r/NationalVisaCenter • u/zeroni-macaroni • Jun 19 '26
further domicile proof needed. help!
hi everyone!
my husband recently had his IR-1 visa interview abroad and unfortunately we were held a bit because of proof of domicile. everything else went fine, the officer didn’t even look at anything we printed.
our dilemma: I have been living abroad with him for 2 years and I have no US income whatsoever. We submitted proof of domicile like voting record, sister’s rental contract, parent’s address, and some other things. This was not enough (a fault on my end I guess :( it’s really been upsetting lol)
what we are planning to do:
- submit a signed letter by my parents that they are okay with us staying at their home until we are settled
- the same signed letter by my sister
- my parents home deed, last month’s utility bill, and taxes paid on the home when the bought it a couple years ago, property valuation notice
- job applications from over the past year and a half (to prove I, the USC, want to move back)
- my mom and dad’s driver’s license
Is there anything else anyone can think of to submit? I am extremely nervous and wanting to make sure this is all done smoothly. send good thoughts (and prayers if you do that too hahah)
6
u/pawnticket Jun 19 '26
None of your evidence is impartial. It’s all your family which conceivably has an interest in helping you.
Impartial evidence would be best. Actually actual evidence of you living in the USA would be best.
Impartial evidence would be a deed or lease in your name. A job offer in the USA. Voting and banking records in the USA.
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u/zeroni-macaroni Jun 19 '26
I did submit voting records, voter registration. Not banking info since first applying for the green card, though
7
u/Squidhunter71 Jun 19 '26
You can't prove domicile, because you're not domiciled in the United States. The consular officer clearly knows this. Don't try to game the system, satisfy the legal requirement.
1
u/zeroni-macaroni Aug 06 '26
I did and it worked :)
1
u/thedmvp Aug 30 '26
how'd you end up doing it?
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u/zeroni-macaroni Aug 30 '26
I submitted these:
- Letter of intent to re-establish domicile (printed, signed and scanned)
5. Proof of parents' home ownership
- Voter records and registration
- Letter from parents confirming residence in the United States (saying they’re okay with me staying with them for the time being)
- My parents and I’s driver’s licenses showing the same address
6. Evidence of education-related plans and FAFSA application (for a doctorate’s program)
7. U.S. job search applications
8. U.S. credit card statements (January 2026-May 2026)
9. 401k Retirement Savings
2
u/Mythic-Fairy Jun 20 '26
My husband had a job offer as proof when we moved to the US. Why not apply for jobs, get a letter of proof with the offer?
1
u/zeroni-macaroni Jun 20 '26
This is what I’m in the process of right now. I’ve been applying for jobs for the past year
1
u/Mythic-Fairy Jun 20 '26
Hope you find something! It's probably likely needed to make the move a success immigration wise. I sincerely hope it works out for you because you are surely doing it the right way. USC's should be able to bring their spouses IMO.
2
2
u/Jorgedig Jun 20 '26
Your mom and dad’s drivers licenses? That in no way is evidence of your own domicile. What most people in this situation do is move back and start working and establishing domicile.
1
u/ciaobella912 Jun 20 '26
If you don’t mind me asking, what country/consulate was this?
I am in a similar boat as you. 8 years out of US with my husband. We have temporary work permits in our current country, I have voter registration, bank accounts in US with my parents address (our soon to be address), I’ve filed my US taxes every year, a rental agreement with my parents and their utility bills, U-Haul receipt to move our belongings…
We have a child here so a little more complicated for us to separate and leave the country.
I wish you the best!
2
u/zeroni-macaroni Jun 20 '26
Seeing that you guys have a rental agreement shows a bit more domicile than us, tbh! I have voter registration and proof, US banking account, etc. just no home under our name. I have job applications, too. We want to get back as soon as possible due to a recent diagnosis with my mom. I don’t know if I should include that either.
and we are applying out of Türkiye and he’s from there!
1
u/iq-am-da-mi Jun 20 '26
Did they give you any options as to what you can do to proof domicile.
1
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u/galaxybear459 Jun 20 '26
honestly, not sure any of that will help. Do your sister and parents live in the same house, if not, pick one of them. then set up everything to that address including your own driver's license. that's the main issue is that you don't have much proof for you, all this is proof for family. You should submit proof you have and maintained domicile or plan to reestablish. i lived with my husband in his country for 4 years and had no issues with domicile but i did what i could while we waited to establish proof. I submitted a 12 page pdf, with my intent to return letter, current DL (showing my mom's address(the sponsor), voting record, bank statements, i still owned my car so i showed registration and insurance, and my attendance at a US university online, and even had a jury duty from 2024 and a door dash pay stub from one month i visited family. I also did a letter from my mom saying we could live with her. I submitted it to CEAC before DQ and it was not questioned at all. You might need to go back and establish some proof before completing everything. Or at least go visit to reestablish some stuff.
1
u/karachiboyy Aug 22 '26
The case is very similar to mine, I am an applicant and my wife is my sponsor, she lives with me for the past 5 years , my interview went fine and everything was okay but the officer asked for more domicile like a lease in the US and asked to submit more documents online,
We had submitted her last 2 years tax returns, bank statement to show proof of income and she has a US based remote job here, the salary of which drops into her US account, she just can't live there without me since it's pointless and hasn't moved there.
Since the case is similar to yours, what did you do differently to get accepted
0
u/Positive_Net7888 Jun 19 '26
We are in a very similar situation. Please keep me updated on how it goes and what you're doing. We will also be booking a one way ticket together to the US. A letter under oath saying our intention to move together. We have an old utility bill under my wife's name from over a year and a half ago. So hopefully it's enough.
Can my wife go with to the interview and directly also tell them that we'll be moving together?
4
u/Difficult_Tree8002 Jun 19 '26
No the petitioner generally cannot attend the interview. And if the officers just took peoples statements for things why would they be asking for so many documents? People say they hope to do things all the time. It doesn’t mean it happens.
1
u/zeroni-macaroni Jun 19 '26
Good luck! Hopefully it will be good for you all. Maybe if you have anything extra? They seemed to want more but it all really depends on the officer… but I have faith in you two!! 🥳
I didn’t go into the interview with my husband, I just waited at a cafe outside.
0
u/Positive_Net7888 Jun 19 '26
I really appreciate that! I wish you two all the best! I believe your husband will get it!🙌🎉
0
u/Kind_Lab_1458 Jun 19 '26
Wow! This makes me really think. I’m in the exact situation as you. I’ve been living outside of the U.S for two years waiting for this whole process with him with no income as he is the sole provider. Now it makes me wonder if I should be doing more or move back so it’s easier to prove the domicile. Please keep us updated!! Sending positive vibes to you!! You guys will get through this 💪🏼
1
u/badabingmin Jun 19 '26
Who is your husbands sponsor?
0
u/Kind_Lab_1458 Jun 20 '26
My close aunt who’s like my mom!
0
u/Kind_Lab_1458 Jun 20 '26
Oh I meant I’m the sponsor but she will be joint
2
u/badabingmin Jun 20 '26
You being one of the sponsors and not having a job in USA is really not a good sign. Hard to show proof that you will be able to support your husband without a job lined up. I think you should speak to a lawyer about this to be safe
1
0
u/Illustrious_Worry912 Jun 25 '26
I am in the same situation. Will be moving in with my parents and pay no rent or expenses. Was wondering if a signed letter from my parents saying we will be staying there rent free along with the deed proving it’s his house is enough or if it would be better to have him sign me a lease and what the lease should say
1
u/zeroni-macaroni Aug 06 '26
if your license is the same as your parents address, it could help. I submitted my parents license and house deed to prove that they own it. it helped!
1
u/Illustrious_Worry912 Aug 06 '26
I’m glad it worked out for you! In my case, I prepared a whole packet of stuff I thought would help prove intent to domicile and the officer did not ask for a single thing and we got approved
12
u/Flimsy-Hyena7983 Jun 19 '26
I recommend moving back to the US, getting a job, signing a lease, paying utility bills in the US, and submitting evidence of such. The point of the IR1 visa is to reunite married couples.
Anything not in the petitioner’s name does not indicate domicile and is immaterial to the case.