I-864 Domicile Question

[TonyUK 0]

Just wondering as my wife has only been here in the uk 9 months of her 2 year visa, what proof would i say that she has domicile in the USA as this looks very confusing, thanks

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

It's really fairly straightforward. If she's only been in the UK, it will be quite easy indeed. Things that she can use:

* Does she have a US bank account? US credit card? If these still have a US address on them, bring statements to the interview. If she closed her US account, she can (and probably should) open a new one with a US address. This can be her parents' address.

* Has she kept her US driving licence up to date? This too will have a US address.

* Is she still registered to vote in the US? A voter registration card can help.

* Do you have anywhere to live lined up yet over there? This can be with relatives or not. If you're staying with her parents, have them write a letter saying you'll be staying there.

* Does she still get any mail delivered to her over there? Something recent could help.

* Quite a few people have said they brought quotations for moving house with them -- just contact a mover and ask them to email you a quote.

* Does she have a job lined up there yet? Is she looking? If so, bring any correspondence.

This is usually not a biggie in London. I lived in the UK for 12 years, never intended to move back to the US, and had NO licence, NO US bank account or credit card, NO job, etc. I opened an account, had my parents forward me mail I had received from the Dept of Social Security recently, and brought a letter I had written to the Embassy outlining all the steps we were taking to abandon residency in the UK and resume it in America. If I could do it after 12 years, I'm sure your wife can after 9 months!

Good luck!

[TonyUK 0]

It's really fairly straightforward. If she's only been in the UK, it will be quite easy indeed. Things that she can use:

* Does she have a US bank account? US credit card? If these still have a US address on them, bring statements to the interview. If she closed her US account, she can (and probably should) open a new one with a US address. This can be her parents' address.

* Has she kept her US driving licence up to date? This too will have a US address.

* Is she still registered to vote in the US? A voter registration card can help.

* Do you have anywhere to live lined up yet over there? This can be with relatives or not. If you're staying with her parents, have them write a letter saying you'll be staying there.

* Does she still get any mail delivered to her over there? Something recent could help.

* Quite a few people have said they brought quotations for moving house with them -- just contact a mover and ask them to email you a quote.

* Does she have a job lined up there yet? Is she looking? If so, bring any correspondence.

This is usually not a biggie in London. I lived in the UK for 12 years, never intended to move back to the US, and had NO licence, NO US bank account or credit card, NO job, etc. I opened an account, had my parents forward me mail I had received from the Dept of Social Security recently, and brought a letter I had written to the Embassy outlining all the steps we were taking to abandon residency in the UK and resume it in America. If I could do it after 12 years, I'm sure your wife can after 9 months!

Good luck!

Hi thanks for quick reply. Well she only has her drivers license, but our sponsor is going to ber her parents in the USA, so i was gonna kinda say to the embassy that she was on staying over here temporarily as they cant exactly say shes a permanant resident of UK if she has a 2 year limit on her visa. some people say domocile doesnt matter if joint sponsors like her parents are signing an afadavit. Thanks

[MargotDarko 0]

Domicile of the main sponsor does matter even when there are joint sponsors, but having only been gone 9 months and also still have a valid US drivers license, means that your wife should not have trouble proving US domicile. Make sure she puts USA for domcile on the I-864 and that you use her parents address as her permanent address when possible on the forms and as your US address. London is leinient about it, and I would be surprised if it even came up in this situation.

It's really fairly straightforward. If she's only been in the UK, it will be quite easy indeed. Things that she can use:

* Does she have a US bank account? US credit card? If these still have a US address on them, bring statements to the interview. If she closed her US account, she can (and probably should) open a new one with a US address. This can be her parents' address.

* Has she kept her US driving licence up to date? This too will have a US address.

* Is she still registered to vote in the US? A voter registration card can help.

* Do you have anywhere to live lined up yet over there? This can be with relatives or not. If you're staying with her parents, have them write a letter saying you'll be staying there.

* Does she still get any mail delivered to her over there? Something recent could help.

* Quite a few people have said they brought quotations for moving house with them -- just contact a mover and ask them to email you a quote.

* Does she have a job lined up there yet? Is she looking? If so, bring any correspondence.

This is usually not a biggie in London. I lived in the UK for 12 years, never intended to move back to the US, and had NO licence, NO US bank account or credit card, NO job, etc. I opened an account, had my parents forward me mail I had received from the Dept of Social Security recently, and brought a letter I had written to the Embassy outlining all the steps we were taking to abandon residency in the UK and resume it in America. If I could do it after 12 years, I'm sure your wife can after 9 months!

Good luck!

Hi thanks for quick reply. Well she only has her drivers license, but our sponsor is going to ber her parents in the USA, so i was gonna kinda say to the embassy that she was on staying over here temporarily as they cant exactly say shes a permanant resident of UK if she has a 2 year limit on her visa. some people say domocile doesnt matter if joint sponsors like her parents are signing an afadavit. Thanks

[T and M 1]

It's really fairly straightforward. If she's only been in the UK, it will be quite easy indeed. Things that she can use:

* Does she have a US bank account? US credit card? If these still have a US address on them, bring statements to the interview. If she closed her US account, she can (and probably should) open a new one with a US address. This can be her parents' address.

* Has she kept her US driving licence up to date? This too will have a US address.

* Is she still registered to vote in the US? A voter registration card can help.

* Do you have anywhere to live lined up yet over there? This can be with relatives or not. If you're staying with her parents, have them write a letter saying you'll be staying there.

* Does she still get any mail delivered to her over there? Something recent could help.

* Quite a few people have said they brought quotations for moving house with them -- just contact a mover and ask them to email you a quote.

* Does she have a job lined up there yet? Is she looking? If so, bring any correspondence.

This is usually not a biggie in London. I lived in the UK for 12 years, never intended to move back to the US, and had NO licence, NO US bank account or credit card, NO job, etc. I opened an account, had my parents forward me mail I had received from the Dept of Social Security recently, and brought a letter I had written to the Embassy outlining all the steps we were taking to abandon residency in the UK and resume it in America. If I could do it after 12 years, I'm sure your wife can after 9 months!

Good luck!

It sounds like your experience could teach me something. I have been in the UK for and and a half years. Still have drivers license, bank accounts, credit card, mail, etc. mostly to parents house, but own apartment in Washington, DC. Wife is Bolivian. Met here in England. Married in Bolivia. Getting Green Card, but intend to stay in England for longer....at least until I finish my studies in 2010. We are putting her name on my accounts and my apartment in DC. Filing taxes jointly in the US every year.

Will she be able to keep the green card she is likely to receive this summer? We have heard that we will have to make a trip to the US every six months. That seems a bit oppressive, but is it 5.5 months or between 6-12 months???

Sounds like maintaining residency is no problem for me, the USC.....for my new wife, however, I'm not sure.

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated!!!!