Questions about domicile

[jeffthehat 10]

Hey guys. My Thai fiance and I would like to marry and apply for the CR-1 this year. Our living situation is a bit unique though, and I'm concerned about not being able to prove domicile in the US. 

 

Basically I've been working online and traveling for the past five years. My fiance and I met in Thailand in October 2016. Since then I've been living in different countries for weeks/months at a time on tourist visas, but I return to the US two or three times a year. My fiance began working online in 2018, and she's travelled to dozens of countries with me since. 

 

My income comes from odd sources. I make about half my money as a freelance writer, and half from trading, promotions and sports betting. The former is easy enough to explain, but I'm afraid I will have trouble explaining the latter. Neither job requires me to be in the US, but we would like to start establishing a permanent home base there regardless. 

 

I have bank accounts, a drivers license, and a gym membership in the US. I stay with my parents when I come home and all my mail goes to their house. But that's about all the ties I have. 

 

What steps should I begin taking to prove our intention to reside in the US? I enjoy what I do now, but I'm afraid the nature of my work and living situation will make it hard to meet the domicile requirements. 

 

Would hiring an immigration lawyer help?

 

Edited July 1, 2021 by jeffthehat

[JeanneAdil 6,510]

Lawyer can not help

you have to provide the documents to a lawyer to establish your US residency and he/she copies  them 

 

Have you filed US tax returns while working out of the country as required of US citizens ?

 

Bank account,  driving license and mail to parents establish that

Where would you actually Live when she gets the visa?   If with your parents,  that's all you need

 

others will chime in on whether you have to return to US before her

[jeffthehat 10]

27 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Lawyer can not help

you have to provide the documents to a lawyer to establish your US residency and he/she copies  them 

 

Have you filed US tax returns while working out of the country as required of US citizens ?

 

Bank account,  driving license and mail to parents establish that

Where would you actually Live when she gets the visa?   If with your parents,  that's all you need

 

others will chime in on whether you have to return to US before her

Appreciate the reply. 

 

Yes I've been filing US taxes. My income doesn't meet the sponsorship requirement in previous returns but it will this year. 

 

We'd probably live at my parents house initially. But I'd be open to renting an apartment beforehand if it significantly increases the likelihood of approval. 

 

She's applied for four tourist visas and been rejected for three of them. They approved her for one last year right before COVID and she never got to use it. She got rejected again this week. 

 

I'm just afraid our situation is hard to communicate in a way that's convincing to authorities. 

 

 

Edited July 1, 2021 by jeffthehat