US Immigration from Australia

Hey All,

Hubby had his March 23rd AOS interview cancelled due to COVID-19, like many of you. This week we received an RFE asking for us to mail in his medical. We'd previously (Jan 2020) received the pink slip stating the medical was missing from the application and NOT to mail it but to bring it along to the interview. I'd deliberately left it out so as not to risk it expiring so he completed his medical that week so it would be ready for whenever the interview was scheduled.

I've seen a number of people say that their interview has been waived for various reasons - Could this be the case here? I fedEx'd the medical within hours of opening that letter so it should arrive at the San Antonio Field Office today. So nervous/excited/impatient!

Love to hear others thoughts and experience. Our LONG visa journey below for reference...

Sharna

Both Australian's living in America together for the last 7 years - Been together almost 12 years.

4/16/2013 - Moved to US together on J1 Visa

5/1/2014 - Returned to Australia to file for new visa

5/18/2014 - Both approved for E1 visa (treaty/trade - Starting our own Aus based visa in USA)

May 2014 - I (petitioner) was drawn in the green card lottery. Long wait ahead for my number to come to start that process

8/13/2014 - Moved back to USA together on E1 visa

8/18/2015 - Green card interview in Sydney Australia, approved on the spot (did not do AOS and stupidly, did not include my partner on my application)

7/3/2017 - We got married!

7/7/2017 - Submitted Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

7/13/2017 - Received confirmation that application was received and given case number

2/2/2018 - Husband had interview at US Consulate in Australia to renew his E1 Visa - Approved for a further 4 years on the spot.

5/26/2019 - Form 1-130 approved, case sent to NVC.

7/8/2019 - Submitted AOS, EAD, AP concurrently

7/12/2019 - Application marked as received

7/25/2019 - Bio appointment

1/31/2020 - EAD Approved, AP Approved

2/1/2020 - Combo Card shipped/ AOS status changed to ready to schedule

2/6/2020 - Combo Card Received

2/28/2020 - Received interview letter

3/23/2020 - Interview Day! Cancelled due to COVID-19

4/27/2020 - RFE for Medical - Mailed to San Antonio Field office same day

Hi there!

So my wife and I are currently based in Australia and we are looking to start the IR-1 process!
My questions are:

1. From Australia, can we send our packet to the required service centre from outside the country?
2. As my wife has no US income but had filed her taxes last year, will this still be accepted as a current tax return form?

Thanks for your assistance!

I have a question and I was hoping you guys can help me. I was under the impression that with the public charge when we AOS it only cares about American benefits? I m on benefits here as I was a single mum studying and I was just asked if that will hinder me adjusting. I didn t think it did but now I m second guessing? Looking at the list of benefits though it only included American ones? So am I ok?

On a similar note I just graduated last week as a teacher and honestly I don t want to work in a school during a pandemic when my country is handling it badly and risking us getting covid and id have to take my daughter back to daycare which she s currently not going to for safety. Does unemployment prior to US entry matter? I m going to take any job in the US until I get my teaching job. I figured what happens in the US is more important.

I am young, healthy, got a degree and have enough cash in my bank for a good house deposit so I m hoping I will be fine!

Thanks!

Hello. I'm planning to bring my young cat with me to the US when I move and I'm doing some research into what's required. I got a quote from a pet relocation company that's currently quoting me $3000 to move my cat, of which $750 is for 'international customs fees'. From what I understand by looking at the CBP page, there doesn't seem to be any fees associated with importing a pet. Has anyone here brought a cat (or dog) into the US when they moved, and were you charged any fees at customs?

Thanks for your help.

I'm the US citizen, other half is from the UK.

I have ESRD and will be getting my kidney transplant soonish (it's considered an "elective" surgery, so it's been put on hold during the pandemic). I need to have someone that can take care of me during this time and would very much like it to be my fiance of course.

So, with K1 being the fastest approval overall, we were leaning that way - but then someone recommended we instead get married while he's here next (as soon as flights are allowed again) and then file our K3 and try to get it expedited due to medical reasons.

I don't know if that is a likely situation to have an expedition approved on, or how quickly it would happen. If it was approved before his ESTA expired, does he just stay here and adjust status here? Does he have to go back to interview in London or can he do that here instead?

Not sure what the best option is right now, help!