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Can I work remotely in the US while visiting on an ESTA? I am an offshore contractor (NOT an employee) for a US based company. If the answer is no, can I not work even if I don't get paid by them for the duration of the stay?

I wanted to know of any personal experiences and the details of having transferred your case during NVC stage from a country of residence to a country of citizenship for the sake of changing where you'd get interviewed. For example, I have been living in Pakistan for almost 10 years, but I am a British citizen. Once I'm at the NVC stage, can I transfer it to the London U.S. Consulate to save myself from the 2-year interview waiting time in Islamabad U.S. embassy? Also, at what stage would it be the safest to do that? before getting DQ'd or after? And anything else I should be aware of?

Would post-interview administrative processing mean I won't have access to our passports until that's cleared? I'll definitely look into this option and maybe ask on a separate thread for peoples experiences on this. Everything about the Islamabad embassy seems nightmarish to me.

If I can request the NVC transfer to the UK and get away with just travelling over there once the interview is granted for a short trip merely to attend the interview - that is very doable on my end. I can take the kids for short trips abroad during the immigration wait.

Powerpuff - would I not have to be living in the UK to be able to request that? It had crossed my mind, but from what I had read online I had the impression I could only request that if I were currently residing in the UK, and that I'd have to remain in the UK until the DS260 process cleared? It's a little restrictive and complicated for me as my children's biological father is a Pakistani citizen. With our custody and parental agreement I would not be able to relocate to the UK for the duration of the DS260. I only have permission to relocate to the US with them after immigration stuff is finalized and granted. And I know he will not allow us wait out the immigration process anywhere other than Pakistan.

I am the Pakistani spouse but am a British citizen. So I can apply for ESTA but yes, as you said, it's not legal to apply for the adjustment by travelling there on an ESTA. Also, I asked a question previously about travelling on the ESTA while the I-130 is pending and I've been told few people are questioned, if at all, and if you are questioned just have documents at hand that show your ties to your resident country to support your return. I will most probably try a trip at some point on the ESTA. My children are little and I would like to ease them into moving to a whole new country by making at least 1-2 visits so they're mentally prepared as to where they're headed to. Etihad offers clearance in Abu Dhabi and then no checks at the POE in the US after that. Worst comes to worse, if I get turned away, Abu Dhabi is just 3 hours away. I can turn back 😔 Interesting what Crazy Cat has said. Will read into that.

I am in the same boat as you. I am the beneficiary though of a US citizen petitioning and our I-130's (myself and the kids) all have that same text in the notice. I think it's just standard text.

I'm outside the US. I was wondering if there was a way to enter the US and be able to switch from having to do the DS260 to doing the i-485? I am guessing not... I would have to enter the US on an ESTA. I hope magically the situation in Islamabad improves by the time our I-130 is approved so I can be less nervous about this process.

Hi, From my understanding i-485 is filing for adjustment of status within the US after you've had your i-130 approved. And DS260 is applying for the marriage visa/green card application from outside the US after having i-130 approved. My question is, let's say someone applies for the i-130 from outside the US, and has it approved. Is there any legal route to then proceed with the i-485 from within the US instead of the DS260? In the i-130 application it's stated that I'd be applying for the next step from Islamabad. I know Islamabad has a 2 year wait time just for getting interview appointments alone. Our i-130 was applied for very recently and judging by the timeline it seems it's a 4 year process at best for us to be able to finally immigrate. Just trying to weigh up options here after the i-130 part is done.

I have not visited the US any time recently. I've been twice in the past and that was back in 2009 and 2012. But I'll definitely keep documents on me in case I am questioned.

Thank you! Definitely no plans to live there until we have processed everything and get the green card approval. We'll only be able to travel during school holidays too. So visits will be short and maximum twice a year at best.

Does anyone have any first-hand experience or know of any experiences of a person with a British Passport (so don't need a visa, just need to fill in an ESTA online) travelling to the US while an I-130 is under process? We've applied for myself and 2 kids and wanted to be able to travel back and forth during school vaction times so that my husband and I can meet as often as possible during this lengthy process. I was told by the lawyer that it would be under the discretion of the immigration officer to let us in or not, which is understandable. I'm just wondering if anyone knows of experiences with our situation where they've been let in/denied entry?

Thanks pushbrk. I have just gone through the instructions thoroughly and can see each of my questions on here were clearly answered in those instructions. 🫠 I had read them early on when we first started filling in the application and had forgotten about these entirely. I am surprised at the advice I was given by my immigration lawyer regarding kids being on the one single application, as the instructions are very clear about the differences with citizens and LPR's and who qualifies as a derivative under those categories. I believe I have everything I need.

Yes, thankfully with the information I got on here I realised the kids need their own! I have already started working on theirs. We already had all their document evidence for them ready as I thought they'd be included in my own application. Yes, my husband will pay 🤪 and will make sure he's the one to click submit. Thank you for the reminder.

I am the wife that's asking the questions 🙂. The petitioner is my husband (US Citizen) and the I-130 is for his wife (me) and two stepchildren (3 beneficiaries).

I uploaded everything Mikey listed. It's just that when I try to go on the next screen it gives me a warning that I should have uploaded some form of evidence on this page and that not doing so could cause delays in the application, which was throwing me off as though this is mandatory to upload additional evidence on this page.

Ok, what is this page about? Are we supposed to upload all these things? Or just pick one? Please help!!!

Yes Pushbrk, that is correct. I am the foreign spouse. Thank you all for the helpful insights and answers. For some reason the lawyer I have been in contact with seems inexperienced and given me the wrong information on a few things (especially about applying I-130's separately for the children). I will probably be back at some point with more questions! Thanks.

Thank you guys for taking out the time to clarify! So since my husband is a US citizen, we need separate I-130's for all of us. If there's any tips on supporting evidence for the kids I-130's that would be helpful. And what type of Affidavits would they need? I know for mine it's to support that our relationship seems legitimate, but what is the type of messaging I should be conveying regarding the kids applications? And do I fill out I-130a's for the children too? Am I supposed to select somewhere that I am filling it in for them (as they are only 4 and 7 years old)?

Hi, I am a british citizen who is living in Pakistan. I have two children from a previous marriage (also british citizens living with me). I got married again this year to a US citizen. Do we need separate I-130 forms for me and the kids (I am getting mix info online - some say no they are derivative beneficiaries as they are under 18 and some say they do need it?!) Secondly, after the I-130 process is complete and approved, what is the next step towards getting our Green Card so we can finally move to the US. I thought it was the I-485 but from what I've been reading since we are applying from outside the US it's the D-260? I know for sure that the D-260 will be filed separately for myself and the children, but what happens when the D-260 is approved? Do they give the green card here to travel with? A paper that allows us to travel and we collect green cards from there? I am confused.