Adventine

Combo interview scheduled! I-751 filed in June 2023 (approx. 1.5 years waiting time) N-400 filed in Sept 2024 (approx. 2 months waiting time)

Wow indeed!! I filed some days before you but haven't gotten any update since then. Good luck!

Just finished filing online. One more time on the USCIS merry go round!

Any legit job that pays enough to raise a family will ask for your SSN. And you use the SSN to properly report your income to the IRS. If neither of those things interests you, all I can say is good luck, girlll

Part of being a responsible mother/housewife is having backup plans in case your spouse becomes unable to work (has an accident, loses his job, or many other common life events that can happen to anyone at any time). Anyway, what's done is done. The VisaJourney forums are full of info from people at every stage of the process. You have the opportunity to research, plan ahead and learn from others' experiences. Good luck with the rest of your journey.

I check the online status every couple of months, but I don't expect any movement for a couple of years. Maybe that will change when I file for naturalization next year.

I believe you are confusing the requirements for an immigrant visa (K1) and a tourist visa (B1/B2). They are completely separate. For the K1 visa, the petitioner (US citizen) must demonstrate that they are able to financially support their fiance. The income and asset requirements are outlined here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/nonimmigrant-visa-for-a-fiance-k-1.html#8 For the tourist visa (B1/B2), the applicant (Indian citizen) must demonstrate strong ties to their home country and reasons to return after their short visit to the US. Applicants with significant income and assets in their home country are usually considered to fall into this category.

That person needs to create their own account and ask their questions directly. Otherwise people are going to get confused by your account's post history. Also, that person may know details that are relevant to their case that you wouldn't necessarily know about.

I can see AI immigration tools going both ways: it could reduce errors and speed up cases (by streamlining tedious tasks or easily looking up legal references) AND it could make lawyers and paralegals lazy (because they wouldn't double-check the AI's output). https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/immigration-lawyers-look-to-ai-to-make-rote-work-faster-cheaper There are a few AI tools being developed by different law firms. I wonder which one will eventually become the standard.

All these balikbayan box stories bring back memories. Many years ago, when I was a kid, we received a BB box at our house. The delivery driver was so excited for us, he was yelling in Filipino, "Balikbayan box! Balikbayan box is here!" My mom promptly told him to shut up. She was thinking about all the neighbors who would get excited and invite themselves over for ahem, "a look" at our package. 😂

I agree, it seems OP would benefit from professional in-person help from a CPA rather than more posts from internet strangers who may or may not be qualified to give tax advice.

Pre-pandemic, I used to buy flights through Expedia without problems. But post-pandemic, I always book directly on the airline's website. If you're buying the flights for someone else, it's prudent to give them a copy of the credit card you're going to use. Sometimes airline or immigration staff check who booked the tickets (if it's the traveler or someone else).

A quick search says that if a foreigner has a criminal case in South Korea, there may be an exit ban applied. So even if the visa is issued, the applicant may not be able to leave the country. So I would do everything possible to resolve the criminal case first: Quote from US State Dept's South Korea info page: Passport Seizures and Exit Bans: If you are involved in a criminal investigation or commercial dispute, authorities may seize your passport and/or block your departure. While we may reissue a passport, we cannot lift an exit ban. Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SouthKorea.html#:~:text=Exit Permits%3A Exit permits are not generally required.

The reason I said that it's an option for your daughter to earn enough to sponsor her husband on her own, is that if the relationship does not work out, their divorce will not release you from the sponsorship obligations. See the I-864 instructions: How Long Does My Obligation as a Sponsor Continue? Your obligation to support the immigrants you are sponsoring in this Affidavit of Support will continue until the sponsored immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, or can be credited with 40 qualifying quarters of work in the United States. Although 40 qualifying quarters of work (credits) generally equates to 10 years of work, in certain cases the work of a spouse or parent adds qualifying quarters. The Social Security Administration can provide information on how to count qualifying quarters (credits) of work. The obligation also ends if you or the sponsored immigrant dies or if the sponsored immigrant ceases to be a lawful permanent resident. Divorce does not end the sponsorship obligation. You'll have to choose what's preferable: signing the I-864 and all the obligations that come with it, asking your daughter to find another sponsor, or helping her out with childcare until she can earn enough to sponsor her husband on her own.

There is a disconnect between wanting to be a co-sponsor for the I-864, and yet at the same time wanting to keep income details private from the primary sponsor (your daughter) and the beneficiary (your son-in-law). As others have mentioned, consular officers can and often do ask for the sponsor's income information during the interview. And at any point, your daughter and son-in-law have the right to request a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) which will include the I-864 and all supporting documents, including your income information. If you are going to go through with this, you will have to accept that they will eventually find out your income information. If this is something you really don't want to disclose, your daughter can find another willing sponsor, or eventually earn enough on her own to sponsor her husband.

You could also prepare a sheet of paper with short phrases in both English and her native language, so that she can point to the relevant phrase when she needs to. Info could include things like: "Sorry, I do not speak English. I speak X language." "I need a translator, please" "My son/daughter's contact info is XXX"

I also noticed biometric scanning of all passengers on my last few international flights out of the US. As in a camera scanning everyone at the gate, right before boarding the plane. That's exit control right there.

Do you have a link? I'd like to read that myself.

We've used DHL both ways (US-PH) for mailing documents. No issues at all. But the I-134 needs to be original for in US embassy in Manila now? A scanned and printed copy won't do?

There are nonprofits that help immigrants not just with the civil surgeon fees/I-693 medical fees, but also with setting up a new household from scratch. World Relief comes to mind. They have many offices throughout the US. They primarily serve refugees and asylum seekers, and may be able to provide local resources or at least point you in the right direction.

No need to go through an attorney or relatives. You can order her birth certificate online and have it shipped directly to your US address: https://www.psaserbilis.com.ph I recommend using the DHL delivery option because it's more reliable than PhilPost.

***Moved to the Philippines regional forum for country-specific advice*** The embassy will have staff who can translate for OP's wife if needed. Given the situation OP has described, his wife should definitely request that the interview be conducted in Filipino. The Manila embassy does not make a big deal about excellent English skills. School subjects are taught in both English and Filipino, so it's assumed that any Filipino with at least a high school education knows basic English - enough to hold a simple conversation. I agree with the others that working on communication skills is important not just for the interview, but for the relationship in general. A little background about Filipino culture for readers who may not be aware: social status in the Philippines is partially measured by how well one speaks English, and many find it deeply humiliating to make mistakes while speaking English, to the point that they will simply say "Yes/OK/Yeah" even if they didn't understand. They don't want to lose face by admitting that they didn't understand what was said. Many will also take offense if someone points out their English deficiencies. It's akin to telling them they aren't educated enough. Nevertheless, mature people in a cross-cultural relationship should be able to navigate these language barriers with kindness and cultural awareness on both sides.

To close out this thread, I got a USCIS email confirming the address change was processed. Took them two working days to do it. Not bad!

You know what, I said to myself, screw this, I'm filing it anyway 😂 I used this link: https://egov.uscis.gov/coa/displayCOAForm.do Already got my online confirmation that the address change was successful. Fortunately we are on good terms with our landlord and he'll gladly forward us all mail sent to our old address.

@Crazy Cat yes, I do.