US Immigration from Australia

Hi, Due to the fact that my husband is a Lifer in prison in PA, we're looking at me sponsoring myself. I know I have to have a percentage in savings over the poverty line, but what would that amount be in USD please? Also, am I better to apply after I have a certain amount saved up, and keep saving whilst my application is processed, or should I have my $$'s all saved up and then apply please? Can anyone think of any other hurdles associated if I self sponsor myself please?

TIA

Hi there,

I have a query about using only assets for the I-864 Affidavit of Support, and the possibility of needing a joint sponsor.

1. My wife and I have the equivalent of US$150,000 in assets in Australia, where we have lived as a married couple for the past 10 years or so, and are now looking to move to the US. I m Aussie, my wife is a US citizen. We don t have any US income right now, and are looking to qualify based on assets alone.

Is using overseas assets likely to be an issue at the interview stage?

There don t seem to be any hard-and-fast rules against using overseas assets, but some consulates and/or individual COs may have an issue with it, which is a concern. We are using the Sydney consulate.

2. We may be able to get a joint sponsor, but we have broached the topic with them in the past and they are a bit touchy about signing up, given the financial implications. What would happen at the consulate interview, if it was decided we needed to have a joint sponsor, but didn t have one yet would the consulate put the application on hold pending the joint sponsor I-864, or would it be denied and we would have to start from scratch?

Just trying to gauge how likely it will be that we would need a joint sponsor, and whether to try to get the I-864 in advance, or only if we find out in the interview that it s absolutely necessary.

Thanks!

Hi there! My husband missed his Biometrics Appt back in Aug, and when I called I got an automated message saying that since it was his first time missing the appointment, they would mail a second appointment notice within 60days. It's been 60 days now, should we be concerned? Anyone else have this issue?

He is Australian Citizen, living in the US for the last 2 years as a Conditional Resident through Marriage.

Wondering if people think our case is straightforward enough to handle ourselves? Otherwise, we have been in contact with a legal team that can help us. We'd obviously like to save the several thousand USD if possible, but also don't want to risk my husband being rejected.

Relevant points:

• Him: Australian, 35 / Me: American, 41
• Both living in Thailand together (dating) at the same residences for the past 6 years (known each other for 9 years)
  • plenty of evidence of bona fide relationship
    • I can easily get the lease from our current location (3.5 years here together)
    • Many trips / pictures / social media interactions / joint bank accounts / mutual friends / my visits to Australia / etc.
• Married via Utah Zoom wedding together from Thailand on Sept 7 2021
• Me: on Thai work permit / Him: on a spousal visa in Thailand based on my work permit (he recently left his job and gave up his Thai work permit)
  • We plan to continue to reside in Thailand until the issuance of the CR1
• Him: 1 DUI from 2015: no person or property was injured (Australia) - record clear except for this
  • Me: clear record
• Him: one minor overstay (resolved by paying fine of about $15 per day) on his Thai visa due to misunderstanding when leaving his work permit (did not involve arrest or charges, he simply paid a fine of less than $200 to rectify the error once realizing the issue) - I strongly (100%) doubt it will show up on his Police Record for Thailand
• Me: finances currently below minimum requirements while we reside in Thailand (although I have 2 graduate degrees and am employable in the US / He has a BA degree);
  • My parents will be our co-sponsors (they have ample income for the requirement)
  • Me: I have filed taxes abroad for the past two years, owing no federal taxes (I admit to being lazy for a couple years prior to that, since I didn't owe taxes).
  • Me: student loan debt of $100k+, currently on pause from payment.
    • In January when loans go back into repayment after the Covid emergency deferment, I'll likely continue to defer my loans until our return to the US due to my current low income.
• We plan to reside at my parents' house when we return to the US until we can secure employment and housing.
• Me: married once prior / divorced in 2011.
  • Him: never previously married
• Him/Me: 1 AZ vaccine received, second AZ vaccine scheduled to be received around 14 weeks after the first
  • Due to a local covid outbreak, health officials have postponed our second dose and we now will not have it within the recommended maximum 12 week space between doses - so it could hypothetically be considered our second "first dose"
  • Thai manufactured Astrazeneca vaccine (not currently recognized by the USA)
  • We are open to receiving additional booster shot(s) if recommended for his entry

I realize some information (like our degrees or my student loans) may not be important, I wasn't 100% sure on a few things, so I included them to be safe while trying to keep the summary brief.

Is this straight forward enough to tackle on our own or would people generally recommend we hire a lawyer for our situation? We're in the process of gathering documents right now and hope to file by the end of October.

Much thanks for your insight and advice!

Hi everyone! Long time lurker first time posting - hopefully this hasn't been answered before but I couldn't find anything!

On the 8th of September we received an email from NVC stating that they have once again updated the status of our application - logging into CEAC everything is finally showing accepted!!
(We had to re-submit my AUS Police Cert June 30th)

We still haven't received our qualified email - I am wondering if this is normal? How long should we be waiting to receive this email once everything has been accepted?
I would have assumed we would receive that DQ email rather than another showing our case has updated again?

We have contacted our attorney and he hasn't really helped much - told us to give it a week and let him know if nothing yet and no further response from him.

Any insight you might have would be great - we are unsure if we need to contact them or not at this point.

Thanks!