they are not done at your "local field office"?   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-07-22 18:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	June 2013 I-130 Filers (merged)	Hi!  I guess we belong in this topic!  I filed the I-130 the day after DOMA was struck down - so we filed June 27, 2013.  Received our NOA1 on July 1, 2013!    And now we wait!!!   We're using an attorney - I'm assuming our I-130 went to the MSC first (since we got an MSC receipt number).  Don't know if it will get routed to Vermont (our closest) or not.  Kind of hoping not, since Vermont seems WAAAAAAAAAAAY behind!   I'm currently offshore with my partner, but will be returning to the US without her for September-October.   We are so excited that all of the back-and-forth, and solo US returns will be over soon!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-07-20 23:07:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	October 2014 Interviews	Congratulations to all of you with recent approvals and interviews. I just had a question. My husband arrived in the US on 27th August, we haven't received his SSN yet and I wanted any info that you all can provide on the same. We had the option to choose "yes" while filling the DS-260 wherein all the info would be sent to the SSA once he arrived directly from the homeland security . As a result of this we haven't actually physically visted the SSA and applied for the SSN...are we on the right path or just wasting time?    Thank you for any clarifications   We also ticked "yes" on the DS-260, but ended up going to the local SSN office because after 10 days, there was no SSN.  Turns out the info was NOT submitted.  There is something that is SUPPOSED to happen at POE to send the data to the SSA, but it seems it is hit and miss whether or not that actually happens.   Don't wait.  Go for it!   Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-09-10 15:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	October 2014 Interviews	Things really changed over the years. In my time, one would approach the front door with flowers in hand.         ***SNORT!!!!!!!****	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-09-03 18:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	October 2014 Interviews	my wife interview is on thurday in Jamaica, she wants to know the dress code, help plz my wife interview is on thurday, she wants to know the dress code,. can u guys help plz????   Tell her to look nice and neat - not sloppy - maybe just a little dressy.   We wore smart casual (slacks, blouse, jacket), but we interviewed in winter.   Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-09-02 21:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	November 2014 Interviews	We plan to fly with a fair amount of luggage, including my wife's jewelry. I intend to write the following in the customs form without declaring a value:   "First time immigrants' personal belongings, owned for more than a year (Duty Free)."   Would that suffice?   MoBar, when I moved back from Hong Kong, the official term was "household goods".  I don't think the Customs people would appreciate your telling them it's Duty Free. That's up to them to determine.  I would say "household goods and clothing".  And it might be good to have things like your previous insurance riders to show that the jewelry is not new.    Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-10-17 03:45:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	November 2014 Interviews	Thanks alaskabound. Sorry, I forgot to announce it here with all the excitement. I was asked to submit the passports to the embassy on Monday and the visas were issued the following day. I should get them back in a day or two.   MoBar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was thinking of you this morning and wondering if you were still in AP.  HOORAY!!!!!  I hope those passports are in your hands soon, and you are in Colorado sooner!   Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-10-15 13:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	November 2014 Interviews	Hi, would you be able to tell me this process was done? I tried calling them but they always connect me to the recorded mesg which ask to email them, and that's the only way to contact them. However, I did email them last night, and they ask to provide them 5 business days before they can response. But I am curious how did you do it. My spouse interview is on November 7, 2014.   Thanks in advance.    We went through the Australian Consulate in Sydney.  It took about 5 working days to get a reply.  Made us VERY nervous.   Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-10-14 09:58:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	November 2014 Interviews	Did they tell you where to enter or do they ask you where you want to enter? Or do you just show up with the paperwork?   Welcome to the US btw!   Just show up!!!!!   Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-10-13 09:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	November 2014 Interviews	Hi everyone,   My husband is expected to come home on October 23rd after almost 2 years of being gone! We are very nervous about POE though? Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of being refused entry on a CR1 visa? After my husbands first attempt at an E2 visa was denied, he tried to come back on an APPROVED ESTA, but was sent back home after a 10.5 hr hold in customs in LAX. They told him to go back to Aus and come back with a B1/B2 visa. He was denied that visa, then tried again for his E2, but again denied due to lack of investment (over 100k, btw), which is when we began our process for our CR1. One of the reasons he was denied his B1/B2 was because he was coming to invest more in his business and he had overstayed his ESTA by 14 days the last time by accident. The consulate was all very aware of all of this and interviewed him on it as well, and approved his CR1 visa.   But like I said, we are terrified that he will get refused entry when he comes home on this VALID visa. Are we freaking out or do we have actual legitimate reason to worry? He has no criminal record, isn't involved in any illegal activity, and he is coming on an approved CR1. Anyone with any guidance or advice, please help!   Thank you!     Please do not worry too much.  Australia is a low-risk country.  The fact that you have married and have gone through the CR1 process should make his entry fairly pain-free.  Are you traveling with him?  That might make it even easier.  I traveled from Australia with my spouse (I'm the USC) and we were through immigration is less than 10 minutes (at JFK).   Best of luck to you!   Sukie in NY	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-10-12 18:22:00
Philippines	question about purchasing a ticket for my fiancee	Hi bgamb.   If you are buying a domestic ticket (probably not?), all you need is the name exactly as it is on the ID your partner will be using.   If you are buying an international ticket, you will need the name, exactly as it is on the passport, the passport number, and the expiration date of the passport.  Other information you MIGHT need are:  visa number or ESTA number and birthdate.   I have purchased international tickets for my honey before, and just needed name, number and expiration date.  She travels on ESTA (we have an I-130 pending), so she has to go into the ESTA system and register her flights - but she does that herself.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-09-30 05:06:00
Philippines	CFO registration form question	Hmmm... I'm supposing that Suike is the Aussie and I suppose that the answer makes sense to an Aussie after all he/she could be  a Sandgroper, (W. Australia), a Cabbage Patcher (Victoria, or maybe even a Gum Sucker) heck, he could even be a Taswegian (ducking since that?s not really a nice thing to call a Barracounta (ducking again?) ok an Apple Islander.   But I?d suggest just answering ?American.?   US is a ?place.?  American defines the origin of a person.    Hmm...on second thought I noticed that the Petitioner's origin is Albany--Neat, you could put down Albanian!   Running awry. (misspelling intended)   Sorry, you lose.  Sukie is from the USA.  She is also from Queensland, and is used to being called the most vile of names because of it.   OK - YOU tell Mrs. McKinstry, my 5th grade history/geography teacher, that being "American" always means being from the US!!!   And, actually Juliet and Steve, I grew up in Alabama - so it's Alabaman, not Albanian <very big grin!>   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-10-01 17:29:00
Philippines	CFO registration form question	Just some quick questions on the CFO registration form:   1.) What do I put on the "YEAR OF MIGRATION" if my fiance was born and raised in US?   2.) Also on my fiance's CITIZENSHIP, which is the grammatically correct answer, "American" or "U.S."? Or either will do? I know this is a petty question, but just trying to avoid raising any CFO official's eyebrow.    Thanks guys!    Sweet - for Questions 2 - put "USA".  Since there are multiple countries in "North America" (Waving to citizens of Canada and Mexico!) and three "Americas" (North, Central and South), "USA" leaves no doubt.   Many people in the US and in the world assume that "American" means USA, but to be totally clear, "USA" is best.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-09-30 07:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	K1 VISA APPROVED	Congratulations!  May the rest of your journey be easy!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-09-30 05:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	USCIS Website Checking Status	I'm a former programmer.  It's a three-day weekend in the US (for the Feds).  Often, if there are big program changes to be made, the IT Department (Information Technology) chooses a three-day weekend to implement them - so they have an extra day to fix any problems!  Look like they made a good choice for this Columbus Day Weekend!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-10-14 09:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	POE Atlanta, GA any recent K-1s?	Jeanna - on that top line where you see Reviews: Embassy/USCIS and POEs - click on the word "POE".  I tried it yesterday though, and the only POE it would bring up is "Chicago".  The link might be broken...not sure.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-11-18 06:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	POE Atlanta, GA any recent K-1s?	Jeanna,   I think that it is cutting it really close.  My folks live in Birmingham, Alabama, and they have often just come to pick me up by car rather than chance my getting through immigration, customs, and trying to catch the last flight to Birmingham.  It's 2 hours and 45 minutes for them to drive.   Google maps says that it's only 3 hours and 15 minutes from the Atlanta airport to Knoxville.  Now, I have no idea how far you are from the Knoxville airport, but it might be better to meet him there and just drive home.   USCIS at the Atlanta airport can be touchy at times.    Best of luck, and congratulations.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-11-17 10:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	same-sex interview today...VISA APPROVED	Congratulations!  I'm so envious of the K-1s!  Just wish those of us with stand-alone I-130s would move faster!!!  I'm glad you didn't have any hassles, and hope the rest of your process is smooth sailing!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-12-07 00:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	we got our noa2 but the nvc says it has been sent to my fiance's consulate for a case number	I will call nvc tomorrow.   Monday is a Public Holiday in the US.  USCIS and NVC will be closed.  Call on Tuesday.   Sukie   Edited by Sukie, 16 February 2014 - 09:52 AM.	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-02-16 09:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Same Sex K-1 I-129F Filed	Hello everyone! I started this forum for people that will be looking into and filing a I-129F application for their same sex partners.   I know my journey has just started, and I still have a long wait ahead of me, but I hope this information is useful for someone else. I hope people use this forum to also document their same sex K-1 journey. I will continue to update this forum as time progresses. I really do hope I am helping someone else out with this forum. Please feel free to use this forum for your questions and to share your journeys!         Good luck to you!  I'm already married to my partner (New York), so I'm on the I-130 side of the house. We filed the day after DOMA crashed!   I hope your petition goes smoothly!   Also:  www.domaproject.org is offering a free consultation to same-sex partners entering the process.  Check out that website, too!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-08-02 01:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Civil union in England, but apply for marriage visa for America?	I'm new, so sorry if I missed a thread that talks about this already, but I couldn't find one, so starting one of my own. I live in America, born and raised, but my fiance lives in England. We are a gay couple. The state I live in recognizes both gay civil union, and gay marriage. I have already met my partner and spent a few months together within the last year in England, but have yet to get married or had a civil union. We weren't sure how to go about that, and know that one of us has to apply for a specific visa before we can get married. So my question is, if we get a civil union in England, could we live in America? I know you can apply for a civil union/marriage visitors visa in England, meaning, you can visit England and have a civil union on that particular visa but have to return to your native country within 6 months, and have gotten married while visiting. So, if my partner and I filed for a civil union in England, then I return to America, would my partner apply for a marriage visa to come and live in America? Is there a civil union visa to live in America? Or would we have to change the status of our civil union to marriage once in America, if that's even possible. I'm so confused and unsure! Please help, any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!   LocketShark, you've been given good advice by others in this thread.  It really depends on your timing.  It appears that you can now marry in the UK, but not until 2014. So you have to wait at least 5 months (or longer - wasn't sure when Britain was actually going to allow marriage). You can then marry in the UK and do DCF processing.  This is still probably the clearest way to get a green card for your partner.   You can also marry in a same-sex state in the US, have your UK partner return to the UK and file for a CR-1.  This will take 9-12 months.   The US does NOT recognize civil unions from other countries, or from US states for immigration purposes.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-07-19 02:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Civil union in England, but apply for marriage visa for America?	Does the petitioner for a SS fiance visa have to live in a SSM state? Or can the couple just visit a SSM state and get married after the beneficiary enters on the K-1? I don't know that USCIS had clarified that the last time I checked (3 - 4 weeks ago).   I know that getting a SSM in a SSM state in the US, returning home and filing for a CR-1 will definitely work. I don't know for sure how (or if) they've decided to have SS K-1s work.   HeatDeath, the answer to your question is:  you do not have to live in a SSM state to file a K-1 for your fiance.  But you must clearly intend to marry in a SSM state.  You will have to be very clear in your application where you will marry.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-07-19 02:30:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Anyone have a model letter from employer?	Dear VJers,   I am prepping for the I-864 submission.  Here are my facts:   I am USC I retired from my firm in May 2011 when I was 55 years old I was partner in my firm - an owner - so I have no W2s I retired early, and have chosen to defer my pension benefits until I am 60 (2016). I am too young for SS benefits I am clearly above the poverty line for tax years 2010, 2011, and 2012, and have the tax transcripts already My income for 2013 will be well above the poverty line, but will be a significant drop from the prior years. My I-864 form will be completed prior to April, 2014, so I will not have 2013 tax forms.  I believe I'll be submitting the forms in January 2014.   My annual income derives from a withdrawal (10% each year) of my capital from the firm (from 2012 - 2021).  I do not receive any W2s, so I have no way of proving this fact except for the annual deposit in my bank account each March.  This withdrawal is approximately 2.5 times the annual requirement for my family.   I know I need to have a letter from my former employer that states what my "income" is each year.   My question: Can anyone share a "model" for what this letter should state?  I believe that my firm rarely (if ever) has had to issue a letter like this, so if I had a model to send to them, it would make it a lot easier.   Anyone ever been in this situation before, and how did you handle it?   Many thanks!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-08-31 18:39:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	CR1 NOW Include Evidence of Bonifde Marriage w I-130?	I had brought heaps of evidence of our bonafide relationship to my attorney's office when I met with her in person.  The only thing she submitted was our marriage certificate.  It made me nervous, but this attorney and her firm have been in the news with their recent successes (this law firm specializes in same-sex relationships), so I'm going to trust her.   If I were going it alone, I would have front-loaded like crazy.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-08-25 00:25:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	received call from embassy	salam everyone i m new member of VJ i m in AP since jan   27th sep 2013 i received a call from embassy. the person who called me asked about expiry date of my medical report (will expire on dec 11 2013) he asked that if embassy issued me a visa can i plan to move to usa before dec 11 i said yes then he asked me ok wait we will contact u in 15days  now my question is what does this call mean? r they really issue me a visa or investigate about me ? please comment  suggest  and guide me thanks      Silent,   You have to enter the US before your medical report expires.  Obviously, your expiration date is coming up - and the Embassy wanted to be sure that you were ready to go before the medical expires.  If your medical expires, you have to get it redone.   I believe they are trying to make sure your visa is issued so you have a chance to immigrate to the US before the medical expires.    I don't think you should be worried.  Of course, none of us knows for sure, but I think this time, they are just trying to make sure you don't have to go through another medical.   I don't think you will need the tears.  Let's see what happens in 15 days!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-09-30 07:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Evidence of a bona fide marriage, please help!	The most important part of your bona fides is your marriage certificate.  Your marriage must have been legal in the jurisdiction in which it took place.  You do not mention where you got married.   Your domestic partnership info is fine - I myself registered as a de facto partner in Australia before we legally married in the US.  My Australian registration would not have been sufficient for a visa - but it does show that we were a "couple" - at least in the eyes of another government.   Adding evidence of financial intermingling makes your case stronger.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-10-20 05:51:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Evidence of Bonafided Marriage	Saddlepatch,   Since same-sex couples have only been able to apply for I-130s since June, with the fall of DOMA, there is not a lot of understanding about what, if any, specific questions any of the embassy folk will ask us.   Asking us WHEN we figured out we were gay or lesbian would seem to be in really bad taste, but I'm sure there will be a few that get asked this question - especially if they are trying to figure out if someone is just trying to "use" a gay relationship to get into the US.    They are going to be used to the stories of being apart.  US Law kept us from living with each other - so we had to come up with numerous ways of seeing each other - including lots of visits.    To be honest, we're using an attorney because we were nervous about being in the first wave of same-sex couples to go through the I-130 process.  The ONLY piece of evidence she submitted with our packet was our New York marriage license.   We have very strong financial-mingling evidence - we own properties in Australia together.  Once my partner gets her green card, I will add her as an owner of our US property.    I really wonder how many people would "pretend" they are gay to get to the US!!  While we've come a long way, I'm not sure how many straight people would go around waving their hands to admit they were gay when they were not.   Build your case to show longevity together, and don't sweat the "living together" part.  We've not had the CHANCE to live together - until now!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-11-03 10:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Initial Review for I-130	What are they specifically doing during this processing? Please elaborate thanks!   It is my understanding that there are several databases that can be referenced for information regarding the USC.  I don't know exactly what those databases are, but even we peons can pay for information about a person (like arrest records) if we have enough info to do so.  A former worker stated that the actual "look-up" takes less than 30 minutes.   I'm assuming there is a "baddies" list of suspected terrorists, as well as the "no-fly" list.  If someone with your exact name is on one of those lists, I'm sure it takes longer to get cleared.  I don't know if USCIS has access to our credit reporting agencies or not.   I'm sure they probably use Google, too!  I googled my name and came up with another woman with my exact same name who was born within 5 months of me who was arrested for beating her grandchild.  We both have blue eyes, but we sure don't look alike after that (thank goodness!).  And, luckily her picture is on her arrest notice in the paper and it won't look like the passport pictures I submitted!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-11-10 09:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	needing help so confused	Wrong agency, USCIS has nothing to do with border control.  US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the agency you are dealing with there.   I stand corrected.	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-11-17 15:06:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	needing help so confused	Thank you for the advice and help, it is great to know we are not in a black hole! Yet I feel like we are But why can we not see anything about the Nebraska center on here? And Thijs use to have a Visa Waiver and is not sure if it is expired or not. He got it 09-2011.    OK - let's try to straighten something out here.  The Visa Waiver Program requires the person to register and get ESTA authorization (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).  The ESTA authorization is good for two years - it's a "preclearance" for entry to the US.  It used to be free - now it costs about $15USD.  So Thijs probably needs to sign up for an ESTA authorization again.  THEN he is (technically) allowed to travel to the US for a maximum of 90 days.  It is up to the USCIS officer to either grant or deny him entry at the US border.   Once he makes his travel plans, he has to go back to the ESTA site and detail his arrival/departure information so that it is pre-loaded into the system.   The data on the websites is at least 2 months behind reality.  They've only started to transfer I-130s to the other centers, so that is why you cannot see anything yet from the Nebraska center.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-11-17 13:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	needing help so confused	Gina,   Your transfer notice is actually a good thing.  It means that your I-130 has left the "black hole" of the NBC and is headed to a place that will actually adjudicate it.    Your partner MAY be allowed to come visit you - especially if the Netherlands is on the Visa Waiver Program, but he needs to be very careful about showing he is returning to the Netherlands.  I have an I-130 pending for my partner, and she came to visit, but for only ONE month - not for the full 90 days.  She also traveled with her twin sister, so it really did appear she was here to be a tourist.   Just be sure he has a return ticket, and, for example, if he is working, perhaps a letter from his employer saying that he has a xxx-week-long vacation, but is due back at work on xx/xx/xx.   Best of luck.  Hopefully you will be hearing some good news soon.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-11-17 10:22:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Screen shots DS-260	Thanks to both of you.  I had gone to this site, but did not realize I could flip through the pages.  I thought I had to pay!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-12-08 01:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Screen shots DS-260	Is there a place to find screen shots of the new online form DS-260?  I went to a link in someone's post, but it was going to require me to pay $9.95 to download the screen shots.  I notice we do not have screen shots in the "Form Downloads" or "Example Forms" section.   I am trying to make sure my spouse has all the information necessary if and when my I-130 is ever adjudicated!!!!   I've got the old DS-230 - is it really just the same info but in an online format?   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-12-08 00:07:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	DS260 no longer DS230?	Your husband will fill this out.  He is the one applying for the visa.   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2013-12-12 04:26:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Online DS-260 Questions	Moderators, please move if necessary.   I would like to double-check that my understanding is correct.   My spouse enters the US under the Visa Waiver Program.  She has never had a "visa" per se.   So...in the DS-260 when it asks "Have you ever had a visa before", she answers "No".  Is this correct?   Or, is the stamp in her passport a visa?  Of course, it is unnumbered.....   A little confused...   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-01-04 19:31:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Tax questions (merged)	All of this discussion just proves that you need to get proper tax advice from a tax preparer that is familiar with two-country families!   And...like someone mentioned above, it all depends on timing.   Our case:   We married in March, 2013, so for this US tax year, we will file "Married, Filing Jointly". But...we are still stuck in I-130 la-la land (otherwise known as the Texas Service Center) and there is no way we'll have my spouse's green card by April 15th. So we have two options:  ITIN or Extension   Perhaps it is my paranoia - but I feel that filing an extension puts a big red mark on your tax file that says "Audit ME!  Audit ME!   But trying to get an ITIN when your spouse is in another country, AND, you are in the process of getting a green card is really hard.   In order for my spouse to get an ITIN in time for me to file, she would either have to mail her passport to the IRS (for identity purposes) OR she'd have to mail her passport to the US Embassy in Sydney to get her passport "certified".   The IRS in the US says they will return the passport within 60 days.  That's TWO MONTHS!  She cannot be without her passport for two months right now!  And, I love how the IRS says, "If you don't have your passport back within 65 days, call us, and we'll see what we can do."  I mean, REALLY!   So I think we are going to go the Sydney route - we'll express mail the passport down there, and include an express mail envelope to get it back.  Hopefully, she'll won't be without her passport for more than two weeks.  I have more confidence in the US Embassy than I do with the IRS!   We could file an extension, but I am due to get a very large refund this year, and I do not want to delay that!  We need the refund!   Again:  be very careful, and get the right tax help!   Sukie	Sukie	Not Telling	Australia	2014-01-09 23:52:00