Domicile

[LA80 3]

Our interview was set for Aug 26th. As far as we know, we collected all the papers, but I am afraid the issue od domicile might cause troubles. I have read the instructions many times, but the only feeling I get is that everything is going to depend on the person who does the interview.

I-864 instructions for domicile say this (applicable to our case):

B. You are living abroad temporarily.

If you are not currently living in the United States, you must

show that your trip abroad is temporary and that you have

maintained your domicile in the United States. You can show

this by providing proof of your voting record in the United

States, proof of paying U.S. State or local taxes, proof of

having property in the United States, proof of maintaining

bank or investment accounts in the United States, or proof of

having a permanent mailing address in the United States.

Other proof could be evidence that you are a student studying

abroad or that a foreign government has authorized a

temporary stay.

My husband has decision from the ministry and a sticker in the passport that allows him temporary residence till Nov 2008. Will this be enough? He also had a permanent mailing address, but how do you prove this? Are letters that he was receiving at that address enough? He has been here since 2005, no income at all, no taxes paid. We do have a joint sponsor and his domicile is not a problem at all.

Also:

C. You intend in good faith to reestablish your domicile in the United States

no later than the date of the intending immigrant's admission or adjustment of status.

You must submit proof that you have taken concrete steps toestablish you will

be domiciled in the United States at a timeno later than the date of the intending

immigrant's admissionor adjustment of status. Concrete steps might include accepting

a job in the United States, signing a lease or purchasing a residence in the United States,

or registeringchildren in U.S. schools. Please attach proof of the steps you have taken to

establish domicile as described above.

Here is the issue...how can he make concrete steps of reestablishing domicile if we are not sure that I gonna get the visa? If I do not get it, we will probably stay in Bosnia, and renew his temporary residence. If I obtain the visa, then we will go to the USA together. Can others see troubles here or is it just me?

[MargotDarko 0]

The fact that his current visa expires in just a few months definitely helps your case.

Does he have a letter prepared on why he didn't have to file tax returns? Does he still have a valid US driver's license or state ID and a US mailing address (even a family member's address he can use)? To prove the mailing address, US a bank statement to him at that address would be great evidence, especially if it's recent.

Hopefully this reassures you - the worst thing I've seen happen when they don't accept the proof of US domicile, is put off approving the visa until you can prove it. They wouldn't just outright deny it on the interview day.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Your case is pretty common, so don't panic. My husband and I were living in Canada when we filed; so he was on a student visa there and the issue of domicile was driving me bonkers. He did file his late tax returns just to be on the safe side; but there was no issue at all at the interview. The CO just asked where we were planning on living and we showed him a 'welcome home' lette from the condo complex.

DCF filers get a lot of slack when it comes to residence. Like Margot said, I have yet to see someone being denied for this.

Good luck!!!!

[LA80 3]

Thanks guys

I just got nervous, and the thing is, our country started having DCF just recently (not even a year ago). We never got the package, but we got the list of documents from the Embassy (e-mail). We got the interview set as an appointment over the phone. They just checked what was a free date for them, and there it was. It just sounds too good and too easy compared to the stuff we read on this forum. And no, I'm not complaining at all, just afraid it gonna hit us like a boomerang.

He made a statement on why he was not required to file, we got his old w2 for 2005 and 2004 just in case, we have some letters he got on that address (his mom and step-dad still live there, and they are joint sponsors, actually his step-dad only)...Bank statements we do not have since he has not been there since 2005. Maybe if he registers his vote overseas, that should show he has a US domicile?

Yes...I'm panicking again...10 days to go.

[MargotDarko 0]

Thanks guys

I just got nervous, and the thing is, our country started having DCF just recently (not even a year ago). We never got the package, but we got the list of documents from the Embassy (e-mail). We got the interview set as an appointment over the phone. They just checked what was a free date for them, and there it was. It just sounds too good and too easy compared to the stuff we read on this forum. And no, I'm not complaining at all, just afraid it gonna hit us like a boomerang.

He made a statement on why he was not required to file, we got his old w2 for 2005 and 2004 just in case, we have some letters he got on that address (his mom and step-dad still live there, and they are joint sponsors, actually his step-dad only)...Bank statements we do not have since he has not been there since 2005. Maybe if he registers his vote overseas, that should show he has a US domicile?

Yes...I'm panicking again...10 days to go.

Is he currently registered to vote under his step-dad's address and have a valid US driver's license with that address on it? Those are both very good things to show US domicile.

[LA80 3]

Driver's license is expired , BUT yesterday we found his voting records online, they say his status is active and the address of his step-dad is listed (that is where hubby lived before he came here).

We also have an official letter from the military (he requested some records to be sent to him and they did) that he got on the same address in March this year. Not really a banking account, but it is something official I guess.

8 days to go

[MargotDarko 0]

Driver's license is expired , BUT yesterday we found his voting records online, they say his status is active and the address of his step-dad is listed (that is where hubby lived before he came here).

We also have an official letter from the military (he requested some records to be sent to him and they did) that he got on the same address in March this year. Not really a banking account, but it is something official I guess.

8 days to go

Those two things sound good. Can you print off something from online about his voting record that shows his step-dad's address?

[LA80 3]

Driver's license is expired , BUT yesterday we found his voting records online, they say his status is active and the address of his step-dad is listed (that is where hubby lived before he came here).

We also have an official letter from the military (he requested some records to be sent to him and they did) that he got on the same address in March this year. Not really a banking account, but it is something official I guess.

8 days to go

Those two things sound good. Can you print off something from online about his voting record that shows his step-dad's address?

Already printed and put on the pile with all other forms and proofs. B)

[Chica Yeyé 41]

You're more than good to go. Best of luck!

[Amina_KSA 0]

How did you guys get his voting records online? I'd like to do that but I can't find any site that offers such a thing...???

[LA80 3]

How did you guys get his voting records online? I'd like to do that but I can't find any site that offers such a thing...???

It was nothing but luck. I accidentaly found the site by clicking ------> https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/

We wanted to register him for overseas voting, and were loking for the instructions, and I clicked on everything I could!

We typed his name just as a test, not even hoping it would work. But it listed everything, the address, party he was for, when did he vote and where...he even typed the names and DOB of his relatives and saw their prefered party...that was fun

Try google, type in your state and registered voters or voter records. Something might appear.