NVC Phase of CR-1 Visa - A Few Questions

[jg121783 3,915]

Unless your wife has any reason to suspect that she would be asked to undergo a sputum exam, it's really not necessary to get her medical done until a week before her interview... Which means you still have some time to save up for that I only had my husband do his a little early because we were expecting SLEC to find something in his xray.

That is a concern of mine. My wife worked overseas and shared a room with someone who had TB. She had a skin test which was positive but her xray and sputum at the time were negative. Also her and my step son have had a bad cough lately (they are finaly over it now). Maybe it is nothing to worry about but I would rather be safe than sorry.

So to verify passport photos are NOT needed with the IV package correct?

[xmaricrisx 25]

That is a concern of mine. My wife worked overseas and shared a room with someone who had TB. She had a skin test which was positive but her xray and sputum at the time were negative. Also her and my step son have had a bad cough lately (they are finaly over it now). Maybe it is nothing to worry about but I would rather be safe than sorry.

So to verify passport photos are NOT needed with the IV package correct?

Yes, that is correct. They can submit the passport photos during their medical and interview.

They are more than welcome to do their medical early if it would put your mind at ease If they have a cold/cough it's nothing for you to be worried about because xray findings of TB (scarring/fibrosis) are very different from xray findings of a cold. I know they will be coming to the US as soon as they get their visas anyway so the 6 month time limit isn't really an issue for you... unless of course you get a checklist, but that won't happen considering you're very careful about reviewing everything So essentially it's up to you and your wife to decide if she'll go for an early medical or not.

[jg121783 3,915]

OK now I'm really confused. I just called the NVC. The person told me my wife and step son's cases are seperate and I have to do a seperate I-864 for both of them. The last person I spoke with last week told me the cases were together. Now I don't know what to do. Does this person not know what they are talking about and should I call back? She was very rude and I told her the last rep I spoke with said the cases would be together and she insisted they are not.

Edited August 18, 2016 by jg121783

[xmaricrisx 25]

OK now I'm really confused. I just called the NVC. The person told me my wife and step son's cases are seperate and I have to do a seperate I-864 for both of them. The last person I spoke with last week told me the cases were together. Now I don't know what to do. Does this person not know what they are talking about and should I call back? She was very rude and I told her the last rep I spoke with said the cases would be together and she insisted they are not.

The cases will be processed together, but they still require two separate i-864 forms because they are two separate cases.

[Brassballs 47]

And the road WAS so smooth up to the NVC. You HAD to know that you wouldn't coast through in 4 months!

I'd keep calling until you get the answer you want to hear and get a name to go with the answer. Include all that when you send the docs in. If you get another 'they are separate, sir' answer, ask why since all your previous correspondence with USCIS and NVC indicated that they should be and were joined.

Probably just a discruntled GS3 or an over-worked GS5 tired of processing Syrian visas.

[jg121783 3,915]

The cases will be processed together, but they still require two separate i-864 forms because they are two separate cases.

Ok I just calld back and got clarification on that. I do have to do two seperate AOS packages but I was told I only have to pay one fee. I thought I could do one AOS package and put my step son on the same I-864 as my wife. I am glad I called to ask about the passport photos because that is how I found out about this. I guess I have to redo the I-864 and photocopy everything else now. By the way both reps told me no passport photos are required until the interview. They told me it used to be required for the IV but no longer is. I was supprised both times I called I didn't have to wait on hold at all.

[xmaricrisx 25]

Ok I just calld back and got clarification on that. I do have to do two seperate AOS packages but I was told I only have to pay one fee. I thought I could do one AOS package and put my step son on the same I-864 as my wife. I am glad I called to ask about the passport photos because that is how I found out about this. I guess I have to redo the I-864 and photocopy everything else now. By the way both reps told me no passport photos are required until the interview. They told me it used to be required for the IV but no longer is. I was supprised both times I called I didn't have to wait on hold at all.

I know of a case where the petitioner was filing for his wife and 3 kids, and they were issued a checklist because they only sent in one i-864 form instead of four.

Like I said, your two cases will be processed and reviewed together, but they are still two separate cases, hence the need for two i-864 forms. It's a waste of paper, but you have to do what NVC wants

[jg121783 3,915]

And the road WAS so smooth up to the NVC. You HAD to know that you wouldn't coast through in 4 months!

I'd keep calling until you get the answer you want to hear and get a name to go with the answer. Include all that when you send the docs in. If you get another 'they are separate, sir' answer, ask why since all your previous correspondence with USCIS and NVC indicated that they should be and were joined.

Probably just a discruntled GS3 or an over-worked GS5 tired of processing Syrian visas.

I know of a case where the petitioner was filing for his wife and 3 kids, and they were issued a checklist because they only sent in one i-864 form instead of four.

Like I said, your two cases will be processed and reviewed together, but they are still two separate cases, hence the need for two i-864 forms. It's a waste of paper, but you have to do what NVC wants

The first rep I spoke with was very rude. The second one was polite and helpful. Big difference. The second rep told me since there are 2 case numbers 2 packages are required but the cases will be processed together and when I pay the AOS fee for one of them it will automatically show up as paid for the other one. So my understanding now is the cases are "seperate" but being processed together. A little confusing lol. To be fair the rep I spkoe with last week never said right out the paperwork could eb combined for the 2 cases only that they would be processd together. Thinking back I might have misunderstood a bit. I have a lot of other things going on right now and sometimes it is hard to stay focused. So I will just do 2 seperate AOS packages and play it safe.That's about 50 more pages to print and another $25 ink cartrige (and $10 in gas to go to the store to get it) lol I don't know what's worse. This situation or the 6+ hours I was on the phone with the IRS before I could get my tax transcripts. Maybe I will call back one more time to get a 3rd opinion (and get a name as Brassballs suggested). I might even ask for a supervisor.

[xmaricrisx 25]

The first rep I spoke with was very rude. The second one was polite and helpful. Big difference. The second rep told me since there are 2 case numbers 2 packages are required but the cases will be processed together and when I pay the AOS fee for one of them it will automatically show up as paid for the other one. So my understanding now is the cases are "seperate" but being processed together. A little confusing lol. To be fair the rep I spkoe with last week never said right out the paperwork could eb combined for the 2 cases only that they would be processd together. Thinking back I might have misunderstood a bit. I have a lot of other things going on right now and sometimes it is hard to stay focused. So I will just do 2 seperate AOS packages and play it safe.That's about 50 more pages to print and another $25 ink cartrige (and $10 in gas to go to the store to get it) lol I don't know what's worse. This situation or the 6+ hours I was on the phone with the IRS before I could get my tax transcripts. Maybe I will call back one more time to get a 3rd opinion (and get a name as Brassballs suggested). I might even ask for a supervisor.

Having to send in 2 separate AOS packages is a big hassle, but at the same time I can understand why it's necessary. They are two different people who are under two different petitions and two different visa categories, who just happen to have the same petitioner. No one said this immigration stuff was quick and painless... or cheap lol. At least now you got this figured out before you sent the documents in and ended up receiving a checklist. Better to be delayed a couple days than a couple of months, right?

[jg121783 3,915]

One more question about the I-864. I have read you should put "N/A" in every field you don't answer. Some of the fields wont let me enter that as an answer. Would it be a bad idea to hand write "N/A" in every blank field after I print it off just to be safe? After what I found out today I think it is better to slow down a bit and make sure everything is correct so I don't cause long delays. Everything has gone quickly so far. I guess an extra week or 2 to make sure everything is correct wont hurt anything. Sorry for all the stupid questions. Maybe I have a harder time understanding this stuff than others here.

[xmaricrisx 25]

One more question about the I-864. I have read you should put "N/A" in every field you don't answer. Some of the fields wont let me enter that as an answer. Would it be a bad idea to hand write "N/A" in every blank field after I print it off just to be safe? After what I found out today I think it is better to slow down a bit and make sure everything is correct so I don't cause long delays. Everything has gone quickly so far. I guess an extra week or 2 to make sure everything is correct wont hurt anything. Sorry for all the stupid questions. Maybe I have a harder time understanding this stuff than others here.

I think it would be ok to handwrite the "N/A" because that's what I did; I even hand wrote the household size number. They read through everything anyway, and it's not just a computer that scans it like some people would say. Don't worry about asking a lot of questions because that's what this forum is for, and it's better to be safe than sorry.

[xmaricrisx 25]

I just read this on the instructions for filling out i-864:

You must submit a Form I-864 affidavit of support for each intending immigrant you are sponsoring. You may submit photocopies if you are sponsoring more than one intending immigrant listed on the same affidavit of support... Often a spouse or minor children obtain visas or adjust status as dependents of a relative, based on the same visa petition. If you are sponsoring such dependents, you only need to provide a photocopy of the original Form I-864, as long as these dependents are immigrating at the same time as the principal immigrant or within six months of the time he or she immigrates to the United States. You do not need to provide copies of the supporting documents for each of the photocopied Form I-864s.

So from my understanding of that, you only have to make a copy of your the i-864 that you filled out for your wife, and that will be what you send in the AOS package for your step-son. That kind of lessens your burden, right?

[jg121783 3,915]

I just read this on the instructions for filling out i-864:

You must submit a Form I-864 affidavit of support for each intending immigrant you are sponsoring. You may submit photocopies if you are sponsoring more than one intending immigrant listed on the same affidavit of support... Often a spouse or minor children obtain visas or adjust status as dependents of a relative, based on the same visa petition. If you are sponsoring such dependents, you only need to provide a photocopy of the original Form I-864, as long as these dependents are immigrating at the same time as the principal immigrant or within six months of the time he or she immigrates to the United States. You do not need to provide copies of the supporting documents for each of the photocopied Form I-864s.

So from my understanding of that, you only have to make a copy of your the i-864 that you filled out for your wife, and that will be what you send in the AOS package for your step-son. That kind of lessens your burden, right?

The rep I spoke with specifically told me I need a seperate package for both of them. I am confused here again. Besides I already photocopied everything and made a seperate package. So better to be safe I guess. So I need to fill out an I-864 with my wife as the principal immigrant? Then in part 3 do I just list my step son or both my wife and step son? Then make a phoocopy of that for my step son's package? Or do I do a seperate I-864 with my step son as the principal immigrant for his package?

[xmaricrisx 25]

The rep I spoke with specifically told me I need a seperate package for both of them. I am confused here again. Besides I already photocopied everything and made a seperate package. So better to be safe I guess. So I need to fill out an I-864 with my wife as the principal immigrant? Then in part 3 do I just list my step son or both my wife and step son? Then make a phoocopy of that for my step son's package? Or do I do a seperate I-864 with my step son as the principal immigrant for his package?

I think I just made things even more complicated, instead of simplifying things lol. We were right the first time... just do the original plan of sending two separate AOS packages, each containing their own separate i-864s and copies of your financial documents... this is because they are two separate visas. In part 3, don't mention your step-son in your wife's i-864, and vice-versa. The household size for your wife's AOS will be 2, while for your step-son it will be 3.

I apologize for the confusion! USCIS really needs to clarify the instructions a little better lol.

Edited August 18, 2016 by xmaricrisx

[jg121783 3,915]

Hey guys. Finally got the I-864s filled out correctly (I hope). The only problem is my printer doesn't do borderless printing so my only option is to scale the pages so everything fits. Is this going to cause any issues or will NVC accept it?