Free US immigration self-help guides, example forms, community discussion, case tracking & estimated approval dates!

My husband (US citizen) and I started our DCF journey via Montreal in late January. We've been approved to file and have received the Packet 3 and I'm just waiting on my criminal record check to arrive so I can send the checklist back, but I've hit a problem.

I know I have to fill out the DS-260 and have attempted to login to CEAC with the application number and my birthdate, but I receive the following error message every time:

The selected Case Number and Date of Birth combination you entered does not match our records. Please try again or contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where your case is being processed.

I've emailed Montreal about it since I've tried 25+ times and I copy and past the application number from the email they sent me (so no chance of mistyping) and my birthdate is correct. But until I can log in, I can't fill out the DS-260 or send back the checklist to get the appointment scheduled. I've googled this and it seems like it was happening quite a lot with NVC filings a few years ago, but nothing quite like mine (the last line of the error, in their case, says to reach out the to NVC and not the US Embassy or Consulate, but otherwise the wording is the same.

Basically, has anyone else experienced this? I'm completely lost. Montreal has been quite slow to respond (I know they're quite busy) and it seems that there's nowhere to call to speak with someone about it, but I'm just so down about this. I'm so scared of them not responding at all since their auto-response mentions not responding to info available in the FAQ, which doesn't really qualify here but certainly reinforces the idea that they are dealing with a lot of emails.

I'd appreciate any insight! Thank you.

Hi folks,

I'm looking for a little guidance if you would be kind enough. Thank you in advance.

I am a U.S. citizen flying to the Philippines for a few days before going to China as a tourist. I plan on spending two full weeks in and around Zhengzhou before returning to the Philippines for another two weeks.

I'm looking for a little handholding on the following topics. Anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

1. Because I am technically not flying direct to China, will a standard eVisa still be okay?

2. Can I apply for an eVisa online? There are no Chinese embassies within several hundred miles of me here in the US.

3. Where do I apply for a visa online if that option is available?

Hello all,

I have two questions for filling out the I-134. I have been here long enough to know that I should just read the questions literally, but I tend to think too much and then everything goes gray. The main goal here is to not do anything that would trigger an RFE, so I would like to hear what other people have answered with success.

These questions are from form I-134, 01/20/25 edition

The first question is part 2, question 14:
How many other dependents do you support (including yourself)

This seems obvious that it should be 1, but then question 15, asks for a list all of my dependents, and says do not include yourself...
Is the consensus that I should put 1 for question 14?

The other question is for part 2, question 16:
What is your annual income?

At first glance, this seems simple, just add my wages and social security payments, done. But again, I started thinking, and in an effort to not trigger an RFE, I got lost.

I have a W-2 which lists Wages, tips, other compensation in Box 1, but that number doesn't include 401k contributions. Box 3 on the W-2, Social security wages does include 401k contributions.

Then, there is the tax transcript with its own amibiguities. There are two numbers that I might use, Total wages: which is the same as box 1 on the W-2, and Total income: which includes social security payments received along with the box 1 wages from the W-2, but again, does not include 401k contributions.

Do I just use the Total income from the transcript? That seems to match the question on the I-134, but it doesn't include the 401k income.

I feel like having the numbers match the other documentation is more important than including all of the income as I am far enough above the required miminum that it is not an issue.

What have other people here stated for their annual income?

Thanks,
John

She said in the interview that wanted to visit Pennsylvania and she said she doesn't have friends in there to get the b1 visa. If I petition for my girlfriend to come to Pennsylvania to get married, how can we ensure it doesn't affect her case if she said she doesn't have any friends there? We've been together for a year. What would the process be, and how long do you recommend waiting before applying for a K-1 visa since she was denied a B-1 visa?

Good morning for Good people, please I mistakenly changed the year of my wife on the B2 visa application form online, instead of 95, I did it 85. When trying to book an interview date, that's how I realized the mistake I make. Please I need help from anyone how to solve that issue before her interview date.

Thanks for everyone