Proof of Domicile - Voting Record

[Boiler 45,541]

4 minutes ago, PGA said:

I have actually seen this posted numerous times regarding domicile on this very website. So hey! maybe i got misinformation. 

I have seen it posted as well, but not by itself. As part of a list of things.

[PGA 240]

7 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Please look at the I-864 and tell me the answers to my specific questions, each of them, not just the last one.  We need actual information to help you.

 

I can't tell you why everyone is telling you to provide irrelevant information.  Perhaps you are misinterpreting.

 

Note again that the actual requirement is NOT to prove domicile.  It is to provide sufficient evidence of one's intent to re-establish US domicile.  I suspect and error on the I-864.  Let's rule that in or out first.  I can't advise further without knowing the specific answers to two specific questions you ignored.  I need those answers to put your issue into the proper context.

 

My I-864 was ok... I got the normal message that my income wasn't sufficient enough to provide support and its up to the CO. I received 2 other requests...they needed me to upload my divorce  certificate/decree (which I did) and evidence of domicile...

[pushbrk 12,898]

11 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I have seen it posted as well, but not by itself. As part of a list of things.

Yes, actual details and context are critical here.  So are the actual words, not one's interpretation of the words.

Just now, PGA said:

My I-864 was ok... I got the normal message that my income wasn't sufficient enough to provide support and its up to the CO. I received 2 other requests...they needed me to upload my divorce  certificate/decree (which I did) and evidence of domicile...

Washing my hands of this.  Can't help you if you won't answer specific direct questions.  

[angeljolie 188]

This is from the State Dept webiste: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition/i-864-affidavit-faqs.html#aos21

 

[PGA 240]

3 minutes ago, angeljolie said:

This is from the State Dept webiste: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition/i-864-affidavit-faqs.html#aos21

 

Thank you! I'm not sure why I am being treated like a moron from outerspace...

1 minute ago, PGA said:

Thank you! I'm not sure why I am being treated like a morn from outerspace...

And so far...all the info I have gotten from this site has been wrong...

 

Edited January 16, 2021 by PGA

[angeljolie 188]

9 minutes ago, PGA said:

Thank you! I'm not sure why I am being treated like a moron from outerspace...

And so far...all the info I have gotten from this site has been wrong...

 

Not everything you read in here is correct, but you can get a lot of good stuff too. Also, there is no perfect place to get all the info you need. There are even caseworkers at the NVC who are not privy to their own guidelines. My husband was working for a public international organization at the time of submitting documents to the NVC. He explained this thru a letter, which we submitted for me and our 2 children. While I got DQd using that document, our kids were sent the message you received. He then replied with a lengthy letter, specifically pointing to the guidelines on qualified employment abroad. He attached a 40+ page treaty between the US and the organization, and he also added his voting record and bank statements (which we didn't submit for me). A few hours later, the kids also got DQd. 

 

Utlimately, we still have to be on top of our cases. Please do come back here and share your experience so others may learn. Good luck! 

 

[PGA 240]

4 minutes ago, angeljolie said:

Not everything you read in here is correct, but you can get a lot of good stuff too. Also, there is no perfect place to get all the info you need. There are even caseworkers at the NVC who are not privy to their own guidelines. My husband was working for a public international organization at the time of submitting documents to the NVC. He explained this thru a letter, which we submitted for me and our 2 children. While I got DQd using that document, our kids were sent the message you received. He then replied with a lengthy letter, specifically pointing to the guidelines on qualified employment abroad. He attached a 40+ page treaty between the US and the organization, and he also added his voting record and bank statements (which we didn't submit for me). A few hours later, the kids also got DQd. 

 

Utlimately, we still have to be on top of our cases. Please do come back here and share your experience so others may learn. Good luck! 

 

Thank you. Yes, you are right and most everything for me has been incorrect.

[Nitas_man 3,100]

2 hours ago, PGA said:

Sorry if I offended you in some way. You are, in my eyes, one of the best contributors on here.  Please don't insult me; this was just a question regarding items to add to the NVC question. I have 529 accounts and Massachusetts Prepaid tuition plans for my daughter as well as investment accounts in US but was merely asking about how to get the voting record....

You overseas?  You dont need to show your voting record

[Nitas_man 3,100]

2 hours ago, PGA said:

LOL....so what the hell do I upload to NVC to make them happy and continue processing  the application?

Do you live in the US?  We’ve processed through just about every category you can imagine.  

Edited January 16, 2021 by Nitas_man

[Nitas_man 3,100]

41 minutes ago, angeljolie said:

Not everything you read in here is correct, but you can get a lot of good stuff too. Also, there is no perfect place to get all the info you need. There are even caseworkers at the NVC who are not privy to their own guidelines. My husband was working for a public international organization at the time of submitting documents to the NVC. He explained this thru a letter, which we submitted for me and our 2 children. While I got DQd using that document, our kids were sent the message you received. He then replied with a lengthy letter, specifically pointing to the guidelines on qualified employment abroad. He attached a 40+ page treaty between the US and the organization, and he also added his voting record and bank statements (which we didn't submit for me). A few hours later, the kids also got DQd. 

 

Utlimately, we still have to be on top of our cases. Please do come back here and share your experience so others may learn. Good luck! 

 

The bank statements would suffice LOL

The bar is not “domicile”’it is “intent to establish domicile”

[Nitas_man 3,100]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

Is there any need to be domiciled to vote? A quick look makes no mention.

None.  Which is why I am curious as to how a voting record constitutes proof.

[Nitas_man 3,100]

1 hour ago, PGA said:

My I-864 was ok... I got the normal message that my income wasn't sufficient enough to provide support and its up to the CO. I received 2 other requests...they needed me to upload my divorce  certificate/decree (which I did) and evidence of domicile...

Ok our list:

 

Drivers licenses, car registration, insurance

Bank statements

401k/investment account statements

Credit card statements

Storage unit rental statements

 

All matched up, all using my brother’s address.  That was also the (permanent) US address we listed on the visa application and petition.

 

if you bank and have assets in the US, that’s what they want to see.  If you dont, you need to move them and establish an address.  You can vote with no domicile.  

[pushbrk 12,898]

2 hours ago, angeljolie said:

This is from the State Dept webiste: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition/i-864-affidavit-faqs.html#aos21

 

This is a list of examples that MAY be provided.  It is not a list of requirements.  Not all petitioners are asked for ANY of this.  There is still a REASON for asking, and that REASON is likely directly related to information in the I-864 itself.  Send ANY combination that relates to ANY of the examples shown above.

 

Usually this request is avoided by indicating the petitioner IS domiciled in the USA and providing a US mailing address.   That's why I asked about those two sections of the form.  I can assure you with abundant confidence that obtaining a voting record is absolutely unnecessary and proves NOTHING about domicile.  It's evidence only that one still values that particular right of US Citizenship.

 

The quote above does not provide complete context.  Below does.

 

Can a sponsor maintain U.S. domicile while living abroad temporarily?

Many U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents reside outside the United States on a temporary basis. "Temporary" may cover an extended period of residence abroad. The sponsor living abroad must establish the following in order to be considered domiciled in the United States:

• He/she departed the United States for a limited and not indefinite period of time,
• He/she intended to maintain a domicile in the United States, and
• He/she has evidence of continued ties to the United States.

Examples of proof that a sponsor’s trip abroad is temporary and that he or she has maintained a domicile in the United States may include:

• A voting record in the United States
• Records of paying U.S. state or local taxes
• Having property in the United States
• Maintaining bank or investment accounts in the United States
• Having a permanent mailing address in the United States
• Other proof such as evidence that the sponsor is a student studying abroad or that a foreign government has authorized a temporary stay

How can a financial petitioner establish a domicile?

A petitioner who is unable to demonstrate that he or she is domiciled in the United States who wishes to qualify as a sponsor must demonstrate that:

• He or she has either already taken up physical residence in the United States; or
• He or she has taken concrete steps to establish a domicile in the United States and will do so concurrently with the applicant no later than the date of the intending immigrant’s admission.

The sponsor does not have to precede the applicant to the United States but, if he or she does not do so, he or she must arrive in the United States concurrently with the applicant.  Evidence that the sponsor has established a domicile in the United States and is either physically residing there or intends to do so before or concurrently with the applicant may include the following:

• Opening a bank account
• Transferring funds to the United States
• Making investments in the United States
• Seeking employment in the United States
• Secure a residence in the United States
• Register children in U.S. schools
• Applying for a Social Security number
• Voting in local, State, or Federal elections
•  

Edited January 16, 2021 by pushbrk

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

@PGA

 

I'm in the same boat and have to prove my intent to re-establish domicile after living overseas for 9 years.  As established here, voting record is often listed, but does not have a lot of weight in the big picture.

 

It would help all of us understand the notice you got, and why, if you tell us what exactly evidence of "intent to re-establish domicile" have been given so far.

 

My thoughts on this, from the beginning, is that I would tell them from the beginning that I am not living in the U.S. and give them my plan to move back to the U.S., and why.  I have this in letter form and I can modify as needed to satisfy the different reviewers along the way.

 

I think an important, high weighted item would be "where are you going to live and why?".  If you have not already done so, detail out those plans.  E.G.  "We plan to get a short term rental in XXX and then buy a house in XXX school district where we want our child to go to school".  Etc., etc.

[angeljolie 188]

@Nitas_man and @pushbrk  if you read what I just wrote above, you would know that we received the same message from NVC regarding domicile on our kids' cases while my case had been DQd, using the same proof of domicile we first submitted. Obviously, the person who worked on my case knew that my husband's employment abroad can be counted as US domicile.  But the one who worked on our kids' cases wasn't privy. We could have argued with that person, but what for? OP submitted his documents which did not fully satisfy the NVC. Therefore, it is only fitting that he looks for EVERY possible evidence he can submit. The point is, not all NVC caseworkers are as knowledgeable as you are about immigration. So better give them as much evidence as you can if you want to save time.