ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 petition approved 08/12/2006 Thank God!!!
Congratulations! :star: :star: :star: :star: :star:
one...two...treeMalePhilippines2006-08-14 17:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresYes!!!!! Thank GOd, we are APPROVED!!!!!
Congratulations! :star: :star: :star: :star: :star:
one...two...treeMalePhilippines2006-08-14 17:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVermont Approval!!!!

Hey all. I just got my NOA2 notice. :P Hopefully the rest of you will be soon. I guess the other waiting game happens now. Maybe questioning them helped. Though I know it was more prayer than anything!



Congratulations! :thumbs: May I ask why you got your Congressman involved?
one...two...treeMalePhilippines2006-08-08 16:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresYYYYUUUUPPPPEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations! :star: :star: :star: :star: :star:
one...two...treeMalePhilippines2006-08-17 16:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHaving Difficulty Entering Type on G-325A form


I am able to type in the info for page 1 of the G-325A form, but for some reason, I cannot type past page 1. Any suggestions? Do most people fill it out by hand? Will it make a difference if page 1 would be typed while the other copies are handwritten?


Here is what I did:
Download the 30 day trial version of Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Professional.
Go to Visapro.com for the forms.
Save all the forms to your computer in pdf format.
Edit the forms in Adobe professional.



Thank you! I will try that first. If all else fails, sounds like it would okay to hand write the rest in. Thanks to everyone for your tips! Oh God, I'm so anxious, scared, excited, nervous getting this application together. :)
one...two...treeMalePhilippines2006-05-22 21:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHaving Difficulty Entering Type on G-325A form
I am able to type in the info for page 1 of the G-325A form, but for some reason, I cannot type past page 1. Any suggestions? Do most people fill it out by hand? Will it make a difference if page 1 would be typed while the other copies are handwritten?
one...two...treeMalePhilippines2006-05-22 18:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQuestions About Preparing Packet
A couple more questions. Thanks for all the tips.

Okay, so I'm going to use a 2 hole puncher for all the documents I'm submitting for K1 Visa. Should I have the whole packet pinned together with acco tabs or should I separate the official forms (I-129F, G-325A) from the evidence (copies of boarding passes, photos)?

How thick is the packet? 1 inch? 2 inch?

Sorry to be so ####### about this, but I'm so scared that of them sending it back to me if it's not to their standards.
one...two...treeMalePhilippines2006-05-24 23:53:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-864 help
I just started making enough to sponsor my wife last year and we filed in January (prior to doing 2009 taxes). Our lawyer told us that present income is what is important and not to worry that I didn't make enough in previous years. We did include a letter from my employer stating my current wage and work hours and estimated annual salary. We had to send in the paperwork from the last 3 years (including a year where my taxable income was actually negative), but only the current year matters according to our lawyer. So, send in all the info and then some documentation of her current income and it seems like you should be fine if what my lawyer said is accurate (and she's extremely experienced with immigration issues for people living in poverty, so I think she knows what she's talking about).

good luck!
sciencenerdMaleCanada2010-03-29 10:31:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion for the female American citizens
My wife (non-USC) did not take my last name when we got married and it never came up.
sciencenerdMaleCanada2010-10-11 23:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresTATTOO TROUBLE

I just looked it up and for CANADIAN immigration only they dont do the HIV testing. All others have HIV testing done on the blood tests still.


So best not to mix that up with other countrys.


This is not true. As of 1/4/2010, HIV testing is no longer done as part of the medical and HIV is not a basis for denial of a visa or AOS application. Since this is relatively new, it is understanding that it confuses people who were tested for HIV as part of the process only a year ago. I don't wish to hijack this thread, but I do want accurate information to be available to people with HIV.

Here is the relevant information:
Effective January 4, 2010, visa applicants required to receive medical examinations will not be tested for HIV, and HIV-positive visa applicants will not be found ineligible for visas under Section 212(a)(1)(A)(i) of the INA and will not need waivers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) prior to being issued visas, if otherwise qualified.

Source: http://travel.state....df/HIV_Q&As.pdf

Another good reference: http://immigrationeq...te.php?pageid=5
sciencenerdMaleCanada2010-12-04 18:17:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresTATTOO TROUBLE

I didnt say they were. People with TB often arent either, they are treated for it.

I was stating what they look for at the medical.


Just for the record, they don't even look for HIV in the medical anymore - this changed a year ago. I only chime in to say this to ease the anxiety of anyone with HIV who might be reading VJ.
sciencenerdMaleCanada2010-12-04 17:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSo important question about ds-260 form- PLZ !
You have to enter all of your addresses with no gaps. That includes all your addresses in your home country. So just make sure that you put in every place you lived. If you had no fixed address for part of that time, put down your parents' address or wherever your mail went during that time.
nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-04-25 22:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAffidavit of support question
I think there are 2 related questions, aren't there? Place of residence is where he lives now, place of domicile would be the us address. That's my best guess.
nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-04-28 16:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCR1- visa , last name change in foreign country
My marriage certificate also has the maiden name rather than married, and all I had to do was take the marriage certificate to the licensing bureau and apply for a new drivers license in my married name.
This may be more difficult in Korea, I have no idea. Is your new husband stationed in Korea? Is there someone you can ask about what the rules are for doing a change of name in Korea?
Probably the place I would start is to find out what identification you'd need to get a new South African passport with your new name, and then try to get those, so you can use your new passport as the foundation documents for your US immigration documents.

You will need to start with your South African ID, before the US. After all, your Visa will be in your South African passport. (What you get before your green card) Those are the things you will want to have match.

Edited by nightingalejules, 29 April 2014 - 02:43 AM.





nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-04-29 02:40:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresYoung couple with minimal evidence of genuine relationship
What you have should be fine. All of those things are suggestions. The only vital piece is the marriage certificate. Photos from throughout your relationship of the two of you together, and a good cover letter will show the rest. You'll be fine.
nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-04-29 00:28:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresResubmitting I-864 Documents at Interview
Yeah, by and large, US gov't employees are not allowed to tell you what you should do. It's crazy, but true.

I don't think the fax will do it... You have to have the original signature. I think you'll have to get him to courier it to you.


nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-07 03:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSupporting Evidence Query
It seems unlikely that you will require further bonafide evidence; the UK consulate rarely, if ever, asks for it. Besides, I think it might cause confusion, if someone thinks you weren't married yet when you filed your I-130. (Marriage certificate notwithstanding, it appears that some of the people processing petitions aren't very clever.)

However, if you have already had the party before your interview, take some photos with you, in case you need to show them (again, unlikely but possible) to show your ongoing relationship.


nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-08 01:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAm I a preparer joint sponsor question

When the forms talk about a "preparer" they mean a lawyer or other professional. You can do most of the work but I'm certain that you are not allowed to sign on their behalf (especially when they will be on the hook legally and financially) unless you have an official power of attorney.

 

They will need to sign their own forms, and you don't have to put yourself down as preparer. (although I suppose you can if you want to!)


nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-09 04:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresTime for NVC to receive USCIS approved I-130 package
Some of the service centers send an email that they've sent your package to NVC, some don't. For example, VSC doesn't.

It seems like some of the service centres seem to wait a week or two and then do a big bulk mailing to NVC.

Congrats on your NOA2, and hope you get to NVC swiftly!

Mine took almost exactly 2 weeks.






nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-07 03:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresConfused about a question on the DS 260 application

Hello everyone, I have been approved and am waiting for my case number, but I want to ask some about ds230 and ds260, am confuss,I heard we need to sign in with our case number and we need our signature online too,pls can someone explain more, thank you

 

Yes, once you get your case number and IIN, you will eventually be able to sign in on the CEAC website, and pay your fees, and fill in the forms. You will need your case number and IIN to do those things. The DS260 is the new, fancy, online version of the DS230, and they will have you do what they refer to as an "online signature," in which you will check a box that says everything is checked and correct, and then you'll do one of those "type in the numbers and letters you see in this box" and that is considered to be your signature.

 

 

I'm assuming the other nationality's passport should be an unexpired passport? right ?

 

Yes, you will need a passport that has at least 6 months of validity from your visa issuance. They'll put the visa into your passport, so it needs to be valid. I recently got a new one that shows my new married name, since mine might have been getting close to expiry by the time I actually got the visa, and also I wanted all my ID documents to agree with eachother as to what my name is!


nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-09 15:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresConfused about a question on the DS 260 application

DOCUMENT ID IS THAT PASSPORT NUMBER?


Yes, (and no need to SHOUT). That's what the previous poster just said. If the "document" in question is a passport, then the "document id number" is the passport number. The latter identifies the former.

nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-02-21 02:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWho is eligible to be my spouses joint sponsor?
The USC spouse is always the primary sponsor. If the primary sponsor has insufficient income, any US citizen over 21 can be a joint sponsor. Assets can be used to come up to the minimum sponsorship amount (and I believe the non-USC spouses assets can be used) but the amount of assets must be 3x the poverty amount (which for a family of two is up near $20000, so there must be a cash value of assets of around $60000)

Please fill in your timeline!


nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-08 02:25:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDS260?

I think you need to call the NVC and find out if it was maybe the i129 that made it through... that one is a non-immigrant visa, and might require a ds160 instead of a ds260. 

 

If you talk to someone there, find out if they're going ahead with the K3 instead of the CR1. Technically, the K3 might still reunite you faster, but it's more expensive and he won't be able to work until you adjust status. If both were approved, you might want to wait until the I130 makes it through to NVC and carry on with that one. 

 

Either way, your first step is to call the NVC (you'll have to dial a million times until you don't get a busy signal and then wait on hold for 20-40 minutes to speak to an operator), at which point you'll give them your USCIS receipt numbers or NVC case number and explain your problem.


Edited by nightingalejules, 13 May 2014 - 01:08 AM.

nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-13 01:07:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresJust to be 100%

 

Such a big country, that's odd that they would only do it in one city.  But, it will give me a chance to go back for some smoked meat at Schwartz's deli.  :joy:  Such a beautiful city, I recommend anyone that enjoys traveling to visit there.

 

You're telling me!! We live in Vancouver. We're planning on making the best of it and calling it a holiday, and it will be nice to see Montreal. But I really wish I didn't have to fly 3/4 of the way across the country when we have a perfectly good embassy here (which, by the way, processes K3s, which we also applied for)!


Edited by nightingalejules, 13 May 2014 - 01:09 PM.

nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-13 13:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresShould they really "just wait?"

If you completed the G-1145 when you filed the I-130, then NVC will send you an e-mail when the AOS AOS has been invoiced (which is about a week after the case number is generated). So really, don't need to call. If you didn't complete that and NVC does not have your e-mail, then you should probably call.

 

I completed the G-1145 and I got an e-mail as soon as the AOS was ready (I already had my case # because I called, but the AOS wasn't ready until I got that e-mail, so there's no delay, really).

 

Not necessarily true!

 

We completed the G1145, AND signed up for email case updates, but when our file got to NVC and I called to get the Case # and IIN, they said they had no email on file for either of us. 

 

I was able to give the NVC agent our emails and now it seems we're getting emails. 

 

But don't assume that your email is on file just because it ought to be. 

 

I think OP should advise his/her cousin to call and find out when the case was received, then about a month after that to get Case# and IIN, and to check and make sure that the email address(es) are on file.


Edited by nightingalejules, 13 May 2014 - 02:39 PM.

nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-13 14:38:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWife moving to the states husband returning to work overseas

I'm not sure about this... I mean, it's possible for a US citizen to have their permanent residence in the US and work overseas. You'd definitely have to accompany your wife to the US and get her established there. But I don't think you have to be with her all the time, even according to immigration. Your home with her in the US would become your primary residence, but I don't think you as an American citizen can be forced not to work overseas. 

 

You might need to talk to an immigration lawyer or consultant to find out what the rules are. 

 

There must be a way to do this legally. You're not trying to do anything dishonest. I just don't know what the way to do it is. And it's kind of an unusual situation, so a professional might give you better advice than us on VJ.

 

Good luck!


nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-14 01:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 Address Question (Filing from abroad) NO DCF

1. The previous poster suggests that there is a chance your file could be expedited at one of the 4 US offices that process i130s, if they notice that you're both overseas. It's possible, I suppose, but from what you've said, it seems way more likely that an important piece of information might get lost if you try to send things to Venezuela. It's up to you, but I would err on the side of caution, and have things sent to a more dependable address.

 

2. I'm sure that putting your office address in Caracas would be absolutely fine.

 

3. USCIS uses regular post. So your concerns are valid. The only time they use a courier is to return your wife's passport, and even then, they tend to just ship it to the depot, rather than your home. (although in some cases you can opt for home delivery, for an added cost.)

 

I would definitely avoid having mail go to your home address if you've had trouble in the past. Having the mail sent to your office may be better than a US address, because there may be things that your sister would have to fedex to you if she were receiving the packages, especially at the NVC stage.

 

Also, make sure you sign up for email notifications as soon as you have a receipt number from USCIS - the 1145 (or whatever) only sends you the first notification, then you have to go to the USCIS website, sign up for an account and opt in for email notifications.

 

You'll have to register your email(s) again at the NVC stage- they don't send them along... 

 

But at least that way you'll usually get emails as well as postal mail at USCIS and you can see whether everything is getting to you at the USCIS stage. If it doesn't, that would be a good time to switch the address at NVC stage to a US address.

 

 


nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-09 17:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresComplex situation
It would be much better if you got the visa in your new passport. You're supposed to have a passport that will be valid for at least 6 months after you get the visa. This is an unusual situation, and I think you should speak to the NVC about it before you go for your interview (so before you get case complete).

I know that if a visa is in a passport that expires and is replaced with a new passport from the same country, you can travel carrying both the new and the expired passport (to show the visa) but I have no idea if this still applies in your situation.


nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-23 02:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNVC Cover Letter Checklist
If the checklist is vague and asks for all the documents, it's probably a false checklist. If they only ask for one or two things, it's probably real, and even if you're sure you sent them, send them again... nvc might have lost them.
nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-24 00:58:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNVC Case # and IIN... Now what? (Canada to US)

Sorry to say this, but you just have to wait. Again. It seems that now NVC has the backlog... aren't we all lucky! :bonk:  It seems to be taking up to a couple of weeks to get anything happening with the bills and further processing.

 

The good news is though, that most Canadians are hearing from NVC that you don't have to wait for a response to the ENROLL email - once the time comes you just send your documents along.So that would be good!

 

Also, a personal hint - don't fill in the DS 261 until you get the email telling you to... I filled in mine before I got the email, and then it suddenly, randomly started showing as "not completed" after it had been showing as "completed" so I had to resubmit, and now I've been waiting for the IV and DS 260 since May 9.

 

Good luck!


nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-27 13:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNVC Processing Assistance

Nothing more you need to do right now for NVC. For us though, it would be really nice if you'd fill in your timeline and add the timeline info to your signature. Maybe even submit your info to the NVC spreadsheet! It's really nice for the rest of us to be able to compare timelines, so we can have an idea of what to expect!

 

Good luck with your process


nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-28 15:49:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures221g
So it looks like you need to provide an explanation. Sounds like his "unemployment" was actually a temporary layoff. Is the actual problem that your spouse was not just unemployed, but also collecting unemployment insurance benefits? This may be the co's concern- that if your spouse is already taking "means tested benefits", is he really prepared to support you (who doesn't qualify for them).

I think you should get the union rep to write a letter explaining the situation, and that it is common practice for teachers to apply for unemployment benefits between contracts.

It sounds like it's not the fact that he was unemployed that is the issue you need to explain. What you need to explain is why he applied for social assistance at the same time he's trying to prove he can support you, so you won't have to apply for social assistance.

It also seems like that was a bad decision on your hubby's part, and/or bad advice from the union, given the circumstances.

If I'm interpreting the situation wrong, sorry!








nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-28 01:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurescan she use 2014 TAX?

They ask for the 3 most recent year which means 2011, 2012 and 2013.

 

Well,  kind of. They ask for total income from the last 3 years, but you can actually fill in the I864 with only the most recent year's tax return/transcript. Which is what my joint sponsor (mother-in-law) is sending.


nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-29 22:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurescan she use 2014 TAX?
The current tax year is 2013, so that's what he will use. Yes, it was filed in 2014 but refers to the previous year.
nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-28 02:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresExpiring passport/CR1 interview coming up
Does PH offer the option of keeping the old passport (having it returned after the renewal)? That's what's recommended for Canadians. That way you have the new, valid passport, and the visa in the old passport. Then you get a stamp in the new passport with a notation that the visa is in the old passport.
nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-28 03:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresExpiring passport/CR1 interview coming up

Hi,
My wife and I live in HK.  One week ago the case was complete at the NVC and presumably it is now on its way to the US consulate here.  My wife's passport expires in January 2015.
 
 
 
According to the US consulate's general email to me: as long as my wife has her medical exam before the last 6 months on her Philippines passport, everything is okay.
 
So assuming that happens, my wife gets the visa to travel to the US.  Which means that she must travel before the last 6 months on her passport? (I know that she has to use the US visa within 6 months of it being issued.)
 
My next question is what happens then to her Philippines passport?  According to the website of the PH consulate in DC, they will not renew PH passports for nationals in the US if the national is on the path to US residence (green card).
 
So my wife goes to the US before the end of the year, then visits PH before January 2015 and renews her PH passport there?
Then what does she use to re-enter the US?  JUST her green card?
 
I'm very confused and now it's probably too late to renew the PH passport here in HK.
Thanks.
 
 

















I really think you should try to get a new Phillipines passport as soon as possible. She will need it if she plans to travel at all outside the country before she naturalizes and gets a US passport. If she returns to PH to renew her passport, she will have to stay there until she has the passport in hand. The green card by itself is not sufficient as a travel document.

Also, I have read that the embassy won't put the visa in a passport with less than 6 months of validity. If that's the case, the fact that her passport expires in January could mean a delay in getting the visa at all.



nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-05-28 02:40:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures230$
Lots of us have been waiting 2 weeks or more. The NVC "customer service" people are quoting up to 30 days now. The backlog from uscis has reached NVC now.
nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-06-01 04:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswill I-129F will be approved before I-130 ?

 
I am the foreign spouse, i am always reading about NVC, if you recommend special guides or anything feel free to share with me


I'm sure you've already heard about the monthly NVC filers thread and Saylin's wiki. The wiki really gives you almost all the info you need.

We're very chatty on the NVC filers thread so it gets pretty unwieldy. I'd wait to really try to start following it until you get your approval.



nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-06-06 01:49:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIv invoice fee bill anyone?

so i called nvc today and the operated told me it takes 30 days to review ds-261 and send u iv fee bill... that is pure nonsense i got mine only after 8 days of submitting and its been 15 days when they received choice of agent and no one has reviewed it yet. Also said that we should send AOS to nvc .. btw is there any connection with iv fee bill and mailing AOS package to NVC?

 

It seems like embassies have told nvc to slow down things :| 

 

It is incredibly frustrating! I don't think the pressure is coming from the embassies, though. They just tell NVC how many interview spaces they have available. I do believe NVC itself is "managing workflow" by not invoicing us until their desks are a little clearer. But it sucks for those who got stuck in the USCIS backlog (fortunately we were at the tail end of that and didn't wait TOOOOOOO long) to now get to NVC and get stuck again. 

 

Come on, NVC, I just want to give you money................  <_<


nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-06-06 00:51:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures230$ iv bill

Osea wat u mean is that everytime i enter thr ceas.gov page it start all over ????

Osea wat u mean is that everytime i enter thr ceas.gov page it start all over ????


No, just if you click back into the place where it says ds261 completed. So don't do that. You can look at the fees section as often as you want. But you will probably get an email just before it's ready for you to pay the IV fee.

nightingalejulesFemaleCanada2014-06-11 03:49:00