Proof of domicile

[etrangais 947]

Help needed for US citizen living abroad:

 

my sister filed an I-130 for her husband. The petition was approved and is now processing at NVC. My sister and her husband and kids live in Finland, but are planning to move back to the USA when her husband’s visa is approved.

Today she got the following FE message:

Proof of Domicile - XXXXXXmight not have a principal residence or be domiciled in the United States. Please submit proof of domicile. For more information on domicile requirements, visit https://nvc.state.gov/fin. 

 

What are her options?

 

Thank you all

Edited August 31, 2023 by etrangais

[Lil bear 4,190]

8 minutes ago, etrangais said:

Help needed for US citizen living abroad:

 

my sister filed an I-130 for her husband. The petition was approved and is now processing at NVC. My sister and her husband and kids live in Finland, but are planning to move back to the USA when her husband’s visa is approved.

Today she got the following FE message:

Proof of Domicile - XXXXXXmight not have a principal residence or be domiciled in the United States. Please submit proof of domicile. For more information on domicile requirements, visit https://nvc.state.gov/fin. 

 

What are her options?

 

Thank you all

Simplest is for her to return to the US and set up house. .. Lease/purchase/utilities, drivers license , offer of employment or contract/ voter registration, bank accounts, credit cards, kids enrolled in school, daycare etc .. 

The other option is to try to demonstrate intent to establish domicile using many of  the things without her staying in the US . May require a trip to the US for her to set some things up .. and some consulates do not accept intent only actual residency 

 
 

Might be good for your B sister to join here and give us first have info re their circumstances. Always lots of wisdom here if we have full accurate info ! 

Edited August 31, 2023 by Lil bear

[etrangais 947]

I actually filled the application for them and I am the joint sponsor.

the intent is for them to move here and stay with me in my apartment until they get their own. Her husband is a scientist (Ph.D in telecommunications), and they have two kids (US citizens and Finnish citizens).

[Gigizaza 7]

1 hour ago, etrangais said:

I actually filled the application for them and I am the joint sponsor.

the intent is for them to move here and stay with me in my apartment until they get their own. Her husband is a scientist (Ph.D in telecommunications), and they have two kids (US citizens and Finnish citizens).

Does she have an State ID at all?

[Redro 4,611]

1 hour ago, etrangais said:

I actually filled the application for them and I am the joint sponsor.

the intent is for them to move here and stay with me in my apartment until they get their own. Her husband is a scientist (Ph.D in telecommunications), and they have two kids (US citizens and Finnish citizens).

Has she communicated with the school district about registering her children? 

[etrangais 947]

24 minutes ago, Gigizaza said:

Does she have an State ID at all?

She moved to Finland seven years ago to live with her husband. She had to turn in her US driver license to get the Finnish driver license.

so currently she does not have a valid US ID (besides her passport).

[etrangais 947]

5 minutes ago, Redro said:

Has she communicated with the school district about registering her children? 

She did not yet. The plan is to do all that after the visa.

any idea of how long does that process take (I mean to get the kids enrolled in school)?

[Redro 4,611]

5 minutes ago, etrangais said:

She did not yet. The plan is to do all that after the visa.

any idea of how long does that process take (I mean to get the kids enrolled in school)?

Just chatting to school about vaccines and school records. This is one of the proof USCIS accepts as intent to re-establish domicile. Basically, everything your sister is planning to do to move back to the US after her husband gets the visa she should do now.

ETA: your sister is thinking: I  will make plans to move back to the US after I know my husband has a visa.

But, the US thinks: We will only give the visa to @etrangais sister's husband because we know she is moving to the US and she needs her husband to move to the US with her. 

It is about reunification in the US. It the family is outside the US together. There is no reason to give the foreign national a visa. 

Edited August 31, 2023 by Redro

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[Lil bear 4,190]

20 hours ago, etrangais said:

I actually filled the application for them and I am the joint sponsor.

the intent is for them to move here and stay with me in my apartment until they get their own. Her husband is a scientist (Ph.D in telecommunications), and they have two kids (US citizens and Finnish citizens).

Correct wording is important. The USC petitions for their foreign spouse and is always the primary sponsor even if she does not meet the financial requirements . She must demonstrate US domicile. You are the joint sponsor.. you fill out an I 864 but the petitioner is the one who does all the “filing” .. including filing the joint sponsor paperwork 

Minimum.. she needs to make a quick trip to the US. establish a bank account using your address. Register her with Usps at your address.. use these to get a drivers license, voters registration card, US phone number etc. discuss with school their enrollment policies v and get a letter from the school indicating potential enrollment 

[Troy B 223]

I had my wife take my car insurance to proof my domicile.

[etrangais 947]

Quick update:

My sister was able to renew her expired driver license online (State of Pennsylvania) and used the temporary license as proof of domicile.

The case was DQ based on that.

They are right now awaiting interview scheduling for Helsinki Finland.

[2024 I551 8]

8 hours ago, etrangais said:

Quick update:

My sister was able to renew her expired driver license online (State of Pennsylvania) and used the temporary license as proof of domicile.

The case was DQ based on that.

They are right now awaiting interview scheduling for Helsinki Finland.

In my humble opinion the DL on its own may not be enough to prove domicile at consular processing. I have seen people in the middle east who own a property in the US, have a million dollars in the bank, plus a DL, still refused on domicile.

However, if the officer in Helsinki "likes" her husband he may approve the application without even raising the domicile matter which I believe would be the correct outcome.

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Removed post implying way to commit immigration fraud.  Reminder that this site's Terms of Service, that all members agreed to upon signing up, prohibits posts that "Condone or instruct, either directly or indirectly, others on how to commit fraudulent or illegal immigration activities in any way, shape, manner or method." -- VJ Moderation ***

[etrangais 947]

1 hour ago, 2024 I551 said:

In my humble opinion the DL on its own may not be enough to prove domicile at consular processing. I have seen people in the middle east who own a property in the US, have a million dollars in the bank, plus a DL, still refused on domicile.

However, if the officer in Helsinki "likes" her husband he may approve the application without even raising the domicile matter which I believe would be the correct outcome.

Thank you for the heads up.

just more clarification:

i have her on my lease also as a tenant, I’m also their additional sponsor