Im a newbee please help!

[carlos16 0]

Hi all,

First of all, I want to say that I think that this forum is very helpfull and I want to thank you all in advance for your help.

My wife submitted my application on March 15th and we still have not heard back from the embassy... is that normal?

Also, Im in the process of filling out my DS-230 form and my I-864 form.

Regarding the DS-230, section 35, Im not sure how to fill it out given that I have the entries stamped on my passport (coming into the US) but dont have any way of knowing when I left (as they don't stamp when you leave). How have you guys dealt with this? Also, it says to include ALL previous visits!!! I have been going to the states as a tourist since I was 2 years old...clearly I dont have my baby passport anymore... is that necessary or is it simply the times when I was a resident?

Regarding the I-864, I see lots of confusion with this one, and after reading some threads, im still confused.

My wife is the one applying on my behalf, and our household is just the two of us, so I would assume that the household size is 2...correct? She and I have two joint bank accounts, one in the US and one in Switzerland (where we currently live)for a total of $45K. I also have an apartment in NYC (under my name only) of which the equity (value of appartment minus mortgage) is equal to about $200K. Questions: 1) Does she have to have assets of more than 125% of the poverty line or 2 * 125% of the PL? 2) She currently lives in Geneva with me, should she put that address on the form or should she put our NY address? 3) Can we use my apartment (Im the applicant) as part of assets? 4) Is it easier to just get her father (my father in-law) to be my sponsor? if so, is he the only one that would need to fill that form out? 4) My wife and I moved to Geneva in early 2008, she did not work much in 2008 (only 3 months) and in 2009 she worked for the UN (tax free) therefore her last two year's income would not meet the requirement...

Thank you all in advance and sorry for the heavy load of questions, Im a newbee and need serious help!

Cheers!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Duplicate post in AOS forum removed as this is the correct forum for this topic

________________________________________________

Some quick answers - others will be along and will respond more fully .

It can take up to several weeks to receive back a receipt known as an NOA (Notice of Action). Did you send it by a traceable method? Do you know what date they received it? You are still within a normal time frame so I expect you will hear something soon. If you go 30 days without any response and you know they received it, you could contact the Embassy/Consulate at that time.

Do your best to record all your trips to the US and not just your times of residence. For the earlier years you can be more general, such as 'multiple holidays of 1 to 2 weeks during the years XXXX to XXXX with parents, etc. Use an additional sheet of paper and attach it to the form. As a Canadian, I too had to deal with trying to remember the many cross-border trips I had made over the years. Do the best that you can, and you include the statement that these are the trips you can recall 'to the best of your ability'.

Household size is two, correct. If your wife doesn't meet the 125% of poverty guidelines income level with US based income - and from what you state, she doesn't - you can use assets at the ratio of 3 to 1 - in other words, you would need 3 times the value of the poverty level guidelines in assets. I am not sure about your apartment in New York qualifying. Assets are supposed to be readily liquidized if necessary and a principal residence is often not accepted, so if you are planning on living in the apartment it probably won't count. The easier route would be finding a co-sponsor. Your wife is still your sponsor, so both the sponsor and the co-sponsor need to fill out the I-864 documents and provide the same attachments (tax records, etc.).

Good luck.

[Adichiwa 0]

Were you requested to send in you I864 along with the DS-230? I was only requested to send in the DS-230 and a checklist confirming that I'm in possession of certain documents (i.e. passport, photos, Affidavit of support, etc.) I was under the impression that the consulate will send a separate request to fill in the I-864 at a later stage.

Are you just getting a head start? or am I missing something??

Thanks.

[carlos16 0]

Hi, Thanks for the responses!

I just started the process, my wife went to the embassy to submitt the original application (I-130, etc...). Im getting a head start on filling in the other forms (230 and 864).

My wife handed the application in person, so I know they received it, maybe its the background check in the US that is taking them so long...?

The apartment in NY is not going to be our permanent residence, it is being rented at the moment and we plan on keeping it that way. My question is, given that the apartment is under my name only (not my wife (she is the USC)) can we still use the value of the asset to count?

Thanks again!

[Marina-Del 10]

Were you requested to send in you I864 along with the DS-230? I was only requested to send in the DS-230 and a checklist confirming that I'm in possession of certain documents (i.e. passport, photos, Affidavit of support, etc.) I was under the impression that the consulate will send a separate request to fill in the I-864 at a later stage.

Are you just getting a head start? or am I missing something??

Thanks.

Don't stress Adichiwa. As the OP stated he is just starting on the I-130 so they haven't requested ANYTHING yet, but even if they had it might not be the same for you at all. Every consulate is different, so unless you two are going through the same consulate you probably wont have identical processes. In general what you stated above is true, but in Brazil for example (and this is new) they don't send a Packet 3 at all. I sent in the I-130, was approved and got an interview date at the same time. I have to bring the DS forms and I-864 all at the interview and since the I-130 I haven't them anything! Every consulate is different and sometimes even the same consulate can be different from case to case (which I'm guessing is just to stress us out! )

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Great reply, Marina. It is really important for us all to remember that every consulate has its own quirks and to rely on the experiences of others going through the same consulate for specific advice. And of course to rely on the cheering and support from people going through all consulates!

[txladykat 1]

carlos, you could include the rental income to also help qualify. it is US earned income. If you use the father, he fills out an I-186 - if he is married, then his wife needs to fill out an I-864A

[Marina-Del 10]

Actually, just wanted to point out that the wife (if the father is married) does not HAVE to fill out an I-864A. The wife would only need to fill one out as well if they need both the fathers AND her income to go over 125%. If the father's income is over 125% alone then the wife doesn't need to do anything.