I-130 New and Confused

[mtaylaa 0]

Hi Everyone! I am new to the group and this entire process. I have already read a lot of the threads, but still have a few questions and want to learn from the experiences of real people. 

 

-First of all, my husband and I live in Georgia, the country. Is there anyone in this group who has experience with this process from Georgia?? I should file through the Chicago Lockbox, correct? What is the best form of payment since checks/money orders don't exist here?

 

- Right now, I am mostly concerned about the evidence of our relationship. Sure, I have our marriage certificate as well as pictures from before and after, but not much else. We don't own property, and most everything else simply, isn't normal here. Because I was working in another city, we didn't live together, but even if we did, leases hardly exist here. Let alone both of our names. And bills are normally in the name of the owner. Joint bank accounts here are a bit uncommon as well. Lastly, I have chat logs- but they are 98% in Georgian, not English. I will have to get these translated and notarized? What else can I do?

 

-Later, I will be worried about the I-864. I know I will need a co-sponsor for this, which won't be a problem.. However, can my information alone hurt us? I was in University prior to marrying my husband and didn't make fulltime kind of money. Then I've been teaching abroad and have even less to show for after conversion rates. Additionally, because of this, I think I have only filed maybe 1 of the last 3 tax years because I was never required. Will this be ok?

 

-And probably the most simple question- Some of the fields on the form just won't allow you to type. And when downloaded, one of the date fields automatically fills with "PRESENT," and cannot be changed. How can I fix/avoid these problems? Or is it best just to type what I can and fill the rest by hand? 

[Roel 7,192]

56 minutes ago, mtaylaa said:

Hi Everyone! I am new to the group and this entire process. I have already read a lot of the threads, but still have a few questions and want to learn from the experiences of real people. 

 

-First of all, my husband and I live in Georgia, the country. Is there anyone in this group who has experience with this process from Georgia?? I should file through the Chicago Lockbox, correct? What is the best form of payment since checks/money orders don't exist here?

Yes, you file to Chicago lockbox. Cashier check maybe? ALSO - as part of the domicile requirements it would be best if you had US bank account. Preferably joint bank account. You should be able to have a check then.

 

 

56 minutes ago, mtaylaa said:

 

- Right now, I am mostly concerned about the evidence of our relationship. Sure, I have our marriage certificate as well as pictures from before and after, but not much else. We don't own property, and most everything else simply, isn't normal here. Because I was working in another city, we didn't live together, but even if we did, leases hardly exist here. Let alone both of our names. And bills are normally in the name of the owner. Joint bank accounts here are a bit uncommon as well. Lastly, I have chat logs- but they are 98% in Georgian, not English. I will have to get these translated and notarized? What else can I do?

Pretty sure you can get a joint bank account or joint credit card statements. You said it's uncommon, but is it impossible? Pretty sure it can be done.

 

When you "live" together, I'm sure USCIS will want to see something more than chat logs and pictures.

Shared health insurance? Shared phone bills? Share gym/store memberships? Power of attorney? Life insurance with your names on it?

 

And I hope you filed your taxes as MARRIED, not single. That's also a good proof. If you filed SINGLE, you need to fix your taxes before you present them to USCIS.

 

 

56 minutes ago, mtaylaa said:

 

-Later, I will be worried about the I-864. I know I will need a co-sponsor for this, which won't be a problem.. However, can my information alone hurt us? I was in University prior to marrying my husband and didn't make fulltime kind of money. Then I've been teaching abroad and have even less to show for after conversion rates. Additionally, because of this, I think I have only filed maybe 1 of the last 3 tax years because I was never required. Will this be ok?

 

Yes, you need a joint-sponsor and also (since you leave abroad) need to show your domicile (or at least intent) to the USA. Without that, your spouse probably won't get a visa.

 

 

 

[mtaylaa 0]

5 minutes ago, Roel said:

Yes, you file to Chicago lockbox. Cashier check maybe? ALSO - as part of the domicile requirements it would be best if you had US bank account. Preferably joint bank account. You should be able to have a check then.

I haven't met anyone here who knows anything about personal check, cashier checks or money orders. Everything is done electronically. I am traveling to the US for a few weeks soon. Will it cause any problems to file from the US while I am there? 

5 minutes ago, Roel said:

 

Pretty sure you can get a joint bank account or joint credit card statements. You said it's uncommon, but is it impossible? Pretty sure it can be done.

 

When you "live" together, I'm sure USCIS will want to see something more than chat logs and pictures.

Shared health insurance? Shared phone bills? Share gym/store memberships? Power of attorney? Life insurance with your names on it?

 

And I hope you filed your taxes as MARRIED, not single. That's also a good proof. If you filed SINGLE, you need to fix your taxes before you present them to USCIS.

At best, we can submit a change of address come September when we are living together. And hopefully our landlord will draft up some kind of document. But again, this doesn't happen here. None of these "official," things are things here. People don't use insurance, phones are prepaid, and taxes are handled exclusively by the companies people work for. 

 

5 minutes ago, Roel said:

Yes, you file to Chicago lockbox. Cashier check maybe? ALSO - as part of the domicile requirements it would be best if you had US bank account. Preferably joint bank account. You should be able to have a check then.

I haven't met anyone here who knows anything about personal check, cashier checks or money orders. Everything is done electronically. I am traveling to the US for a few weeks soon. Will it cause any problems to file from the US while I am there? 

5 minutes ago, Roel said:

 

Pretty sure you can get a joint bank account or joint credit card statements. You said it's uncommon, but is it impossible? Pretty sure it can be done.

 

When you "live" together, I'm sure USCIS will want to see something more than chat logs and pictures.

Shared health insurance? Shared phone bills? Share gym/store memberships? Power of attorney? Life insurance with your names on it?

 

And I hope you filed your taxes as MARRIED, not single. That's also a good proof. If you filed SINGLE, you need to fix your taxes before you present them to USCIS.

At best, we can submit a change of address come September when we are living together. And hopefully our landlord will draft up some kind of document. But again, this doesn't happen here. None of these "official," things are things here. People don't use insurance, phones are prepaid, and taxes are handled exclusively by the companies people work for. 

 

5 minutes ago, Roel said:

Yes, you file to Chicago lockbox. Cashier check maybe? ALSO - as part of the domicile requirements it would be best if you had US bank account. Preferably joint bank account. You should be able to have a check then.

I haven't met anyone here who knows anything about personal check, cashier checks or money orders. Everything is done electronically. I am traveling to the US for a few weeks soon. Will it cause any problems to file from the US while I am there? 

5 minutes ago, Roel said:

 

Pretty sure you can get a joint bank account or joint credit card statements. You said it's uncommon, but is it impossible? Pretty sure it can be done.

 

When you "live" together, I'm sure USCIS will want to see something more than chat logs and pictures.

Shared health insurance? Shared phone bills? Share gym/store memberships? Power of attorney? Life insurance with your names on it?

 

And I hope you filed your taxes as MARRIED, not single. That's also a good proof. If you filed SINGLE, you need to fix your taxes before you present them to USCIS.

At best, we can submit a change of address come September when we are living together. And hopefully our landlord will draft up some kind of document. But again, this doesn't happen here. None of these "official," things are things here. People don't use insurance, phones are prepaid, and taxes are handled exclusively by the companies people work for. 

 

[Roel 7,192]

When you're in US, create a bank account and get a check then. Also make sure your taxes are in order. When you're in US, start working on the domicile.

[mtaylaa 0]

9 minutes ago, mtaylaa said:

 

Wow.. Obviously new here, cuz I didn't think my response posted and accidentally submitted it 3 times. oops.  

 

So more clear questions regarding the response above:

Should our marriage certificate, photos from the duration of our relationship, translations of our chat logs and perhaps 1 or 2 affidavits work? Would a letter explaining our living situation make a difference? 

 

We got married a little over 2 months ago, but I was working and living in another city, so it was just easier to stay than commute an hour. Now I am heading back to the US for a few weeks to visit, and then when I return to Georgia, we will be living together. (but we want to get these docs done ASAP). 

[mtaylaa 0]

Just now, Roel said:

When you're in US, create a bank account and get a check then. Also make sure your taxes are in order. When you're in US, start working on the domicile.

To be honest, I am not sure what this means..."working on the domicile".. I am a US Citizen and have a US bank account (just no checks at the moment). And our joint-sponsor will be my mom, who is also a US Citizen, living in the US. What other things will I have to get in order? I know I will have to fetch my tax documents eventually. Even though they are quite limited. 

[Roel 7,192]

Just because you're US citizen doesn't mean you can sponsor someone when you live abroad and don't show proofs of domicile or intent to establish one.

 

https://www.***removed***/affidavit-of-support/country-of-domicile.html

 

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-overseas-us-citizen-proves-us-domicile-form-i-864-sponsorship.html

[mtaylaa 0]

31 minutes ago, Roel said:

Just because you're US citizen doesn't mean you can sponsor someone when you live abroad and don't show proofs of domicile or intent to establish one.

 

https://www.***removed***/affidavit-of-support/country-of-domicile.html

 

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-overseas-us-citizen-proves-us-domicile-form-i-864-sponsorship.html

Thanks... It seems every day, I learn about a new hoop I will have to go through.
Have you already gone through the process? How long what the time between filing your I-130 and needing to file your I-864?

[Roel 7,192]

I didn't do spouse visa so others might advice better. 

 

All I know is that the process takes about 12 months or so, from start to finish. That's an average assuming there is no issues. 

[pushbrk 12,979]

38 minutes ago, mtaylaa said:

Thanks... It seems every day, I learn about a new hoop I will have to go through.
Have you already gone through the process? How long what the time between filing your I-130 and needing to file your I-864?

Irrelevant what happened two years ago.  Currently, think in terms of about 8 to 10 months between filing the petition and submitting the affidavit of support.

[Ryan H 3,813]

On 7/7/2018 at 1:33 AM, mtaylaa said:

I will have to get these translated and notarized?

 

That will not be necessary.

[John & Rose 7,239]

We are having a similar problem with proof.  We have been married for a month.  So far no US bank will allow a joint or new account without a SSN for the beneficiary.  I will try to open a joint account in the Philippines on my next visit but we may face a similar issue.  We will try to just use our marriage certificate to create the account.  We obviously don't live together and I can't add her name to my US lease without an SSN.  I know this is very common.  I'm just wondering what else we can do to prove bona fide relationship?  I will also try to get my name on her house in Pateros but I do not believe that is a quick or easy process.

 

It is just a Catch 22.  No joint account without an SSN and no SSN without living in the US.