Quite a few questions that I hope i can get some insight in to..

[innosan15ie 0]

Hello all,

I am currently in a pretty complicated situation, and i am looking at my options. I currently reside in Ireland on a temporary residence card, we had planned to move to my wife's home country, which is the UK. However as the immigration climate has changed here very rapidly, we no longer feel that the UK or Ireland are our best options. Which leads me to the questions i have in regards to filing for an IR / CR -1.

Question 1: Filing from abroad, but wife changing countries during the process. If i were to file the i-130 from here in Ireland, would it be possible however to have any future packets sent to her UK address? This would get the process started and give us some more time together before i return to the US.

Question 2: Evidence of relationship. We met online about 5.5 years ago, we first met in person in 2013, again in 2014 at which point i proposed, and then married in the US last October. Since that point we have been living together in Ireland, so we do have a joint rental agreement, and will shortly have a joint bank account. My question is, how much in regards to evidence from before this time will be needed? I have scattered emails over the years, but we mostly conversed on Skype, which unfortunately i lost most of my chat history during a computer crash. We hope to be able to salvage some from my wife's old laptop, but i cannot check that currently. Will this be a problem? We do have many photos from all 3 times we were together, our wedding, as well as a bunch from here in Ireland.

Question 3: Time difference between filing abroad and from the US. Is there any difference in the time frames between filing at the Chicago lock box, vs filing from within the US?

And lastly, If i were to return to the US well before my wife's interview date i assume i would have no issue in regards to domicile, since I will have been back in the country for at least 6 months before hand.

One final note, we had considered staying in Ireland during the entire process, however due to many personal reasons even though it absolutely sucks to be apart, makes far more sense.

Truly i thank you for any information, tips or comments!

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

1. Yes, that is fine. When she moves, you simply contact wherever your case is at the time (USCIS or NVC) and have them change the address. Plus, filing from abroad (ie the USC living abroad at the time of filing) often means an auto expedite, so it may make your case go faster.

2. You should have an easy time, since you live together- that is the best evidence! Show a couple of pieces of evidence of living together, maybe 4-6 photos throughout your relationship with the initial packet, and then bring everything else to the embassy interview. She likely won't be asked for it (I was asked for no evidence at my interview in Ireland, because we'd been living together several years), but just in case.

3. You need to file to the lockbox one way or the other. There is no official policy, but it seems the majority of couples who file while the USC officially lives abroad (not just visiting) get processed faster than the usual one year timeline.

[innosan15ie 0]

I know it has been a while since I posted this, but I had a couple follow up questions if I may. I am planning to get this process started by the end of April so i want to make sure I have everything lined up correctly.

In regards of proof of living together etc, we have a tenancy agreement in both names. We weren't able to get both names on our utility bills because well.. we called 4 times now each time they say they added me... and yet each bill is still only in my wife's name haha. But I do have such things as my motor tax, car insurance and a letter from Irish immigration showing I have sent the proper documents and the date I would be eligible to receive my 5 year residence card. I have yet to go get my Irish Stamp 4 (Temp stamp of family of an EEA/EU). Is that something that US immigration would at all be interested in, or would our tenancy agreement, 2 bills in my wifes name, my motor tax and car insurance (all showing the same address) and some photos be enough? I am waiting on my bank of Ireland joint bank account, but everything seems to take ages and they always want more paperwork haha. I hope to at least get that sorted before submitting, as i understand a joint bank account is good for both proof of residing abroad and genuine relationship, so i hope that goes smoothly.

as far as changing the address, would it be as simple as once i return to the States to get set back up, and she returns to the UK from Ireland, just call the NVC to have them update both my and her address? It won;t be an issue that we filed from Ireland, but she is a UK citizen and will be back in her home country? This won't cause any issues as far as which consulate they would have her attend or anything?

Thanks again for any info!