pushbrk

Because you didn't apply for anything at all. You filed a petition for alien relative on behalf of your spouse. The I-130 puts you on the CR1 or IR1 visa path. A second/separate I-129F opens a path to a K3 visa for maybe a day, before it is administratively closed in favor of the already filed I-130. Being new should quickly be overcome by you studying the guide (top of any page here) and the actual form instructions.

A careful reading indicates this applies to benefit requests to USCIS. We'll have to see, but in my understanding the I-130 has already been approved, and is not a "benefit request" anyway. This case is now in the hands of the Dept. of State, specifically the Immigrant Visa Unit in London. I would be quite surprised if it has any impact in this case. If it's CR1 instead of IR1, this memo could impact removing conditions.

What's giving you the impression your birth country would matter in this context? Is it just a fear, or is there some basis for it. I'm not aware of a reason for concern.

If you filed an I-130 you are on the path to CR1 or IR1 visa. For all practical purposes the K3 visa died 15 years ago.

Referring to what I bolded above, there are no such questions on the I-130, but yes somebody will be curious and you may be called on to explain at some point.

Correct

Your address change has no impact on your actual timeline. Ignore the change in the timeline. You will still need to deal with the change of country once the petition is approved. NVC will assign it according to the original I-130 and it will take a few weeks for you to provide the necessary information to get it changed to NZ.

Not if explained as I said above. It will slow it down for as long as it takes to read a sentence.

No, that's not a problem. On the I-130, you are asked if you filed a petition before and the result. Answer yes and then explain I-129F approved, entered, married and filed to adjust status. Had to leave for emergency before receiving Advance Parole.

Replying to myself to add the exact language from the current field manual regarding proxy marriages. The laws of the place of celebration govern the validity of the marriage.[65] Each jurisdiction’s civil authorities set their own requirements for authorizing a marriage, including any requirements regarding the location of the parties and the officiant. A virtual marriage is valid for immigration purposes if it is valid in the state or country that issued the marriage certificate, and it does not violate the public policy of the United States or a state where the petitioner resides, or where the couple will reside. For the marriage to be valid for immigration purposes, the parties also must consummate the marriage after the ceremony if the parties were not physically together for the ceremony.[66]

Context is king here. The case from Reddit was two months ago. Not sure of the actual date, but the filing date was certainly prior to the date of the new memo linked in your post. Here's a quote from an RFE sent October 22, 2025 (after the date of the linked memo) that describes what is needed at this time. Of course this petition was filed months prior. The couple was together but failed to provide evidence. The RFE response will include the required/requested evidence. 1. PROXY MARRIAGE Based on the evidence submitted, it appears that the marriage between Noah Marriott and (names deleted) was virtual. Furthermore, it appears that the married parties were not physically together in the same location for the wedding ceremony. For a virtual marriage where both parties are not physically together at the time of marriage to be recognized for immigration purposes, the marriage must be valid in the jurisdiction which issued the marriage certificate and consummated after the marriage ceremony, but before filing the Form I-130 petition.

I've seen no evidence of this. What I HAVE seen is RFEs because the necessary evidence of consummation was not included with the petition. To the OP, in your situation, you must submit clear "primary evidence" that the two of you were together in the same place for the proxy ceremony....OR....that you were together in the same place between the date of the ceremony and the date the petition was filed. I've seen this be successful many times, either way. Primary evidence would be passport stamps and/or boarding passes showing you were both in country on a certain date. (date of ceremony or later date as indicated above) Photos are secondary evidence. Include that too, along with similar evidence of previous time spent together in person.

Being married as suggested by the OP, "looking odd" is not a reason for denying a petition. They've already spent quite a bit of time together in person. Evidence they were together during the proxy marriage is all that is required to satisfy USCIS in this situation. By now USCIS has seen this hundreds of times. I say go for it.

2024 is the latest possible tax return. 2025 tax returns are filed in 2026. They know from your occupation and tax return that you don't have w2's but you can explain if you want.

Yeah, the word "expedite" gives the impression of speed, but not in this process.

I'm not arguing. I'm telling it like it is. This is not going to work. It would only work if your husband had this problem and also needed you and you only as a caregiver during the treatment. You asked for advice. You're getting it straight. If you have no other options, that does not change the facts or my advice. If there really is no other place to get this treatment, it will just have to wait. It costs only your time to try though. I wouldn't get your hopes up.

The truth is that you the foreign spouse is in urgent need of treatment not available where you are. That it must be done in the USA, is simply not true. No, you will not get your case expedited for that reason. If it's urgent, there's a whole other world out there, so pick a place to go get the treatment you need. Will probably be less expensive in a country nearer to where you live now.

You will not see any instruction for an apostille for any document in the fiance visa process.

So, no I-864a. That was the problem with what you originally posted. The EZ version is fine if all the income is from W2 employment. An I-864a is used by a household member who is not the foreign spouse, whose income is being combined with yours. You will get better answer more quickly, if you provide accurate information. So YOU submitted the I-864EZ. "WE" (you and another person) did not submit anything related to the affidavit of support, just "YOU". Just ignore the case note then.

If you don't do the I-864w, you'll need an I-864. She won't get the interview without one or the other. On the other hand, they may not accept the I-864.

Just do it.

It's completely up to you whether to transfer to Sydney or keep the case in London.

That would be true for a K1 but not for a CR1. No questions in a CR1 or IR1 case about any criminal record unless it falls under the Adam Walsh act. Don't even give it another thought.

That sounds right unless the daughter's IR2 qualifies (most likely does) for her to become a US Citizen upon entry. In that case it just an I-864W.

OK, so still. Which did you file, 864 or the EZ version. Why 864a, and who is the household member. You cannot combine 864EZ and 864a.