NVC Filers - March 2013

[floyd 0]

Although this may sound weird, put 0 in 21c. Your spouse is already accounted for in a. Remember, other visa categories use this form. It's not just for spousal categories.

If you're above the poverty line, then it's best not to fill in the assets section. If you do, you're going to need to include proof of those assets (bank statements, for example).

You may want to look at the I-864EZ form and see if you're eligible. It's shorter than the I-864

Wow - that was a really quick response Saylin - I am so impressed - yet again

I like the I-864 EZ form. I believe I am eligible. The I-130 was filed by my lawyer on behalf of me - despite that - I believe I qualify on the first point - correct?

Verify that you filed the petition.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3201.html

[NepaliDreamer 8]

For the benefit of people who have not filed an I-130. I don't know if it was the particulars of our case or not but we got through USCIS "very fast" - 28 days. Looking at other's cases… it has taken considerably longer.

I wanted to make a suggestion to people who are preparing to file a petition for their spouse - send as many photos as you can with your I-130 showing you both together and, if you have any, of your families together. Write the names of everyone in the picture on the back of the photos too. This should decrease concern of fraud and ease your case through USCIS. I am sure there are other factors, however I can only imagine that this would help your case. Whatever other evidence you have, send that too. The idea is to make it easy for the USCIS officer to adjudicate your case and remove doubt.

[Yugo 7]

I filed married for 2011 (as we were married then) and will file married for 2012. Hope that's ok....

The accountant is doing this.

It seems not all clear what to exactly do :-(

[NepaliDreamer 8]

Has anyone successfully filed for their case to be expedited at the embassy stage to get an earlier interview date?

Believing we could get the visa in a nominal amount of time we didn't appeal for expedition at the beginning of our case. If there is a potential two month wait for an interview I am thinking I will try to expedite our interview. We have a good reason, falling under the personal safety category.

Would this be something I should do before NVC completes the case or talk with the embassy about?

[Sarsoor 8]

Has anyone successfully filed for their case to be expedited at the embassy stage to get an earlier interview date?

Believing we could get the visa in a nominal amount of time we didn't appeal for expedition at the beginning of our case. If there is a potential two month wait for an interview I am thinking I will try to expedite our interview. We have a good reason, falling under the personal safety category.

Would this be something I should do before NVC completes the case or talk with the embassy about?

That is something I am trying to do as well. Some embassies are taking forever to schedule interviews!! I hope someone tells us what is the best way to do so.

[Mntjc 14]

That is something I am trying to do as well. Some embassies are taking forever to schedule interviews!! I hope someone tells us what is the best way to do so.

Same question for us.

We explained the situation in the cover letter, but without requesting an expedite.

Because NVC seems to currently review packages quickly, I was afraid that reviewing our expedite request first, and then our packages, would take longer in the end.

My plan is, once I get my interview date, to call the embassy and request an earlier date, explaining the situation and showing the documents we have to support it.

Does it seems the right way to do it?

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Same question for us.

We explained the situation in the cover letter, but without requesting an expedite.

Because NVC seems to currently review packages quickly, I was afraid that reviewing our expedite request first, and then our packages, would take longer in the end.

My plan is, once I get my interview date, to call the embassy and request an earlier date, explaining the situation and showing the documents we have to support it.

Does it seems the right way to do it?

If Belgium is anything like Stockholm, they have some flexibility to offer earlier dates than the NVC would normally schedule. There is absolutely no harm in asking.

[Sarsoor 8]

Same question for us.

We explained the situation in the cover letter, but without requesting an expedite.

Because NVC seems to currently review packages quickly, I was afraid that reviewing our expedite request first, and then our packages, would take longer in the end.

My plan is, once I get my interview date, to call the embassy and request an earlier date, explaining the situation and showing the documents we have to support it.

Does it seems the right way to do it?

That sounds good actually!! I mean NVC is quick nowadays! I hope they actually get to READ the cover letter and know we are requesting an earlier interview date. I am starting to change my mind about expediting NVC and expedite the interview instead! I hope it works

[omar borg 0]

I know that this question was probably answered before but to be more sure can i wait till the IV bill is invoiced to send the IV and AOS documents into one package ? awaiting kind replies.

[Mina90 134]

I know that this question was probably answered before but to be more sure can i wait till the IV bill is invoiced to send the IV and AOS documents into one package ? awaiting kind replies.

You can wait to have them both invoiced and after you pay them, you should have both barcoded coversheets. You can send both IV and AOS documents in at the same time and in the same package (with the appropriate barcoded coversheets to differentiate between the documents), if you'd like. Or you can send them individually as they are invoiced and paid. You have both options.

[champi 13]

Did you all sign papers in black pen?

[Saylin 1,605]

I wish I had used Turbo Tax instead of the stupid accountant. I am going on Monday to file amended tax return and wish I didn't have to deal with this.

I did some more reading on forums and it seems that some people just took a chance (and many others didn't even know and filed single in this case) and got through the interview with no problems but I don't want to take any chance.

I hope I get through the NVC process fine without some kind of a checklist (I am submitting several months worth of paychecks and all of them have single because I never changed my status in the company either).

For the interview, I hope it will give me enough time to get through the amendments and getting the amended tax transcripts.

We have a fair volume of proof of relationship but I might as well take this precaution, file amended returns and also ask to change my status for HR at my company.

Remember, you can't use TurboTax while your spouse doesn't have a SSN. TurboTax won't let you put 'NRA' in the SSN field. Nor can you apply for a W7 through TurboTax. Unfortunately, taxes have to be done by paper until your spouse arrives in the US.

And don't worry, NVC doesn't care about your filing status, they just care about you meeting the poverty line or not. They're not there to pick out fraud cases (even though you're not committing fraud, it's just that filing single while married is a red flag).

In my opinion, you're taking the right steps

Wow - that was a really quick response Saylin - I am so impressed - yet again

I like the I-864 EZ form. I believe I am eligible. The I-130 was filed by my lawyer on behalf of me - despite that - I believe I qualify on the first point - correct?

Verify that you filed the petition.

http://travel.state..../info_3201.html

It definitely sounds like you're eligible I (or rather my husband) filled out the I-864EZ and it was a lot easier than the longer I-864.

I filed married for 2011 (as we were married then) and will file married for 2012. Hope that's ok....

The accountant is doing this.

It seems not all clear what to exactly do :-(

If you were married and you filed married, then that's of course what you have to do

Has anyone successfully filed for their case to be expedited at the embassy stage to get an earlier interview date?

Believing we could get the visa in a nominal amount of time we didn't appeal for expedition at the beginning of our case. If there is a potential two month wait for an interview I am thinking I will try to expedite our interview. We have a good reason, falling under the personal safety category.

Would this be something I should do before NVC completes the case or talk with the embassy about?

Many people have requested for expedites at all stages in this process and have gotten approved.

And WHEN to request is up to you. You can request as soon as you get a case number, during the process of paying bills and sending packages, or after a case has been completed. There's also one last time you can request, but it'll be with the embassy directly, and that would be after your interview date has been assigned and your case has arrived at the embassy.

Did you all sign papers in black pen?

It's recommended to ALWAYS sign in blue ink. Signing in black ink may make the form look like a photocopy, and forms have to be originals. I have seen people get checklists in the past because of this. But it depends on the officer as some people have said they signed in black but had no issues.

[Roosha 51]

Remember, you can't use TurboTax while your spouse doesn't have a SSN. TurboTax won't let you put 'NRA' in the SSN field. Nor can you apply for a W7 through TurboTax. Unfortunately, taxes have to be done by paper until your spouse arrives in the US.

You have that choice with TaxAct, it's what I used When you chose the option that your spouse was overseas with no SSN or ITIN it automatically put NRA in the spot for the SSN on the 1040

But that's only for doing the paperwork, you're still going to have to send in a paper return you won't be able to efile.

[Saylin 1,605]

You have that choice with TaxAct, it's what I used When you chose the option that your spouse was overseas with no SSN or ITIN it automatically put NRA in the spot for the SSN on the 1040

But that's only for doing the paperwork, you're still going to have to send in a paper return you won't be able to efile.

Oh, nice, didn't know TaxAct automatically did that! I'll have to recommend that program then with those that have spouses abroad.

And although you can't eFile, at least you can do it through one of the tax programs then merely print it out at the end to mail. Much easier than actually trying to do the paper form by yourself

[Yugo 7]

It's recommended to ALWAYS sign in blue ink. Signing in black ink may make the form look like a photocopy, and forms have to be originals. I have seen people get checklists in the past because of this. But it depends on the officer as some people have said they signed in black but had no issues.

Hi Saylin, I had my wife sign the forms then scan and send them to me, are you saying that is not acceptable for NVC and I should have the original signed copies?

Thank you!