British perspective on my situation

[dustingthestars 9]

Good luck! Fwiw, Bank of America added me to Trevor's account as a non-resident with no SSN. They just wanted two forms of ID and my UK passport and Driving Licence sufficed.

Thanks, feel chuffed that I've started the ball rolling. I have heard good things about BoA. She already has an account with BoA so we're hoping that it can just be changed to a joint account. I have a large injection that I'm willing to make if it means it will expedite the situation. Not sure if that would help? perhaps I've been in Moscow too long?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Best of luck to you - it sounds like you are approaching it the right way.

I don't think the amount of cash will matter to add you, just having the right id

[cathy2904 97]

I don't think the amount of cash will matter to add you, just having the right id

I agree - I didn't contribute anything at the time!

[dustingthestars 9]

Would you guys think that a Passport and Birth Certificate would be sufficient as ID?

[cathy2904 97]

Would you guys think that a Passport and Birth Certificate would be sufficient as ID?

Yes, I would think so. Although I do remember that she had to put the numbers of both my documents into her computer system. But that may be because of the type of document I had presented.

[dustingthestars 9]

I'm filling in forms in a rather random and haphazard method - it does seem to be working well though!

Right now, I'm stuck on Q. 23 on the DS-230:

'List below all educational institutions attended'

Do they mean only university? or are they interested in my younger days too?

[dustingthestars 9]

I also phoned and spoke to the managers of SunTrust and Wells Fargo at what would be my local branches. They both told me and later followed up in email that if I come to the branch with my passport (with valid entry stamp) and another form of ID (Drivers License, Employee ID or Birth Certificate), then they would open me an account or add me to another to make a joint account.

I will be printing and taking the emails with me when I visit in the summer!

[cathy2904 97]

I'm filling in forms in a rather random and haphazard method - it does seem to be working well though!

Right now, I'm stuck on Q. 23 on the DS-230:

'List below all educational institutions attended'

Do they mean only university? or are they interested in my younger days too?

I included my secondary school - it is an educational institution after all.

[dustingthestars 9]

Thanks for the advice. I might as well add it in. I've had to use a fair few continuation sheets so far. That's ok as long as they're clearly marked, right?

[cathy2904 97]

Thanks for the advice. I might as well add it in. I've had to use a fair few continuation sheets so far. That's ok as long as they're clearly marked, right?

Sure.

Of course it's going to be quite a while before you will need to submit that particular form.

Edited March 9, 2012 by cathy2904

[dustingthestars 9]

I'm just getting it all out of the way so the ones I can email to the Us to be printed for my arrival in the summer are ready and the ones I need for later on can be 'tidied up' closer to the time if necessary. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole CR-1 process and the processes that need to be followed.

We're also making good headway on evidence too - her credit card company have issued me a card on the same account which is good news, as I mentioned before, we should have a joint account set up in the summer, when I get back to the UK, I'm going to set up some life insurance with her as the beneficiary and get cracking on some affidavits!

[cathy2904 97]

I was the same - I had everything ready for the NVC stage ages before we actually needed it.

I am sure you are on top of it but just to let you know that our affidavits were very simple, just a few lines. We picked three friends, one was a female who we asked to write something lovey dovey about us, the second was a male who we knew would write something quite formal and serious and the third happened to be an old boss of Trevor so he wrote it from a boss/employee perspective. Of course we briefed all three of them on what we wanted.

As I think I have already mentioned to you, we sent no other evidence in with our I-130. We collected plenty more for the interview stage but I didn't even take it out of my bag at the Embassy.

[dustingthestars 9]

I'm someone that's had to apply for a few visas in my lifetime already so I've become pretty accustomed to filling out the paperwork in the normally strange way they want it. I just like to have stuff done and dusted, if anything changes then I can just update the pdf.

My approach was going to be the same actually; a 'loving' one, a 'practical' one and an 'observational' one. My plan was just to send the affidavits with the package initially and collect more evidence as we go.

One question that occurs to me is about the I-864. My fiancée hasn't worked for a couple of years; a combination of college and motherhood. My understanding is that she fills out an I-864 with the fact she doesn't earn anything. Her step-father will be co-sponsor (or joint, never sure on the wording on this one?) so he fills out an I-864A, correct or not? At the moment my fiancée and her daughter live with him rent-free, so does that count as them being part of his household? His income is more than sufficient I just want to know if he completes the paperwork for a household of 2, or 4?

[cathy2904 97]

We didn't use a co-sponsor so I am not totally au fait with the requirements, but I would think his household size would not include your fiancée and her daughter, unless he claims them as dependents on his tax return.

Whereabouts in Georgia are you headed for?

[dustingthestars 9]

I read conflicting information about the household size and how it's determined. He doesn't claim them on his taxes so it would be fair to assume that it's for a household of 2 then?

Will be setting up home in Macon, GA. I love it there! Plenty of places nearby and within the state. She has family in Florida and South Carolina too - plenty of new places for me to see! We might head somewhere else after a little while, but I love the pace of life in Macon - nice and gentle!

Are you in Atlanta? How easy did you find it adjusting from the UK?