12 Steps to Spouse Visa

VisaCoach’s 12 steps to CR-1 Spouse Visa Success

Getting your foreign born Spouse to the USA is quite complicated. We deal with two separate departments of the US government USCIS which is part of homeland security as well as the Department of State. They each have their own requirements forms and hurdles that must be overcome.

Since your future “happy ever after” is at stake it is important, no, it is essential, that each step the carefully accomplished. That is why here at VisaCoach we have set up clear and well thought out procedures that we follow for each and every case. This way we know that every T is crossed and every I is dotted to ensure a Spousal Visa Approval. This is a much too important life-changing process to leave anything to chance.

 

Step 1: Personal Consultation.

Unlike attorneys and cheap computerized/robot type document preparers, I offer a very personal service. I get to know my couples well, and we work together as a team to accomplish your goals.

The truth is, getting a visa for your spouse is only a first step. After arrival, there’s still more to do. There will be getting the green card demonstrating conditional permanent residency, then two years later, upgrading your spouse’s status to unconditional permanent residency, then finally US Citizenship. Usually I work closely with a couple for all these steps and we are together as long as it takes, usually for about 5 to 6 years.

To enjoy our good personal relationship that will last, I strongly believe that its best that we start off on the right foot, by getting to know which other first, and making sure we are a good match from the “get go”. Thats why I invite you to first, speak with me directly on the telephone or on Skype. The is the “free eligibility consultation” I offer. I want to get to know you and the details of your courtship, marriage, and your goals, and your problems or red flags. That,way once I get to know you I can suggest the best visa for you. And IF we both feel compatible, and IF I believe I really CAN bring someting to the party to help make your goals come true. I’ll offer my services and tell you exactly what I can do to help.

Step 2: Get Started. Background Info

First I send you via email a “get started kit”. It includes questions for you to answer that will give me the detailed backround information that will answer the questions that will be asked by USCIS, the National Visa Center, and finally at the Consulate. I am going to ask you all the questions I anticipate for the entire process. Cause it is more efficient, you only have to do your “homework” once, AND because it gives me a chance to see the WHOLE picture. Cause if there are any issues, or red flags, I want to know about them as early as possible, so we can figure out early the best way to handle them.

Step 3: VisaCoach’s Audit

When I receive your response to the questions I an not going to act like a computer or robot just to paste in your answers. And say “hey we’re done”. Instead I am going to AUDIT and review each of your answers, to make sure we do not accidentally trigger alarm bells at immigration. I review your answers to make sure there are no inconsistency, illogic, omissions, or gaps. I’ll go back to you (as needed) with questions on anything that I find needs clarification. I’ll work back and forth with you and your spouse until we have a clean set of data. And then we move forward

Step 4: Custom Personalized Checklist (just for you)

After auditing and vetting your background details I know your situation very well. Using this knowledge I customize for you a detailed checklist outlining all the documents, photographs and various evidences I want you to send me, because based on my experience with other cases, I think these can “win your case”. Remember from the other videos I have recorded, that my signature philosophy is that we can “win” approval of your case BEFORE the interview even starts by providing the consular officer what he needs to have, for him to be confident to approve.

You use the checklist I have prepared to go far beyond the “usual suspects” of required civil documents and find then send me the type of evidences that go far beyond demonstrating BASIC eligibility, that instead demonstrate, multiple ways that yours is a genuine and honest relationship that merits approval. If you can give me what I am asking for, your spouse should be on her way home to the USA.

Step 5: Processing your ShoeBox.

I call the set of evidences, documents and photographs you send me, the “shoebox”. This is based upon my and maybe your family experience to where my mother kept bulky family heirlooms and treasures such as bronzed baby shoes, dried flowers from the prom, special letters tied with a ribbon, and the like in a shoebox in her closet. So after collecting your keepsakes and memories, from your courtship as well as your civil documents. Then mail me your shoebox.

Once it arrives I literally turn off the phones to review to handle to examine each and every piece you have given me. I plan to handpick the best of the best.This is trully a situation where there is more Art then Science. I want to tell your full story to make the strongest case to win your visa’s approval. There has to be enough to tell your story to best effect, but the consular officer is busy. He won’t have much time nor patience. So I choose the right amount, not too much to divert the officers attention or make him feel we are “padding” the evidence, but just the right amount to make a convincing logical point, then to give him time to go on to the next convincing point, and so on. By the end of his review I hope we have scored many points to convince him to say yes.

Remember, I want you to win. I believe if we show the right evidences and the right amount of evidences that the consular officer will approve. If after I have gone through your shoebox, I don’t feel you have given me your best, given me all I expect you should have. I will go back to you and ask for more. It’s really critical to “touch all the bases” in putting together your Front Loaded Petition. We only have one chance with the consular officer to make a “good first impression”. So we have to do our best, now. If needed, I will go back to you with suggestions and ideas on how we could dig deeper, and improve the chances to win your case.

Step 6: Relationship Letter

In order to improve your case’s chance of success, I recommend including with your petition a detailed and persuasive letter addressed to the consular officer that tells your honest story. Together we craft this letter to present you and your fiance as a sincere and deserving couple who are honest and should be granted a chance to have a life together.

And in case you’ve got red flags, here is where we take the opportunity to tell your side of the story, and explain the reasons why the red flag is not a valid reason to deny.

Step 7: VisaCoach’s Front Loaded Petition

Once I am confident your presentation is as strong as it can be. I will wrap up, by assembling your petition in a bound, tabbed, indexed package that is the way USCIS likes it. I speed it to you via priority mail. For you to review, sign and send off to USCIS. I’ll show you exactly how to write your check, and where and how to mail the package.

Step 8: USCIS

USCIS will review your case and even get the FBI on board to run a background check on you. While waiting for USCIS to finish their work, I update you and your spouse on what to do while waiting, such as getting an early start on police clearances, singleness certificates, medical records, income proofs, as well as practicing sample interview questions.

Step 9: National Visa Center

Once USCIS is done with their review, your petition is passed on to the National Visa Center (NVC). NVC is going to ask for more fees, and a set of civil and financial support documents I call the “mini petition”. Together we accomplish these requirements. Once NVC is satisfied, with your materials, it will schedule your spouse’s interview at the consulate assigned to process your case.

Step 10: Consulate Interview

Before your case arrives at the consulate I provide you with instructions on the medical exam, and a final detailed checklist on what critical items your spouse MUST hand carry to the interview.

Finally, during these last stressful hours before the interview, I work closely with you to make sure your spouse is calm and well prepared, ready for a successful interview

During these final stressful hours I work closely with you to make sure your fiance is calm and well prepared, ready for a successful interview

Step 11: Welcome to USA

Once the visa is approved, I go over any exit procedures your spouse must follow to leave his or her country, and what needs to be done to obtain the green card after arrival to the USA.

Step 12: Continuing Personal Support

As I mentioned earlier. Getting a visa to enter the USA is just the first Step. 2 years later, we need to apply to upgrade from the conditional green card your spouse was granted, to change to un-restricted permanent residency. A year after that US citizenship is on the table, if that is what your spouse wants.

US immigration is not your enemy. But not your friend either.That is why it is important to have VisaCoach on your side, not only to get your spouse visa, but for the next steps too.

By Fred Wahl
the VisaCoach