Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NVC Filers - June 2014	These barcodes are nothing more than your case number encoded in CODE_39 format.    As a test, just point the barcode scanner app on your smartphone at it.   They may be using OCR technology on the attention line, but I doubt it.           I did some reading on bar codes and this is what I found:   "Barcodes are often used to separate batches of paper documents for image scanning.  In this scenario, barcodes attached to separator pages contain only generic information.  Adding barcode pages adds a negligible amount to the document preparation time, but it saves time further down the line as users are able to load batches of documents into the scanner at the same time. This is a very basic use of barcodes in document processing.  However, it significantly speeds up the scanning process as human intervention is minimised."     This indicates that the AOS and IV Barcodes serve two different purposes and it is likely that sending the AOS barcode coversheet with IV documents could result in the documents being scanned as AOS docs. In other words, vaguely knowing how the boys and girls at the NVC roll, there's a good chance that this can cause loss of documents or checklists. We can learn from the person that sent it..I hope I am wrong and it can save us all a valuable 2-3 weeks.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-06-12 21:51:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Aug 2013 I-130 filers	Just random question I feel like I know the answer.   When it comes to the actual interview (i'm the petitioner)   Does my wife go on that herself? Or do I also have to attend set interview because they want to interview us both. I can understand not being like in the same room as each other but do i also need to be interviewed?   normally just the beneficiary - and as you're from the great white north it should just be that. But each consulate seems to be slightly different and some benefits from having the petitioner - but that seems to be reserved for high risk areas.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-02-21 05:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Aug 2013 I-130 filers	Got approved everyone!!   On February 20, 2014, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN.    Insane it literally feels so unreal cause the wait was so long.   Grats to everyone else approved as well   Can anyone give me a heads up as to what is next? Like what I should be doing right about now other than dancing from joy lol   after the party - fingerprints and police checks - which depending on where you are can take some time. And work out the AOS things.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-02-21 05:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Aug 2013 I-130 filers	NOA2, feels good.    On February 20, 2014, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN   all data's in the sheet, but NOA1 8/9 and transfered to CSC 2/6.   See you all in the NVC thread	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-02-20 23:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Aug 2013 I-130 filers	datapoint: received hard copy of the transfer today. Got CSC, dated Feb 7.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-02-19 04:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Aug 2013 I-130 filers	Did you find out where you were transferred to ?  2/6 is your posted transfer date..     Not sure where we were transferred too - currently in Australia so the hard copy is probably in a boat somewhere in the pacific.   From memory the NOA1 hard copy took about 2 weeks to arrive, so this one shouldn't be too far away.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-02-16 19:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Aug 2013 I-130 filers	I just received the email that our case was finally transferred.  Thats good news.   PD 8/12   hey hey, we got our transfer too!   On February 6, 2014, we transferred this case I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN to another office with the primary intention of giving you false hope.   But hey, false hope is good enough. Now to continue enjoying this Australian summer in the hope I'll be back in the PNW for next ski season!	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-02-06 21:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Aug 2013 I-130 filers	Ok so LisaYMig is the only one? So they are not doing what they did in July and missing larger chunks of petitions?     Aug 9 here. No transfer.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-02-04 15:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Aug 2013 I-130 filers	For how long this is taking I'm wondering why my wife and I put off filing the I-130 so long - we too are stuck like everyone else in the abyss of overland park. Oh well.   Anyhow, assuming NOA2 comes through at about the 13 month mark it will mean we've been married for >2 years so get the IR-1 instead of the conditional. So silver linings and all that. Plus we're together in Australia and there are worse places to be - but damn do I miss skiing.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2013-11-20 19:17:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Enter after on VWP without activating IR-1	Thanks for the insight - helps understand the process.   I did something similar when I moved to Canada (I'm a kiwi, was there on a working holiday) - was able to enter on VWP and not activate the 1 year visa on first entry - though that may have been a nice CBP Agent.   Guess we'll just see how this all plays out based on a) how long the I-130 continues to take, b) how long the NVC stages take, and c) whatever else comes up.    If I end up entering before the 2 year anniversary and get a CR-1 it'll be fine - the marginal cost removing the conditions is really just peanuts compared to the whole process. Just thankful that we can spend this time together - funny that it's easier for us to spend this time in Australia than either of our home countries.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-01-30 20:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Enter after on VWP without activating IR-1	Odd question probably - and apologies for the incorrect use of some terms...   The situation is that my wife and I are currently living together in Australia and have an I-130 in progress - hopefully all sorted around July this year. At the end of Jul and August we have a couple of weddings to attend back in the states, and our 2 year anniversary is Oct of this year.    Ideally we (well I) can enter on the VWP with the IR-1 package in hand and not use it until we re-enter after the 2 year anniversary - does anyone see any problems with this approach? Obviously wont stay beyond the 90 day limit of the VWP.   Not the biggest issue if we enter with a CR-1 but would rather avoid the extra cash and paperwork 2 years later.   Thanks,	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-01-30 03:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	US Citizen living abroad with spouse during I-130 processing	Not much to add, as the others have said, you're not alone.   I'm a kiwi, my wife is an american, we're living together in Melbourne currently - she got the subclass 462 visa. As it was a good place to wait out the processing of the I-130.   As the others have said, just show you intend to re-establish your domicile in the states when the visa is issued - which in your case should be dead easy. Enjoy your time over here, and get off to wilsons prom, the 12 apostles, and other great sights before you depart this pretty awesome place.     He has to interview in NZ unless he is a legal AU resident    Kiwis are free to live in aussie, we get issued a special category visa.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-02-16 19:39:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	I-864 Assets Only - Australia	We're approaching that fun time when we can submit our I-864 and are pondering if it would be in our best interest to file jointly.   some context: Living together in Australia High joint income in Australia - but obviously that will end when we relocate stateside.  Savings well in excess of the 3x poverty line.    Does anyone have any experience with Sydney and the AOS for assets only? Have heard that sometimes they really prefer a joint sponsor. I'm sure her parents would sign on the dotted line for us - but would prefer not to have to ask.   also - anyone know how stringent Sydney is regarding the re-establishment of domicile?   Thanks in advance Edited by mattawara, 31 March 2014 - 05:55 PM.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-03-31 17:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	DS-261 error	Same position here - but a typo in my given name (missed the h in matthew). but as I'd already paid the AOS and IV fees I cannot edit online.   Can't see it being a massive issue to fix.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-04-09 16:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	IV Package document cover sheet	I have everything ready to go but I'm not entirely sure about the cover sheet/Barcode sheet that is needed to be included.   In the online portal I obtained the document cover sheet but on it it says:     As you can see it states about the petitioners documents but at the bottom has my name and barcode as the principle applicant. As this is the IV package these are my documents. Just want to check I am using the correct cover sheet.   Also other than the biographic page the NVC guidelines say that all documents sent must be certified copies and originals. However it also says to include a photocopy of everything.   So just to double check I am including in order of position in package.   2 photos paper clipped to top left. Document cover sheet Cover Letter with my name, case number and contents of the package Certified copy of birth certificate and photocopy of the certified copy Certified copy of marriage certificate and photocopy of the certified copy Original copy of police certificate and photocopy of the original copy   Military/Divorce/Adoption papers all not applicable.   Is there anything wrong here? Getting annoyed with the lack of clarity/out of date/conflicting instructions on the NVC site and elsewhere.       I think that's the wrong cover sheet for the IV. My IV cover-letter (sitting right next to me) starts a little like this:   The next step in the immigration process is for each applicant to submit an Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration with supporting civil documents...   edit: having said that, the barcodes at the bottom are the same for the IV and AOS cover letters so it really shouldn't matter a dime - so long as each goes to the correct address.  Edited by mattawara, 09 April 2014 - 11:44 PM.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-04-09 23:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	AOS and Sufficient Proof of Domicile	I thinks it's good enough... until the USC is not doing any job in foreign country..   Cheers, but what did you mean by the second part there - the bolded part above (emphasis mine).	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-05-23 00:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	AOS and Sufficient Proof of Domicile	We're getting ready to send our i864 / AOS off to the good folk at the NVC and just want to gauge opinion on if we have sufficient proof of domicile.   Key facts: Wife (USC) is 26, and has been living out of the US for ~16 months Is in Australia on a temporary visa (living with me the kiwi spouse) Parents and all her family (except for me) are in the US   key evidence: - credit cards (3x) - bank accounts / brokerage accounts - voter reg card - drivers license (but it's AZ and they never expire anyway)   Anyone think that this might be insufficient proof?   Thanks, Edited by mattawara, 22 May 2014 - 11:03 PM.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-05-22 23:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	checklist from NVC regarding AOS	Oh wow - cannot thank you enough for this information - it could save ourselves a checklist when we are ready to submit - we entered his income on the trial run of the paperwork...   But let me get this straight...payslips for the non US job? Even if they aren't going to continue or are they asking for the payslips of your wifes to confirm the whole taxation of the foreign income? Sorry, you'd really be helping me if I can avoid this...sucks that you got one for something so small...   And they've just raised the price tag to give up US citizenship too - apparently to go to the US and leave the US for good is costly...Apparently they've built the great wall of China around their borders and who ever is in stays in and whoever is out, well better stay out unless any of them have a big tall ladder...   Such a shame, but we really don't feel settled here (even though how wonderful it is)...looks like we are hauling the ladder...   The payslips that the NVC want are for the Australian job. Although this income will cease when we depart Australia, as we listed this job on the I-864 in Part 6 as the Current Employer, the NCV needs some evidence.    I don't think the NVC cares about ensuring the tax was paid appropriately - that would be too much work for them.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-09-18 17:39:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	checklist from NVC regarding AOS	Thanks mattawara, So you are saying when you filled out the AOS you did not put your income from your 'foreign' job? We were planning on putting that information into the AOS - so you are saying we should put it on there. And what would 'proof' be considered as?   I am for once quite surprised by the lack of 'wanting' people to migrate to the US, especially if they have the funds to sustain them (and job offers) -- you'd think they would prefer more people coming and paying taxes and paying visa/GC bills. Amazed that they make this so hard to do.    No wonder when I was in the consulate in Bern to get my kids US passport there were more Americans giving up their citizenship rather than people applying for them.   we didn't include the aussie income as it will not continue once we move back and the instructions said to only include income that will continue. The proof they were looking for was pay slips - sent those a few days ago, so will know it's all good in another 4+ weeks...   When completing the AOS we did fill in my wife's job (she's the citizen) where it asked for current employment - the only income we included was from dividends. All her aussie income was however in the tax return (but not on the AOS).    Hoping this is all over soon.    It's all pretty silly really, I'm a kiwi who used to live in Canada, and was just back there on holiday - while there was talking to two friends who were in the process (equally long) of trying to give up their US citizenship... nothing is ever as simple as it ought to be.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-09-18 08:10:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	checklist from NVC regarding AOS	I'm still following in on this, but will share my experience - though it is not yet over.   We got two separate checklists on our AOS:   1 - wanting proof of employment. 2 - exactly as OP.   I found checklist 1 odd as we are qualifying on assets alone because we are currently living in Australia. We recorded the Australian job, but didn't record any income from it... But the operator said it was just "protocol". And once received the app would go onto the consulate who would make the decision on if assets are good enough. The assets better be good enough otherwise we might just settle in this country.    Like everyone else here, sick of this immigration dance. Getting old quick.	mattawara	Not Telling	Australia	2014-09-18 06:38:00