beloved_dingo

I'm assuming adding her to your insurance wasn't (and isn't) an option?

From the I-130 instructions: Copies. You should submit legible photocopies of requested documents unless the Instructions specifically instruct you to submit an original document. USCIS may request an original document at any time during our process. If we request an original document from you, we will return it to you after USCIS determines it no longer needs the original. NOTE: If you submit original documents when they are not required or requested, USCIS may destroy them after we receive them. TL;DR: They typically will only return original documents that were specifically requested.

I guess my first question is - were these documents actually missing from your I-485 filing? Meaning, did you not submit the tax return(s) referenced above, or the I-864 Affidavit of Support for either the joint sponsor or petitioner, etc.? Did the petitioner qualify with only their income or was a joint sponsor needed?

Your options are a) get a W-2 job with sufficient income or b) get a joint sponsor with sufficient income.

I was able to add my husband (then fiancé) to my bank account before he has an SSN, but he was already physically in the U.S. At this point, you already know you absolutely have to find a solution to the income problem ASAP. I don't think the foreign fiancé's assets are a solution, even if you were able to add them to your account. The petitioner doesn't necessarily need a "full time job" but they do need income that satisfies the requirements or a qualified joint sponsor. Does the petitioner have no family members who would be willing to sponsor? There is no point in conjecture over the RFE until you actually receive it.

While it is odd they asked for the 2024 tax return, it is normal for them to request more recent tax returns when too much time has elapsed, so in this case it makes perfect sense for them to ask for the most recent tax return (2023).

The OP was already planning to do this: I think their concern was travelling that far and spending the night only to find out the ceremony wasn't even happening.

Is the $49,075 just her income, or the total income for both of you for 2024?

The US citizen has the job offer.

We didn't provide any photos with the online N-400 application for my husband. We did have a few printed out that he took with him to the interview, just in case, but it was maybe 5-6 total. (They didn't ask to see them)

I know it seems unfair but you have to look at it from an outside perspective. He has a relative in the U.S., which is a strong incentive for him to stay in the U.S. rather than go home. He is a young student without much income, which is not a strong tie to his home country. Additionally, your willingness to pay for/financially support him for this trip doesn't really help his case, because you could also financially support him if he overstayed. Further, tourist visa applications are reviewed under the lens of presuming the person has immigrant intent - if he doesn't have strong ties to his home country, he cannot overcome this presumption. Lastly, as others have noted, his home country is considered a high-fraud country, due to previous individuals overstaying and misusing their visas. If/when he has a career, owns property, and/or has a family in his home country (spouse, kids), his odds will be better but still no guarantee.

I would hang tight for now. First, it's possible it was already delivered but tracking wasn't updated (this happened to me recently with passport renewal - I received my new passport BACK and the tracking still didn't show that my application was even delivered). If that's the case, you'll likely get a receipt notice soon and you'll know everything is fine. It's also possible that has gotten tied up with USPS but will show as delivered any day now. I would give it at least a few more business days before worrying.

The answer is this varies by office/location. I was not allowed to enter the building for my husband's N-400 interview in 2023. Security told me they would let me know if I was needed (I wasn't). I (and everyone else there with a spouse/loved one) watched the citizenship ceremony through the windows.

I think part of the problem here is an I-797 doesn't have an expiration date like other documents do (I-94, EAD, green card). So if they renew your driver's license based on the I-797, when is the DL supposed to expire? They have no way of knowing if or when your pending I-485 would be approved. Of course, they should have had proper protocols in place for this circumstance instead of making you jump through hoops for months...

International travel is expensive so questions about finances are valid, especially since you are funding both your portion and your girlfriend's portion of the trip. I agree with @appleblossom that you should be able to show proof of savings/financial ability at the interview (with the caveat that it is possible, and even likely, that the IO will not look at any evidence or proof you bring).

Do you have a tourist visa already? It seems like if you were actually planning on just visiting the U.S. and then returning to the U.K., you would take a much shorter trip to ensure you're able to keep your U.K. based job, and the U.K. visa.

Just to make sure I'm not missing something here - no one in your family is a U.S. citizen (or green card holder) except your youngest child?

As others have said, using a tourist visa with intent to immigrate and adjust status is fraud. At this point I would go ahead and file an I-130 for your spouse ASAP. Then, if your spouse already has a valid B2, he can visit you in the U.S. after your return to the U.S. in December 2024. Admittance would still be subject to CBP's discretion. He would have to return to Japan before his authorized time in the U.S. ends (could be up to 6 months I believe but CBP may give him less time than that). Either you wait in Japan for a year+ for the I-130 process, or you go to the U.S. knowing that your spouse can only visit you until he gets his immigrant visa.

Georgia being one of the best at 46 is patently false 😂

Proxy marriage is a valid route as long as you meet again in person after marriage, prior to filing. (Meeting in person after marriage = consummating the marriage)

I don't see an issue with the photo in question. Taking engagement photos is a common thing to do. There are certain consulates where formal looking photos can be an issue, but that is because of cultural norms and expectations that play into it. I don't think that's the case here.

Just want to point out that spouses becoming abusive immediately after marriage is incredibly common. Some would describe it like a switch has been flipped. These kinds of abusers will love-bomb and treat their partners like gold before marriage but as soon as they are married/living together, a 180 happens. Much easier to control someone once you're under the same roof and tied to each other legally. You can see how this would be even easier to pull off for someone courting an immigrant. The fraud angle is certainly possible and I'm not denying that whatsoever, but immigrants can be vulnerable and they can and do become victims of abuse due to this (hence why VAWA even exists). It's not hard to have evidence of abuse when the abuse was real and documented through medical treatment. I would hope any immigrant who is being abused by their spouse would get help and go to the police.

It's not fraud to intend to get married on a B2. It's fraud to use a B2 with the intent to marry and adjust status. Edit: It is fraudulent to lie about the reason for obtaining a B2, though.

They are already married.

Sorry, I'm confused about this statement here. She didn't attend the interviews herself???