Visa Interview

[Lovemad 7]

Hi all,

I have my visa interview scheduled for early March, and my medical scheduled for next week. I have a few questions regarding my upcoming interview, which I hope that VJers can help shed some light on.

Background

My husband and I received an RFE late in 2012 from the NVC for our AOS, as it said that an additional tax return of his was required and because his listed income did not match his previous tax returns (we received no RFEs for the IV package, and I have sent originals of my birth, marriage and police certificates). It also said that proof of ownership of his savings and assets were required. The reason for the discrepancy in his earnings is because he is currently a law student and only began his employment as a part time law clerk last April (after prior tax returns were filed) and he was previously listed as a dependent on his father's taxes as he was not working, and only had a few minimum wage jobs for a short period of time. We have since assembled the requested evidence, such as tax returns and an explanation as to why he did not previously file tax returns and were going to mail this to the NVC, but we received an email from them on January 31, 2013 stating that our case was complete at the NVC and that my interview is scheduled for early March. Upon receiving this letter, I then scheduled my medical with the view of the 4 business days required for the doctor to courier the results of the medical to the embassy.

My Questions

1) In the letter I received about my interview, it says that my financial evidence is incomplete and that I should bring any original documents which have not been sent to the NVC to my interview. Does this simply mean to bring the documents listed in the RFE to my interview?

2) I have a joint sponsor, who is a doctor and whose income is $252,000 with a household of 5 (counting me as the principal immigrant), his original documents were obviously sent to the NVC as part of the AOS package. My original documents needed for the IV package were also sent to the NVC. Do I need to bring certified copies of documents already sent, or would photocopies be sufficient?

3) I am currently working in the UK at the moment, I have no concrete job offers in the States at the moment but have put out feelers to companies. We have over $60,000 in cash in our joint account in the States. About half of that has been in our joint account for well over a year but I only sent the other half over relatively recently as it was sitting here in the form of stocks and accumulating interest in savings here. I kept the money here so as to accumulate as much interest as possible prior to sending it over, is this likely to be much of an issue as we have a joint sponsor?

4) We have paid the fees for the AOS and IV through the online portal. Do I need to pay any further processing fees at the embassy? I am aware I will need to pay $165.00 prior to entering the U.S. and also a fee for the courier service, assuming my visa is approved.

5) I have gathered a collection of photos, emails, skype records and phone records, stubs of flight tickets when we have seen each other and cards sent to each other. Is this likely to be sufficient for evidence of our ongoing relationship, or is there any other types of evidence which people would recommend I take?

Thanks again and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Edited February 13, 2013 by Lovemad

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi all,

I have my visa interview scheduled for early March, and my medical scheduled for next week. I have a few questions regarding my upcoming interview, which I hope that VJers can help shed some light on.

Background

My husband and I received an RFE late in 2012 from the NVC for our AOS, as it said that an additional tax return of his was required and because his listed income did not match his previous tax returns (we received no RFEs for the IV package, and I have sent originals of my birth, marriage and police certificates). It also said that proof of ownership of his savings and assets were required. The reason for the discrepancy in his earnings is because he is currently a law student and only began his employment as a part time law clerk last April (after prior tax returns were filed) and he was previously listed as a dependent on his father's taxes as he was not working, and only had a few minimum wage jobs for a short period of time. We have since assembled the requested evidence, such as tax returns and an explanation as to why he did not previously file tax returns and were going to mail this to the NVC, but we received an email from them on January 31, 2013 stating that our case was complete at the NVC and that my interview is scheduled for early March. Upon receiving this letter, I then scheduled my medical with the view of the 4 business days required for the doctor to courier the results of the medical to the embassy.

My Questions

1) In the letter I received about my interview, it says that my financial evidence is incomplete and that I should bring any original documents which have not been sent to the NVC to my interview. Does this simply mean to bring the documents listed in the RFE to my interview?

Bring what is still needed to overcome the RFE. If there are any more documents on London's list that you haven't already submitted to NVC, then bring those too. Example, if NVC got a photocopy of the birth certificate, then bring the original to show at the interview. Anything sent to NVC will be in London so no need to go get more originals if NVC got them.

2) I have a joint sponsor, who is a doctor and whose income is $252,000 with a household of 5 (counting me as the principal immigrant), his original documents were obviously sent to the NVC as part of the AOS package. My original documents needed for the IV package were also sent to the NVC. Do I need to bring certified copies of documents already sent, or would photocopies be sufficient?

Anything sent to NVC will be in London so no need to go get more originals if NVC got them. Bringing photocopies will allow then to return the originals to you and place the photocopies in the file. If you don't want a document back, then you don't need to provide a photocopy. Don't forget the joint sponsor's documents need some proof of his US citizenship or LPR status.

3) I am currently working in the UK at the moment, I have no concrete job offers in the States at the moment but have put out feelers to companies. We have over $60,000 in cash in our joint account in the States. About half of that has been in our joint account for well over a year but I only sent the other half over relatively recently as it was sitting here in the form of stocks and accumulating interest in savings here. I kept the money here so as to accumulate as much interest as possible prior to sending it over, is this likely to be much of an issue as we have a joint sponsor?

Sorry, no answer for this. I don't even see where this fits into the plot.

4) We have paid the fees for the AOS and IV through the online portal. Do I need to pay any further processing fees at the embassy? I am aware I will need to pay $165.00 prior to entering the U.S. and also a fee for the courier service, assuming my visa is approved.

No further fees not already mentioned

5) I have gathered a collection of photos, emails, skype records and phone records, stubs of flight tickets when we have seen each other and cards sent to each other. Is this likely to be sufficient for evidence of our ongoing relationship, or is there any other types of evidence which people would recommend I take?

It would be super extremely rare for London to look at any of that, especially if you included a few photos in your petition. They sometimes refer to pics already in the file and comment on them like...beautiful wedding gown....is this your sister...so you like to golf...just comments, not a big quiz.

[Lovemad 7]

Bring what is still needed to overcome the RFE. If there are any more documents on London's list that you haven't already submitted to NVC, then bring those too. Example, if NVC got a photocopy of the birth certificate, then bring the original to show at the interview. Anything sent to NVC will be in London so no need to go get more originals if NVC got them.

Thanks, will get the necessary documents and bring them to interview.

Anything sent to NVC will be in London so no need to go get more originals if NVC got them. Bringing photocopies will allow then to return the originals to you and place the photocopies in the file. If you don't want a document back, then you don't need to provide a photocopy. Don't forget the joint sponsor's documents need some proof of his US citizenship or LPR status.

Sent a copy of his U.S. passport to NVC as proof of U.S. citizenship, so I assume this will cover it?

Sorry, no answer for this. I don't even see where this fits into the plot.

Is this because I have a joint sponsor?

No further fees not already mentioned

Gotcha

It would be super extremely rare for London to look at any of that, especially if you included a few photos in your petition. They sometimes refer to pics already in the file and comment on them like...beautiful wedding gown....is this your sister...so you like to golf...just comments, not a big quiz.

Ok, I will keep this in mind.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

You can show your assets of $60,000. I don't think London is going to ask how long or whatever if that is your concern. That's probably almost enough to pass on assets and is a positive thing to have savings.

Have you read this http://london.usembassy.gov/faq_i864_domicile.html about your intent to domicile in the US since a sponsor (you) must be domiciled in the US to sign an I -864. I'm more of a K1 person, so don't know how strict London is on this, but I've read a few things mentioned about it. The job search feelers you mentioned would be one way to show intent to domicile if you are determined as having abandoned your domicile in the US. Something to prepare if you haven't read that I -864 requirement before.

[Lovemad 7]

You can show your assets of $60,000. I don't think London is going to ask how long or whatever if that is your concern. That's probably almost enough to pass on assets and is a positive thing to have savings.

Have you read this http://london.usembassy.gov/faq_i864_domicile.html about your intent to domicile in the US since a sponsor (you) must be domiciled in the US to sign an I -864. I'm more of a K1 person, so don't know how strict London is on this, but I've read a few things mentioned about it. The job search feelers you mentioned would be one way to show intent to domicile if you are determined as having abandoned your domicile in the US. Something to prepare if you haven't read that I -864 requirement before.

Hi NichNick, thanks for your response and your help is appreciated. Just to clarify, my husband is the USC who is resident there, and is in law school, and I am a UKC. Thanks for your suggestions, just hope my medical tomorrow goes smoothly.