ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDS 261 Filling Up

You just enter your name as listed in your passport.

 

First name will match the first name in your passport.

 

Surname will match the surname in your passport.

 

Maiden name will be the surname you had before you were married.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-08-03 09:28:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWife visits during I-130 processing

I'm on a visit right now. I think the officer I spoke to wanted me to stay, but alas I cannot ;)


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-08-15 09:38:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDS-261 Quick Question

If it's a false checklist, it could mean they have reviewed something you sent in. We got the same checklist reminder (in fact, we received it on five separate occasions, including one that was physically mailed to my house in the UK o.o) and it was triggered when they reviewed and accepted our AOS paperwork


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-08-18 21:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIV payment, still can't see it?

I sent my DS-261 in on May 30th and we didn't get the invoice until August 6th.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-08-18 20:53:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPrevious green card.

Yeah I figured as much. I do have a lead on someone who can research the files for a fee. Anyway thanks a lot for your responses..

 

Anyone know how long aprox. it is currently taking to receive the OK for the I-130?.

 

Usually about 5 to 6 months or a bit longer. Hopefully by the time you're done with USCIS, NVC's backlog will be cleared, because that is taking a good few months now. As you can see in my signature, it has been over 10 months since we sent off our petition and we have only just applied for the actual visa :P


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-08-20 18:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAnyone lately got their IV invoice from NVC?

Business day 38 now. My husband got lucky and managed to speak to a supervisor called Sue. Unfortunately, she told him they were very backlogged and that she was working hard to get through it all. I do feel sorry for them, I know what it's like to be under pressure along with angry customers on the phone, but she can go home to her spouse at night, we can't and probably won't be able to for a long time.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-07-25 12:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAnyone lately got their IV invoice from NVC?
So far no supervisor will speak to us but we keep trying.
KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-07-25 06:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAnyone lately got their IV invoice from NVC?

Yeah.  Hard to say lucky when we started this entire process back in October 2013.  But I am grateful that it's moving along at least.

 

I started in the beginning of October 2013 too but unfortunately we're hitting a brick wall with the IV invoice. I feel like I should have delayed the DS-261 til mid-June, it seems people who submitted it around the beginning of June have drawn the short straw.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-07-24 17:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresShould I restart process

You got nothing to worry about. The cover page is just to make it a little easier for the officer, I'm sure they will still be able to navigate through your package. Passport bio page is enough to prove your US citizenship and the accidental I-864 won't make them upset. Just remember to create a new I-864 package when the time comes at NVC with updated information.


Edited by Ketsuban, 21 August 2014 - 03:01 PM.

KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-08-21 15:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow long before Receipt-Nr

Hello,

 

so finally i got my receipt notice, but i forgot to give them our marriage status :( stupid me. At least i have the receipt-nr, lol

 

I received the letter, with th reason why it was rejected and i have to send the whole package again, ok fine.

They said they return it with the fees.

 

I received the letter stating this, does it mean i get the "package" seperate?

 

 

 

Patrick

 

Yes, they send the package separately. I'm not sure whether creating a whole new one would be faster.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-08-23 07:32:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresVisiting while i130 in progress and i129f

I just got back from a two week visit and ran into no problems at the border even though I told them I was visiting my husband and had a CR-1 application pending. I went in under the VWP at Newark Liberty Int'l


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-08-24 19:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCan I email NVC to obtain Case Number instead of calling?

Yes, you can email them at nvcinquiry@state.gov 

 

You need to put your USCIS receipt number in the subject line

 

In the body, you list the petitioner's and beneficiary's names and DOBs before beginning your request

 

Expect to wait a couple of weeks to a couple of months for a reply, but in my experience they always do reply. I got my case number by emailing them, they replied directly to my original inquiry. I had also called a couple of days before the written inquiry unit responded to me, so I already had the info, but nice to know they do reply to emails :P

 

ETA: If you provided the petitioner's email address on the G-1145, NVC will write to that address when the time comes to pay the AOS invoice and fill in the DS-261. When I called, they had my husband's email and confirmed it with me before asking for mine. There is no benefit to knowing your case number before the AOS invoice and DS-261 are available, so don't stress yourself out too much with having to know it.


Edited by Ketsuban, 25 August 2014 - 02:51 PM.

KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-08-25 14:49:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDelay? Do I need to do something?

Though to get really technical, the NOA1 is the I-797C and the NOA2 is the I-797. At least, that's what I'm reading on our ones. Is there any difference? Probably just the I-797 has fancy birth-certificate-style paper and that warrants removing the C.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-02 17:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNVC

Sometimes USCIS doesn't update the Post Decision Activity status when they mail the case to NVC. There is a case a digit away from mine that was approved in January 2014 and it still hasn't updated. Obviously I don't know what became of their I-130, but I assume it was eventually mailed to NVC.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-05 15:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI need an answer ASAP!!!!!!! please

What happened was that I didnt have the money for the IV package fee , so I was instructed to send the documents with the IV package with the AOS cover sheet. So I didnt know where to mail it to. What I did was used Wiki. Wrong choice! Maybe I should have called.

 

But the AOS cover sheet has the address right there on it... unless you haven't paid the AOS yet either then I understand what you're saying.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-06 12:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMarriage Certificate for IR-1 visa married in Ohio

Hi, I also got married in Franklin but our license and certificate were from Cuyahoga. We didn't get to keep our original certificate, apparently the court house keeps that, but we got five copies of the abstracts you're talking about and we have used those to change my name and also for our immigration process. I only sent a photocopy to USCIS and haven't had the certified abstract accepted by NVC yet, but I'm pretty sure we won't have a problem with it. I mean, if that's all they'll give us, not much we can do about it :P


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-09 16:26:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresVisa Fees Help I'm Lost with this!!

From what I read a few days ago, only non-immigrants have to pay the difference if the interview occurs after Dec 12th. If you paid the old fees and interview after that date for an immigrant visa, you are not required to pay the difference.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-10 09:10:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAOS and IV bills

The IV bill depends on the 261 NOT the AOS.

 

Processing the 261 is supposed to take 30 business days from date of submission.  I submitted on the 18th and was just told two days ago that my 261 was reviewed "Yesterday"  However that has yet to reflect on my status page, and obviously there is no IV bill yet.

 

I was told a week ago that 261's were taking 60 days, but that is not correct.  There appears to be one operator propagating this mis-information "Cindy" I think.  If you get her try a different operator.

 

AOS package, and IV package reviews are currently taking "... at least 60 days" and that was calendar days, and starts on the date of acceptance by NVC - 8/7 in your case.  So may as well get a refreshing beverage and sit back, this is going to be a while.  :-(

 

It's not misinformation. I waited 68 days for my IV bill ?_?


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-07 19:24:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPacket IV
Also military records, court records and divorce records if applicable to your case.
KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-13 07:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAlot has changed, how do I update?

Hi, don't worry if things change since I-130 submission. Everything is true on your I-130 as of the date it was signed.

 

My employer moved to a new building, so the address I entered for them on my DS-260 is different to that on our I-130/G-325A (I forget which form asked for my employer). I haven't had my interview yet, but I can tell you now it is not a problem.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-12 18:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresLawyer sent NVC copies of my birth certificate and marriage certificate

What is the probability of getting case completed after sending in the original documents that NVC requested for?

 

Well, 100% :P if you sent what they need, they'll complete your case.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-17 14:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAffidavits to prove marriage

Fellow UKer here, we didn't submit any affidavits at all. We submitted the other usual things though:

 

  • Screenshots of email inboxes showing tons of emails back and forth
  • Literally like 2 Skype screenshots with IM chat
  • 21 photos of us together spanned over 7 visits
  • Couple of Paypal receipts from when I helped him out with his car
  • Amazon gift receipts going back to 2006
  • Weddings cards we received from my work colleagues and our relatives

KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-17 14:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFilling taxes as single for 2013

In practice it doesn't matter, but really your wife should have filed her taxes as Married Filing Separately. You don't need an SSN or ITIN for this, but she would need to paper file. This is what my husband did for the last year and his taxes went through no problem. We used it for our AOS and it was accepted.

 

As I said, for immigration, especially out of Canada you most likely won't run into any problems, but the IRS might feel like auditing her one day. You never know!


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-17 14:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresread this
I'm pretty sure NVC is not taxpayer funded and it's why we pay such high fees per case.
KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-17 11:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresJoint Sponsor self employed, which income figure should be used? (split topic)

 

hmm thank you. seem conflicting answers so am a bit confused. the I-864 instructions just says put total income. but what you said does make sense. gahhhh

 

Yes it does, and that's what trips self-employed people up. The instructions also say to leave non-applicable answers blank, but users of the I-864EZ get checklisted for doing just that in one of the questions! It's unfortunate that they can't instruct their customers adequately at times.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-17 14:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresJoint Sponsor self employed, which income figure should be used? (split topic)

 

Sorry to bring such an old thread back up, but i have the same question. joint sponsor is self employed and we are filling the I-864 form. I read the instructions on NVC site and i read a lot of threads on this site. Most of them says to use the Total income instead of adjusted income.

 

Would you know why in this case you advised adjusted gross? Not trying to state its wrong, I am just confused and wishing to get one clear answer.

 

Someone else can answer it as well if they know

 

Thank you.

 

I can answer this

 

For self-employed people, their income is taken into account after expenses when it comes to the Affidavit of Support. This is why they use Adjusted Gross Income instead of Total Income.

 

For people who are regularly employed, they don't have business expenses and thus can use Total Income.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-17 14:25:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresThe journey begins

You will receive a Notice of Action (NOA1) receipt from USCIS. If you filed the G-1145, you'll get a text and/or email confirming receipt of the package and the location it was sent to. You'll then receive a hard-copy NOA1.

 

A few months later (averages at around 6), you'll get a second Notice of Action (NOA2) indicating approval and your case will be sent to NVC, OR you will get an RFE requesting additional evidence before they will approve the petition.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-17 14:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiling adjustment of status

No, that would be fraud and we can't assist you with that. If he wants to come and live with you, he needs to file for a CR-1 visa from his home country.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-17 14:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhere am I in the CR-1 process, and how much longer from here?

 For a couple of weeks the CEAC Status Check was saying "In Transit", but now it has been saying "At NVC" for over a month.

 

This part worries me. When the status is "in transit", that means everything is done at NVC and the case is being forwarded to the Sydney consulate. However, as you say, it is now back at NVC which is not the normal process of things.

 

You can call NVC yourself and figure out where you are in this and what they need from you, their number is 603-334-0700. The line is almost always engaged, but you need to keep hitting redial until you get through. Select option 1, then wait on hold for a while.

 

You need your case number, your name and DOB and your spouse's name and DOB. Those are the security questions they ask before talking to you.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-17 14:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 for spouse what happens next?

Presently we at the RFE (request for evidence) stage, but what me and my wife are most concerned with is what will come next. What I mean is, we understand that there is still either the acceptance or rejection of the RFE, but than what? 

However, we're unsure about how the interview be set up, do we both have to be present together or will we each be interviewed separately in our respective nations. 

Also, because she is a student and assuming that the interview is a success, we're just wondering what comes after that? And is there a short or long window of time in which she must enter the US after the approval? [I believe its 6 months from what I've read but others have told me otherwise]



 

Finally, when she is approved (hopefully) how long must she actually remain within the US before she can return to her classes? The concern here is that neither of use want her to have to repeat any entire year of college if at all possible.

 

I know this is a lot of question and I'm new to the forum, but I hope the community can bare with me, and I thank you in advance for any help.

 

 

Hi there,

 

After your NOA2 arrives, you will need to follow this process, so I suggest you read it now: http://www.visajourn...php/NVC_Process

 

When you are done with the NVC stage, your wife will interview in her country. You won't interview in the US unless USCIS asks you to attend your local field office for one (this would occur before the NOA2 and would only happen if there is a serious problem with your I-130 petition).

 

Once the visa is issued, she has six months to use it. Some countries go by six months from the date of the medical, others go by six months from date of issue. Either way, the visa will have an expiry date on it.

 

Technically, she can return back to her classes as soon as she activates her visa (in which it becomes a temporary Green Card before the real one arrives in the mail) but she mustn't stay out of the US for months at a time. It is entirely up to the border agent's discretion when she returns to the US after classes are finished, but the usual limit is six months before they will turn her away for not abiding by the rules of continuous residency. There is no amount of time set in stone, so it's usually not recommended to leave the US for months at a time. Only US citizens can leave the US and come back at their leisure for as long as they want.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-17 14:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 Payment Mailed Separately from Packet?

No, that isn't possible. Do you have any relatives in the US who can send you a check which you can include? 


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-10-05 07:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 For my Father; taking far too long?
When calling the NVC, it is imperative you set aside a good hour or two. You need to keep hitting redial even if it takes 50-100 tries. When you get through, you'll be on hold anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour before you can speak to someone. They will ask for the USCIS receipt number, then if they have the case there ready to process, will ask for the petitioner's name and birthday, and the same for the beneficiary (so your mum and dad's names and birthdays - hopefully you know those details :P) You can then ask what the status of the case is, whether it's waiting for any action or if they sent it to the National Records Center.
KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-13 08:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPolice certificate

 

Hrm that's interesting and the first I've heard of it but it must be specific to Kingsbridge.  I know I did not, and nor has any other Canadian have to, bring a police certificate to a medical.   I have not heard of other countries having to do it either but it would be interesting to find out if there are others. 


Mostly, however, I was correcting your other little bit of information about places lived in the last year only needing a police certificate.  It is anyplace you have lived, where available, for 12 months or more, since you were 16. 


 

Yeah, it's weird. I think I heard that it was for any prior drug convictions so they'd know whether to do urine tests.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-10-12 17:27:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAnnual Household income in I-864, Please Help!!

 

First of all thanks for replying.

 

Yes you are correct my wife doesn't make enough to sponsor me. So my in-laws are helping us. 

1. I have uploaded the same page of the form of my wife and my in-law for your understanding. Also I have encircled one with red ( annual household income in I-864. please clear this doubt. 

 

2. I have encircled one column 9.c with green, I think it should be left blank, but my attorney had filled up by mistake please confirm it too. 

 

Thanks a lot. My attorney is making lot of mistake so I don't want to trust him. I have paid 2000 dollars to get this service but he is providing me preposterous service. 

 

No problem, and thanks for uploading the forms.

 

The box you circled in green is fine if that is her current income for this year.

 

In the same picture where you have circled in red, that amount shouldn't be there. It's not her income, it's her parents' income which is totally separate. The lawyer has basically said your wife earns the same income as your parents do, which isn't true, and if it were, she wouldn't need them to be joint sponsors in the first place.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-10-11 18:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAnnual Household income in I-864, Please Help!!

I hope I'm understanding this correctly - you're saying your attorney put your in-laws' income into their I-864 and also in your wife's I-864?

 

Unless your wife makes the same income as her parents then what your attorney did is incorrect and a little bizarre. I'm guessing your wife doesn't make enough to sponsor you or is unemployed at the moment? Her I-864 should reflect her personal income only, not anyone else's.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-10-11 18:10:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresYes you can visit- IR1-CR1 version

All this stress here. I've visited five times during our relationship and the worst that ever happened was an IO looked at me weird for paying for my own flight (yeah I don't know what that was about either). I've never been to secondary, never been shouted at or abused and have never been denied entry. Yes people do get turned back but this is an extremely small minority. The VWP was designed to allow people to visit family, it even says it on the US travel website.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-10-12 16:31:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresYes you can visit- IR1-CR1 version

 

I am telling you

 

At the Boston POE, the officers don't permit to get in if you have a I-130 or K3 in progress.

 

They keep your ESTA (ban of 10 yrs) and let you go back to your origin country on the same day.

 

It is considered a lie to an officer (federal crime) to pass with an ESTA, having a I-130 or K3 in progress.

 

This is what the Chief of the CBP of the POE of Boston airport told us.

 

Then you can say whatever you want, but i trust the chief of the POE.

 

Have a nice day.

 

I guess the officer who let me in at Newark broke the law then ;)


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-10-06 15:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresYes you can visit- IR1-CR1 version

 

From the reading I've done, I get the impression that would be considered "visa fraud", as the beneficiary's intent at time of entry was not tourism, but to immigrate permanently.  

 

Yes, it is fraud to arrive as a temporary visitor with the secret intent to immigrate. That's why tourist visas are denied so much, because it's something they want to prevent happening.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-09-06 18:16:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresYes you can visit- IR1-CR1 version

 

Thanks, this is helpful. Out of curiosity, at what stage of the NVC process were you when you renewed your ESTA?

 

I was waiting for my AOS to be reviewed and my IV invoice to be unlocked.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-08-29 13:24:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresYes you can visit- IR1-CR1 version

I had to renew my ESTA both because my old one expired and I got a new passport to reflect my name change. ESTA was approved instantly and I was admitted to the US under the VWP in what was my easiest border crossing ever.


KetsubanFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-08-28 17:32:00