biggish data

I-129F, Regarding Question 11A

1. Since the box is too small and I have to include an attachment, would it be beneficial to write an explanation of why the marriage didn't last? Do they really care about such things?

My layman's opinion is no, they don't care. You would be wise to make sure your current fiancee is well-versed in this history though, as they may very well ask about it at her interview.

2. I don't know exactly when and where, down to the date and address of when I filed. I only have her A#. Do I really need exact date and address of where I sent the K-1? Can I just approximate?

I suggest that you provide the information you are sure of (e.g., month and year, or maybe just year). Don't guess for anything you aren't. If you provide the A number they can easily look everything else up from there, if they are so inclined.

A friend of mine didn't get a fiance visa at all. His wife (Japanese) just came here on a tourist visa and they got married. They now live in her country permanently, though they did live here for several years after they got married.

So are there any consequences to just doing that and skipping the Fiance Visa, since Japanese (my fiance) can stay here 90 days without having to file for any sort of visa?

Already discussed in your other thread.

Gaijinsan

Male

Japan

2012-02-16 20:41:00

3question at interview

Almost 7months:)

So about 300,000 minutes of waiting for one minute of interview

At least you got good news. Congratulations.

Gaijinsan

Male

Japan

2012-02-21 23:23:00

G-325A non-Roman alphabet signature

I'm filling out the form G-325A for the I-129F, and I'm stumped on how my fiancee (the beneficiary) should sign hers. She's Japanese, and usually signs documents using either pictographs or her hanko (kind of like a personal seal). Should she use the Roman alphabet version of her signature, the pictograph version or her seal? Or a combination of them maybe?

My wife signed in Japanese (katakana + kanji for her first name).

I would definitely NOT use the seal anywhere in the process however.

Gaijinsan

Male

Japan

2012-06-14 23:56:00

Divorce Decree Translation

I will have to be contrary and difficult and disagree.

Translate in the best way that preserves the meaning (although most of the vital information is probably just names and dates, like on the family register - which of course can be translated/transliterated exactly) and do it herself with the signed statement that the foregoing is a true and complete translation.

We didn't have any divorce decrees in our process, but we translated the koseki, etc., all ourselves and had zero problems.

Gaijinsan

Male

Japan

2012-06-14 23:58:00

Can I list "student" in the "Employment last 5 years" section of G325A?

So, my girlfriend was a student from April 2008-March 2010

and she worked in a hair salon from August 2010-May 2012

Can she put for her student time like:

Street and Number: None (or should she just list the name of the school)
Occupation: Student
From 4/08 To 3/10

Yes, that's fine.

Don't over-sweat the G-325A. It is one of the least important parts of the process. As long as you don't make up false information, I would rate it as extremely unlikely to cause you any problems.

Gaijinsan

Male

Japan

2012-10-25 18:57:00

Live in the US and have questions about taxes

I work as an independent contractor. I am supposed to pay taxes on my own. They are not automatically deducted from my paychecks.

I just filed some late taxes last month, and I'm actually paying more than I should because I didn't claim rent, phone, internet, transportation, etc. as expenses.

I didn't claim them as expenses, because I wanted my income earned # on my tax returns to look higher. I did this because I feel that the higher the # I have, the less chance that they'll deny my fiancee, and eventual wife, from staying in the US with me.

Unfortunately this means that I had to pay more money. Am I completely wrong about the way things work? Please let me know if you understand what I was trying to do. I live in New York, and I know that I'll eventually be asked for the last 3 years of tax returns, so I just wanted to look as strong as possible there. I plan on having a sponsor also, but I just wanted to try to make things look good.

Thanks for reading

Well, it depends on what your taxable income would have been if you had claimed all of the deductions. If it's still over the support threshold, it won't really matter -- especially if it is comfortably over.

Gaijinsan

Male

Japan

2012-12-27 21:49:00

QUOTE (trailmix @ Jan 16 2009, 10:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (tessaclair @ Jan 16 2009, 08:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Really? Hmm...I guess it just depends, then.

Also, do I NEED an employment letter? I see a lot of people mentioning it but I haven't read a single thing on the forms that require one.

And yes it does depend. No one can tell you with absolute certainty that they will not ask for the sponsor's 2008 return (you and your Father's) - this is not normally the case - certainly not usual if you are interviewing before April.

Employment letter - not necessarily. This is actually covered in the I-864 though, I really recommend that you read it through thoroughly. It is long and boring - and really important. Page 7 - item 23 (excerpt):

You may include evidence supporting your claim about your expected income for the current year if you believe that submitting this evidence will help you establish ability to maintain sufficient income.

You are not required to submit this evidence, however, unless specifically instructed to do so by a Government official.

Thanks for your help! I haven't been told that I need an employment letter, and since I don't have a job in the U.S. I guess one isn't really necessary!

Ok, so another question!!! I've read through all the forms again, and I'm filling it all out. Part 6 asks about the sponsor's income and employment. I am employed, but in Japan for a Japanese company. The instructions ask you to put down your employment and income "that you are using to meet the requirements of this form...". Since I'm not using my income in Japan as a my way to meet my requirement, what do I put down? Should I put down my salary in yen with a little note that this isn't what I'm using to meet my requirement? My dad will be a joint sponsor, so I'm using his salary to help out. Grr...this is so confusing to apply from outside the U.S.!!!

tessaclair

Female

Japan

2009-01-18 07:13:00

QUOTE (Ling Ling @ Jan 15 2009, 12:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A recent VJer contacted NVC, and it was confirmed that 2008 tax returns are NOT required until April 15.

HOWEVER, I've just been informed of a case where at interview, the beneficiary was told that a Visa would not be issued until they received a 2008 tax return.
Also note that in this case, the petitioner has already submitted 2007 1040, w-2, and employment letter that proves sufficient income.
I've advised couple to contact NVC and ask if they would intervene, to wit stating what "most recent tax return" means.

Really? Hmm...I guess it just depends, then.

Also, do I NEED an employment letter? I see a lot of people mentioning it but I haven't read a single thing on the forms that require one.

tessaclair

Female

Japan

2009-01-16 08:32:00

QUOTE (trailmix @ Jan 15 2009, 02:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi,

Well first of all you HAVE to file your taxes for 2007 (if that is the 'last year' you are referring to, if not, then disregard this). If you are talking about 2008 - well the consulate won't normally expect you or your joint sponsor to have that filed before April.

You can't use your income from Japan as a sponsor - unless that job/income will continue after you arrive in the U.S.

You can use assets instead, if you have them, for the 2 of you these must equal 3 times the 125% poverty guideline.

Also you should be thinking about how you plan to prove that you are going to reestablish your U.S. domicile.

I would highly recommend that you read the instructions for the I-864 thoroughly, if you still have questions after that I would be happy to help if I can.

I have filed for 2007, but I haven't yet filed for 2008. I'm afraid that they'll ask for my or my dad's W-2's from 2008 but I don't have any and I don't think he does yet.

Well, if I can't use my income here that's ok. My dad makes more than enough to joint sponsor my husband. As far as reestablishing my domicile, we are going to move out to California and go to school. We have some money saved up, so with that, some part-time jobs, and hopefully some student loans we'll just be your average starving grad students

As long as the embassy doesn't ask to see my tax stuff from 2008, though, I think I'll be fine...

tessaclair

Female

Japan

2009-01-14 12:10:00

Ok, so my husband and I passed the I-130 petition and we have our interview soon! We need to start working on the I-864, and I have no idea where to start.

I'm American, he's Japanese, and we live in Japan. We are applying through the embassy. I currently work in Japan for a Japanese company and make more than the poverty guideline, but I didn't file any taxes last year. My dad can be a join sponsor, but he hasn't filed this year yet. He probably won't file until the last minute because his taxes are REALLY complicated.

Can I file for the I-864EZ even if I didn't file my taxes last year? Or should I just file the I-864 and use my dad as a joint sponsor? Also, how does me quitting my job and planning to move back to the U.S. for grad school this fall factor in? Also, will they need our taxes from 2008, even if we don't even have them yet?

Sorry, I'm just really confused about how to do this!!!

tessaclair

Female

Japan

2009-01-14 11:58:00

Quick interview question

QUOTE (johndecka @ Jan 20 2009, 12:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

if u r just filing for I-130, u can just send Certify copy of marriage certifcate will do.
u can just all others at the embassy interview.

We already filed the I-130, and tomorrow is the interview. We have a certified copy and translation of the marriage certificate, but I just want to make sure that that's all they mean by "Proof of Relationship." We've already given them pictures and copies of e-mails and letters and stuff for I-130 petition last October.

tessaclair

Female

Japan

2009-01-19 10:26:00

Quick interview question

Ok, so the last thing on the "Immigrant Visa Checklist" in the U.S. Embassy website for Tokyo is "Proof of Relationship." The description reads:

Beneficiaries of family-sponsored petitions must also include:

Proof of Relationship: Please provide all original documents used to establish the qualifying family relationship.

Are they just talking about the marriage certificate? Or do we have to show more "proof" of our relationship, i.e. letters, pictures, etc. We've already shown them all that stuff for I-130 petition, so I *think* they just mean the marriage certificate.

Anyone know?

tessaclair

Female

Japan

2009-01-19 10:10:00

Interview Tokyo

QUOTE (Istan-ns @ Jan 20 2009, 10:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ahhh.. you got yours before me?!

I keep checking my E-mail all the time to see if she passed or not. And my cell phone. The suspense is killing me!

Yeah, I can't believe he was in and out so quickly!

Good luck to you and everybody else at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo today!!!

tessaclair

Female

Japan

2009-01-19 20:13:00