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domicile requirement

Domicile Requirement – Does the US Petitioner Have to Live in the United States?

In immigration, part of the immigration case is that you have to prove as the petitioner that you have your domicile in the US. That is a legal term which means that you have your home in the United States. That’s where you intend to live for the foreseeable future. You can prove domicile by…

backlog reduction faster processing times

Great News! Backlog Reduction and Faster Processing Times!

On March 29th of 2022, USCIS announced their plan to reduce backlogs and provide relief for individuals who are waiting for their work permits. Read More : USCIS Announces New Actions to Reduce Backlogs There are a couple things that USCIS is doing and the first thing is that they are going to increase capacity,…

does the spouse fiance attend

Does My Spouse/Fiancé Attend the Embassy Interview?

Are you wondering if the United States petitioner spouse or fiancé has to attend the embassy or consular interview? The embassy or consular interview is part of the process for a spouse or a fiancé visa. Just as it sounds, it’s the interview that occurs at a United States embassy or consulate in the country where that individual…

religious ceremony wedding celebration

Religious Ceremony or Wedding Ceremony Required?

Will it be a minus for your case if you don’t do the religious ceremony or wedding reception and only did the civil ceremony? It’s your burden to prove you have a real relationship. There are certain things that immigration will look at that they consider to be important aspects of proving whether or not…

immigration updates russian citizens

Immigration Updates – Russian Citizens

What kind of impact do the current events have on citizens in Russia? Last May 2021, the US embassy in Moscow, Russia closed due to political reasons. The government of Russia made the United States cease operations at that US embassy. The visas and the review of files and cases were transferred to Warsaw, Poland.…

work permit timing

Adjustment of Status – Work Permit Timing

“I filed my adjustment of status or recently entered on my fiancé visa and I’m getting ready to file my adjustment of status. When can I start working?” Part of that adjustment of status application is a work permit and you would receive that work permit to be able to work. In some states, it’s…

why did processing times increase

Why Did Processing Times Increase? I130/I129F

Why do processing times continue to increase specifically for the I-130 and the I-129F visas? There are a lot of applications that are going to immigration and they don’t have the people power to review the applications. The applications are going to certain service centers that handle the spouse visa I-130 petitions. There are other…

spouse visa wait times mexico

Spouse Visa Wait Times – Mexico

Wait times for spouse visas in Mexico are very long. The US consulate in Ciudad Juarez in Mexico is the one that handles all visas. Fiancé visas are handled in Mexico City but the US consulate in Ciudad Juarez has one of the longest wait times in the world. Mexico has the highest volume of…

prioritization of visas for ukraine

Prioritization of Visas for Ukraine – Processing Time Impact

How does the prioritization of visas for Ukraine citizens impact processing times for other cases? Immigration shifts cases around from different countries to different US embassies and consulates on a more regular basis than you would think. Things happen all the time; natural disasters, politics, and things that occur that make it such that visas…

spouse visa received

Spouse Visa Received – Green Card Timing

Once you’re approved for your spouse visa, what happens next? When do you get your green card? Once you have that visa, you need to make sure you enter the United States before the expiration date. Typically, they give you six months. Once you enter the United States, immigration will put a stamp on your…

should i just get married

K1 Visa Wait Times – Should I Just Get Married?

Processing times are a year or more right now just to receive a decision on that first step. It’s disheartening but we want to caution all of you about taking extreme measures out of desperation. There have been a lot of individuals who have gotten married, thinking that it would be faster. You’re already in…

immigration options for ukrainians

Immigration Options for Ukrainians

Here at Immigration for Couples, we are heartbroken and horrified by the recent invasion of Ukraine. There are a few options for couples who are going through the process and one of them happens to be a citizen of Ukraine. For those who are outside of the United States, if you have already started a…

can k2 enter us

Can K2 Enter US After K1?

Can a K2 enter the United States after the K1? The K1 visa is the fiancé visa and part of the fiancé visa process is that you can bring your children as well as long as they are under 21 years of age. These children would receive a visa called a K2 visa. Do they…

police clearance requirements

Police Clearance Requirements – Immigration for Couples

Hi, everyone. I am Attorney Megan Pastrana of Immigration for Couples and I’m here for our weekly live immigration attorney chat. We’ve been seeing an uptick in interviews being scheduled and so, a lot of individuals are asking about the police clearance certificate requirements. There are also people in our Facebook group who are just being…

is religious ceremony risky

Fiancé Visa: Is Religious Ceremony Risky?

“Is it okay for my fiancé and I to have a religious ceremony?” We encourage all of our clients when we’re talking about this topic to think about the risks of doing a religious ceremony. The first risk is that in some countries, the religious ceremony is a legally binding ceremony that would make you…

does the us allow

Does the US Allow Dual Citizenship?

Do we allow dual citizenship in the United States? That question usually comes up when an individual is thinking about filing for naturalization to become a United States citizen. The interesting thing about the United States is that the US law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality over…

221(g) visa refusal

221(g) Visa Refusal

A 221(g) is a visa refusal under 221(g) of the Immigration Nationality Act which means that the applicant didn’t establish that they were eligible for the visa. The Immigration and Nationality Act is the list of immigration laws and 221(g) is part of the immigration laws and says that a consular officer cannot give a…

Should I Apply for a Tourist Visa?

Is it okay to apply for a tourist visa before I file or while my spouse and fiancé visa is pending? With immigration, there are so many complexities and aspects, so it depends. What it depends upon is your prior immigration history. Have you ever applied for a visa previously? Have you ever violated the…

waiver of j1 visa

Waiver of J1 Visa 2 Year Requirement

The J-1 visa is what they call a non-dual intent visa, which means that your intent is to be here temporarily and not long-term. Part of that is a two-year requirement that you have to return to your country. In general, if you have a two-year requirement on your visa itself, it’ll say two-year physical…

k1 visa required evidence

K1 Visa -REQUIRED EVIDENCE – 2022

There are three main categories of K1 visa required evidence. There can be other types of evidence and other documents that you might need depending on the specifics of your case but in general, there are three categories of evidence that are required for your fiancé visa petition to show that you’re eligible. 1. You…

impact of mortgage on affidavit

Impact of Mortgage on Affidavit of Support

What is the impact of a mortgage on my eligibility to be the sole sponsor for my spouse’s case and how would a mortgage impact the case? Previously, there was a form called I-944 that was in addition to this affidavit of support where immigration wanted to see your debts as well as showing that…

k1 visa wait times

K1 Visa Wait Times – 2022

How long does the fiancé visa process take in 2022? The fiancé visa process involves three applications and two interviews. In each one of those steps, we’re dealing with a different immigration office and each immigration office has its own estimated wait times. This general estimate is a compilation of the estimated wait times for…

naturalization 3 5 year rule

Naturalization – 3 & 5 Year Rule

How long does a person have to wait before they can become a United States citizen? Becoming a United States citizen involves a process called naturalization and in general, there is a wait time of three or five years. If you are married to a United States citizen, the wait time for you to become a United…

taxes and immigration

Important Tips – Taxes and Immigration | 2022

At the beginning of every year, taxes are a big topic. There’s a lot of overlap between taxes and immigration. There are various components of the immigration case that involve taxes. Here are a few important tips on taxes in relation to immigration cases, specifically spouse visa cases. 1. File Your Taxes Jointly If you’re…

processing times increase

K1 Fiancé Visa – Processing Time Increase

Processing times for K1 fiancé visas went up again. It now is saying 9 to 12 months and it’s extremely stressful to see those wait times increase. A lot of you are asking, “Why is this happening? What does this mean for my case?” USCIS hasn’t made an official announcement but immigration, in general, is still…

i-864p do i make

I-864P Affidavit of Support – Do I Make Enough?

Are you wondering if you make enough to be the sole sponsor on the affidavit of support I-864 form? If you’re at the phase in your immigration case where you’re having to complete an affidavit of support, you might find yourself a little bit overwhelmed. It’s one of the more complicated parts, if not the most…

marriage on a tourist visa

Marriage on a Tourist Visa

Is it possible to enter the United States on a tourist visa and get married? The short answer is yes, it is possible. There isn’t anything in the law that prohibits you from doing that. However, even though it is possible, there are some problems that a couple can encounter if they try to go down this…

update i130 lawful permanent

Update I130 – Lawful Permanent Resident to US Citizen

If you were a lawful permanent resident when you first filed your I-130 petition but became a United States citizen through naturalization later in the process, you can and should update your petition to change your status. If you are a lawful permanent resident and you petition for your spouse, that application will have a…

translations when are they

Translations – When are They Required?

If you have relationship evidence that’s in another language other than English like text messages or letters of support, does it need to be translated? Anything that you are sending to USCIS, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, requires that any document not in English are to be accompanied by a translation. If you have…

how to submit photos

How to Submit Photos as Relationship Evidence

Relationship evidence has to do with photos. A lot of couples are asking, “I have hundreds of photos, how should I submit them? Should I put them in a word document? Should I just submit them in a scrapbook? Should I tape them on a page and put sticky notes? Should I write on the…