USC lives and works overseas. Approved with Assets (No Joint Sponsor)- Visa Approved!

[Redro 4,611]

Brief backstory:

My husband and I met in Korea. We've lived here together for several years.

Neither of us is Korean/has Korean heritage. 

We didn't use a joint sponsor and my husband did not move to the US before my interview. 

 

 

My husband attended the interview with me and he was allowed into the embassy without any issues. 

We saw 3 other couples interviewing together (the rest of the applicants appeared to be families and there were a few women and one man interviewing alone). 

Everything happened really quickly. I read a few reviews saying they keep the room cold so I brought a cardigan but it wasn't necessary. 

 

The interview was at 7:45 and we got there at 7:20. Quite a few people were already in line so we went to the back of the queue.

At 7:30, we were told anyone with a 7:45 interview time could enter- This is when I spoke to some people around me and discovered some people had a later appointment time and couldn't enter yet. We were maybe the 7th or 8th people allowed in. 

We handed in our phones and then went up to the 2nd floor. 

 

I was called up 4 times (and my husband went up with me twice- when we submitted the documents and then for the interview). I went alone to get my fingerprints scanned and to collect the DV pamphlet. 

The interview was super quick. I was asked all the expected questions (when we met, When we got married, When we started dating). 

 My husband was asked when he planned on returning to the US. He told the CO he quit his job, the CO requested proof and we showed him.

We were then told the visa was approved and to expect it in 2 business days. We left the embassy around 9AM. 

 

We did not use a joint sponsor (we used assets in a US bank account) and my husband and I have stayed in Korea together throughout the entire process.

The CEAC showed Administrative Processing on August 22, 2022 and it changed to "Issued" late morning/ early afternoon August 23, 2022. 

 

TL;DR: Every Embassy is different but Seoul appears to be okay with couples staying together throughout the application process.

They did want to see proof the USC has made plans to return to the US. The domicile evidence we submitted to NVC (drivers license, bank accounts and credit card was fine for NVC but insufficient at interview). 

We did not upload any additional evidence between DQ and interview but had something in our folder in case we were asked for additional proof of assets or domicile.

Edited August 23, 2022 by ROK2USA

[Pleasework89 47]

Congratulations!! If you don't mind me asking  what additional evidence did you submit for domicile? I am in a similar situation but in a different country. 

 

I have driver's license, us bank/credit card accounts for proof of domicile. 

Edited August 23, 2022 by Pleasework89

[Redro 4,611]

3 minutes ago, Pleasework89 said:

Congratulations!! If you don't mind me asking  what additional evidence did you submit for domicile? I am in a similar situation but in a different country. 

 

I have driver's license, us bank/credit card accounts for proof of domicile. 

My husband quit his job: we should proof of his resignation and proof he applied for his pension. 

 

[seekingthetruth 1,248]

29 minutes ago, Pleasework89 said:

Congratulations!! If you don't mind me asking  what additional evidence did you submit for domicile? I am in a similar situation but in a different country. 

 

I have driver's license, us bank/credit card accounts for proof of domicile. 

 

25 minutes ago, ROK2USA said:

My husband quit his job: we should proof of his resignation and proof he applied for his pension. 

 

Congratulations!  Great summary!

Pleasework beat me to the question.  Did they ask where you will live, etc.?  Rent or buy, etc.  How long was your husband living out of the U.S.

 

My situation is similar.  I have lived outside the U.S. for 9 year but I am retired, so "quit the job" doesn't work for me.  Do you think using the U.S. assets helped for the domicile?  I planned to use only income but I could use assets too.

 

 

[Redro 4,611]

25 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

 

Congratulations!  Great summary!

Pleasework beat me to the question.  Did they ask where you will live, etc.?  Rent or buy, etc.  How long was your husband living out of the U.S.

 

My situation is similar.  I have lived outside the U.S. for 9 year but I am retired, so "quit the job" doesn't work for me.  Do you think using the U.S. assets helped for the domicile?  I planned to use only income but I could use assets too.

 

 

They asked where we planned to live and my husband answered that question.

He didn't go into specifics.... just said "Detroit Metro Area".

CO asked a follow up question and my husband replied with the actual city.

We had something prepared for that but the CO didn't request any proof.

I don't think using assets helped at all for domicile... the woman who took our documents initially said we would probably need a joint sponsor until we reminded her we were using assets. She then took our updated bank statements but I was worried at that moment they would ask for a joint sponsor when we met the CO. 

Edited August 23, 2022 by ROK2USA

[powerpuff 6,744]

Congratulations!! That’s great to hear, thank you for posting a detailed review 

[Adventine 3,201]

Congratulations! Glad it went smoothly for you.

[Redro 4,611]

10 minutes ago, Adventine said:

Congratulations! Glad it went smoothly for you.

I have VisaJourney to thank for that! 

We prepared all of our documents for interview based on previous reviews. 

15 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

Congratulations!! That’s great to hear, thank you for posting a detailed review 

I'm planning to post the full review in the Consulate Review section. 

[Redro 4,611]

1 hour ago, seekingthetruth said:

 

Congratulations!  Great summary!

Pleasework beat me to the question.  Did they ask where you will live, etc.?  Rent or buy, etc.  How long was your husband living out of the U.S.

 

My situation is similar.  I have lived outside the U.S. for 9 year but I am retired, so "quit the job" doesn't work for me.  Do you think using the U.S. assets helped for the domicile?  I planned to use only income but I could use assets too.

 

 

Won't say how long the husband has been outside the states but will say we've been together for more than 9 years and he lived in Korea before he met me. 

Timeline and Review 

HERE

 

[Dashinka 24,633]

Congratulations!  Great detail, and very helpful to others.  Bring some real Korean BBQ back with you!  

[Family 4,060]

You ROCK -ed it! 
May I assume you wrote your husband’s Intent to Re Establish Domicile Letter for NVC ? 
Congratulations for your superb success and for the biz zillion others you have helped along your journey with well researched and insightful posts. 

[millefleur 5,047]

Great news! I'm glad VJ was able to help so much.

[Redro 4,611]

5 hours ago, Family said:

You ROCK -ed it! 
May I assume you wrote your husband’s Intent to Re Establish Domicile Letter for NVC ? 
Congratulations for your superb success and for the biz zillion others you have helped along your journey with well researched and insightful posts. 

The husband wrote and uploaded the letter of intent to re-establish domicile based on letters VJ members shared previously. 

He wrote a total of 3 letters:

Intent to re-establish domicile

Statement regarding No W2's/1099s 

Intent to use assets instead of income 

 

We also uploaded a work contract as I saw quite a few people receive RFEs for "proof of income" when they have foreign income. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SalishSea 17,966]

Great news, congratulations!!

 

I expect it will be an IR, so no need for ROK2USA to ROC?

 

Not sure if you've spent much time in Michigan, but bring your cold weather clothes....   my mom lives in Detroit Metro (Rochester).  Also - highly recommend the excellent Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.  We go every year!

[Chanel H. 41]

1 hour ago, ROK2USA said:

The husband wrote and uploaded the letter of intent to re-establish domicile based on letters VJ members shared previously. 

He wrote a total of 3 letters:

Intent to re-establish domicile

Statement regarding No W2's/1099s 

Intent to use assets instead of income 

 

We also uploaded a work contract as I saw quite a few people receive RFEs for "proof of income" when they have foreign income. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow I haven't heard of NVC requesting a proof of income when it's foreign income, I will upload my work contract too. We are pretty much in the same situation as you but in Australia. Can I ask about your letter for intent to use assets instead of income? I would probably just write a statement that says "I am working abroad with my husband and therefore cannot show current US income. Instead I will be using XX assets, and the evidence for those assets is the attachment titled "YY". Should I add any other details? Thank you so much for your write up, it was really reassuring.