ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Africa: Sub-Saharangoing to pursue CR-1, live with him abroad (not in his home country). how will this affect the visa process

Thanks, I'm not familiar with visas for that country. I just hope that she's not being scamed. I have heard that it happens alot from Africa.


The fact that they're already talking US visas makes it look not very well intentioned, but hey maybe I'm wrong. Best thing she can do is visit him first, hopefully not alone.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-05-14 10:14:00
Africa: Sub-Saharangoing to pursue CR-1, live with him abroad (not in his home country). how will this affect the visa process

No one has suggested him coming to the US, is that an option? Since the plan is for him to come to live it seems that he should travel here?????


It's almost impossible for him to visit the US, especially if he says "To visit my 20 year old girlfriend".
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-05-14 10:08:00
Africa: Sub-Saharangoing to pursue CR-1, live with him abroad (not in his home country). how will this affect the visa process
Take a thousand pictures on that trip, keep the boarding passes, keep records of your chats, etc. Read the Guides and with Nigeria go to the regional forums so people who've gone through that consulate can further advise you.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-05-14 07:28:00
Africa: Sub-Saharangoing to pursue CR-1, live with him abroad (not in his home country). how will this affect the visa process
Okay don't be offended, but...

You're going to another country to marry a guy you haven't met yet. Do you see where this can go wrong?

A K-1 visa requires that you've met IN PERSON within the last two years. So unless you fly out there to meet him it's a no go right now (maybe I've missed something but from my understanding, you haven't met in person yet?).

Have you ever lived abroad? Because I moved abroad in part to be with my husband, and I had already lived abroad in other countries, but spending a long time here has been one the most challenging things I've ever done. So think long and hard before moving to South Africa or Nigeria. It won't be easy. And no matter how much you research; it'll still be harder once you're there.

Also, Lagos is perhaps the most difficult embassy in the world. Do you see the comments on this thread? A consular officer will be MUCH MORE DIFFICULT to you and your fiance. This kind of "we've never met before and will marry when we meet" thing would be difficult in an easy consulate, in Nigeria, I don't even know. Please think this through, meet first, maybe even more than once, gather up evidence, then apply. If you apply now it'll be very difficult.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-05-14 07:09:00
Africa: Sub-SaharanRed Flags at High Fraud Consulates
Many times couples who are denied for K-1 visas are then approved for a CR1, BUT really, if you don't fix the reasons why you were denied a K-1 you'll still be denied for a CR1.

You're dealing with a difficult consulate and the more visits the better. It's that simple.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-06-26 13:28:00
Africa: Sub-SaharanRed Flags at High Fraud Consulates
1. Big age differences (particularly if the woman is older and worse past childbearing age), different races, different cultural backgrounds, lots of previous attempts by the beneficiary to visit the US, few visits, marrying on the first visit, no pictures/evidence of having met each other's families, and the obvious, crimes and so on.

You're in the right forum for Ghana. Read a lot of the threads here about people denied. Frankly, I'm not with an African spouse, but after reading a lot here, I'd marry instead of going for the K-1 route.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-06-26 12:56:00
Africa: Sub-SaharanWhat items are allowed into the USA
I brought a lot of stuff from Russia to the US.

If it's packaged, not a fruit/veggie, or meats of course, etc, you'll be okay. Oils and some spices and sweets are okay.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-10-06 12:40:00
Africa: Sub-SaharanShould I Attend The Interview? Ultimate Answer

If my fiance were interviewing in any high fraud country, yes, I would go. The odds are simply against you and you want to avoid any heartbreak.


AmyWritesFemaleRussia2013-11-05 20:22:00
Africa: Sub-SaharanK1 visa returned

What a giant mistake you two have made.

 

You're married now. CR it is.


AmyWritesFemaleRussia2014-02-25 15:32:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionInterview in moscow
And to answer your suspicions about my being a CO, I hope to work in something related to immigration, so I've been educating myself about this process as much as possible :-)
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-05-15 07:29:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionInterview in moscow

Amy, how you know about AP? You pretty much looking like CO, surfing here with a very strange own story about DCF.

To ma9j4, don't have concerns before all, when will get case will think about it. And don't be so open on public places as Internet is, there is always the question who will read this.


Just read about the cases of people put on AP. Most often, they either have previous petitions, are from certain high fraud countries (with big red flags from those countries... different religions or a big age difference), were in the US illegally before, something. It's not like "Oh hey you missed a document let's put you on AP for a year". Read the forums over on immigrate2us.net, they have more stories about this.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-05-15 07:17:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionInterview in moscow
People who are put in AP for a long time usually have much worse red flags. They'll ask her about it, but in all likelihood it won't be a big deal.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-05-14 17:53:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionInterview in moscow

My fiance has interview this week in moscow I have 3 concerns number one I was start to see her be for my divorce was final but I did not file untill I had divorce and number two her sister is marrid to someone from usa and also lives in usa we don't live close and three she was denied b2 visa before are these red flags


It's almost 2 am in Moscow so sorry if I misunderstand but, number one may matter, the CO might ask her why'd you meet before the divorce was final, but it's a long shot. Number 2 and three don't matter at all.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-05-14 16:31:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionst petersburg vs moscow
K1 is non-immigrant so St. Pete.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-06-11 06:09:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionst petersburg vs moscow
You can't do the interviews for immigrant visas in any consulate in Russia except in Moscow, I think. Also, DCF is only available in Moscow. Where's your fiance/wife from?
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-06-10 11:09:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionst petersburg vs moscow
What visas do you mean?
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-06-10 06:32:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionRefused visa after 16 mos. AP after Senatorial Inquiry
Honestly after reading about so many AP "hell stories" here I would just move to my SO's country if possible, marry, and file for a CR1 visa later.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-07-17 11:30:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionwhat to wear / outfit during US embassy Interview
If it's something she'd look great wearing in a nightclub, don't wear it to the interview. Also, I'd avoid any shirts with political messages or whatever.

Do bring a sweater/jacket, don't know how the embassy there is, but in Moscow the air conditioning was insanely cold.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-09-09 13:09:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionlewd chatlogs in evidence

I think it's ok. Worst might be a few chuckles.


AmyWritesFemaleRussia2013-11-14 19:21:00
US Citizenship General Discussionwhat's fatest way to get US citizenship after greencard?
I'm gonna save the jokes, because they're easy to make, and assume you're well intentioned. You cannot just desperately apply for a visa on the fly. You're from a country whose applicants face much more scrutiny and if you have a history of just shooting visa applications wherever they'll suspect you even more. Don't scam a US citizen into marriage for this. Try the diversity lottery visa or a working visa.

I'm gonna save the jokes, because they're easy to make, and assume you're well intentioned. You cannot just desperately apply for a visa on the fly. You're from a country whose applicants face much more scrutiny and if you have a history of just shooting visa applications wherever they'll suspect you even more. Don't scam a US citizen into marriage for this. Try the diversity lottery visa or a working visa.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-05-08 13:07:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionGiving up a UK citizenship - possible for US?
You can't trade one citizenship for the other.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-06-08 19:05:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionIs the oath ceremony required?

I'd do an all day BBQ just because it means you don't have to deal with USCIS anymore. I'm about to ROC and the idea of having to send them stuff again... agh


AmyWritesFemaleRussia2014-01-01 23:24:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionIs the oath ceremony required?

Then your husband doesn't have to become a citizen, what's the issue?


AmyWritesFemaleRussia2014-01-01 13:35:00
CanadaStudent Loans in the U.S.
I agree with Brian. You can't get rid of student loans though bankruptcy, for example, and for graduate school, usually only private loans are available, and those come with their own set of ####### to deal with.

I'd only do it if it was for studying something with a guaranteed opportunity of getting a better job. Liberal arts is not one of those areas.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2011-12-01 11:39:00
CanadaHow early can I book the medical?
This might be a consular thing then... in Russia I've heard of people not scheduling their interviews yet when they go to the medical... approved yes, but no interview date yet.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-05-11 13:55:00
CanadaHow early can I book the medical?
As I understand you can book it whenever. I'd book it as early as possible if your wife has a busy schedule
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2012-05-11 11:24:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionMy mother in Law & her sister ruining our Marriage
You have to talk to your husband. Turn off all phones, TV's, etc, and JUST TALK. You need to solve this, and he needs to man up.

Unfortunately I have darted men whose family is like this. And I can tell you... there's never a solution. He will never pick you over his family. Of course that was my experience, since you're married I think yours might be different.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2011-09-09 07:47:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionFiling taxes with income earned in foreign company
To clarify some things:
- He's a programmer. He works remotely (online) for his company that he used to work for in person back in Russia. In Moscow they'd give about 20% of his income through a check and the rest cash.
- They don't send him checks. They just deposit his monthly salary, and it shows up as "deposit" in his account, it doesn't even say where he got it from.
- I don't have any documents stating his salary, just these deposits. His job contract is now outdated since his salary changed and that was just a verbal agreement, no document that we have says his salary now.
- They deposit this money in his account in a Russian bank, and he transfers the money to our bank here; the company refuses to deposit them in our US bank.

I will file and state his income, I was more so worried about how he could prove the money came from that job, since I've nothing that says X money came from Y job aside from his bank statement and the way it appears, it could look like just any random person deposited money. If I can just state he made X amount and not have to send any letters from his job verifying that's true (unless he gets audited), then I'll do that.

I've gotten a CPA, so hopefully we can figure this out more so and according to PR's rules. I just want to do this right so I don't have problems once ROC time comes.

On another note, I can't wait until he gets a job in the US so we don't go through this deal with foreign income.

Edited by AmyWrites, 07 April 2013 - 06:56 PM.

AmyWritesFemaleRussia2013-04-07 18:50:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionFiling taxes with income earned in foreign company
So I can file and they won't ask me for any docs? That was my worry, that'd they start asking me to send paperwork I don't have. Of course I'll file and report it, I just wanted to know how to go about it. Thanks!
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2013-04-07 12:22:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionFiling taxes with income earned in foreign company

Very bad accountant. Look into Foreign income exclusion, Form 2555, it goes with the 1040.


But we have absolutely no way to prove he's getting a salary. It just looks like somebody deposits money every month. I wouldn't know how to prove to them it's from a job. I'll still look into it.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2013-04-06 19:30:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionFiling taxes with income earned in foreign company
So, I'll try to summarize this:
- My husband is working remotely with his old company from back in Russia. They deposit his salary directly into his account in Russia (he transfers the money from Russia to here via Paypal or whatever). He gets no W-2's or anything from them.
- We live in Puerto Rico, not the US, so our taxes are a tad different.

I have no idea how to go about filing taxes or having him pay SS. He has an SS card so I'm sure he must file SOMETHING, but, how? And obviously, for ROC reasons, we must file something as proof we're married.

Any advice? Our accountant basically said to not file anything since there's no proof that he makes any money. I obviously think this is ridiculous advice and can screw us over fiercely when ROC time rolls around.
AmyWritesFemaleRussia2013-04-06 19:18:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionIs it enough (split topic)

What years for the taxes?
How many statements from each account?
Do you have health/life insurance?
Do you own a vehicle? Joint insurance?
Do you have a joint credit card?
Any joint bills?
Copies of the front and back of your green card?
A gym membership perhaps?
Costco or other joint store card?
Any other document where either of you is listed at the beneficiary of the other (wills, etc.)?

Photos aren't strong evidence.
Neither is an affidavit (except, it seems, in a divorce waiver)

Good luck! smile.png













He came here last year so just for last year but of course we'll file for this year as well.
We opened the first bank account in december last year, and the other one in June of this year, and we have statements for each month since.

I'm still on my parent's insurance but we're in the process of getting our own insurance, and life insurance.
The vehicle's on his name and there's no insurance on it.

Not really since we live with my parents and just pay them rent, food, electricity, etc.
Yeah, we have those.
Our home has a gym.

No store cards, but will do. 

Haven't made a will.

We still have another ten months for this, but I'm hoping that what we have is a good start at least.

 


Edited by AmyWrites, 03 September 2013 - 12:21 PM.

AmyWritesFemaleRussia2013-09-03 12:21:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionIs it enough (split topic)

Here's what I have so far, is it enough?

- Joint tax

- Two joint bank accounts

- Joint lease agreement from when we lived in VA for three months

- Affidavit from my parents saying we pay them rent each month.

- Boarding passes from travels we've made together

 

Anything else I might add besides photos and the like?


AmyWritesFemaleRussia2013-09-02 18:23:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionHow's this for evidence? (no kids, no property)

Include more statements throughout the 2 years. Why give them reason to delay/deny your application due to little evidence?

No taxes. Explain in a cover letter.
No mortgage. Ditto.
No joint credit cards. You know the drill.

You have just a bit to show the co-mingling of funds and some superficial evidence. Beef it up and you should be fine. smile.png Good luck!





 

You can really explain these things in the cover letter? That's a relief.


AmyWritesFemaleRussia2014-01-08 23:57:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionHow's this for evidence? (no kids, no property)

Wouldn't running out and getting life insurance or a 401(K) now (he finally is making a stable income) look bad?


AmyWritesFemaleRussia2014-01-07 15:52:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionHow's this for evidence? (no kids, no property)

How about junk mail in either / both your names that are sent to the same address? Magazines even.

 

We do have all of our mail (important and non-important) and other docs (driver's licenses), showing the same address... that counts?


AmyWritesFemaleRussia2014-01-07 15:48:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionHow's this for evidence? (no kids, no property)

I have. Don't really have much else "big" like insurance or the like. It's mostly pictures, affidavits, taxes, etc.


AmyWritesFemaleRussia2014-01-07 15:40:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionHow's this for evidence? (no kids, no property)

Sending this after Jan 18, about ten days after the 90 day window commences;

- affidavits from parents stating we live with them

- joint bank account(s), showing he's been paying my medical bills

- joint lease of our time in Arlington, VA

- pictures of us

- pictures of when his father came over to visit

- thinking of getting affidavits from friends saying they know us

- documents showing we went on a vacation together

- taxes filed jointly

 

Kind of stuck on what else to add?

 


AmyWritesFemaleRussia2014-01-07 15:10:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI got a letter from USCIS

Whew, good.


AmyWritesFemaleRussia2014-04-10 16:27:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI got a letter from USCIS

Called "Notice of Requirement to File Joint Petition to Remove the Conditional Basis of an Alien's Permanent Resident Status". Does this mean I have to file NOW? I thought I just needed to file within the 90 day window... he entered the US on 8/04/2012. We're living in different states and I wanted to file later in that window, since by then I'll be living with him. Would that be okay? Or should he file now regardless of living in different states?


AmyWritesFemaleRussia2014-04-10 16:20:00