Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

oh, good point. I have no idea. I may be seriously done for.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

How good is your lawyer? Like has she appeared in front of judges to argue for her clients, etc?

It might be worth getting second opinions from other lawyers who might be more willing to really fight for your case.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Since you are applying for i601a, I would ask your lawyer to see what’s your chance of winning cancellation of removal.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Does a lawyer write the extreme hardship letter?

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Just having gone through this part of the process, I can tell you that they don't. The petitioner does.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

That is really the hardest part though. The lawyer does not re-write it meaning grammer, how it is written, professionalism of the letter? I mean it could be 1 page to multiple pages and you have to convince the officer too.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

How long did you all had to stay abroad until you could return to USA?

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

In my case, our lawyer gave us instructions on what to write but wouldn't write it herself, since after all we know our case better than she does. She does go over the letter (s) and edit them. After that, which is where I am now with the waiver, she organizes all the evidence into exhibits and writes a brief using all the documents. According to the paralegal, the brief is gonna be around 20 pages long. The main hardship letter was three pages long though. It was heartfelt and to the point to not bore the immigration officer.

If someone is not using a lawyer I guess the hardship letter would be long as they would have to explain things in depth, but in my case, since the lawyer is writing a brief, it was not necessary to explain things twice.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

How long does the beneficiary have to stay abroad? Do you get an interview date in your 'home' country?

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

After the waiver is approved, you need to file the affidavit of support and something else which I can't remember, then NVC gives you a date for your interview in your home country. From what I've read, how long you're gone for depends on the country, but the general consensus seems to be around three weeks as you need to go get your medical exam and wait for the results to be ready and also need your police records. Obviously you need those for the interview and after that, if approved, you wait a couple of days and then you get to come back home.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

So either stay at your relatives place is any or at a hotel near the Consulate? If denied? You are banned for 10 years.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

No, as soon as your i601a waiver is approved, the 10 years banned is gone.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

No. that's what the waiver is for.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Yes but you can be found inadmissible for something else too in the interview. What if? You would be stuck there until that waiver is approved.

In USA, you would just be denied but still be in USA. Is it worth taking the risk?

I wonder why they make you go in your home country when we can do medical and interview here after I-601A is approved.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Well, unless you have any criminal activities or lied to them before, it is very unlikely they will find any ground of inadmissibility. In addition, you should know all of these before you went back for the interview.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Working on my letter, any ideas on hardship to USC parent?

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Like you paid for most of their living expense, they have some type of health problems, and you are driving them to doctor/hospital. Do they have a business, can they run this business without you? etc.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Guys, I will be joining you soon...

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

First of all, I would love to give an emphatic thanks to those of you in this thread that have provided wealth of knowledge on the process.

Secondly, you guys are awesome!

trac3rt

your post:
http://dreamact.info/forum/showpost....04&postcount=2

Has a good timeline on what to expect. Thanks for that.


I have spent the last hour or so with the wife, filling out the I-130 + I-130A - pretty straight forward like DACA, I have this completed and ready.

The following link, which was helpful in providing information on how to prove bonafide marriage:
https://citizenpath.com/evidence-bon...-130-petition/

We're highly considering creating the packet together, as I see it similar to the packet I put together, initially, for DACA in 2012.

We might hire a lawyer for the I-601A, only cause my girl has extreme anxiety and would rather let someone with experience do it. Either way, I am actually excited about helping write the letter, this shit reminds me of being in college. I love essays and doing citations!


Good luck all.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Hello everyone, I haven't been here in a while but I wanted to update. I have received my I-601a approval! I am very excited. I will be contacting my lawyer for the next step which will be the interview abroad. Does anyone have experience going to interview at Juarez?

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Hi guys, I finally got my NVC Welcome Letter (ACL). Anyone have a breakdown of how this stage works?

First and foremost is the 601a, right? Then the DS-260?

The letter says I need to take the following actions:
Step 1: Choose an agent (please allow up to three (3) weeks for processing before continuing to Step 2)
Step 2: Pay fees online at ceac.state.gov (allow up to one (1) week for processing before continuing to Step 3)
Step 3: Submit visa application form online at ceac.state.gov
Step 4: Collect financial documents
Step 5: Collect supporting documents
Step 6: Submit financial and supporting documents in one package to NVC

What actually comes first?

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

So excited for you....CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Do you have an I601a approval yet?

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

No, not yet. I'm assuming that's first then?

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

It is. You can't move forward without it unless you want to get stuck outside the country for 3-10 years.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Yes please do not leave without that approval and an appointment date at a consulate. Hopefully you're working with an GOOD attorney.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

I'm close to sending this in. Self preparing here.

Quick question:

On I-601A

Part 3. Information About Your Employment Outside the United States

Provide your last occupation outside the United States if not shown above. If you never worked outside the United States, provide this information in the space provided in Part 7.

Never worked outside the US, obviously, so I just have to write on the space provided on Part 7 "Never worked outside of the United States."

-That would suffice?



I take that back. I meant the I-130 and I-130A

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Which department review and approve I601A wavier? USCIS, State department, foreign embassy or others?

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

In my hardship letter, do I consider one or both scenario where the USC move with alien and/or stay in U.S separated from alien?

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Waiver is reviewed and hopefully approved by USCIS

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Highlight all the hardships if family is separated or have to move outside the US.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

You'll need to submit the waiver request to USCIS. Then, they'll tell NVC to hold off on scheduling the interview appointment at consulate. Once USCIS approves your waiver, they'll notify NVC that they're good to schedule an interview.

Both, you should mention the hardship your spouse would suffer if he/she were to stay behind. Also, the hardship your spouse would suffer he/she would suffer if she were to move with you to your home country for 3/10 years.

Good luck!

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Hi Guys, so i just got my i130 approved when do I submit the i160a waiver? Do I have to do it right away?

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

The sooner the better. Takes a while to prepare and as of right now 6-8 months for the decision.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Congratulations!

USCIS will transfer your case to NVC. You'll need to wait for the NVC to issue you a case number. Then, you will need to pay the Immigrant Visa (IV) and Affidavit of Support (AOS) fees.

Once you have those paid, you may file the I-601A waiver application.

Good luck!

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

Thanks for your help

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

I don't think you need to wait for USCIS to transfer your case to NVC to file your i601a...... there are several steps involved before you need to deal directly with NVC. Start your waiver asap.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

This is partially correct.

Yes, you can start working on the I-601A form and hardship letter, but you cannot file it until you receive your NVC case number and have paid the IV and AOS fees.

As part of the I-601A application, you have to include your NVC case number and copies of the IV and AOS receipts.

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

My wife and I are sending our I-130 & I-130A this week.

We have:
1. Marriage license from the Santa Clara County
2. Forms I-130 & I-130A filled out
3. Check written out for $535
4. Documents showing our names together in one savings joint account with a local credit union - 2 joint credit card accounts
5. Document showing that I have added my wife on my health, vision, and dental issuance and that she is 100% beneficiary on my life insurance
6. Joint accounts show we share the same physical address
7. Photos and boarding passes from our trips to: Alaska, Hawaii, Chicago, Las Vegas, Reno/Tahoe, Florida - pictures showing when I proposed to her and our friends that attended, Puerto Rico, also wedding pictures from her friends' wedding, her cousins' wedding, my cousins wedding throughout 2015 to 2018
8. Wedding pictures showing her, me, her family, and my family all together.
9. Wedding cards from my family and her friends
10. Affidavits from my childhood friend, my family, a friend from college who was with us in Florida for the engagement and Puerto Rico, her sister

Should I include anything else? We're self filing.

We just opened a joint Chase credit card with a bonus of 60,000 points that we are going to save when all is said and done - finally do our honeymoon in Croatia!


***forgot to note***
Our joint bank accounts provided us with a bank statement with the same address to prove we live together - is this good enough? We dont have a lease as we are living with my folks to save for a house, which we plan to buy in 2019-2020.

***2nd edit***

Forgot to mention I provided a receipt of the proposal ring I got for her, which was a good chunk of change (my bonus).

Re: Official I-601A Thread
 

I only sent my marriage cerif. for my I-130.