ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
US Citizenship General DiscussionGeneral Info on Naturalization
* You must have held a green card and been residing in the US for three years (a 90 day shortcut is allowed on this point ONLY)

Thanks for the informative post. We will be able to apply with the 90 day shortcut. I'm wondering if any interviews, tests, etc. can be taken during these 90 days or if one has to wait for the 3 year mark before those processes may begin. I guess I'm wondering how quickly to the 3 year mark a person can actually become a citizen. Thanks.
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2011-11-02 18:13:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionIf reminder letter sent to 'old address'
As many people have posted....for whatever reason we received our 'reminder letter for ROC', sent to our old address in MN. We changed our address with the AR-11 forms, quite awhile ago and now live in another state. Luckily, our old address is actually my parents home, so there was no issues with me getting the letter.

Exact same thing happened to us - we filed the address change forms 9 months ago!!!
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2011-06-08 21:46:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussiondownload of I751 help
Thanks everyone. I tried it at work and was able to download. Probably need to update Adobe on my own computer.
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2011-06-09 17:57:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussiondownload of I751 help
We are supposed to be late June filers, but when I go to the USCIS website to download the form and directions, they don't work/open after the download (I seem to remember this happening a few months ago too when I was in a "getting ready" phase). Has anyone recently successfully downloaded the forms? Also, since I can't see the directions, can someone tell me if everyone has to do biometrics. Thanks!
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2011-06-08 21:50:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresA bunch of AOS and I864 and DS320 questions


Question 4 - take a look at your 2007 tax return and use that to figure out your I-864. We also included some pay stubs from this year to show income

Question 5 - Once your IV bill has been paid and accepted you can send in the DS230 but only AFTER you pay the AOS and send it in. We sent both together but I have heard of people getting an RFE because the AOS has not been sent in yet.


Thanks so much = esp. that AOS must go in before DS230 - that's really good to know.

So, for income, you just kind of used the past year's and then maybe added a little for raises? You didn't send in contracts of letters from your employer or anything like that? Thank you!
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-04-22 05:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresA bunch of AOS and I864 and DS320 questions
Hello everyone,

As you can see, I just joined. I've made it up to this point alone, but I need some help.

I recieved my IV invoice and paid it, but I haven't received a AOS invoice although online I can see that it is out there. I'm afraid to pay it without first getting the invoice since the website says that paying or sending things that haven't been asked for causes delays. HOWEVER, on the IV invoice (which we received via email), our address was written as SLOVENIA NOT SLOVAKIA, so I'm a little afraid my mail is being sent to the wrong country because of someone's typo and that's why I haven't gotten it.

Next, are the 2 2x2 inch photos of the beneficiary supposed to be sent in with the DS320?

Also, in the directions for original documents, they also say to send a copy of each original or certified document, does that mean that with the DS320 and all those documents, we send the copies of those documents at that time? (in comparison with making copies and bring them later - not sending them together with the originals)

With the I864, how do I figure out what my current income is? Does that mean what I've made so far this year or what I expect to make total, etc?

Also, based on our case number thing, it seems that they've assigned us to Prague (Czech Republic) eventhough we live in Slovakia (the capital of which is Bratislava), do some embassies not do these interviews?

I think that's about all for now.

No, one more. After paying the IV invoice, can I now collect and mail my documents with the DS320 or do I need to await further intruction (other than the barcoded sheet) to send them in?

Thanks SO much!
Laura
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-04-22 02:27:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI 864
I have an additional question. I'm American and working in Slovakia and I think I can just squeeze above the 125% for my projected 2009 income (since the exchange rate is in my favor). However, my 2008 income wasn't up to the level AND clearly I won't have this job after moving to the states, so do I need a joint sponor?
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-04-23 07:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresJoint Sponsor I864 Income Requirement
QUOTE (lustanovska @ Apr 24 2009, 07:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hello, I am a petitioner for my husband (it's just the two of us), but being in Slovakia, I don't quite make the 125% for two people level. My mother has agreed to be a joint sponsor, but with her also come two dependent children, my siblings, so now the number has jumped to 5 and $32,000 something. She doesn't quite make this much. Together she and I are well above the $32,000 something, but does she alone need to make above this number? Will the NVC add her and my income together or not? It's a heck of a question to get wrong... Thanks.


I found my own answer on another post: If your spouse cannot meet the financial minimum on his own the first step is to see if another member of the household is willing to include their income. (household member)or dependent. or joint filer.
One nice thing about using a household member's income is that it only has to be enough to make up the SHORTFALL in the main sponsors income .

Independent joint sponsor......Unlike household joint sponsors,joint sponsors from outside the household will need to make enough to cover the entire poverty guidelines minimum requirementsfor their own household and for the intending immigrants.. A joint sponsor cannot simply make up the main sponsors shortfall.

So in order for a co-sponsor to be legitimate, your income doesn't count. So
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-04-24 02:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresJoint Sponsor I864 Income Requirement
Hello, I am a petitioner for my husband (it's just the two of us), but being in Slovakia, I don't quite make the 125% for two people level. My mother has agreed to be a joint sponsor, but with her also come two dependent children, my siblings, so now the number has jumped to 5 and $32,000 something. She doesn't quite make this much. Together she and I are well above the $32,000 something, but does she alone need to make above this number? Will the NVC add her and my income together or not? It's a heck of a question to get wrong... Thanks.
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-04-24 00:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow to know when documents are received by NVC
Is there a way to check online if my documents have been received by the NVC or only by phoning? Also, if I don't know, will I eventually get something in the mail or by email?
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-04-29 02:24:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresRFE question
How long might it take for them to decide if they want some evidence after receiving the AOS? Do they read those in a timely fashion?
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-05-07 15:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresRFE question
I don't call the NVC. I don't call anyone out of country. I don't live in America or have Skype. If I have an RFE will they call or email me? Thanks.
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-05-07 15:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWedding Photos


Regarding photos, they can be 4 to an 8.5 x 11 page. No need for individual glossies. Just show them your wedding and all the guests having wedding type fun.

Just print them from a computer? That'll work okay?
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-05-07 16:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWedding Photos
So I'm a cheapo cheapy perfectionist with it comes to my photo albums and I wasn't really planning on printing any wedding photos until we got to America where I have this place that does them exactly the way I want for a super price, but I see that EVERYONE takes photos to the interview and interviewers seem quite interested in looking at them although I haven't seem photos called for in any official documents. How important are they and if I just print a few over here to take along, how many might do?
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-05-07 16:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMedical in Country of Citizenship/Residence or Interview?
Hello,

My husband is Slovak. We live in Slovakia, but the Slovak embassy doesn't do cr-1 interviews, so we have to go to Prague for our interview. Will he need to have his medical in Prague (or somewhere in Czech) or here in Slovakia? I'm thinking Prague, but I don't really want to wait for the letter because he has off this week from work and could try to get it done.

Thanks!
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-05-11 01:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCase Complete!!!
I'm happy for you.
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-05-22 02:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresRFE question - Resubmit how much?
Actually, do I really need to redo the I-864? The directions say: Please pay specific attention to the questions marked in the attached I-864/A checklist. You will need to complete and submit a new form with the changes noted on the attached checklist. BUT they didn't check 'missing or incomplete forms' OR [ ] ___________________________________ (sponsor/joint sponsor) must complete and submit an I-864. Only Supporting Documents missing or incomplete
[x] You as a joint sponsor have not provided proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status.

That's the only thing. So do I need to redo the I864 or just send that one sheet of paper (along with the letter they sent me)?
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-05-19 02:40:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresRFE question - Resubmit how much?
So I got an RFE. Two silly things.

1. I didn't send a copy of my passport proving my American citizenship since I figured they already had it from my I-130. So now I have to redo the I864 and also send the copy of my passport, BUT (this is the question part), I don't have to send in all those papers again like my taxes and evidence of my domicile, etc etc. I only have to resend the I-864 and my missing passport copy, right?

2. My mom is a joint sponsor, but we don't live in my same household, so she filled out another I-864, not the I-864A, but now they are requesting I-864, so I guess we do that with original signature in blue or black ink. The last was original in black. I'm not sure how to get them to believe it. Any suggestions on that? Hers was even on American size paper and mine on European because she mailed it to me from America and then I mailed it to the NVC from Slovakia with my packet.

But, praise God, these things really aren't so big or bad at all! Nothing actually about money! Yeah!

PS Again with my mom. We don't have to resend her taxes or assets or anything like that if they didn't ask for them, right?
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-05-19 02:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion about interview letter checklist
For those of you who have already done this, you know what I'm talking about when I say that in the interivew letter there is a list of stuff to bring with a letter code behind it letting you know if it's been accepted, etc.
Ours says:
CORRESPONDENCE INSTRUCTIONS C
BUT there is no key at the bottom that says what C means. Does it just mean to bring the letter along to the interview?
Thank you!

lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-06-30 03:50:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCR1 Approved
Thanks everyone
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-08-27 01:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCR1 Approved
Hi All,

We finally had our CR1 interview in Bratislava. I went with my husband (Slovak citizen), and it was super easy, so I just want to encourage you all. She didn't want anything extra - pictures or anything, just the documents previously sent. She asked very basic questions. How we met, when we met, where we want to move in America, what we want to do there, if we live together in Slovakia and for how long. I think that was about it. Nothing like in the movies. She was super friendly and printed up the visa right then and there so we didn't have to have it mailed to us!

Laura
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-08-26 02:45:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresImmigtation visa processing(form DS.230) fee bill is coming ,what next ?
QUOTE (Miriam n Alain @ May 18 2007, 07:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (aicha @ May 18 2007, 08:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Try the following link - it is very useful - it will give you all the details you need. Just remember to not send in anything without your notices and to make sure your case number from the NVC is at the top of each and every piece of paper submitted.

http://travel.state..../info_3176.html

In the drop down list you will select your country's consulate. Good luck and hope this helps - I know it helped me!

Yea every country is diffirent like for cuba when you recive the Info pack after paying the IV Fee bill you get a coverletter that you need to return with the documents they dont send you the acctual DS-230 they send you get a paper that tells you to go to the website listed above and pick your country and then there it tells you what to do.


I paid the IV Fee bill online and got the cover letter which says I should follow the applicant document processing instructions. Do I have to wait for some paper response from the NVC or even an electronic one, or can I just follow the directions and begin collecting the documents and then mail them in when I have them? Thanks.
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-04-20 07:49:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 Help (Do I send in photos now?)
Haole, this one's for you:

Help much appreciated.[/quote]
No definite answer. We send 2 pics of the wedding for the initial petition. My wife had 40 captioned pictures for the interview. 10 pages with 4 on each page.
Made it thru without problems.
[/quote]


I've been wondering about photos a lot myself seeing some people on the forum going into the interview with 350 - which is great for those of you that did it! 40 seems more like my style. I'm wondering though, what they were of? - just the wedding or time before, after the wedding, etc? What did you include? You also said 10 pages with 4 on each, so was this made just for the interview - it wasn't part of a scrapbook that you made for yourselves? I'm wondering if it's bad to look like you make a small photoalbum just for the consul because that's what I'm doing, but I don't know if I want to try to make it look like that's not what I'm doing. Was it just on regular sheets of paper of bound together in some way? Sorry for so many questions, but if sounds like you have the same type of thinking as I about photos.
Thanks a bunch!
lustanovskaFemaleSlovakia2009-05-13 02:42:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionAffidavits - signed in front of a notary?

Thank you! :)


janulka27FemaleSlovakia2014-03-04 07:41:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionAffidavits - signed in front of a notary?

Hello,

 

I am in the process of preparing the documents for I-751. And I have a question regarding the affidavits - do they have to be signed in front of a notary?

Thank you very much for your advice!


janulka27FemaleSlovakia2014-03-03 13:44:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionChild born to the marriage

Dear All,

 

I'd like to ask you for a quick help. I'm about to file for ROC. Together with my US husband we have a daughter that was born to our marriage couple of months ago. Do I need to fill out Part 4. (Information about your children) for her? Or submitting her birth certificate is enough?

I'm just confused if the Part 4. is only for children applying with the petitioner or also for children born to the marriage.

 

Thanks a lot for your advice!!


janulka27FemaleSlovakia2014-03-13 09:27:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionExtremely Confused on Process, Please Help!

You need some kind of proof that you live on the same address - anything... Plus get 2 affidavits from your US friends - I'm not sure how important it is but it's mentioned in the instructions...And the filing fee is $505 and for biometrics it's $85. We are going to write two separate check. Most important is to send the right amount of money. Good luck!


janulka27FemaleSlovakia2014-03-14 04:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresApplied for Fiancee visa but don't have an intention to live in the US?
Hi all,

I'd really appreciate your advice. We applied for Fiancee visa and everything goes fine - we just received NAO2. But our plans have changed a bit - my fiance got a job in Europe from May '12. What's great and I'm very happy about it. But what are we supposed to do now? When I get my visa can I go to the US, get married there, stay there for a month and then go back to Europe? It doesn't make sense for me to start the process of Adjustment of status, or? I just don't want to break any bureaucracy rules. Any idea what's correct to do in this kind of situation?

Thanks a lot for your advice!!
janulka27FemaleSlovakia2012-01-14 09:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresstarting on the K-1 process.

Good day to all of you guys!

My girlfriend is a U.S. citizen (naturalized) and me had been engaged last June 2011...so we decided to use the K-1 process to be married officially. since she can't come home in the Philippines permamnently, (she's a member of US air force) i had to adjust and i need to live in the USA to be with her.

Let me tell you our story, we had been in a relationship 6 years ago here in the Philippines when we were still college students, now she gone to the USA after her father's petition had been approved and she went on to work in the military...we had been separated and had our own lives the past 6 years...last may 2011, by chance we talked again in facebook and from there we both confessed that we still love one another (we are always happy back then)

so there, we met last January 2012 and she will be passing our K1 petition in few days (she just got back in US yesterday) and we are more in-love with each other after we met again personally, we had fun and we're very comfortable around each other.

i just want your opinions on our packet if we ever missed some things:
i'll list the packet in order.

PART 1
1. cover letter
2. form G-1145
3. form I-129F
4. explanation of meeting in 2 years (single page attachment)
5. proof of meeting in 2 years * her boarding passes and itinerary (her flight had been canceled so we included the canceled boarding passes too)
* our receipts of flight reservation, itinerary/tickets and boarding passes going to our vacation.
* photos of us inside the plane
* our hotel/resort tickets, food order receipts
* photos of our stay in the resort
* other activities places we visited receipts
* photos on the said places we visited.
6. form G-325A for me and my soon-to-be-wife and our 2x2 passport photos.

PART 2
7. letters of intent to marry from both of us.
8. me and my fiance's ring reciepts (we bought each other a ring even though we're just engaged--- its the same rings we will use on our wedding day <3)
9. the reciept of FEDEX i got after i sent a christmas package to her and photos of my gift to her and a copy of my handwritten letter for her (with translation)
10. the story of our relationship from the first time we met and until we came to this decision of getting married and living together and our future plans.
11. proof of ongoing relationship * facebook messages (with translation) about 20 pages.
* yahoomail messages (with translation) about 7 pages.
* skype call logs (we blacked out the conversations and just highlighted the dates and durations of the call)

QUESTIONS:

1. will our packet pass on the standards of USCIS (or adjudicators)?
2. is it fine to highlight stuffs using a marker?
3. is it ok to black out (as in drawing a black line to hide it) our conversations and just note that its a personal conversation?
4. we used blue pen for our signatures, is it ok?
5. we wrote notes (explanations) on all of the pages of our petition (except for the forms and cover letters)...will it help?
6. also, how long is it gonna take to get your petition approved?



Hello, you've done it very well in my opinion:) We highlighted for instance relevant stamps on the copies of our passports and names & dates on the flight tickets.
And how long it's gonna take - hard question - I got a call from the embassy after approximately 4 months - that I can make an appointment for an interview. Good luck!
janulka27FemaleSlovakia2012-02-15 17:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI-129F - proof of having met and letter of intent

Hello all,

Me and my fiancé are about to start the K1 visa process. I read on a German immigration forum that obviously some people are getting their I-129F applications rejected for the reason of not having sent in enough proof of having met in the past two years - despite them saying that they sent in boarding passes, passenger itineraries, passport stamps, photos, and the like. That just completely scares me and makes me feel insecure about having enough proof myself.

Our plans so far are to send for proof of having met: passport stamps, boarding passes (only one of them has the year on it though - the other ones only contain month/day), passenger receipts, 12 photos, receipts from places we have visited together, and three e-mails for each visit (saying things such as "I can't wait to see you" etc. I know e-mails are not necessary, but we think they might support our other documents.

Shall we send affidavits from our families along, certifying that they have met me/my fiancé in the last two years?

Also, I sent my letter of intent off to my fiancé yesterday. I typed it, and dated it (the date is placed on top of the letter and typed), and signed it in blue ink. Now I am starting to wonder if I should have hand-written the date again next to my signature... ? Could not doing so give us an RFE? Nothing has been sent to the USCIS yet, so I could still mail my fiancé a new letter of intent if necessary.

Any advice is appreciated!!

Thanks!



I think that matching passport stamps with flight tickets are one of the most important evidence. We included also I-129F supplement:Part B, Question 18, Explanation of meeting in person. - It was just one paper where I chronologically wrote when we met, where we met and how can we prove it: (flight ticket from-to, stamp in the passport page xy, picture of us in the city xy - number of picture - don't forget to write your names on the back side of the picture & when and where it was taken). I think it's a good idea to include it, it will make your case more 'uebersichtlich':)

One picture from each trip is enough. We also included few emails from different period.

Check this out: http://www.visajourn...content/k1guide It was a big help for us.

And your letter of intent will be just fine. You did it right. Wish you viel Glueck!:)
janulka27FemaleSlovakia2012-02-15 11:32:00