Elavod

I have another question, in addition to the previous one: As part of the I-130 process, I need to provide "evidence of a bona fide marital relationship with the beneficiary." My plan is to put together a dossier that includes some official documents in German, such as proof of residency at the same address and boarding passes. Do all of these documents need to be translated into English? It feels a bit unnecessary to translate something like an airline boarding pass. Thanks in advance for your help! I truly appreciate the support from this community during such a stressful time!

Hi everyone, I need some advice on filling out Form I-864. Here’s a quick update on my situation: - I sent a “DCF request” email to the consulate and am awaiting their response. - I’m filing back taxes for 2021, 2022, and 2023 under the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures. - I’m considering asking my parents to file I-864s as Joint Sponsors with me. Now, I’m filling out Part 6 of Form I-864 regarding my employment and income, and I’m unsure what to enter. My current situation: 1. I live and work in Germany. 2. I’m employed on a fixed-term contract until mid-2026. 3. My adjusted gross income for 2024 is expected to be $84k (I don’t need to apply for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion because the Foreign Tax Credit fully offsets my U.S. tax liability). My future situation: 4. I plan to terminate my employment in Germany in February 2025. 5. I plan to start a new job in the U.S. in February 2025. Given this, how should I complete Part 6 of Form I-864? For example, since Item 7 asks for “My current individual annual income,” it seems that entering anything other than the $84k I expect for 2024 might be incorrect. Any guidance would be appreciated!

This is very disconcerting... why would this be a reason for denial? This is the website linked from Frankfurt Consulate's "exceptional circumstances" page: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-6-part-b-chapter-3 Quoting from "Examples of exceptional circumstances include": In my view, this includes a job offer from a new employer as long as the job offer is for a position in the United States and the notice given to relocate is short. But please, let me know your thoughts. Thanks for your message!

Thanks for your message. I see... I will look into getting a Joint Sponsor. Do you recommend I still file tax returns for the last three years, since I am still the primary sponsor?

Thanks for your message! 1. I am working on those filings... Could you elaborate on what you mention about the "income threshold"? 2. In the I-864, under "Part 6. Sponsor's Employment and Income. I am currently...", should I enter the information of my future job/employer? My new job in US starts on February 3rd. At this point, I have an offer letter stating the position, salary, and start date.

This is a new job. I'm leaving my current job in Germany for this new job in Arizona.

I like your direct approach! Much appreciated 🙂

Please check out my new post: New Post

Please check out my new post: New Post

Hello everyone, I’m a U.S. citizen who has been living abroad in Germany for the past six years. I’m in the process of sponsoring my spouse for a U.S. Green Card, and when/if the I-130 is approved, I will need to file Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support). We are doing this via the Direct Consular Filing (DCF) route due to a job I am taking in Arizona. However, my situation is a bit complicated, and I could really use some advice from anyone who has been in a similar position. Here’s my situation: 1. Living Overseas: I’ve been living in Germany for the past 6 years and have earned a steady income during this time. My income is solid and consistent, but it’s all been earned outside the U.S. 2. No U.S. Tax Returns Filed: During my time abroad, I haven’t filed U.S. tax returns. I wasn’t aware of the need to file U.S. taxes while living overseas, and now I realize this could be a problem when submitting the I-864. 3. No U.S. Properties or Assets: I don’t own any property or significant assets in the U.S. My financial situation is stable, but it’s entirely based on my foreign income. 4. Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures: I’ve recently learned about the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures as a way to catch up on my unfiled U.S. tax returns without facing penalties. I’m considering using this procedure, but I’m unsure how it might impact my I-864 filing and overall immigration case. My Questions: • Has anyone been in a similar situation where they needed to file Form I-864 after living abroad for an extended period without filing U.S. taxes? • How did you handle the income documentation for the I-864? Were there any issues with using foreign income to meet the requirements? • Did anyone here go through the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures before submitting their I-864? If so, how did that process go, and did it cause any delays or complications in your immigration case? I’m trying to navigate this process as smoothly as possible, so any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance for your help.

Thanks a lot!! Following your advice, I've rephrased part of the email: I hope this email finds you well. I am requesting your assistance in filing an I-130 petition under exceptional circumstances. [...] Could you please confirm if our situation qualifies for filing the I-130 petition directly at the consulate under exceptional circumstances, and if so, what the next steps would be? [...] Thank you very much for your assistance. I look forward to your response and am available for any follow-up discussion. I will send it tonight if I don't have other feedback 🙂

Yup! I accepted the job.

Hi! Please take a look at my new post if you are interested in following our journey 🙂 New Post

Hello community. My wife and I got married yesterday (Utah online wedding). I am now preparing an email to send to the US Consulate in Frankfurt to hopefully start the DCF process (due to a job offer I got in the US, we need to relocate there within months). I thought I'd share here what I intend to send them before doing so. Please let me know your opinions. Do you find this suitable? Subject: U88 - I-130 EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES - [MY FULL NAME] Petitioner Last Name: MY LAST NAME Petitioner First Names: MY FIRST NAME Beneficiary Last Name: HER LAST NAME Beneficiary First Names: HER FIRST NAME Nationality of Beneficiary: Mongolia Relationship between petitioner and beneficiary: Spouse Please describe the circumstances of your case: Dear Sir or Madam, I hope this email finds you well. I am seeking your guidance regarding the filing of an I-130 petition under exceptional circumstances. I have recently accepted a position as an Associate Professor at the University of XXX, with a start date of February 3rd, 2025. This opportunity arose unexpectedly, and due to the significance of the role, I wish to relocate to the United States with my wife. Given the relatively short timeframe, I am concerned that the standard USCIS processing times for the I-130 petition may result in us being separated for a considerable period. This separation would present significant personal and professional challenges for both of us, particularly as my wife is also planning to apply for a PhD program at the University of XXX. I have attached a copy of my job offer letter and am prepared to provide any additional documentation or information you may require. Could you please advise if our situation qualifies for filing the I-130 petition directly at the consulate under exceptional circumstances? Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to your guidance and am available for any follow-up discussion. Sincerely, Dr. MY FIRST NAME Miguel Dovale

@OldUser thank you for your perspective; I completely agree that avoiding mistakes with USCIS is critical, given how costly and time-consuming they can be to fix. That’s exactly why we’re considering all possible options carefully, and why I’m here asking for advice 🙂 While the Danish agency isn’t to blame for the mistake in our application, and some delay is understandable, I do feel frustrated by how they’ve handled the situation afterward. The lack of transparency and the indefinite timeline for resolving our case have been particularly frustrating. Given the potential delays with restarting the Danish process, we’ve started looking into Utah’s online marriage as a quicker alternative. Do you see any potential issues or concerns with that approach, especially in terms of how USCIS might view it during the visa process? Your advice would be really helpful as we try to make the best decision. I’ve heard that consular officers might scrutinize online marriages more closely due to concerns about fraud, so I’ve prepared a detailed document demonstrating our relationship over the years. This includes proof of us meeting at our workplace 2.5 years ago, moving into the same apartment 2 years ago, meeting each other’s families and friends, even adopting two cats, and going on trips together around the world. Do you think this would be convincing to immigration officers? Are there any other potential concerns I should be aware of? Thanks again for your input!

Thank you all for your responses! We've begun the application process for an online marriage in Utah 🙂 I'll keep you updated on how our journey unfolds. @MarkFL, we actually started the application process for a marriage in Denmark about a month ago. Unfortunately, we made a small mistake by uploading the wrong document, and now our case is in a limbo that could take several months to resolve. We've tried asking them to expedite the process, but no luck. They mentioned that we could cancel our application and start a new one (which would cost us an additional $250), but even the cancellation process could take several weeks. Based on our experience, I wouldn’t recommend this route, although I’ve heard others have had success.

Hello everyone, this is my first post, and I could really use some advice. I’m a U.S. citizen who’s been living and working in Germany for the past six years. My fiancé is a Mongolian citizen who has been studying in Germany for the last five years. We’ve been together for 2.5 years and have been living together for the past two. I’ve recently been offered a job in Arizona and need to relocate in January 2025. Here’s my plan: • Get married as soon as possible. • Apply for direct consular processing through the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt (under exceptional circumstances for filing the I-130 petition). My question is whether Utah’s online marriage is a valid option in our situation. Getting married in Germany isn’t an option for us, as it would almost certainly mean being separated for several months. I’ve looked through the forums and found mixed feedback. If anyone has personal experience or concrete advice, I would greatly appreciate your help.