don't worry about it, Kelvin. Nothing you can do about it now. Just relax and let the weeks slowly pass by..

Laker game about to start.. gna be gone for a couple of hours!

have a great night!

yay! LAKERS WON!!!

see, guys.. good news.. hahaha.. that is our good news for the day (for me anyway)

I was soo happy when i got it both hubby and I tried to look on line but it isn't available yet.. they said it's an unknown case number so we're going to wait. I am soooo hoping the rest of the journy goes as smoothly... has anyone considered filing the 129F just in case it help it go faster???

Lakers Won!!!!! wow it is a good day.

We received the NOA1 today!!!! Yay!!!!! Got it on 23rd. Running with Rajaa it seems. Thirdsjen its seriously no use talking to immigration lawyers. They are expensive and offer little help for normal cases. You could consider approaching one if in case something goes really wrong with the case which I am sure should not.

As for Rajaa unable to find the case online, you can try registering on the website and then adding your case number to your portfolio. That is how I have been able to view my case. It should work. Please Try this and keep us posted!

-Sara.

alright! more good news! see how fast they are putting out those NOA1s?? hopefully they are just as fast with our NOA2s!!

Sara, if our case was complicated, then I'm fine with a lawyer. Since ours is a no-brainer, DIY is a good way to go.. I totally agree with you, though, if the case starts getting complicated, off to a lawyer I will go..

Rajaa, we have thought about the K3 route. Deliberated, etc, and this is what we have come up with: if in a couple of months that CSC doesn't seem to be approving anybody's I-30, THEN will we send out the I-129f. Money is not an object but headaches are. hehe.. if we go the K3 route, the hassle of the adjustment of status, etc, might drive me nuts. BUT, if there's no choice, then I can go nuts, just as long as HE is here with me while I am nuts!

just a bit of encouragement for the CR1 filers out there. Take a look at these graphs compiled by visajourney as of May 2008:





data for K3 applicants:




data is based on VJ members' timeline. Not sure how accurate these are though. But it's better than nothing.. another something to look at and hope for..

We're out of CSC not sure if that really matters, but I agree with you... I rathor go nuts with him here.... and with the 129f I was under the impression the fee is waved since we filed the I-130?

Sara, we're on now... thanks and yes it's cool you and me sis.. we'll have to keep close ties together on this! Also, I wasn't able to load my case to my portfolio yesterday but this morning I can and it says it was "updated" today.... is that a touch? or is that just they put it in the system so I can view it sort of thing??? not sure to count that as a touch or not????

Yes brother looking forward to a swift journey together. I'll explain how the portfolio works in the Private message.

lol ... I am the girl in the pic... so I think that would make me sister??? lol it's all good

Yes sorry ukhti... Got confused. MashaAllaah you both look lovely. I have sent you some messages...please check your inbox.
Hope they are helpful. Let me know.

hahaha.. you guys are too funny... yup, Rajaa is a girl

Rajaa, the fee is waived if you do send the I-129f. So no fees there. But wait till you see all the OTHER fees associated with the K3.. but no matter. If you want to go that route and money is no issue, then so be it. It depends on the beneficiary's country too, I think. You haven't sent your I-129f, have you? I thought you were sticking with CR1.. well, me and hubby have decided to go with the CR1 route, then if things aren't moving in CSC, then file for K3. We are going to wait for a couple of months..

it's a touch, but induced by you, i think

You know i just feel like we should stick to the CR-1.... I read the reviews from the consulate not an easy place for interviews. So just rather not start and stop a process since it's already started off to a good run.

Lol 'an induced Touch'...hehehe...good one! Have just tried to sort out the touch thing with Rajaa...And have discovered that you too are a girl!!!!! Sorry girls...I am bad with identifying people on this forum but its great to know you both.

no offense taken, S_AL! i am indeed, a girl, last time i checked!

as of my "touch," it wasn't "induced" since i registered on the 21st or something like that and on the UPDATED column, it said 5/14/08. so i was thinking, that that was a touch. they touched it so that they can cash my check!

i'm a nurse so i tend to use a lot of terms like INDUCED. haha!

btw, S_AL, your timeline makes no sense.. you are approved already? please fix if this is incorrect. it affects the stats of everything here in the forum.. thanks!

hehe I can imagine.
I did try fixing the timeline but it doesn't work or somehow I haven't been able to find the right button...
I have gone through the whole USCIS process once...from january to April...know the headache.. Made it to the NVC...right at the end we were told to refile due to some complication with our marriage certificate so here we are...re-filing the whole thing. Will try to check if I can update the timeline. Any help regarding that will be much appreciated!
For the record, the right timeline is in my signature.

Fixed.

all the laughing in our posts lately sounds like we're having a good time... that's great! "induced" I like the statement.. but how do you "induce" more touching... and yeah I am talking about our petitions

Hey, the spreadsheet is great, i wanted to give you my timeline incase it might help.
I-130 sent 12-26-07
received NOA1 2/6/08
04/05/08 touched
04/08/08 touched
05/25/08 touched
05/27/08 touched
we are petitioning from Colombia and our case is at the vermont service.

all info helps... by my figuring you should be hearing something soon ??? Let us know.

hello folks,

apparently we all are in the same boat...waiting for our beloved wives and husbands. hopefully checking and interacting with you all will help make this time go by quicker. I just filed my application yesterday (May 27, 08) to the Chicago Lockbox. I am very confused about this process and have spoken to two lawyers already but it just seems to be a waste of time and money. I was wondering if I can get some advise or share some experiences/opinions with like minded people. Can anyone tell me if i filed correctly? I sent the following with my I-130 application:

 Application form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.
 Application fee of $355 (Three Hundred and Fifty Five Dollars only).
 Evidence of my United States citizenship (copies of all pages of my US passport and a copy of my Naturalization certificate).
 Copy of our Marriage Certificate.
 Form G-325A and a passport-style color photograph of myself.
 Form G-325A and a passport-style color photograph of my wife.
 Bank Statement showing joint ownership of a bank account to state co-mingling of financial assets.
 An affidavit from the bank stating the satisfactory conduct of our joint bank account.
 Two affidavits affirmed by third parties who have personal knowledge of the bona fides of our marital relationship.

I filed with the appropriate Chicago box (even though i have read in a few places that it needs to be filed at a service center. The USCIS website clearly states that it needs to be sent to Chicago)

Also, did I need to send our marriage pics? ( I did not do that as it wasnt requested in the instructions)

What is my next step?

Do you recommend taking the K-3 route?

If anyone can answer my long and crazy bunch of questions...I would really appreciate it...

Thanks everyone for your time and I hope to interact with you all...

First of all let me be the first to welcome you to VJ and to the May filers group Cr-1....... ok I have to say you did everything I did except you added the banking and two affidavits.

we dont' have a joint account not sure if we can get one since he is still in morocco??? Anyway we got our NOA1 3 days after reciept. And yes send it to the Chicago lock box.

You can ask just about any question here there are some Amazing people here who know some great stuff. Alot of "been-there-done-that" talk so read, research and so far most of us are in agreement with you about the lawyer...unless you have a complicated case it appears most can be done on your own.

Good luck and keep us posted!!

Hi guys,

I am new to this site and recently filed the I-130 to bring my wife to the states. I wanted to know how long it will take before the case goes to the NVC. Below is my timelime of what has happened so far. Please help. Also I would appreciate any tips as far as speeding the process or getting ready for the next steps which I am unsure of rather then it goes to the NVC at some point where it gets finalized.


5/15/2008 - Sent the I-130 application
5/16/2008 - Chicago received the application
5/23/2008 - Check Cashed
5/27/2008 - I-797C came in the mail (Notice date 5/21/2008
5/28/2008 - Status entered online

that must've been awful.. you were so close then you had to START ALL OVER AGAIN!!! but at least you know what to do and what not to do.. we will make you our resident expert.. hehehe...



we can harass them with phone call, Rajaa.. that will induce the touching.. hahaha.. but don't do that.. they will just get even madder and will never touch our petitions ever!

Hi guys,

I am new to this site and recently filed the I-130 to bring my wife to the states. I wanted to know how long it will take before the case goes to the NVC. Below is my timelime of what has happened so far. Please help. Also I would appreciate any tips as far as speeding the process or getting ready for the next steps which I am unsure of rather then it goes to the NVC at some point where it gets finalized.


5/15/2008 - Sent the I-130 application
5/16/2008 - Chicago received the application
5/23/2008 - Check Cashed
5/27/2008 - I-797C came in the mail (Notice date 5/21/2008
5/28/2008 - Status entered online

hello chelen07! welcome to this thread! but I can't add you to our tracker at this time since we are just trying to track APRIL/MAY filers.. but you are most welcome to join in our "fun!" keep us updated.. you have been in the waiting game longer than we have and will probably provide more insight as soon as you get your NOA2. your case has been "touched" a lot so I'm thinking that's a good sign..

thanks Rajaa. Could you or the moderator add me to your tracking spreadsheet. i just file yesterday. ill keep you guys posted when the NOA1 arrives in the mail. Thanks!

hello cmnb! welcome! sounds like you have sent all that you needed to send. We didn't have any joint bank accounts to speak of so that was not included.. and I didn't send in an affidavit of third parties either (hmm.. should have I sent it?? ).. all I came up with are a couple of wedding pics.. my passport stamps of all the years of me coming back and forth since 2001, including the honeymoon. I sent selected cell phone bills showing that we text each other like a billioin times a day and selected phone bills for when I would call him or he'd call me. If i get an RFE because those proofs weren't enough, then so be it.

about the K3 route, a lot of people have gone that way. Most depends on how fast the embassy in the beneficiary's country processes the petition. For me, it is my last resort. With K3, as soon as your spouse arrives, they will have to apply for Adjustment of Status because their visa is a NONIMMIGRANT one, just like the fiance visa. With CR1 (I-130), they will come here already an IMMIGRANT. don't know if I'm explaining all that too well..

but if you don't mind all that adjustment blah blah and just want them here fast, then consider the K3. but also, check out VERMONT SERVICE CENTER's stats on the K3 approvals...

and by the way, you are in the tracker already..

thanks thirdsjen. the reason i sent the affidavits and opened a joint account was because it was mentioned in the instructions. see below:


NOTE: In addition to the required documentation listed above, you should submit one or more of the following types of documentation that may evidence that bona fides of your marriage:
E. Documentation showing joint ownership or property; or
F. A lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence; or
G. Documentation showing co-mingling of financial resources; or
H. Birth certificate(s) of child(ren) born to you, the petitioner, and your spouse together; or
I. Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship. (Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge of your marriage); or
J. Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union.

This was on page 2 of the instructions.

Please add my timeline to your spreadsheet

Sent I-130 petition to Chicago lockbox on 05/22/08 (express mail)
Delivered to Chicago lockbox on 05/23/08
Waiting for NOA1 to file I-129F petition (K3)

I have also send everything that cmnb has mentioned in his post except passport photocopy & affidavit from bank. I would also like to make one recommendation for would be filler to send your photographs in a protactive plastic cover.

Besides money, are there any disadvantages to filing K3? I was under the impresson that I-130 & K3 petition are independent and we have a choice to choose which ever is approved first.

Could someone please look into I-130 sample form posted here on VJ website and look into quetion # 17 under "Information about your alien relative (continued)" section -- Is this correct or did they make a typo here. In my opinion this information is about your alien spouse who is not a US citizen.

Thanks everyone

yeah.. those are either/or's.. so submit one or two of those and you will be fine..

don't need to worry, looks like you sent in what they asked you to send. Me, i just sent this: J. Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union.

welcome mindmaster! just put you in the tracker..

i didn't know about this website when i sent my I-130 so no plastic anything for my pics..

and about the two, to my understanding, if both are approved, then most always send in the K3. if your I-130 was approved first and you want the K3, I think you can just wait for the K3 NOA2 and just ignore the CR1, and vice versa. but then mine are just speculations.. don't listen to me. lets just wait for everybody else's opinion on this..

OH MY GOSH! i have never seen their example forms.. i put N/A on mine since he doesn't have any other spouse but me! that's weird. i don't get it...

hi mindmaster,
just saw the flag on your profile... appears as if your spouse is in india as well. are you going to be filing from New Delhi?

God...this blog is so addicting and has some excellent information

if your CR-1 gets approved before the K-3 gets approved, you can simply send in a letter to USCIS and tell them that you dont wish to proceed with K-3. Afterall, why would you pursue K-3 when your spouse will have a CR-1 (green card/immigrant status) in hand and that would save you time, money and all the hassle of fling adjustment of status, work permit etc. etc.

Yes that is the plan now but all options are open at the moment now that is to file for inventor EB3 visa, religious visa R1 (just kidding) ... I just don't have patience to wait for USCIS dicision.

I have filed I-130. Does anyone know if, having been in the military and having veteran status, it will speed up the process?

I was also in the military, TS clearance and did my tours all over but alas I was told they look at my spouse not me!!! bummer since I was MI i thought maybe they would understand the judge of charactor i am but than again it is MI...lol anyway good luck and I hope for our sake it helps but I dont' think so.

Best of wishes...and help us out and put a timeline as your autograph as well.... helps us when we're checking out similarities

I too am addicted to the site.... and I just started the process too so I feel I'll be a pro sooner than later.

Off to start my new job.... I'll be back after work to check up on you'all

TTFN

Good luck on the new job. The following is my timeline.

5/15/2008 - Sent the I-130 application
5/16/2008 - Chicago received the application
5/23/2008 - Check Cashed
5/27/2008 - I-797C came in the mail (Notice date 5/21/2008
5/28/2008 - Status entered online

LOL
I could not explain that induced touch any better.
Yes this forum is addictive! Every night I have to literally force myself to sleep only because I end up refreshing page waiting for a response. Yes thirdsjen I Have 'been there done that' and I will be more than happy to help you all with queries.

As for people with Military background getting any help, there is another expert on this forum on this subject. Browse through the list of topics and you'll come across something useful. If not then you can always post here and get your answers.
Till then...enjoy the touches!

S_AL, I thought you were approved already, did you send in another I-130?

Yes NicoleX08 we were approved last month...and were half way through at NVC but then had some complications with the marriage certificate and the Embassy told us to re-file. Back to Base 1 unfortunately but it's fine. Everything happens for our betterment.
You too should not worry about your petition. Panic only if its been six months and you have not heard from them.

OH ok that makes sense. Will they do yours more quickly since it was already approved?

I am really hoping that happens. Can't say much at this point though... *sigh*

Hi S_AL_@,

so how long do you think our file will be finalized if we all filed in May? (as per your experience)

What does touch actually mean? How can you tell if you have been touched when you check the status online?

You have to sign up on the USCIS website and register your case number. Once you sign up using a user name and password, you can login to your "Portfolio" of cases. It will list your cases and show a "Last Updated" column. In that colum it will show a date. That is the date that the last action was taken on your case. That is referred to as a "Touch"

Thanks...also do you how long it will take from NOA1 to NOA2? I have seen in some posts, that i takes 2-4 months, is that accurate

I have been waiting 4 months and 3 weeks, they transferred my case to Cincinnati yesterday. So I have no idea what is going on. Some people take 3 months some people take a year or more. There is no rhyme or reason to USCIS.

Hi cmnb! That's a tough one to answer... Firstly it depends on which service center your petition is at. Some have been working faster than the others. Secondly, if your case is not complex and there aren't too many checks then you get through within normally 4 months. People who file for expedite and if their expedite request is approved normally get to hear from the USCIS within a couple of days. counting from May and keeping in mind the NOA1s received within a week or two, maybe this is going to happen sooner than others. My last NOA1 took about 30 days so this time its been way faster. October/November maybe.

Sara.