US citizen married abroad

[*.mimmi.*]

My husband is a US citizen, we live in Finland. I am a finnish native.

We got married here, and have been married for three years.

My husband has a visa here and we have been living here a little over three years now.

We want to move to the US together.

Does anyone have experience on applying for a visa for your spouse abroad while legally living there?

How long does it take?

What kind of documentation do we have to provide?

I understand he doesnt have to provide the affidavit of support (financial support) because he has been living and working here, and we have been married for three years?

Would it be easier if my husband just got back to the USA and applied for me there? Would it be faster/ easier?

I have been trying to read about this, but its all too confusing, and since were still finding out about this, i havent gone ahead and called the embassy for advice yet, i will, once i hear peoples experiences, wether its better to apply here, or in the US. This means being away from my husband, and i need to know for how long.

Thanks for any info! Its much appreciated

 

[LucyMO]

I understand he doesnt have to provide the affidavit of support (financial support) because he has been living and working here, and we have been married for three years?

of course, he does.

Does anyone have experience on applying for a visa for your spouse abroad while legally living there?

you have to check with the US consulate in Finland whether they do direct consular filing.

How long does it take?

6-12 months.

Your husband has to show that he is domiciled in the US, by the way.

What kind of documentation do we have to provide?

for now, I-130.

 

[*.mimmi.*]

No, my husband lives here with me. We have a place here.

He doesnt have a residence in the US.

We have been here for three years....

And i read somewhere that if you were married for more than 2 years, the affidavit of support was not needed anymore. And why would it, when i would be able to work in the US, i dont need anyone to support me there.

 

[Jackolantern]

And i read somewhere that if you were married for more than 2 years, the affidavit of support was not needed anymore.

That is not correct. The affidavit of support has to be provided anyway.

The benefit of being married for 2 years is that upon approval, you will receive a 10-year unconditional green card instead of a 2-year conditional card.

 

[LucyMO]

No, my husband lives here with me. We have a place here.

He doesnt have a residence in the US.

is he going back to the States to live there when you get your immigrant visa? you may or may not run into problems with the lack of his US domicile.

 

[*.mimmi.*]

Yes, we wanted to move out together.

Do you know, if its possible to just send our shared Finnish bank records for the affidavit?

We have some money saved up for the US.

How much do we need to have? If we have to, can we provide his finnish tax info?

Thanks for your help

Ps. the consular told me it would only take 6-8 weeks to receive my visa, after filing here in Helsinki, and then i could travel to the US and they would send me my greencard in the mail. I didnt think it would be that quick!

 

[LucyMO]

Do you know, if its possible to just send our shared Finnish bank records for the affidavit?

sure. If the amount is 5 times the amount you need for your affidavit (form I-864P).

I hope he's been filing his US taxes every year.

 

[*.mimmi.*]

sure. If the amount is 5 times the amount you need for your affidavit (form I-864P).

I hope he's been filing his US taxes every year.

You mean we should have the equivalent of a years income on our bank account?

And thats another problem, the taxes.. We have been totally cluelles about that.. but the irs said you can file within 6 years still.. so should be no problems there..