I-864 fill out now or wait?

[daisylynn 0]

I'm only in the beginning stages of this whole process, but I went ahead and sent my mom the link for the I-864 form to fill out as the joint sponsor. I just realized today though that is expires in October! Should she still go ahead and fill it out, sign it and send it to me now? Or should she wait to see if the form changes? I wanted to have everything ready to send when the time came, but I don't want her to fill out the wrong form either.

When in the whole process is the I-864 required? Would it likely be after October or before?

Speaking of, could someone tell me the order for everything we have to fill out (applying for IR-1 by DCF)? I have looked but haven't found anything that kinda lists the order of things. Anyone have a link?

Thanks!

Tammy

[Cantwait2gethome 0]

Hello Daisy!

After we had our interview in Toronto, the officer stated it would take about 3 weeks to hear back from Montreal, which it did take that long. So .... after interview, can pretty much expect a 3 week wait to get your next packet. In your packet, there will be instructions on what the next steps will be(DS 230 part 1 and 2, and the checklist) The checklist will ask if you have the forms ready, for ei, police certificate, marriage certificate, birth certificate, divorce certificates(if any applicable), etc. I found personally if you had the forms for the I-130 and then pretty much most of your checklist is completed. At this point is where the I-864 comes in to play. You do not need to send it in, but I believe there is a box that asks if you have completed the form(I am at work right now, and dont have our packet here). I am sure if I am wrong on that, I will be corrected. I would assume you would be ok to wait till October to see if form changes any, considering September is just 2 days away, and not sure if you have had your interview at Toronto yet. If you havent, you probably wouldnt get the next packt until the end of September.

After you send in your packet 3, it comes the wait time for your interview date. After interview, I dont believe there is anything more, besides the crossing into the US, but from reading posts, doesnt look like there is much involved in those.

I have been getting things transferred over to my parents address, in which we will live for a brief time, until we get a place of our own. I ordered my past 3 years tax transcripts and also ordered a letter of acknowledgement from the IRS sent to my parents address, and I also ordered my voting record, sent to my parents address. Right now just trying to get my ducks in a row to show that I intend to move back to the US. This so far has been my biggest challenge. I called my last employer that I worked for before I moved to Canada ( I held employment with them for 14 years), and they said that when I am finally back for good in the US to contact them, but they cannot send guaranteed letter of employment before I am back, due to employments letter with the hospital are only good for 30days, and, at the time the letter is issued I have to resign a contract. So.......for me, I have to find as much as I can to prove domicile outside of employment letter. Argh =/

Anyways, hope this helps a bit. I wouldnt worry to much right now, they are very nice and very informative at Toronto. I had all my questions answered thoroughly when I there. And even possibly, you could ask the officer that does your interview, that you will need a co-sponser, and you were wondering could your co-sponsor use the current form because you would like to get that part of the application done as soon as possible. I was lucky that my parents were here at beginning of the month, and had all the forms completed =)

Best Wishes !

[daisylynn 0]

Thanks Candy!

You mentioned something that I need to find out more about too Can always count on you for good info

Proving domicile (my biggest things right now too!):

For the tax transcripts, did you have them ordered and sent to your parents address?

What is a letter of acknowledgement from the IRS and how did you get that?

How/where did you order your voting record? And what is that, previous years that you were registered to vote? Is it just serving the purpose of having your mom's address on it or something else?

I won't be working, so I can't do anything along those lines. Dh will be though. Would his employment be helpful or are they only going to look at me?

We have our interview with Toronto tomorrow!! I am so excited to finally get this thing going! I want to make sure I have all the questions I need to ask written down or something. I don't want to forget ANYTHING!

Thanks!

Tammy

[Cantwait2gethome 0]

Hello Daisy

All I did was call the international tax line. If you need that number , let me know, and I will get it for you. I explained to the gentleman that I was a USC and was filing an immigration packet for my husband, and part of the application, I need to prove that I have filed taxes. I mentioned transcripts, and he knew right off what I was looking for. I asked for the past three years. Although he scared me for a sec, he said I had no taxes filed for 2000 and 2001. I told him, yes I had, well long story short, because I was previously married, and we filed jointly, my ex-husband's name was always first, therefor it did not show under my name. The gentleman at the IRS said that if there is ever any question as to why they dont show, that joint applications for taxes are filed under the persons name on the first line. Learned something new i had the transcripts sent directly to where I am living right now. He printed them off while I was on the phone. Now to see how long it will take to get here.

While talking to the gentleman from the IRS while he was printing off my transcripts, he mentioned to me that it may not be a bad idea to get an acknowledgment letter. I asked him why, since they will have copies of my transcripts. He said that having a letter should leave no doubt with the consulate interviewers (he mentioned he has been through the immigration process himself --which I thought was a little weird, never in my life have I had anyone mention personal experiences...guess I got an extra friendly agent =) hehe ) So he transferred me off to another person, and all I did was explain that I was putting in an immigration packet, and could I get an acknowledgement letter sent to my parents house. The next agent was just as helpful as the first agent. He said he would type up a letter stating the years that I have filed, that they were received and processed with no complications, and that I owe no back taxes to the IRS.

As for the voting record, I went online and typed "Voters Registration in (state I am from)" The first number I called gave me the direct line to the office I needed to call. I again explained circumstances of the immigration packet, and just asked if I could have my voting record sent to my parents address. The lady at the voters registration said it will show how long I have been registered and what years I voted. I did it for 2 reasons. First reason being, showing my moms address as my domicile when we move back, and two, to show that I have not relinquished my right to vote as a US citizen.

I believe that so long as your husband has a letter stating that he has a job offer when he moves to the US, I cant see that as not being a good thing. But again, it seems to me it would be hard to get that since no one knows for certain if they will be approved, which is where I fell into. It seems impossible to secure employment right now, for many different reasons, but I am not to worried either. There is always work in the health care field =) I am sure someone who has been through this procedure will correct me.

I really hope everythign goes very well for you tomorrow Biggest thing, dont worry ! Everything will go very smooth for you. Make sure you take change too ! The morning of our interview, I said to my husband, we should probably take some change for the meters. He said we wouldnt need it .....lol.....all the meters take is change !!!!!!! BTW, there is a parking garage right across from the consulate, they charge like $3.50 for a half hour, but....if go down about 1/4 of a block, there is a public parking area, and the charge like $1.50 for a half hour. It is like a 3 min walk......figured it is worth saving $4 an hour. Expect to be there for at least 2. We paid for 2.5 hours, and by the time we got in our car, we had 15min left. OH ! and make sure you tell the officers that you have a scheduled appointment. We almost got stuck in this horrific line but was saved by the appointment letter

Keep me updated with how things go for you !

[Cantwait2gethome 0]

I was just thinking about this too......make sure your there in plenty of time. We arrived there at 7:45 AM and got to our interview site at 9:20. Our interview was at 9:30. ( Luckily we had everything in line , so the first process was in done in no time at all. We had about a 20min wait after the first process was done.) Not only is there immigrant visa interviews there, but also non-immigrant visas go through Toronto. When we got there, there was about a dozen people in front us. We had about a 25 min wait outside , before we even got processed. When we walked out the door at 10 am, the line grew to about 40 people in line. So depends on what time your interview is, I would suggest to give your self plenty of time just in case.

Just in case your wondering......first step, wait outside so officer can see your passport and interview letter. Then you get sent in the first set of doors. There they screen you and your belongings. From there you go through another set of door and get in line to have get screened. (They asked us for passports again, appointment letter, and the reason why we are there. That was the longest wait out of the whole process. After you get out of that hallway, you will get sent through another set of doors. On the other side is a huge room with a bunch of chairs and few interview windows. At this point, make sure to point out that you have a appointement, and show the letter. You should be guided to the "waiting room". Once there, someone will ask you for all the originals that you sent in with your packet. They check to make sure all information is complete. Then you get to sit and wait again. They will call your name, you go up to a awindow, and an officer will ask to you a few questions. At first I thought I was going through another check, until the officer asked how we met, and I was thinking, wow this is the interview stage. LOL. If everything checks out, they will tell you that your approved, and give you a letter explaining the next step. If anything is missing, they will tell you what you will need for the Montreal interview. Then ......you get to wait for about 3 weeks till packet 3 arrives !

Good Luck tomorrow Daisy!

[daisylynn 0]

Candy-Wow! Have you ever been soooo helpful!!!! Thank you for all the information! I actually feel pretty prepared now, kinda knowing how everything will go

Yes, I'd like that international tax line please. I called for the voting record today, but my birthdate doesn't match what they have down So I have to call back tomorrow to talk to the lady in charge.

So, you got to the consulate at 7:45???? It took 1.5 hours from the time you got there til the time you got into the interview area?? We were going to leave here at 7am. It takes about an hour to get to Toronto (with no traffic). So, we were planning on morning work traffic and then having time to feed the kids before we went into the Consulate. Looks like we're going to have to rework that schedule! Thank you SO much for posting that though. That could have really messed us up!! Our appt. is at 9:30am.

Also, did you notice if anyone was wearing their babies? We are having to take all 3 of our kids. I know they say no bulky strollers. So, I am planning on taking 2 small strollers for the 2 older kids (ages 3yrs and 19 mos) and then putting the baby (2 mos) in a wrap and wearing him. Will they have a problem with that? I just couldn't think of another way to do it where the kids were contained. I hate that we can't take snacks in That's why I want to feed them breakfast just before we go in...so they are at least full and not cranky.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Tammy

[Cantwait2gethome 0]

Sorry I didnt get back to you before now Daisy It is now 8:45 AM here and I am hoping all has gone very smooth for you!!

I will send the international tax line to you. Just keep an eye out

Please let me know how everything goes for you, I will be watching the board while I am at work

[daisylynn 0]

That's ok Candy...thanks!

I just posted about it in the Canada forum. And thank so much for all the useful 'tips'! It really helped to know what to expect! Although the parking still got us We couldn't find the one you were talking about and we drove around the block about 3 times. We passed so many places to park. By the time my hubby pulled into a lot, were were almost yelling at each other. He didn't even care at that point how much we had to pay, he just wanted to park. LOL

[star sevadar 0]

Sorry I didnt get back to you before now Daisy It is now 8:45 AM here and I am hoping all has gone very smooth for you!!

I will send the international tax line to you. Just keep an eye out

Please let me know how everything goes for you, I will be watching the board while I am at work

Hi there, that international tax line number sure looks like something I could use. Any chance of popping it my way?

cheers

Ant

[trailmix 77]

Sorry I didnt get back to you before now Daisy It is now 8:45 AM here and I am hoping all has gone very smooth for you!!

I will send the international tax line to you. Just keep an eye out

Please let me know how everything goes for you, I will be watching the board while I am at work

Hi there, that international tax line number sure looks like something I could use. Any chance of popping it my way?

cheers

Ant

Hi Ant,

Philadelphia Service Center office at:

Tel: 215-516-2000 (not toll-free)

Fax: 215-516-2555

Phone service available from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm (EST) M-F