Long-distance relationship - Immigration in a non-COVID scenario - K1 or CR-1?!

[Boiler 45,541]

3 minutes ago, emmewalle said:

NEW FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS:

 

Hi guys!
 

 A couple of more things came to mind:

 

1. When I became a naturalized Canadian Citizen, the legal name on all my Canadian passports (2 expired and 1 current) is: FIRST NAME LAST NAME.  My UAE birth cert and Pakistani passport @ birth (and all subsequent ones until the very last one expired, and I've never renewed it) + currently valid Pakistani Overseas National ID card has FIRST NAME MIDDLE NAME LAST NAME.  I'm not sure how/why they dropped my middle name in Canada; I don't EVER use it, so perhaps when I was filling in the forms (I was 21 at the time), I must have overlooked the need to include it. However, my Canadian citizenship card states FN, MN, LN... but the passport is just FN LN.  Would this be an issue?
2. This checklist no longer includes the beneficiary/intending immigrant (i.e. ME) birth cert + translation - so I don't see how they would pick up my original name at birth.  However I have read somewhere that even though this is no longer required, people still include it.  I'm conflicted now - if I include it, I may a can of worms (re: point #1 above), if I don't include it, they could always ask for it stating that it is a requirement (since the VJ checklist isn't official - tried looking for the USCIS checklist, couldn't find it...) How often are the VJ info/guides/forms/checklists updated?
3. Is there a checklist by country? or is it the same as the VJ link above for all?

Thank you sooo much!!

They ask about all prior names and of course citizenships. Always go to USCIS for the latest forms.

[emmewalle 8]

7 minutes ago, NikLR said:

There are several checklists, one for thr I-130 and one for the civil documents for the NVC and interview.  It really doesnt matter if your passport has your middle name or not.  You shoud put it down at the very least under "other names used" .  This isnt a worry. 

Thanks! I'm hoping it's fine and that they do not ask for any proof...

6 minutes ago, Boiler said:

They ask about all prior names and of course citizenships. Always go to USCIS for the latest forms.

I didn't see anywhere on the I-130 a question on previous or dual citizenship...

[Boiler 45,541]

9 minutes ago, emmewalle said:

Thanks! I'm hoping it's fine and that they do not ask for any proof...

I didn't see anywhere on the I-130 a question on previous or dual citizenship...

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/DS-260-Exemplar.pdf

[emmewalle 8]

12 minutes ago, Boiler said:

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/DS-260-Exemplar.pdf

Oh gosh, thanks for sharing. I did not see this before.  I am debating whether to upload online or by mail....I'm thinking by mail since the evidence will be quite large to submit online.

Edited May 2, 2020 by emmewalle

[geowrian 22,337]

4 hours ago, emmewalle said:

NEW FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS:

 

Hi guys!
 

 A couple of more things came to mind:

 

1. When I became a naturalized Canadian Citizen, the legal name on all my Canadian passports (2 expired and 1 current) is: FIRST NAME LAST NAME.  My UAE birth cert and Pakistani passport @ birth (and all subsequent ones until the very last one expired, and I've never renewed it) + currently valid Pakistani Overseas National ID card has FIRST NAME MIDDLE NAME LAST NAME.  I'm not sure how/why they dropped my middle name in Canada; I don't EVER use it, so perhaps when I was filling in the forms (I was 21 at the time), I must have overlooked the need to include it. However, my Canadian citizenship card states FN, MN, LN... but the passport is just FN LN.  Would this be an issue?
2. This checklist no longer includes the beneficiary/intending immigrant (i.e. ME) birth cert + translation - so I don't see how they would pick up my original name at birth.  However I have read somewhere that even though this is no longer required, people still include it.  I'm conflicted now - if I include it, I may a can of worms (re: point #1 above), if I don't include it, they could always ask for it stating that it is a requirement (since the VJ checklist isn't official - tried looking for the USCIS checklist, couldn't find it...) How often are the VJ info/guides/forms/checklists updated?
3. Is there a checklist by country? or is it the same as the VJ link above for all?

Thank you sooo much!!

1) I doubt it. As noted, just list any other names under "other names used".

 

2) The form instructions always trump any guides. That said, AFAIK the guide referenced above is updated for the current instructions.

As such, I see no need to send those items with the petition. They will come into play later.

 

3) For the petition, the process is the same for everybody.

For NVC, here's a wiki with the major steps: https://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process

For the consulate, instructions are specific.

 

4 hours ago, NikLR said:

There are several checklists, one for thr I-130 and one for the civil documents for the NVC and interview.  It really doesnt matter if your passport has your middle name or not.  You shoud put it down at the very least under "other names used" .  This isnt a worry. 

^Agreed

[emmewalle 8]

1 hour ago, geowrian said:

1) I doubt it. As noted, just list any other names under "other names used".

 

2) The form instructions always trump any guides. That said, AFAIK the guide referenced above is updated for the current instructions.

As such, I see no need to send those items with the petition. They will come into play later.

 

3) For the petition, the process is the same for everybody.

For NVC, here's a wiki with the major steps: https://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process

For the consulate, instructions are specific.

 

^Agreed

THANK YOU!

[RandW 30]

On 4/28/2020 at 1:20 AM, emmewalle said:

Sweeet! Just need to find a way to get married now

Hi!

Just wanted to add, I don't know if you have considered getting married in the UAE or not (maybe it will be easier in LA since you can enter the US) but my husband and I got married there in November and it took ~30 minutes to get married and another 15-20 for translation right next door and we walked out with marriage certificate in hand. We also needed to take it to the Ministry of Justice (if I'm not mistaken) which also took under 30 minutes! It was quite seamless for us so just wanted to share (obviously with COVID things might still be suspended). 

 

 

[RandW 30]

On 4/27/2020 at 12:05 PM, TamMhmd said:

Hi!

 

UAE was pretty organized (to my surprise since Emirates ID was a hassle..) with the needed documents for police certificates and all once you are at the NVC stage. My husband did it all online and got it within 24 hours. 

 

Hi, we are also in the same boat as you guys! I just wanted to ask about the process of how to obtain the police certificate online and what were the needed documents for it all? We haven't gotten our petition approved yet but I am already gathering information/docs and researching for the next steps and was wondering about this part! 

Thanks!

[Boiler 45,541]

Friends got married in Colorado on Friday, they pick up the Certificate on Monday.

[emmewalle 8]

10 hours ago, RandW said:

Hi!

Just wanted to add, I don't know if you have considered getting married in the UAE or not (maybe it will be easier in LA since you can enter the US) but my husband and I got married there in November and it took ~30 minutes to get married and another 15-20 for translation right next door and we walked out with marriage certificate in hand. We also needed to take it to the Ministry of Justice (if I'm not mistaken) which also took under 30 minutes! It was quite seamless for us so just wanted to share (obviously with COVID things might still be suspended). 

 

 

hi! thanks for sharing;  we did consider it, but because he is not a UAE resident, he would have to undergo some medical examinations which I've read can take up to a couple of weeks.  Right now, the UAE has no inbound flights, so this would be difficult to do anyways.  We prefer getting married in the US though as it is easier from a paperwork/language/logistic standpoint - I also want to reserve the religious (Islamic) ceremony for when things look a lot brighter! 

 

Right now, I'm in the process of obtaining a new copy of my UAE birth cert, which seems a bit complicated - haha!

[emmewalle 8]

10 hours ago, RandW said:

Hi, we are also in the same boat as you guys! I just wanted to ask about the process of how to obtain the police certificate online and what were the needed documents for it all? We haven't gotten our petition approved yet but I am already gathering information/docs and researching for the next steps and was wondering about this part! 

Thanks!

Good point! I need to do that now as well for the UAE.

 

I also need to look into the other countries I've lived in (Canada, and the US from when I was a minor - do you know if I would need a police cert for under 18)?

 

How is your paperwork compilation going? We just started this week!

Are you based in the UAE?

[emmewalle 8]

10 hours ago, Boiler said:

Friends got married in Colorado on Friday, they pick up the Certificate on Monday.

Unfortunately the LA offices are closed....was hoping to do it via Zoom  

[geowrian 22,337]

6 hours ago, emmewalle said:

Unfortunately the LA offices are closed....was hoping to do it via Zoom  

I know NY only recently (the past week I think?) allowed marriage via video call for residents of NY who are also physically located all in the same state at the time of the marriage. I'm not sure what CA's laws are, but just be sure that whatever is done meets the requirements for USCIS to recognize it. The last thing you want is to end up married but not have it recognized for immigration purposes...fixing that later is a mess.

 

Edit: Wow...the timing. Here's some info on exactly that subject that i just came across in another post: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/04/30/governor-newsom-signs-executive-order-on-marriages/

Edited May 4, 2020 by geowrian

[RandW 30]

9 hours ago, emmewalle said:

hi! thanks for sharing;  we did consider it, but because he is not a UAE resident, he would have to undergo some medical examinations which I've read can take up to a couple of weeks.  Right now, the UAE has no inbound flights, so this would be difficult to do anyways.  We prefer getting married in the US though as it is easier from a paperwork/language/logistic standpoint - I also want to reserve the religious (Islamic) ceremony for when things look a lot brighter! 

 

Right now, I'm in the process of obtaining a new copy of my UAE birth cert, which seems a bit complicated - haha!

Yeah seems getting married in the US is easier for you guys! My husband can't enter the US easily and I'm not a resident of the UAE so we were looking for solutions for a while till we found out about Dubai Courts. Hope you can get your birth certificate easily! 

9 hours ago, emmewalle said:

Good point! I need to do that now as well for the UAE.

 

I also need to look into the other countries I've lived in (Canada, and the US from when I was a minor - do you know if I would need a police cert for under 18)?

 

How is your paperwork compilation going? We just started this week!

Are you based in the UAE?

For police certificates I looked at the bottom of this page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-5-collect-financial-evidence-and-other-supporting-documents/step-7-collect-civil-documents.html

But I also then looked at country specific document requirements and we initially would need 3 police certificates but after reading through, I found we would only need to submit the UAE one for my husband, the other countries are not required.

 

We filed our petition in December, so for additional paperwork I've gotten extra evidence of our relationship ready just in case we are asked and in the last two weeks started looking at next steps like NVC doc requirements as I have heard they are really precise with scans of documents and file size, corners missing, etc. Also currently trying to get all the Qs answered for DS-260 on a word doc so it will be easier to transfer over once we are actually filling it out. 

 

I'm not based in the UAE, but I'm there a lot to visit!

[emmewalle 8]

16 hours ago, geowrian said:

I know NY only recently (the past week I think?) allowed marriage via video call for residents of NY who are also physically located all in the same state at the time of the marriage. I'm not sure what CA's laws are, but just be sure that whatever is done meets the requirements for USCIS to recognize it. The last thing you want is to end up married but not have it recognized for immigration purposes...fixing that later is a mess.

 

Edit: Wow...the timing. Here's some info on exactly that subject that i just came across in another post: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/04/30/governor-newsom-signs-executive-order-on-marriages/

OH WOW! I wish I was in the US right now so we could make this happen..  Thanks for sharing!