Step By Step: EXPAT CR1 or IR1 Spouse Visa

Below is how we work together:

 

1. I know all the questions USCIS have and all the questions the Department of State AND the Consulate have. I combined them into two proprietary questionnaires, one for you and one for your Spouse. I send these to you, to provide me with all the needed details about your backgrounds. I ask the questions early, so that we know EXACTLY where you stand, and that you are eligible for the whole Spousal Visa Process.

2. You and your Spouse complete the background questionnaires and return them to me

3. I closely audit your answers, looking for inconsistencies, gaps, mistakes, illogic, anything that “doesn’t look right”. Immigration doesn’t need much to become suspicious, so it is critically important that the information provided does not accidentally trigger alarm bells.

4. I work together with you and your Spouse until the questions asked by immigration have been answered fully, logically, and are consistent.

5. I use your information to prepare all the immigration forms, those needed at the initial submission stage, as well as drafts of the forms to be submitted much later at the National Visa Center (NVC) stage as well as for the Consulate interview.

6. I create for you a private, HOMEPage at VisaCoach.com. This is where you view the documents that are ready for your signatures, as well as personalized checklists, and instructions all personalized to your case. On the internet, you can access your HomePage from USA, your Spouse can access it from overseas, and while traveling.

Click here to view a Sample Private HomePage

7. At your HomePage, based upon my detailed review of your background details, I post for you a custom personalized check list of things to do, photos, civil documents, and various ways (that I have encountered over 36 years) to demonstrate the bona fides of your relationship. The check list is extensive. Not all items can be obtained by all couples. I categorize the list into three color coded priority levels. REQUIRED, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, and RECOMMENDED.

8. Going through the personalized checklist I prepared for you, you should collect a stack of evidences, photos, correspondences, signed documents, civil documents needed for your petition. I call this your SHOEBOX. As soon as the shoebox is full, mail it me (recommended) or email me a digital copy for me to print here in California to work on. If you choose the digital route, photographs can be uploaded to Walmart.com then ask Walmart to deliver the prints of the photos to my office.

9. Once I get your shoebox I block off most of a day from my calendar, so I can quietly spread out, and examine each piece. I confirm all required civil documents and signed forms are present and legible, then check the items that demonstrate the “bona fides” of your relationship.

My plan is to “tell your story”, that of a genuine, bona fide couple, who deserves to be speedily reunited in the USA. I pick and choose those evidences that are the most persuasive and positive, and put aside those that do not help. I devote much time with your photos. A picture IS worth a thousand words. The minimum use of your photos is to prove a face to face meeting occurred. But the photos CAN do so much more. A few well chosen photos can create a solid impression of a bona fide, genuine relationship. My objective is to choose the RIGHT ones to help your case.

10. At the time I created your personalized document checklist, I sent a third questionnaire prompting with questions asking you to describe the “history of your courtship”. I use the answers to compose a compelling personal letter, addressed to immigration, to add a “human face” on to your petition. This should convince the most skeptical Consular Officer yours is a genuine relationship and merits prompt approval, and his “help” to swiftly bring “the two lovers” together.

Should there be any “out of the norm issues” or so called “red flags” with your history that might if misunderstood hurt your chances, we would explain the situation in the letter, in order to “neutralize” their negative affect

11. I assemble all of your documents and evidences into an attractive, bound, tabbed, complete and compelling petition. Just like USCIS likes it. To see what one of my 100 to 150 page,

Click here to view a sample VisaCoach Presentation

Note: As in Ex-pat living outside the USA, I would ship your application,
on your behalf directly to USCIS for you. But before doing that, I would scan and post a full copy of your petition at your online portal for you to review and approve. If you find you want an changes, we make then then repost for your review. Finally when you authorize us we ship it on your behalf to USCIS.

12. The petition you receive has about a dozen (yellow and green flags), clearly showing where you and your spouse should sign and date. I also fill in a facsimile of what the check made out should look like, and confirm the address where to mail your petition and check.

13. I update your HomePage on the NEXT STEPS, on what you and your Spouse should do while waiting on USCIS’s approval. I provide detailed instructions on obtaining Police reports, and vaccinations as well as the list of 120 most likely interview questions for you to practice.

14. It is unusual for my clients to hear anything from USCIS but “thanks for your case” and “your case is approved”. Sometimes USCIS makes a request for more evidence. This is called an RFE. Should that occur, I draft the response and help you to provide what is needed, as quickly as possible.

15. Once USCIS approves, it takes about a month for NVC to start working on your case. During this time, I work with you to update background and financial details about you and your Spouse, then post to your private HomePage prepared forms for your spouse to submit, as well as your affidavit of support.

16. Next, your Spouse designates YOU as her/his agent, and you pay application and affidavit of support fees. I coach you on what to anticipate and what to do, and with my help to be “on top” of this stage, my couples usually shave a month or more from their visa’s total processing time.

17. I prepare for you the “mini” petition for NVC, made up of your financial support documents, income proofs, civil documents, and forms prepared for your signature.

18. Once NVC is satisfied that all of your required documents are acceptable, they forward the case to the consulate for the FINAL interview. I update your HomePage, with completed forms for your Spouse to sign to take to the interview at the Consulate, detailed instructions on obtaining chest x-ray, blood tests and physicals at the embassy designated Panel Physician, how and where to pay fees, obtaining Police Certificates, and last minute details on preparing for the interview

By Fred Wahl
the Visa Coach