ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Middle East and North AfricaAddressing possible red flags in i-130 -- EGYPT

Comme des Garçons reference :wow:


I couldn't get my Chromebook to do the cedille, which was a bummer. :(
the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2013-02-18 20:20:00
Middle East and North AfricaAddressing possible red flags in i-130 -- EGYPT

Yeah when I'm not bragging I always fill everyone in on every minute detail. Your subtlety is stunning.

Waiting for the you're just jealous retort in 3, 2, 1.....


It did read a little like one of those nauseating Christmas letters: "Johnny continues to outpace every member of his first grade class. Why, you should hear how he can recite 'The Waste Land' from memory! Thomasina knitted whimsical scarves for all the cats down at the shelter, and is now making cash money selling them on Etsy. That she can do this while maintaining a perfect A average, volunteering every spare hour teaching urban youth how to make Brussels lace, and captaining the field hockey AND girls' volleyball team is testament to her can-do spirit! Peter and I continue to be our old boring selves, though we took time to sail our schooner down to the Bahamas, where we distributed home-canned cranberry sauce to the poor and I donated a few of my less-edgy Commes des Garcons pieces."
the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2013-02-18 19:58:00
Middle East and North AfricaWhat do your husbands do for work when they arrive to USA?

Yep, alllll the poors got that way and stay that way because of their own damn laziness and refusal to "work hard". Because of American refusal to work 80 hour work weeks that all the guys "working overseas" are already doing. Brilliant, just brilliant.

Wow, it's usually the American women who get slagged off on VJ for being useless. It's been a while since I've seen a post condemning American men.


the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2013-08-22 20:00:00
Middle East and North AfricaOlder American woman Younger Algerian man

The VJ Folklore Society decrees that "putt putt" shall henceforth replace "doing laundry" in the VJ Lexicon.


the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2013-10-16 22:58:00
Middle East and North AfricaPolitical Geography terminology (split topic)

 

Of course it is. First, the designation of what is and what is not part of the West is pretty much academically settled. As with all definitions, there is an arbitrary element to *how they are formed*, but once formed, they are solidified via convention. Second, on an intuitive level, why should Oceanic states be considered Western but not Israel? Because they are part of the Anglo-sphere?

Because hemispheres matter. 


the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-05-19 18:36:00
Middle East and North AfricaFallen in love with an Algerian man

 

The Maven,  You can feel its judgemental and condescending all you want.  The POINT I am making is that she need to not just having a chat based relationship - if said relationship is heading towards marriage - then she needs to A. Meet the Person face to face more than one time  and then move on to evaluating if this is a real marriage prospect for her.  As you don't know my personal history - let me clue you in - I have tried the online marriage websites - everything from Single Muslim, Half Our Deen to Muslima .com -- and its completely the same but different for Muslims than it is for non Muslims.

 

There is a cultural and religious subtext that you may or may not be aware of as someone who is married to an individual from the UK where the most popular baby name is Mohammed.

 

So I don't really care that you feel what I am saying is judgemental - I am being completely honest with her about A what she can do to make sure this guy is 100% on the up and up and B. What she needs to be prepared for when it comes to doing the IR/CR1 visa process in the North African region. 

 

Its not as easy as the London Embassy/Consulate - its much longer and more difficult especially post 9/11 with Homeland Security absorbing USCIS and other branches use to be independent functioning parts of the immigration process.

 

Ally 

I've been on here since 2007. I'm not a noob, and I probably have a better idea of the challenges those going through MENA consulates do than many. I don't condone getting married on the first visit, and cross-cultural relationships are even harder when you are both fluent in each other's language. Establishing a relationship with someone -- sharing a friendship, learning each other's likes and dislikes, sussing out each other's worldview -- takes time. In my opinion, rushing into marriage headlong is a bad idea. Few can tell from meeting once. 

 

Just because I had (I am now divorced, thanks) a UK husband doesn't mean I am fully ignorant of the various hurdles faced in other consulates. Check your condescension. 


the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-23 16:23:00
Middle East and North AfricaFallen in love with an Algerian man

So first things first - I will caution you to relationships started over the internet.  This may be hard for you to hear since you are in the first blush of the relationship.  The embassy and consulate are going to be closely looking at your relationship because Algeria is a HIGH visa fraud country as is Morocco - where my husband and I met and currently live.  

Notwithstanding both Algeria and Morocco's reputation for being high fraud consulates (with Morocco pipping Algeria for the crown between those two), it's rather judgmental and condescending to "caution" someone about her beloved, especially couched in language that essentially infers that since you met your husband in person, that's somehow... better? There are more than a few solid couples who met on the internet and are still going strong, even in MENA. 


the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-23 15:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow to get married so we can start IR-1/CR-1 process
My ex and I got married on a brief trip back to the States (we were both living in London at the time).He was truthful about the purpose of his visit and had no issues at all. My ex just said, "I'm visiting to marry my US citizen girlfriend, with whom I live in London. We're getting married in the States because she wanted her family and friends to be present. We're flying back about a week after the wedding to London together, where we will continue to live." Wasn't asked to prove anything except that he had a flight back.
the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2012-02-23 21:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCousins getting Married

Crumpeteer of Honies - you rock, and stuff.

But you removed the 'exercise for the reader', alas .


The reader should call and confirm anyway, but better forewarned and forearmed when dealing with government flunkies I find. ;)
the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2012-05-27 23:57:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCousins getting Married
The law in Florida: http://law.onecle.co...ons/741.21.html

741.21 Incestuous marriages prohibited.


A man may not marry any woman to whom he is related by lineal consanguinity, nor his sister, nor his aunt, nor his niece. A woman may not marry any man to whom she is related by lineal consanguinity, nor her brother, nor her uncle, nor her nephew.
the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2012-05-27 20:25:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAmerican to Marry South African Fiance in U.S.
Moving this to the CR1/IR1 forum -- assuming the OP is now going down the CR1 path? Someone correct me if I've missed something here. smile.gif
the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-05-10 14:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSpouse visa process
Wait wait wait. Is your fiancée resident in the UK right now? Even though she's also a UK citizen, she must be resident in the UK for six months to be eligible for DCF.
the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2012-11-26 17:25:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNeed ITIN for wife even though "Married, filing separately"?

I need to know if I may file single even though I am married.

Here are the factors:

(1) My husband is a non-resident alien; we are awaiting approval of his IV (immigrant visa), while he is living abroad. He has not earned a wage in this country and holds a valid tourist visa to date.
(2) I am a USC
(3) I have no other dependents which I might claim for HOH
(4) In order to file joint we must have a ITIN, which will take a min. of 8-10 weeks to obtain, after the 1-2 weeks we must wait for appropriate documentation to arrive in the mail, plus the time we must wait for IRS to process our federal with the ITIN. This is problematic because: (a) I must submit tax information for funding purposes to my university; and (b) because we must submit additional immigration information ASAP that requires our tax info.


Just to point out that once you are married you cannot file as "single" -- you are married! You may file "married filing separately." You do not need an ITIN to file in this manner. Before we moved to the States, I had been living abroad for many years married to a non-USC. I was instructed by the IRS to file married filing separately to avoid the issue of the ITIN, and in the place on the 1040 for the social security number or ITIN, to write "NRA" for "non-resident alien." This was perfectly acceptable to the IRS.

Hope this helps! :)
the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-11 13:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 filing in London as legal resident?

My opinion....File in the US. The web page used to make it clear that student visas didn't count. And you no longer have a valid one and are leaving anyway.

This is the correct advice. You must have ILR or LLR, or be on a long-term work visa. Student visas don't cut it, and the OP is now in the UK on a visitor's visa, which definitely does not qualify one for DCF. Filing in the US is the only option.

the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2013-01-28 02:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPetition in the past

You must tell them about the petition for your first marriage. I had married a British citizen in 1996, we applied for AOS and then abandoned it so we could return to the UK where we had better opportunities. More than a decade and a divorce later, and still living in the UK, I got remarried to another British citizen. When we decided to come to the States, I informed them of the abandoned AOS on my new I-130. This is what they wanted.


the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-15 17:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresUSC paying back taxes

Hi all,

 

I am starting to freak out about my taxes. I am a US citizen that lived in the UK from September 2010 to December 2013. For one year of that I was a student with no income and for the other two years I was working. I didn't file taxes for any of these years, thinking I didn't need to since I wasn't making an income in the US and paid UK taxes.

 

Now I realize that that was very bad of me and could cause me problems when I go to get my tax returns for the AOS package for my future hubby's CR-1.

 

Does anyone here know what I need to do to get up to date? I am looking at this link here but its all confusing - http://www.irs.gov/I...l-Presence-Test

 

At this point should I just go to an accountant?

 

Thanks!

You've been given some good advice here. I had lived in the UK 12 years when I decided to move back to the States with my husband. Like you, I hadn't filed at all during my time in the UK. I started freaking out when I realised I had to back file in order to do the I-864, so I went to visit the nice (actually nice!) people at the IRS satellite office in London. It's located in the Embassy. I was told that if I was below the foreign exclusion threshold for all 12 years I had lived there, I only really needed to file the prior three years for the purposes of the I-864 (which, back then, required that you attach three years of returns). I spent Easter weekend 2007 doing 3 years of taxes. FUN! But not that hard. The hardest bit of the 2555 is remembering that the US and UK have different start and end dates to their tax years. This required quite a bit of pro rata calculation, but in the end, it really wasn't too difficult.

 

Edit: duh, you're back in the States. Oops! Yes, just file and get transcripts. 


Edited by the maven, 24 September 2014 - 12:17 PM.

the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-24 12:14:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI very much dislike the London embassy communication...
QUOTE (frali @ Sep 17 2008, 10:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hey ROCA, Is the email code valid for a week? or is it allocated on case by case basis?


It's valid for one week -- it has nothing to do with your case number.
the mavenFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-09-17 16:26:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNVC and AOS fees

Hello everyone

I just received my AOS fee papers for all 4 of my family members, (Wife and her 3 kids) they are all filipino.
my question is about the fees and also because I am useing a joint sponsor, Do I and my joint sponsor need to send I864;s for each of my family members? and do I need to pay the AOS fee of 88.00 USD for each or just for the principal immagrant? (my wife) her kids are all under 21 years of age.
thank you everyone.


Copied and pasted from http://travel.state....nfo_3183.html#8
Does each accompanying family member need separate documents if they are traveling with the principal applicant?

No, however, dependents immigrating with the principal applicant must have a signed original or a photocopy of the principal applicant's Form I-864, and I-864A if applicable. Copies may only be used by dependents named on the principal applicant's original forms.

Do family members following to join the principal applicant need separate Affidavits of Support and supporting documents?

Family members who immigrate later (follow-to-join) must have one complete set of the principal applicant's I-864 and supporting documents. Each arriving immigrant must present an I-864 Affidavit of Support with original signatures.

What do family members need if they have separate visa petitions?

Each family member with a separate visa petition must submit a signed Form I-864 with supporting documents from the petitioner/sponsor and Form I-864As with supporting documents from the joint sponsor(s) if applicable.

Is one joint sponsor allowed to sponsor only some of the applicants while the other applicants are sponsored by another joint sponsor on the same petition?

Yes, but only under certain circumstances. Two joint sponsors can be used per family unit applying to immigrate under the same petition. If two joint sponsors are used, each joint sponsor is responsible only for the intending immigrant(s) listed on the joint sponsor’s Form I-864. Every joint sponsor must meet the minimum income requirement, citizenship, residence and age requirements.


Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2013-02-06 21:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresConfused
Just get a co-sponsor. You will have to have proof that you are making 125% of the poverty line within the past 3 years especially if you are borderline 125% or the fact that you haven't worked for the past year straight.
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-17 19:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAnyone an expert on taxes? need I-864 help
Try IRS.gov?
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-19 02:24:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAnyone an expert on taxes? need I-864 help
QUOTE (geenee @ Aug 18 2008, 11:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
ok so a simple letter explaining I was a stay at home mother and havent worked is fine?
I also have another question....
I have 5 kids in my household. One I have no legal gaurdianship over and she is in the process of emancipation from her birth mother, my son is turning 19, 2 girls that my ex claims on his taxes and one one 16 yr old that I claim on my taxes. So when I am filling out this paperwork, I only claim the one child as my dependent even though all of them are living with me? correct? I am so new to all this stuff.


I think you will need more of a reason then just at home with mother unless you can prove that by working you will jepordize her health. Otherwise get a co-sponsorship. Claim only who you usually claim on your tax (if you usually claim only 1 dependent, then claim only one.)
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-19 01:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-864 Household size problem
Just put 2 if there will be 2 in your household.. I came across the wording on that as well and its wrong on the application.

If you read it correctly though, it says on above b, "Persons NOT sponsored in this affidavit:" and c) is below that meaning you only put 1 on C if that person is not being sponsored and you are married....

So do not put 1 on c) as you are sponsoring your spouse... bascially you cant put your wife twice on the application for household

Hope this makes sense..

Edited by Abby-Ron, 24 August 2008 - 08:42 PM.

Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-24 20:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-864 Household size problem
Just put 2 if there will be 2 in your household.. I came across the wording on that as well and its wrong on the application.
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-24 20:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIR-1 anyone here who has been approved July 2008?
There arent many IR filers and even less I bet in July 2008. There is probably a thread on just Philippines July Filers alone, or July Filers for that matter, so there is no sense for this thread...
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-27 02:14:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresdelbros
Is this delbros payment the one paid at Metrobank? If it is then all you need to do next is to keep the receipt and have it photocopied. Bring it with you on the day of your interview for you will need to submit it as proof that you've made the payments for the document verification.
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-28 12:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCase Complated
Congrats!!
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-28 10:16:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswhat is this 'touching' thing neway?
"Touching" is basically an update in USCIS website regarding your case and usually a "touch" means someone at UCSIS worked on your case, so your case was "touched" and the date changes without actually changing the status of your case. Most touches are insignificant as not all employees at USCIS changes the date on your case especially for K1/K3 petitions. You will more likely see "touches" when you are filing for AOS. For 6 months prior to getting NOA2 for my K1 visa, my case was never updated in USCIS website, so I did not receive a "touch" as the date stayed the same since the issuance of NOA1. Hope this clarifies what a "touch" is now..
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-29 01:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresfinally got approved
Congratulations!!!
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-29 15:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresVisa in hand
Congratulations!!!
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-29 12:25:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswithdrawl of a I130 petition
Did you try calling USCIS? I bet you didnt thats why you are asking...
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-31 23:40:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-864 Package
It doesnt matter as UCSIS will unbound whatever is that you bind.
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-31 19:14:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFrom CR1 to Adjustment of Status
Heres the guide to K3 http://www.visajourn...amp;page=k3flow
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-28 02:22:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFrom CR1 to Adjustment of Status
Follow the K3 guidelines above...
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-28 02:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresVisa Approved
Congratulations!!!
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-09-03 17:17:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswill i get a RFE???
Probably not unless the one checking your documents is a #######..I wrote in black pental pen like the sharpie pen and havent gotten RFE for it yet... so you should be fine... dont stress on it..
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-09-06 01:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresdelbros
As of my experience, after I received the acknowledgement followed by the confirmation, I also called delbros for another confirmation. There's nothing wrong if you'll check on them.
I also had my deposit slip photocopied because after the interview, they will ask for the deposit slip and keep it for their records, i guess. So better have a copy safe with you aside from the original.
The next day after my interview, I called delbros to ask if my documents were already sent for verification and they said "yes". Just a piece of advice keep calling delbros until you have your visa with you. Don't inquire through text because they only reply with your 1st 2 text inquiries, the rest will only waste you money. Its better if you call them.
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-28 13:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNVC approval
QUOTE (KYlady @ Sep 6 2008, 06:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif I phoned the NVC automated system today & got the message that we all want to hear...."your case is complete"!!! It's been a long road to this point but I have to believe from here on things will continue to move! Our case should be on it's way to London soon. . I wish the same for all of those that have been waiting so long!

Congrats to you!!!
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-09-07 12:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNOA2 received
Congrats... where did my bottle of Don Perignon go?
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-09-06 00:57:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCAN I PAY DELEBROS EVEN THOUGH IM STILL WAITING FOR NVC TO GIVE ME A APPOINTMENT DATE??
QUOTE (Filiricans @ Aug 28 2008, 12:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Abby-Ron @ Aug 28 2008, 02:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (envy_me @ Aug 28 2008, 12:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i know some people who did that..
they just used MNL number and paid delbros, case not even at USEM yet..
but i guess people here got better answers.. innocent.gif


Just follow the 2 links above if you want to pay Delbros already.... its your call, we are still giving you advise... If you think you can pay for it before your case reaches MNL then go ahead.. but I advise to wait til its in MNL as Delbros which is the official visa delivery for USEM will sometime verify the case....


Hi there Abby, she is CR1/IR1 same as mine. She needs to wait for NVC to send her documents to USEM. Delbros just merely awaiting from the USEM to send the docs information of these visa types since all pertinent documents submitted by the petitioner has been reviewed/verified from NVC resulted to case completed, likewise the interview sked will be done by NVC too. Unlike K1/K3 the principal applicants are the one sets the interview and present the significant docs to the consul during the actual interview date. I strongly advice to just wait her documents reach USEM b4 paying Delbros.


Yes I know, I already said to wait on another reply.. continue reading above..
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-28 02:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCAN I PAY DELEBROS EVEN THOUGH IM STILL WAITING FOR NVC TO GIVE ME A APPOINTMENT DATE??
QUOTE (envy_me @ Aug 28 2008, 12:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i know some people who did that..
they just used MNL number and paid delbros, case not even at USEM yet..
but i guess people here got better answers.. innocent.gif


Just follow the 2 links above if you want to pay Delbros already.... its your call, we are still giving you advise... If you think you can pay for it before your case reaches MNL then go ahead.. but I advise to wait til its in MNL as Delbros which is the official visa delivery for USEM will sometime verify the case....
Abby-RonFemalePhilippines2008-08-28 02:11:00