ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)What's the best way to send the packet from Sweden?
OK, thanks for the advice!
saracitaFemaleSweden2012-06-21 05:52:00
Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)What's the best way to send the packet from Sweden?
About to send my AOS and DS-230 soon from Sweden... Anyone know the best way to send them? Regular swedish mail, Fed Ex, DHL... or something else?

Also, should would it make more sense to send them together? My DS-230 should be done tomorrow and my AOS can be sent as soon as I get my IRS transcripts any day now (hopefully). Should I wait for the AOS before I send in the DS-230?

Thanks for any and all tips!

Sarah
saracitaFemaleSweden2012-06-20 17:14:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAre we allowed to visit to USA while visa application is pending?
Thanks you guys, I feel much better about everything now!
saracitaFemaleSweden2012-06-20 16:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAre we allowed to visit to USA while visa application is pending?
Hi VJers,

Am totally stressing right now so hopefully some kind souls out there can help!

Right now my husband (Swedish) and I (American) are in the process of getting him a CR1/IR1 visa for entering the US. We currently live in Sweden with our two daughters, who have dual citizenship. Our original plan was to have the visa ready so we could move to the US by Sept 1, in time for our older daughter to begin school in the US. But now it looks doubtful that we will be approved by that date so we are trying to make another plan.

The new plan would be that we go to the US in August. My daughters and I should (as I understand it) have no problem as we are US citizens, even though I have been living in Sweden for the last 11 years, right? And my husband can come with us on a tourist visa and tell the customs officer that he is there on holiday and should have evidence (a return ticket and a letter stating has a business engagement ) to prove he has the intent to return to Sweden. Then he can hang out with us in Sweden during the month or so waiting time until he gets his interview appointment.

And during the time we are in the US is it legal for me to establish residence, rent an apt, and have my daughter register for school etc?

I guess my husband will not be able to work in the US until he gets his papers, which will suck, but at least we can go together.

Anyone know if this is totally wrong/illegal or if it would be ok to do this??

Any advice for what or what not to say while going through customs?

Thanks in advance!!

Sarah in Sweden
saracitaFemaleSweden2012-06-20 08:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion about AOS (I-864)

Since you are now unemployed, and the past income in Sweden doesn't count for the I-864 anyway, I see no need for you to include your past pay stubs from there, or from your husband.


Thanks for your reply!

Yeah, I wasn't going to enter his income on the form, but I thought maybe including his paystubs or income statements would somehow prove that he had a steady job here, which would make them believe his US job offer letter more - in case they doubted it for some reason. But perhaps it wouldn't help?

In any case, it sounds like it would not be required.
saracitaFemaleSweden2012-06-30 16:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion about AOS (I-864)

*Moved from Tourist visa forum to IR1/CR1 forum*

Take a look at the I-864 FAQ link in my signature below. It may have some info that can help re: domicile as well as income and assets.


OK, I found this quote in the FAQ:

Can a credible offer of employment for the visa applicant replace or supplement an insufficient Affidavit of Support?

No, the law does not recognize offers of employment in place of the I-864.

A job offer may show ability of the applicant to overcome ineligibility as a public charge, but does not meet any I-864 requirement.

---

So I guess that means that my husband's job offer is not worth anything??!

I mean we have the assets so we should be safe, but I have a hard time understanding why a job offer for the applicant cannot be counted towards the income requirement. What difference does it make if it is from me the sponsor or my husband the applicant? Hmmph.
saracitaFemaleSweden2012-06-30 16:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion about AOS (I-864)

What type of visa is your husband hoping to have that will give him work authorization?

You've posted in a tourist visa forum which is inappropriate for your plans.



It is a IR-1 visa. He got the job offer now, but he wouldn't be starting work until his visa was approved.

Thanks for alerting me I posted in the wrong place, newbie mistake! i will see if I can move the thread or else repost in the correct area.
saracitaFemaleSweden2012-06-30 16:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion about AOS (I-864)
Hi all,

I am working on getting all the paperwork ready for the Affidavit of Support and had a few questions about what proof of our finances we need to include...

Our situation is this: I am American, husband Swedish, two dual-citizen daughters ages 3 & 6. We are currently living in Sweden but moving to US this fall. I am currently unemployed in Sweden since May and am not planning to work in the US yet... However my husband's company in Sweden has offered him a job in the US with a salary well above the 125% of the poverty limit. In addition, I have enough US assets, so we are going that route instead of getting a co-sponsor, even if my husband's job will cover the income requirement.

In terms of what proof I need to include, this is what I have so far:

- my tax returns for the past 3 years
- statements from my US accounts proving my assests
- a letter from my husband's company stating that they are going to offer him a job when he gets to the US and the salary.
- proof that we intend to establish domicile in the US (letter from my mom stating that we will live with her til we find a place, correspondence with a school about enrollment of our daughter in the fall etc.)

**Questions** -
Do I need to include paystubs from the last few months, or income statements from the past year, from my husband's job, to prove that he is really employed there? It is a swedish company so then information is all in Swedish, although I could translate it.

Anything else I would need to include?


Thanks in advance for your help!!


Sarah
saracitaFemaleSweden2012-06-30 15:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSent in (probably) the wrong marriage certificate with my IV... what should I do?
Just after sending off my packet with my IV and AOS forms I realized that I most likely sent in the wrong type of (Swedish) marriage certificate.

What I sent in was a vigselbevis (which is more like a nice card to have as a keepsake -- although it does have the justice of the peace's signature and date), when apparently what I needed to send in the vigselintyg (more of an official government document with some more info on it)...

After some days of waiting I now have ascertained a copy of the more comprehensive document, the vigselintyg. Should I send it in, or will that just confuse them since it will be arriving separate from the rest of my packet? If I do send it in should I print out the barcode cover sheet again and write a letter? Or should I risk just waiting and seeing if they approve my application anyway with the simpler vigselbevis document I sent in?

Thanks!
saracitaFemaleSweden2012-07-10 15:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSent in the AOS & IV forms - now what?
OK so last week we sent the AOS and IV forms for my husband's IR-1 visa. What will happen next?

If I get a RFE how long is it likely to take after they received our packet?

I read about a biometrics appointment, is that for IR-1 visas or is that something else?

Thanks!
saracitaFemaleSweden2012-07-10 15:32:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresGot an RFE about proving US domicile - what to do?

Those "tips" were the guidelines from the State Department website. They come from the criteria that the adjudicating officer is using.

Simply stating that you can't do will likely mean that you will not obtain the visa.

Perhaps a bit more effort on your part is required? That may include a trip to the US to establish where you will live and enroll children in school. Husband securing a job offer.



My daughters and I actually are going to the US in mid-August and will then get an apt and enroll in schools. But until then - is there nothing I can do to prove that I intend to re-establish domicile so that our application can move forward? Seems a shame to wait almost a month until I can get the papers to show our lease and school enrollment.

Would showing them our plane tickets to the US with a return date in June help?

Can I write a letter explaining stuff, or do they need to see documents as proof?

My husband has a job offer which we did include as part of our application, but it didn't seem to have helped.
saracitaFemaleSweden2012-07-21 17:27:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresGot an RFE about proving US domicile - what to do?
Thanks, the list you sent had these examples of what could be acceptable proof for re-establishing domicile:

-Find employment in the United States......... can't do as I will be a stay-at-home-mom
-Secure a residence in the United States....... can't do until we get to the US, as most landlords want to meet tenants F2F
-Register children in U.S. schools................. can't du until we get an apt
-Relinquish residence abroad....................... maybe can do - would it count to show sublet agreement we will have for the tenants who will be renting our apt?
-Other evidence of a U.S. residence ............. like what??

Anyone have any tips? Thanks!
saracitaFemaleSweden2012-07-18 18:38:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresGot an RFE about proving US domicile - what to do?
So I just got an letter about my AOS, it stated that my application was incomplete because:

[x] The (sponsor) has not provided proof of U.S. domicile.


I called them to try and understand what was wrong with my application and I still am not quite sure I understand.

My husband and I have been living in Sweden for the past 11 years so I have to prove my intent to re-establish domicile. My situation is perhaps a bit hard to prove because I am not planning on working when I go back, rather I will be a stay at home mom for a while while my husband pays the bills...

Here is what I sent them already:

- A letter from me saying I intend to re-establish domicile
- Letter from my mom saying that my family will be living with her when we arrive
- Emails with a broker discussing getting an apt (however we are going to wait til we actually move to actually get an apt)
- emails with a school and a play group discussing enrolling our daughters in the fall (we can't register for schools until we get the apt - as the schools are zoned)
- copies of my US back account statements


Does anyone out there know what they are looking for? I think they want proof that I will be moving back, but if I am not going to be working or studying, how do I prove that?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Sarah
saracitaFemaleSweden2012-07-18 18:18:00
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