HELP

[meorbust 0]

First of all what is this business about K1, K3, IR, etc, etc. Can someone tell me which category I fall under? I was married overseas and submitted the I-130, the I-864, my wife even had her appointment. What category am I in. Please read my situation below and HELP ME PLEASE. I AM SO FRUSTRATED!!! THANK YOU

I am an American currently residing overseas in Qatar where I am employed as an English Instructor.

My Ethiopian wife, who I have been married to for almost 4 years, is presently residing with me in Qatar. However our case is in the hands of the U.S. Embassy in the United Arab Emirates, as that is where she was residing when our case was filed.

I had been requested to submit an I864 from a joint sponsor and proof of domicile. (Of course I also submitted an I864 with my personal information, although that had no value since my income is overseas).

My father who makes about $60,000 each year submitted the joint sponsor form. They are now asking for a second sponsor. My wife and I have no kids, so I am sure that my father's income meets the requirements for financial responsibility. Also noteworthy is that the address of my father differs from the address that I provided on my 864 and documents showing domicile.

Secondly, concerning domicile, I have submitted the following and still have been rejected: proof of voter registration, a valid driver's license, statements from my U.S. bank account (which included a letter showing years of maintaining the account) and credit cards, and mutual fund account statements (all statements having the same mailing address). All of my documents showing domicile use the same address except my license which shows another address in the same state. I also have a utility bill in my name that I will submit the next-time around. Is this not sufficient? I am sure there have been some who have been granted a visa with less documentation than this! I feel like there is someone at the Embassy who gets turned on by rejecting applicants!!!!!!!!!!

May I also add that after inquiring to know if they had received the joint sponsor form (about two months after I mailed it) I was informed by email that it had not been received. Then a couple days later, I asked if I could send a copy since the originals had apparently been lost in the mail. They then replied that I needed 'another' joint sponsor which I assume means they did indeed have the original I-864 in the first place. SOUNDS FISHY TO ME!

ANY advice would be greatly appreciated. I am now even willing to pay for a lawyer to assist me. Can you please give me some advice and/or provide me with ANY contacts of lawyers who help Americans residing overseas?

If you choose to, you can drop me an email at dshell32@gmail.com. THANK YOU!

[Completely 3]

IR-1 Visa is for couple that is married for more than 2 years. The paperwork and required documents is just the same for CR-1 Visa. CR-1 Visa is a Conditional Visa for couple who are just married for not more than 2 years.. Tis visa is valid for 2 years..

Dont be confused as far as the visas... Since you dont have a kids yet, file for Petition for Alien Spouse. Here are the forms you need.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-130.pdf

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-325a.pdf

http://foia.state.gov/forms/newscripts/formlist.asp?type=V

Since you are living now in Qatar, will it be possible for you to just cancel the old petition and re open a new one?

[meorbust 0]

Everyone seems to be telling me to just start a new case. Why would I want to pay again for the whole process? I might as well ride this one on through and start a new one after this one has rode its course!

I already filed an I-130 with the original case. Are you telling me to do another one, then the Q-325?

I already filed the Q-325. It was part of the early steps of the process! I think it is in my best interest to lawyer up or at least transfer the case (TRY at least) to the embassy in Qatar so communication will be a lot easier, they never answer the phone and their emails are always short leaving questions unanswered!

I am mainly looking for answers concerning my domicile issue and I864. Why are they asking me for a third sponsor? and why aren't all those documents I provided sufficient enough for domicile?

Edited February 3, 2009 by meorbust

[I Miss Her 0]

You are coming under Direct Counselor Filling (DCF).

Read: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=dcf

You do not need to start new case.

[ao_cons 1]

If you filed I-130, you're in the IR-1/CR-1 category. The purpose of this visa is to REUNITE US citizens with their spouses in US soil. It is mainly for Americans who OFFICIALLY RESIDE in the US. That's why it's important to show US domicile. The fact you work abroad is probably one of the reasons why they are insisting on more "evidence."

Are you a legal resident of Qatar by virtue of your working there? If so, is there US Embassy there? Does it do "Direct Consular Filing"? Because DCf is the standard procedure for US citizens who reside abroad. The only alternative, it seems, is for the US citizen to first re-establish US domicile, and then file the petition for his/her spouse.

Since the I-130 is filed to the USCIS, the role of the US Embassy has nothing to do with where the wife lives at the time of filing, but where you and she want the interview done. It's with the K3 visa that the embassy matters, because te interview can only be done in the place of marriage.

I don't know how a joint sponsor income is calculated. The issue here could be this: The US government wants to make sure you can support your wife when she migrates with you to the US. Since you work in Qater, how can you guarantee she will be supported? Of course there is your father. But he doesn't share the same house as you.

May we know why you just didn't provide your father's address (that way it looks like one family living together)? How about citing as joint sponsor someone who lives in the address you gave?

My husband and I married in Thailand. Since we are both physically handicapped, he chose to stay here with me during the visa process so we could look after each other. But his stay here is obviously temporary. He is unemployed, has an active bank account in the US and up-to-date credit record, and his US domicile is the same as his mother's.

I hope someone here will be able to help you.

[canadian_wife 1,829]

I agree with ao_cons. It seems your evidence of domicile that you already submitted is more of ties to the U.S. To me it does not show that you will move back to the U.S. within 6 months of your wife's visa being issued. Your driver's licence, voter registration and bank accounts only show your ties since you do not actually have to reside in the U.S. to maintain any of these since you can drive in Qatar, you can vote via absentee ballot and withdraw money from any ATM. As for your credit cards, you can also use those anywhere and pay the bill anywhere in the world.

I think you need to show stronger evidence that you intend to move back to the United States soon. This would include a job offer in the US, maybe a lease for a place you will move to when you return etc.

Good luck with your journey!