ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow long to wait for packet?
I mailed the I184 bill at the end of last month. the check cleared 10/4 but I still haven't gotten the i184 packet. How long should I wait for it before I request another?
thermophileNot TellingCanada2006-10-25 11:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow long does one have to respond to the NVC?
I'd read some simular stories about the i130 never expiring, but am not sure if I totally believe that. We hadn't sent anything to NVC in the first year so I can't even say if forms and fees would have really been discarded. We would rather live in Canada, we're only resuming the US process so we can live together while I go to school-so it's not like I researched enough to see if I could send in the i130 then let it sit several years. That's up to you if you want to take that risk.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2006-11-02 11:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow long does one have to respond to the NVC?
Our US app took forever and the i130 was actually approved after I (USC) moved to Canada. 1 year after we got the first letter from NVC we got a second saying that it had been a year, all forms and fees sent to NVC were now expired, and if they didn't hear from us in 1 more year the whole application would be thrown out-I assumed that included the i130 approval.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2006-11-01 20:27:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI184 joint sponsor
does anyone know where I can get a copy of the authorization for release of tax data?
thermophileNot TellingCanada2006-11-21 11:39:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI184 joint sponsor
I meant I-864. I'm making up numbers now
thermophileNot TellingCanada2006-11-20 13:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI184 joint sponsor
does my joint sponsor need to sign a tax release form? I wasn't thinking and alread filled out the one that came in the packet. if they do need that form where can I get another?

Also, my grandparents are going to be joint sponsors. Do both of them fill out the forms (as in put both names in the appropriate fields) or does just one person officially be the sponsor?
thermophileNot TellingCanada2006-11-20 12:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-864
But if you need an I864A that has to be notarized. weird
thermophileNot TellingCanada2006-12-04 19:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI864 supporting docs
thanks for that info. did you have to supply proof of her citizenship? I see that joint sponsors need to show proof of citizenship but I can't figure out if household members need to.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2006-12-05 18:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI864 supporting docs
that's what I was guessing. so actually asked her to get a tax transcript, that way I know it will be fine. just curious, what question did you fill out incorrectly? There were a few of them where I wasn't exactly sure what the correct answer was.

thanks
thermophileNot TellingCanada2006-12-05 10:45:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI864 supporting docs
My grandparents are joint sponsoring my husband. So got all the papers back from Grandma and the copied 1040 that she sent me isn't signed. Is this going to be acceptable or is it an automatic RFE?

Thanks
thermophileNot TellingCanada2006-12-04 20:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresTimeline to hear from Montreal???
there is a thread in the Canada regional area about this. Our case was completed April 3rd and we still haven't heard anything. I'm calling NVC again next week
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-06-07 16:23:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow long does it take for NVC to receive case?
yup, you can just use our timeline as the longest estimate. Whoo hoo 15 months for I130 to be approved with no RFEs. Our file is apparently flagged-"toss in corner and forget at every opportunity"
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-06-15 15:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow long does it take for NVC to receive case?
it really can take the full 3 months for NVC to get your case into the system. ours did, but along every step we seem to be the outlier. hopefully you'll have better luck
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-06-15 14:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresformI-864 LINE25 ?
I think you need to fill in the past 3 years but are only required to submit tax transcripts for the last year. I submitted all 3 years tax transcripts cause it can't hurt.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-06-16 11:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWaiting forever
we are at their mercy but I really don't think that contacting the ombudsman would hurt anything. if nothing else it may make someone dig out your app and explain why it's taking so long. maybe they'll figure out that it should be quickly dealt with.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-06-13 12:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWaiting forever
a lawyer can't actually get anything pushed through CIS any quicker-any lawyer that claims to be able to speed up your process is blatently lying. Some of us just get screwed, yes it sucks and we should fight it but going into debt to hire a lawyer isn't a good investment. However, that said you do have an extra twist with the previous filing. Even without having that type of complication it took over a year for our I-130 to be approved, I just kept asking my Senator to check into it every couple of months.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-06-11 17:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresto include PAY STUBS WITH i-864?
even if you require a co-sponsor include the pay stubs. I don't think that my RFE was becasue the contract was suspected fake, but that the people at NVC that look through the supporting documents are so used to paystubs that they consider them required.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-06-19 13:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresto include PAY STUBS WITH i-864?
send pay stubs. I got RFE'd because I didn't send them. I sent a 6 month contract instead which you'd think is better proof of current employment than a monthly paystub but apparently it wasn't good enough.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-06-19 09:31:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow long is the wait for CR1/IR1 Iterviews in Montreal
Hey Elm

would you mind putting your dates in here? http://www.visajourn...showtopic=69462

there aren't very many of us CR1/IR1 types and two of us (Neiks and myself) have atypical timelines. I think it'd be helpful for the people further back in the process

thanks
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-06-17 14:23:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow long is the wait for CR1/IR1 Iterviews in Montreal
check out the Canada forum. there is a Cr1/IR1 specific discussion. adding your dates to that would help everyone. Montreal has slowed down since ourMao got their interview. our case was complete 4/3/07 and we still don't have an interview date.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-06-13 12:45:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswant to know if this is very required?
"required" is an absolute term-there's no such thing as sort of required. you'll loose more time by not sending the coversheet than you'll gain by sending everything a day or two earlier. if they don't just REF you for it-that will cost you weeks. you could try Jame's shortcuts to generate your own barcode sheet.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-07-23 12:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-864 Notarized?
if the form you're working on has a space for notarization then you are looking at one of the old versions of the form. don't use it-go download the new version from the CIS website
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-07-23 21:57:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-864 question
check that you are using the correct form. the i864 that we used a few months ago did not need notarized, the old forms did need to be notarized. you'll probably get a REF if you use the old version of the form.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-08-18 00:46:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDoes the petioners past effect the benificiary?
I think that a juvi record would be sealed and wouldn't come up in your background check but you might want to check that with someone familiar with British records. Maybe someone else knows how Adam Walsh checks deal with the USC?
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-08-29 15:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIR/CR Visa and I-130 Form...
1 year after our i130 was approved we got the letter saying that everything would be tossed in a year. That letter also said that all forms and fees would need to be resubmitted to NVC-didn't apply to us becuase we hadn't submitted anything. But we did not have to resubmit the i130. maybe we got lucky or maybe the i130 approval doesn't really expire. best to call or write USCIS for clarification.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-08-26 15:23:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIR/CR Visa and I-130 Form...
NVC will notify them once a year has gone by with no contact that they have one more year before their case is "expired". Expired isn't the exact word they use but I can't remember how they state it. Basically you have two years to file those forms. And if I recall correctly, the letter from NVC actually say "contact" not "forms filed" so maybe if your friend just sends a letter stating that she/he is working on getting a co-sponsor, that would count as contact and extend the freshness of their case. But if they stick to the timeline that you mentioned they should be fine.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-08-25 11:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswhat good is writing to your Senator ?
do you have a specific issue that you need assistance with? My app. was lost and was quickly found once my senator's office got involved. And once my hubby's here with green card in hand I'm going to write my senators, to explain what a backwards slow process this all is, but that's just so they have another tick in the "concerned about immigration" column. I'm one of those types that write my senators fairly often about many issues that concern me, get involved in democracy and all that.

But if you just want your senator to speed up the processing of your app or somehow make the interviewer go easy on you, you might as well save the ink. They can't and shouldn't do anything like that.

Edited by thermophile, 02 September 2007 - 02:53 PM.

thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-09-02 14:50:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNVC Adds woes to My wounds
you might try calling NVC and see if they got your last letter. I got 3 identical REFs, one of them was sent the same day our case was approved!?? no idea why I got 3, but it didn't seem to cause any problem at the interview. Expecting them to carefully read your file before they send you letters is probably asking too much.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-09-04 19:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMedical Exam and Marijuana (Jamaica)
you can figure out what tests were ordered by looking at the lab sheet that they give you. HIV and RPR (an antibody indicative of syphilis) were the only tests requested. And while it is possible to test for drugs or metabolites in plasma, it is pretty expensive and uncommon.
I'm not sure about Canada, but I know in the US you must sign a form consenting to a drug test or have a court order forcing you to get one. It's illegal for someone to test you without that consent.

Absolutely deny drug use. And stop using at least till after you get to the States.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-09-01 15:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMedical Exam and Marijuana (Jamaica)
there is no peeing in a cup in Canadian medicals. the only lab work is HIV and syphilis tests.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-08-31 19:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMedical Exam and Marijuana (Jamaica)
really? Is there a list somewhere showing which countries have drug screens and which don't? It's not part of the medical for Canadians. I'd be interested in seeing which countries require drug screens. Is it simply based on stereotypes or actual statistics?

I've never been and even though the American women that marry Jamaicans seem to be a little snarky I'd still like to get there someday.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-08-31 18:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMedical Exam and Marijuana (Jamaica)
a drug screen isn't part of the medical. don't show up stoned or reeking of weed and deny any use EVER.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-08-30 16:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresShould we both go to the Interview ?
the petitioner should be allowed into the interview-just like a lawyer or interpretor would be. If the consulate doesn't let you (the petitioner) into the interview room, demand to know why.

I went with my husband just to calm him down-and because Canadian interviews are in Montreal which is a beautiful city. I'm sure it would have been fine if he went alone.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-09-06 11:17:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurestaxes
QUOTE (fwaguy @ Sep 20 2007, 02:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (thermophile @ Sep 20 2007, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You'll get a larger refund by filing jointly. you'll include his income on line 7 then exclude the first $80,000 of his foreign income using form 2555. My husband already had a SSN, so I'm not sure how long it takes to get an ITTN but you might want to apply for that soon.


You cannot just apply for a SSN. A person must be in the USA AND be work authorized at the time they apply.



I didn't say to just apply for an SSN. I said that my husband already had an SSN, therefore I don't know how long it takes to receive an ITTN after you apply for it.

please read before commenting
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-09-20 13:31:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurestaxes
You'll get a larger refund by filing jointly. you'll include his income on line 7 then exclude the first $80,000 of his foreign income using form 2555. My husband already had a SSN, so I'm not sure how long it takes to get an ITTN but you might want to apply for that soon.

Edited by thermophile, 20 September 2007 - 01:13 PM.

thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-09-20 13:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSpousal immigration vs. grad school woes
oh one more thing about the cosponsor. the cosponsor is an individual not a couple. so if one parent makes enough money themself to support 4 people (self, spouse, you, wife) ask him/her to be your cosponsor. if their money needs to be pooled then you and one parent will fill out the i864 and the other parent will use the i864a. not a huge deal just something to keep in mind.

this is probably tmi at this point in the game.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-11-26 11:40:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSpousal immigration vs. grad school woes
sarcasm people-stop looking for reasons to be offended. obviously, I'm in the same boat and also married a foreigner-love is usually pretty unreasonable.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-11-26 11:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSpousal immigration vs. grad school woes
yes you are idiots for getting married to a foreigner, but now that's done its done.

I'd say apply now and worry about changing your address later when you need to.
Check out the timelines in the Canada forum for current waits k3 vs. cr1. we opted for cr1-which became ir-1 because the process took so long. but it seems now that k's are being processed a bit faster than cr-1s, but she won't be able to work for several months after moving. you're call.
as far as income goes-your's probably won't be enough even if you end up at a richer school. your parents are willing to be cosponsors then take them up on it. you'll fill out all of the forms but your income won't really be considered, just your cosponsors.
good luck with everything
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-11-25 23:17:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresU.S. Senator's Help
unless your congressperson is specifically involved in one of the immigration related committees, I'd suggest contacting one of your senators. Senators tend to have much larger staffs. also contact their office in your home state rather than the DC office. I doubt that there is much they can do for you in expediting your case, but if it is lost they are the only way you can get any info. They can contact the visa center and see if you are in the system by your name whereas (to my knowledge) you can only base an inquiry on your number.
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-12-11 17:27:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSenators / Representatives
Domenici isn't running again because he's completely senile. you might try Bingaman. How did they know that he didn't vote in NM last election-there's no record of who actually votes. He should call Bingaman's office and ask to talk to the assistant that deals with immigration issues. Be careful about asking too many congressional people for help at the same time. Someone else on VJ had a problem because she contacted her congressman and one of her senators at the same time. both offices said the other one was helping her so they couldn't.

he should be polite but persistant. if he can't get the immigration LA on the phone, he should at least get their name and personal email info. I generally think that calling a senator is a better idea than congressperson because of the differences in staff sizes between the Senate and House. Call the Bingaman's office in Sante Fe or ABQ-where ever it is-rather than the office in DC
thermophileNot TellingCanada2007-12-12 17:03:00