Three countries involved, it's getting confusing

[BackWhereIBelong 2]

Just a question - any idea if the forum is monitored by the Immigration authorities?

[JFH 12,191]

Thanks for your help.

Definitely want to - the embassy here is unhelpful (immigration, not the rest of the embassy who are good) and I have firsthand confirmation of this as well as from a close friend who had considerable trouble with the same person; the lawyer is aware of this as well.

Thing is we are both leaving in a few weeks. The less SG is involved, the better, and hopefully only the police report. This is coming from me based on experience and conversations I have had around it, the Japan-based lawyer only corroborated this.

Unfortunately the doing the police report externally from SG rather than internally does have more steps, cost, and time. Nothing we can do about it as they are adamant that we cant' request it, not even the fingerprinting, until after the i-130 process is started and we get an email stating the wife's name from NVC.

I don't know why Singapore would want something from NVC before they will provide a police report. I'm not saying it's not true, just unusual. Yes, it costs a little more and takes a little longer to get overseas police certificates. I had to get mine from Germany. It involved completing an application which had to be notarised and apostilled. That cost me over $100 and involved travelling 30 miles there and back to get to someone who could go it. Then pay for the police record search and wait for the results. And then get it translated as it obviously wasn't in English.

But, one thing you will have a lot of while you do this process is time. You will spend months not hearing or doing anything at all. Use that time to get documents together. As for the cost, if you're concerned about the cost of one police report.... You need to allow a few thousand for the entire process. Fees, medical, translations, police certificates, obtaining copies of civili documents, flights, moving, shipping belongings.

[JFH 12,191]

Just a question - any idea if the forum is monitored by the Immigration authorities?

Who knows? I would imagine that it is. It's a public forum and can be viewed by anyone with internet access. So if they get the urge to browse through the threads from time to time there's nothing to stop them.

As with any forum, what you wouldn't put on a billboard in your home town, don't put it on the forum.

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

Just a question - any idea if the forum is monitored by the Immigration authorities?

Not on a permanent basis but yes we had COs and USCIS officials mention to people "oh you are (username) from Visajourney!" so at least some of them read it.

[BackWhereIBelong 2]

"He also said ok, recommended even, for the wife to go with me on the move back, as a tourist, and to submit the i-130 and other docs once in the US, using her Japan address as her home address (as it will be effective by that time), with the caveat that the visit is strictly tourism with no intent of changing status, etc. and for us, for time together starting a family (fact)."

The mere fact that you are planning this and know what you are going to do once she gets here means you have immigrant intent which is illegal. Sounds like the lawyer is trying to play the system.

Thanks for the concern but I disagree. He is clear about not trying to convert on VWP visits, only in parallel. Visits will be for tourism purposes.

He has been doing this for 30 years and the impression he gave me is that he is more conservative than risky.

Edited June 25, 2016 by BackWhereIBelong

[BackWhereIBelong 2]

Just an update, now that we are in the US, her on VWP for <90 days, the authority I met with suggested AOS and downplayed the downside of that way. Also dismissed the K3 option which one person (not this forum) suggested.

I may opt to speak with an attorney for a costly initial consultation on this as it goes against much of the advice on this and another forum.

Confused.......

[Thesmiths2016 117]

If she travels on a visitor visa when she has intent of immigrating and filing when there, it's immigration fraud. I would go back by yourself personally because if she gets in trouble for it she could be banned for a number of years. A bit of back and forth travel to visit each other seeing as you "must" go back now is far better than her not being allowed to join you at all in future. Lawyers just want their money, and I personally know of someone who did exactly what you're suggesting through a lawyer and is now on a 5 year ban from even visiting the USA. The lawyer is no longer allowed to do immigration law.

[NikLR 13,232]

Nice to hear of a lawyer getting caught for someone doing something illegal.

My husband had a friend who's lawyer suggested immigration fraud. Of course they got away with it. Ticked hubs off obviously because they were living together and we were still apart because they lied to the CBP. He figured they got their karma though since we're still happily married and last we heard they were unhappy.

Edited September 23, 2016 by NikLR

[BackWhereIBelong 2]

Thanks all. And just to be clear, it was not a lawyer but a CIS agent who offered the suggestion (rather than explicitly specifically suggesting this approach), and why I reconsidered this after dropping the idea months ago.

"Now that you are both here, if you want to petition for spouse, the VWP 90-day limitation will end and the stay will be extended while this is open until the decision is made; if the decision is favorable .... will get a Green Card; if not you will get ‘all of the options in the notice”.

“Would there be any reason why her AoS would not be approved?”

“On the surface I don’t see why not, I don’t want to give you any false hope, but I don’t see any reason why this would be an issue.“

Fortunately the recommendations from this forum are clear and consistent. .

Edited September 25, 2016 by BackWhereIBelong