Start Residency process while living abroad

[felizcasado 6]

Hello, thanks for your forum. It has been very helpful. I just want to share with you about my case, so you can please help me on what is the best way to proceed.

My wife and I have been married for 8 years, I'm a citizen of the Dominican Republic, but we have lived in the Cayman Islands for the last 7 years. She is a US citizen (through her dad) since 2007. She has Social Security, US drivers license, bank account, but has never lived in the United States, and has not filed taxes, as she has been a stay at home mom, and has not received any income. We have 3 children, and they were all born in the USA, and both of our names as their parents are in their birth certificates.

We would like to move to the USA next year to establish, and I'm the only member of the family who would need the green card, so we can go.

Just wanted to ask all of you, on your opinion of what is the best way to proceed. I think the biggest challenges for us will be:

- Taxes for last 3 years: What can we do in this case, as she doesn't have this info?

- Sponsor for I-864: Since she doesn't have income, I'm thinking of finding a joint sponsor, is this OK?

- Proof of Domicile: We would plan to put our local Cayman address in the I-130, but how do we proof US domicile in the I-864?

How long do you think this process will take, if we apply from here (Cayman Islands)?

Thanks in advance for all the advice you can provide.

[kris&me 572]

a question? you have not lived in US for 7 years / together for 8

how were your children all born in the US?

if they are US citizens, apply for and get US birth certificates and passports to start

you will need a cosponsor

USC does need a US address

and this will take longer than you think so don't quit a job and make plans to move until getting visas

[felizcasado 6]

They all have birth certificates and US passports, they were born in the US.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,408]

Both proving domicile & joint sponsor is done at the NVC stage.

Just have her file the I-130 for you for now.

a question? you have not lived in US for 7 years / together for 8

how were your children all born in the US?

if they are US citizens, apply for and get US birth certificates and passports to start

you will need a cosponsor

USC does need a US address

and this will take longer than you think so don't quit a job and make plans to move until getting visas

I am assuming they traveled to the US to give birth? Not having lived there is not the same as never even visiting.

[felizcasado 6]

Correct, we have all visited USA, but she hasn't lived for an extended period of time there. I currently have a visitors visa.