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  • Trending Immigration Discussions
      Topic   Popularity Poster
    #1 Questions about first time married filing taxes jointly with K1 spouse
    - popularity rating: 685 stegsaurus
    #2 Is this possible?
    IR1/CR1 Visa Discussion
    - popularity rating: 540 blank avatar Robert888
    #3 Micro tear on b2 visa page
    Tourist Visa Discussion
    - popularity rating: 312 Traveller786
    #4 DOCUMENTARILY QUALIFIED Today
    IR1/CR1 Visa Discussion
    - popularity rating: 110 Trent and Rose
    #5 Haitian TPS holder with I-220A married to U.S. citizen – I-130 approved, worried about ICE check-in
    Waiver Discussion
    - popularity rating: 31 blank avatar Pup

  • Community Spotlight
    PSA: If entering the USA 2 years after marriage, kindly remind the immigration officer of this
    When we last entered the US, our immigration officer said "Oh, hmm I wonder if I could go ahead and change you an IR-1."  The agent right next to him said "Yes, you can do that" and he acted surprised. His comments made it pretty clear he was going to erroneously issue us a CR-1 and he seemed to not even know he could change the visa status until his coworker advised him (THANK GOODNESS she overheard!).  I don't know how onerous the process is to correct such an oversight but I'm glad we didn't have to find out!
     
    Just wanted to pass this along in the hopes it saves someone from any problems with the wrong stamp being placed in the passport, as I've read about here before....  I would kindly remind the officer "We married >2 years ago.  We can enter with an IR-1 visa now right?"
    • 20 replies
    Traveled to Canada for 20 days after entering the U.S. on a K-1 visa (June 1–22). Seeking reentry under Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR).
    I entered the U.S. on a K-1 visa on June 1st and left for Canada on June 2nd, remaining here for 20 days. I am now attempting to return to the U.S. through Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) using Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR). My K-1 visa is expired, but my I-94 is still valid. Am I ok?
    • 31 replies
    Wrong USCIS application form filed by my lawyer!
    Hello, so my wife came in k-1 visa to USA and we got married and all. We filled for work permit and green card together but while doing that my lawyer filed for I-130 no idea why. Will that application make my process for work permit and green card slow? If so how do I withdrawal that application? My lawyer isn’t helpful at all. I need some help…
    • 22 replies
    Seeking advice for Thai/US couple - What US visa path to take?
    My gf and I live in Thailand but spend 2-4months in the US per year. Once/if we have children age 5+, the time split would become vice versa. We have no plans to live full-time in the United States in the next 5 years, but I visit my family and friends 2-3x per year for 2-3 weeks at a time. I would love it if she can join me for those trips and experience that part of my life. What options do we have -- US visa wise, maybe a tourist or fiance visa later? Other?
     
     
    • 77 replies
    Abandoned AOS and now regret it
    Please be nice, I know I made a mistake... But got my K1 approved and arrived in the US June 25, 2024 and applied for AOS February 25, 2025 -- then left the US (abandoned my AOS). Will I be banned for re-entry to the US -- even under a spouse visa?
    • 32 replies
    US Citizen with Foreign Fiancé: When and How to Get Married?
    I'm currently living and working in the United States. My fiancé currently lives in Japan. We have been dating for about 6 months, and we have met in person several times, but we are not yet married.
    My fiancé will be visiting me in the United States on a tourist visa some time in March or April and staying for about 3 months. I want to file for a fiance/spouse visa asap -- what's next?
    • 18 replies
  • Recent Immigration Discussions
    Haitian TPS holder with I-220A married to U.S. citizen – I-130 approved, worried about ICE check-in
    9:23 am today

    Pup

    blank avatar

    Read 31 Times
    1 Replies



    Husband s situation:

    Wife:

    U.S. citizen

    Husband:

    Haitian citizen

    Entered the U.S. without inspection (EWI)

    No criminal history

    Has work authorization (EAD)

    Current status:

    Currently has Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti (though TPS is involved in ongoing litigation)

    Released by ICE on Form I-220A (Order of Release on Recognizance)

    Has periodic ICE check-ins in South Florida

    Immigration process:

    We filed I-130 through marriage and it has already been approved

    Travel history:

    Applied for Advance Parole, but it was denied because the reason was not considered humanitarian.

    Concern:

    His next ICE check-in is coming up soon. He has been compliant with all requirements, but he is worried about the possibility of detention at the check-in in South Florida.

    We ve had several consultations with immigration attorneys. Some were hesitant to take the case because it involves ICE supervision and I-220A.

    Main questions:

    1. How common is detention at ICE check-ins for someone with no criminal history?
    2. With I-130 already approved, what are the realistic options for getting a green card with EWI + I-220A?
    3. Is consular processing with an I-601A provisional waiver usually the only path in cases like this?

    Any insight from people who have dealt with similar situations would be appreciated.



     
    View Topic

    DOCUMENTARILY QUALIFIED Today
    7:50 am today

    Trent and Rose



    Read 55 Times
    2 Replies



    We received notice today of being DOCUMENTARILY QUALIFIED. Waiting on interview assignment Manila embassy.



     
    View Topic

    Is this possible?
    9:20 pm yesterday

    Robert888

    blank avatar

    Read 108 Times
    5 Replies



    I was married in 2025 to a Filpino

    woman who has 2 children. She has never been married before other than to me. Her oldest son is her biological son, her second son is her cousins son who was given to her when he was 5 days old. The age differenece between the boys is about 3 weeks . The problem is the children are now 17 years old and she has NO paperwork at all on her cousins son. His mother died in childbirth and he was sent to my wife. We have applied thorugh the courts for guardianship over him so he can come to the US with my wife and his brother. He will be 18 in August and I am wondering what are our chances of his approval since my wife has cared for him since he was 5 days old? We have had so so many hurdles to cross such his mother's death certicate and other matters along that line. My question is will he be elible to immigrate under my wifes's guardianship papers?



     
    View Topic

    Questions about first time married filing taxes jointly with K1 spouse
    4:08 pm yesterday

    stegsaurus



    Read 137 Times
    5 Replies



    My wife entered the US on a K-1 visa in Dec 2024 and we were married in January 2025. She got her work authorization in May 2025 and her first US job in August. She received her green card in November 2025.

    Since it's my first time filing jointly and having a foreign spouse is a special circumstance, I want to make sure I'm doing this correctly. I've walked through both federal and PA state taxes in H&R Block's software and to my understanding, there are only two points that I need to double-check:

    1. Her tax filing status, since she was not a green card holder/permanent resident for the entirety of 2025
    2. Any foreign assets she owns

    For #1: I've seen conflicting information about what to do. Some sources say that she's considered a "Dual-Status" alien for 2025 because she started as a non-resident and then got her GC later in the year. In that case, we have to attach a statement to our return saying that we're choosing to treat her as a US resident for the whole year. Because H&R Block doesn't let you include this with an e-file, we'd have to print and mail the return if this is required, which I'd like to avoid. But I've seen other sources saying that because she had her GC at the end of the year, she can be treated as a GC holder for the entire year, and we don't need to include anything else. I'd appreciate some clarity on this.

    For #2: My wife left her job in Honduras before she came to the US in Dec 2024. She didn't work for any Honduran company at any point in 2025. She does not have any assets there: no car, house, or investments. She has had some money put into their equivalent of Social Security, but this is akin to how it is for US citizens: they've taken your money and promise to provide something for you once you retire, but there's no account sitting there with your name on it that has the money ready to withdraw if you want.

    She does still have a Honduran bank account with her name on it, but this has a very small amount just to keep the account open less than $10 USD. I've made sure to answer "Yes" to the question of foreign account ownership in H&R Block, so our Schedule B has that box checked. The account has well under $10,000, so FBAR and FATCA filing aren't an issue. She's going to check soon if the account earned any interest in 2025 so we can report that if needed; if so, I imagine it was only a few cents.

    Otherwise, I can't think of anything that would affect our return, but please let me know if I'm wrong. In 2025 we paid off student loans she had in Honduras, but I confirmed those interest payments are not eligible for a deduction in the US because her university is not on this list of eligible international schools.

    I'm considering contacting a tax expert who has experience with international couples, but don't want to spend the money if I don't need to. Thanks for any advice you can offer!



     
    View Topic

    Micro tear on b2 visa page
    3:51 pm yesterday

    Traveller786



    Read 104 Times
    3 Replies



    Hi

    I seem to have noticed a micro tear on the top right corner of the page where my b2 visa is. Its not visible without taking a pic and zooming but still noticeable if looked very closely. The b2 visa sticker is perfectly intact. I assume this is normal. Will there be an issue at usa immigration?



     
    View Topic

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      Christina! We received our appointment notification email today! Our appointment was scheduled for April 9th 2026. We are very excited. We received the "you've got mail" ding while we were still in bed. I hope you received an email as well. If not, stay hopeful that it could arrive this week! 
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