Couple DS 230 & I 864 Questions

[koaxaca1 2]

Hey there :-) My husband already filled out his 230 when he visited me here in the States, but I just went over them and have a couple questions before I send them off to nvc.

DS 230:

1. So he typed in his responses except for the ones that didnt fit like his email address and his parents addresses. He used blue ink and signed in blue ink. Does the color of the ink matter?

2. This one is the one i'm concerned about: The whole year of 2009 he was traveling abroad so this will be a gap in both his residency and occupation. He didn't mark this down on the 230, but there's room for me to fill it out myself. Would this be okay or do I need him to refill it out and type up an explanation or something?

3. How strict are they about marking down all previous visits to the US?? He just marked his 3 most recent, but he has a handful more, but doesnt remember them all. Does he need to put this info on a separate piece of paper? And if so is there a specific template for this or can we just type it up ourselves?

I 864:

1. I am a commissioned based employee so my employer wouldn't be able to mark a specific salary for me. I have 6 months of pay stubs that show a gross estimate which meets the poverty line and if that's all I need then let me know please. But if it would help, I could get my employer to write up a letter stating my full time employment and what he pays me in commission but that's just half my salary; the other half is tips. These tips show up on my paystubs which I'm making copies of and sending in. I guess I'm just unsure what I should get my employer to say in an employment letter since I don't make a standard salary that will help my case here if needed? Anyone in a similar boat here?

Thanks for your help!! And Good luck to you all :-)

[koaxaca1 2]

Ohh yea he left some questions blank :-P would it be okay to just write none, n/a or same as myself here?

[msd 3]

Hey there :-) My husband already filled out his 230 when he visited me here in the States, but I just went over them and have a couple questions before I send them off to nvc.

DS 230:

1. So he typed in his responses except for the ones that didnt fit like his email address and his parents addresses. He used blue ink and signed in blue ink. Does the color of the ink matter? blue ink is fine

2. This one is the one i'm concerned about: The whole year of 2009 he was traveling abroad so this will be a gap in both his residency and occupation. He didn't mark this down on the 230, but there's room for me to fill it out myself. Would this be okay or do I need him to refill it out and type up an explanation or something? make sure that there is absolutely no gap in his residency! even if it's just a few days. it will most likely cause an RFE. i'm not sure about you filling out things on the form for him... technically i guess you shouldn't. but you kind of have to now.

3. How strict are they about marking down all previous visits to the US?? He just marked his 3 most recent, but he has a handful more, but doesnt remember them all. Does he need to put this info on a separate piece of paper? And if so is there a specific template for this or can we just type it up ourselves? you have to disclose each and every visit to the USA.

I 864:

1. I am a commissioned based employee so my employer wouldn't be able to mark a specific salary for me. I have 6 months of pay stubs that show a gross estimate which meets the poverty line and if that's all I need then let me know please. But if it would help, I could get my employer to write up a letter stating my full time employment and what he pays me in commission but that's just half my salary; the other half is tips. These tips show up on my paystubs which I'm making copies of and sending in. I guess I'm just unsure what I should get my employer to say in an employment letter since I don't make a standard salary that will help my case here if needed? Anyone in a similar boat here? add anything that you think might help explain your finances. yes, the paystubs are a good start. the letter is even better. have him explain everything that you said here. other things you can add are bank statements showing your savings. make sure you have a co-sponsor ready just in case.

Thanks for your help!! And Good luck to you all :-)

Good luck!

[JoannaV 174]

2. This one is the one i'm concerned about: The whole year of 2009 he was traveling abroad so this will be a gap in both his residency and occupation. He didn't mark this down on the 230, but there's room for me to fill it out myself. Would this be okay or do I need him to refill it out and type up an explanation or something?

3. How strict are they about marking down all previous visits to the US?? He just marked his 3 most recent, but he has a handful more, but doesnt remember them all. Does he need to put this info on a separate piece of paper? And if so is there a specific template for this or can we just type it up ourselves?

2) Don't worry about the gap in occupation. Did he not have a home address whilst travelling? If he really did have NO address then yes explain on a separate sheet of paper.

3) Yes he needs to write them all down, you can do this on a separate sheet of paper. Just write his name, case number, and DOB on the top of a sheet of paper then give the same information for the other trips as they ask for on the form. If he can't remember them all then that is fine, however make it as close as possible. (For example, if he remembers going there a couple of times in the late 1990s, then write that, with a vague estimation of how long he was in the US for.) Other UK applicants have done this successfully :-)

Oh and yes you can write "N/A" wherever you want.

[Saylin 1,605]

For question number 3 about previous visits to the USA, I'm in the same boat as I've had many visits to the USA since I live right on the border. I've already filled out the DS-230, ready to go when I get to NVC. I've uploaded the document that I'll be sending in. I edited it a bit, but I think you'll get the idea. Also, if you attach a supplemental form, make sure you note on the DS-230, on the specific question to: 'see attached supplemental sheet', or something along those lines.

ds 230 number 35.doc

Edited October 6, 2010 by Saylin

[koaxaca1 2]

Thanks for the advice. He needs to send me is Police cert from London so I'm just going to have him refill it out and send it to me to avoid RFE's. Just another quick one here:

On the educational institutions he wrote in college/high schools. Does he need to write down elementary schools too??

[Nik+Heather 121]

For your commission based income, you can also show your tax transcripts from the previous 3 years to show a consistent earning ability.

[diphen 0]

For question number 3 about previous visits to the USA, I'm in the same boat as I've had many visits to the USA since I live right on the border. I've already filled out the DS-230, ready to go when I get to NVC. I've uploaded the document that I'll be sending in. I edited it a bit, but I think you'll get the idea. Also, if you attach a supplemental form, make sure you note on the DS-230, on the specific question to: 'see attached supplemental sheet', or something along those lines.

ds 230 number 35.doc

Saylin,

Thank You for sample supplemental sheet

[Saylin 1,605]

diphen,

You're very welcome! I hope this helps you and others that are in the same boat as me.

[Canerican 242]

Hi there all,

I have some questions about the DS-230:

1. I have been to the States as a young toddler...If I call my mom and ask her about the times as a child I was to the States and she does not remember is there anything that I can do to find out dates of when I was to the States? As well there are some dates that I cannot remember because they were a while ago. How strict are they on the DS-230 about dates of visits to the US?

2. There were times when I visited the States and went to multiple different places in the USA, what do I put for location for those? Do I put everywhere I went while visiting or do I put 1 location?

3. Also when you fill out the DS-230 it is after the petition has been filed so do you put all visits up to when you send the DS-230 into the Consulate, even if your visits are to visit your fiancee?

Thank you for all your help.

God Bless

Chris