Begin by understanding what your visa options really are.

Click here to view the IR-1 / CR-1 Guide or check out the Guides Section for more helpful information on Spousal Visa's, as well as other visa types that apply depending on where you and your spouse currently reside.

Once you file you will have several options available to track your case.

As a note: This visa option is automatically applied for by K-3 applicants when they file the I-130 (part of the K-3 process). Historically the K-3 was used to allow the US Citizens spouse to enter the US faster than waiting for the I-130 to be approved (since that used to take a long time). Recent reductions in processing times have allowed I-130's to be approved quick enough that the IR1/CR1 visa process has been a quicker and better option for K-3 applicants. If this happens the K-3 applicant can abandon the K-3 route and persue the IR1/CR1 instead.

i have been reading the guides for filing IR/CR visa. i have noticed in the checklist of required documents that only I-864 (affidavit of support form) is listed. the letter from NVC however provides for the I-864A form which should be filled up.


when is this form needed?
and who should sign this form?

thanks a lot

Hi, If you have a joint sponsor then they will fill out & sign the I-864A , if you dont need to use a joint sponsor then you only use the I-864, signed by the USC!

Hi euro,

A Joint Sponsor completes an I-864 and selects the 'Joint Sponsor' option.

The I-864A is for including the income of a Household Member.

Splitting hairs: good
Splitting ends: bad

thanks a lot euro and meauxna

i have a follow up question though:

what if the co-sponsor is a household member?

will it suffice to submit the I-864 executed respectively by the sponsor and co-sponsor (who are residing in the same household) without submitting the i-864A? the income of the co-sponsor is more than enough to cover for the income requirements prescribed by the USCIS.

thanks in advance

neolla,
er, this is getting kind of vague at this point..

If the Joint Sponsor (there is no co sponsor) is also a Household member (let's say the Sponsor lives with her parents) and the HM/parent agrees to put their income up for support, it appears that they have a choice of how to file:

-As a HM, and they complete an I-864A to the Sponsor's I-864
or, they love paperwork
-As a Joint Sponsor, and they (parent) complete an i-864 of their own.

I *think* I've got this right, from what you've posted.

It would be more appropriate for you to start your own thread on this topic, as this is a general IV Guide topic.

i got this info:

How Do I File an Affidavit of Support?
You should complete an I-864 Affidavit of Support when your relative has been scheduled for an immigrant visa interview with a consular officer overseas or when your relative is about to submit an application for adjustment to permanent resident status with the USCIS or with an Immigration Court in the United States. If you have a joint sponsor, the joint sponsor must also complete USCIS Form I-864 at this time. If you are using the income of other household members to qualify, then each household member who is accepting legal responsibility for supporting your relative must complete a separate USCIS Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member.

from the site below:

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/affsupp.htm

**** i think the operative word is OTHER household which means (i think) that if the co-sponsor is a household member, he does not need to sign the i-864A anymore if he is already executing the i-864 form. it is only when the other household member(s) is willing to accept responsibility that they must sign i-864A and not necessarily i-864.

correct me if im wrong. this is getting more and more confusing

thanks again

I agree.

neolla,

Can you please repost your query in its own thread. It would be more beneficial to you and to others

DOS has new policy regarding the I-864. You can read the policy HERE Included in the thread is also a recent telegram to all consular posts re Revised Requirements for Form I-864 Processing

I got mine today from NVC and it's the same packet. They send all the forms anyway. Just fill the I-864 if your income is enough for the 125%. If not you have to add a joint sponsor. Both of you will sign the same I-864. The I-864A is for a household member whose income you want to add. A little different from the I-864. The instructions is very clear on that.

No, that is not very clear.
Joint Sponsors do not sign the same I-864 with Sponsors.

Hello,i would like to learn how many months does it take for cr1 visa.I-130 approved at april 17.im in Turkey.and my husband is in US.and 1 week ago he paid for I-864 form and he sent them back checque and now waiting them to send back.im curious what will happen next.and the timeprocess for cr1 visa.becasue our visa style is cr1 not k3.we started to paper works in january and now its 5 months and looks like we arent in half of way.it made me stress becasue the persons after started us they gone with k3 visa.and im still here for cr1 visa.and we got nothing yet.i would like to learn when they will send I-864 forms back to my husband,and how many months will take it for cr1 visa for me to be together with my husband still?

hi, my husband sent 130 for me in 1/4/2005 my case complete in 22/11/2005, and guess what : no interview yet i hope you are get any news soon. by the way we use 130=cr1 only i am from lebanon.

Situation and Question: My husband is in Canada and I moved to Canada to live with him four months after we married. We couldn't stand being apart anymore. So, we just received the I-130 approval before the I-129f, still not received approval yet. We learned that the CR-1/IR-1 is automatically defaulted when applying for the I-130. How long does it take from sending out the fees for the bills of the AOS and Immigrant Visa application fee? Do we get the I-864 packet after this? Initinally, when and how long do we have to wait before the personal interview in Montreal? If approved, do they give a same day visa for entry into the US?

Do you think that I will be denied if I am living with my husband with no U.S. physical address?

My wife lives in Pakistan and her interview is due in couple of months. When her visa is granted, how many month does it expire in, 3 or 6 months? Thanks.

i have a question, my I-130 and I-129f were approved 2 days apart. what happens now? i see other people have iv bills and aos bills, will that apply to me, my wife is in cameroon and i am here in the usa. and as for the I-864, can i just fill one out and send it to her like with the I-134 or do i have to wait for NVC to send me one. i am a citizen. also, do i have to pick the k3 visa over the i-130 or does one automatically default to the other?

please help.

Hi junior05

You are best off posting this in the general CR-1 forum, not to a pinned thread as you will not get the responses.

Congrats on your approvals.

Lorelle

My I-129F was approved on July 28, 2006. I called the NVC and they haven't received it yet. They told me to call back in 30 days. My I-130 was approved July 19. So my question is - I want my husband here the fastest that I can and I understand that I don't have to decide right now which way I want to go (CR1 or the K3). So when my CR1 stuff starts coming through I have to pay money for a couple of things. And if the K3 is sent to the Embassy and we get an interviw, obviously we will be going that route. So with the money that I've already sent for the I-30, am I just out that money?

Hi there, my name is MC just want to ask if I have my LPR petition to my husband and since the visa is not yet available in embassy abroad, is it possible I could file my US Citizen instead? since I've been over 5 years here. Then later on will upgrade my petition to my husband??

Please advice. . . thanks a lot for all the response. . .

May God Bless you always!

MC

If you filed an I-130 while you are an LPR and you then become a citizen, you may upgrade your petition with the NVC and a visa number becomes immediately available.

If you have been an LPR for 5+ years, you may be eligible to apply for US citizenship.

At a recent oath ceremony, the petition upgrade process was covered for the new citizens.

Review the Guide to Naturalization and see if you are eligible to apply!

Hi Meauxna,

Thanks a lot, May God Bless You. . . having 3 kids and away from my husband was so hard for me. It's a lot of hardship/sacrifices. Being away from my husband was really really hard, my kids are all grown up now, and I wish may God Bless Us and guide us, my only wish is having my family reunited. I just went home two times one when we got married, and the second one was in 2004 when we celebrated our kids' birthday and having party, together with their Dad (my husband) and relatives.

Thanks again,

MC

Hello
can u help me out about DS230
i m the beneficiary in india and i mailed the DS230 to my husband before NVC sent us one.
so can anyone tell me if this can be mailed to NVC or do we need to send the one sent by NVC

ur help is invaluable n will be appreciated
thankz

Hi,

I just wana to know after NVC completes IR1/CR1 case and sends to embassy mine will be Islamabad, Pakistan embassy:

What steps embassy takes like what pakeges it sends and how long between each one and what each pakege content please help me to know I just wana to have rough idea Thanks

I have no idea on how long it takes the consulate to send your interview packet once they have your case, but you can click on one of the below links to find out what is generally required to 'Obtain' for the interview, depending on the country you are from. If you come under the first link, you are required to submit mostly everything at the NVC stage. The bottom link is for those only required to submit DS-230 part 1 and a photocopy of the biographics page of the applicants passport; and lists everything that should be 'Obtained' for the interview.

You will also receive information pertaining to getting a medical. You will also be required to have evidence of an ongoing bonafide relationship/marriage.



Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants (applying in Albania, Canada, Lebanon, Philippines, Turkey, United Arab Emirates or on the continent of Africa)
When one is required to submit both parts 1 & II and all documents listed in the above link, the NVC reviews all documents and schedules the interview. Part 1 should only be signed not part II as that has to be signed at the interview stage in front of the conof.

Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants (NOT applying in Albania, Canada, Lebanon, Philippines, Turkey, United Arab Emirates or on the continent of Africa)
When one is only required to submit DS-230 part 1 and a copy of the biographics page of the passport, the consulate will schedule the interview.

I hope you should have the answer by now, but in case not.

Yes your husband can send DS230 to NVC signed by you in original with photocopy of your passport bigraphic pages and the barcode sheet having your case barcode etc. (it is available through Jame's Shortcuts)

I think that you will be denied because your husband have no domicile.

Really New here sorry ......, we filed I-130 with Montreal, we both Live here in Calgary ( US wife, Canadian husband - Married 17 Years)
I -130 all approved but, (except interview) delayed due to Adam Walsh Act , They have to sent our files to somewhere ( montreal people did not know where) somewhere in USA to have my US wife sercuity checked ( this is a Laugh if you knew my wife)..

They did not know how long this would take and could not advise me... Anyone know ??

Question , I can not use the file number Montreal uses re our case as it is not accepted on USCIS ( check you case site) ??? Starts with MTL

What does ever one mean when i see touched in thier timelines??

Colin

A case can only be checked with the USCIS case status online at the petition stage when filed at a USCIS service center in the US. Yours wasn't. You also wouldn't be able to check case status with NVC (National Visa Center) as your case did not go through them.

I'm sorry I can't help you with a time frame on how long this background/security check will take. It will take as long as it takes.

'Touched' - When there is a date change on a case status online, this is referred to as a touch. Just means that something happened with your case, even if it was just being moved from one pile to another.

Hi there, I am in IR1 Category since I received yesterday the packet for the DS230 Part 1 and 2, from the letter they said we need to submit the form and checked also from the NVC Website to submit also the civil documents like birth cert, marriage cert, police clearance, etc. . . my question is do we need to submit all these documents together with the DS230 Form that we need to fill up??

Please help us. . . your response will really appreciated.

MC

Hi

Just need to confirm for the AOS NVC payment form.

I-130 is a CR1 visa, correct? I am not filing the I-129F.

Thanks


Our timeline:
NOA2 June 28, 2007
NVC case number July 3, 2007

Yes.

Hello everyone. I am new to this forum I guess I can give a little background

June 29, 2007- Married my husband in Morocco
July 16, 2007- Mailed the I-130
July 17, 2007- Touched
July 24, 2007 No reply yet


Does anyone know how long it will take before my husband can get here to America. What is the average wait time. This is overwhelming....

You can check the timelines from the people who are requesting CR1/IR1 visas from Morocco and who are going through your service center. That should give you an idea of how long it would take for your case since every embassy works differently.

hi MC

i think we've go the same problm here... for me the DS230 was sent back to my husband/agent in US saying that there's an unasnwered item.. and by this time they are asking the sam civil documents together with the DS230..
i'm hir in manila as well, but i haven't received any packets but my husband did so im relying on what he recieves..

could somebody here help us please?
may god bless you..

@jayzar.

Yes, that's right. You are required to submit all those documents with your DS230 along with the ff civil documents: marriage certificate, borth certificate, marraige termination documentation, police and NBI clearance, photocopy of the valid passport bigraphic data page.

As for the missing information, NVC will be sending you a letter that will describe the error or what you have missed out.

How do you know if you have been touched if you have not received an NAO 1? I have seen people who have submitted materials at the same time, who seem to have a faster response.

Also, my senator's office told me that the NVC is backed up 16 months. The timetables here do not seem to reflect that, and I was a bit skeptical about how much the person speaking to me knew.

Hi all, my wife had her visa interview at the Consulate in Guangzhou two days ago. She told me the consulate officer was extremely doubtful of the validity of our marriage and was given a blue form (Essentially asking us to provide additional supporting evidence).

Has this happened to anyone before? How have you handled such a situation? Your responses are GREATLY appreciated!

hi all, my name is tom and i married my wife in april in the philippines. when i got back i filed her I-130 both our G-325a bio forms with pics, and sent pics and other copies of receipts and bills. i got my receipt dated june 15th. now my question is this. for the I-864 i had read on another site that i did not have to send it in with this application and they will ask for it later. is this true? if not true i guess i need to send it in right away. also what are the next steps involved? so much info out there is outdated or not true but so far this site is very up to date. also what is nao1 and nao 2?

Yes it is true, they will ask for it later.

Have you checked out the IR1/CR1 guide here on visa journey? http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide1

It outlines the steps. Once you have read this you can check out the NVC flowchart from the guides page http://www.visajourney.com/examples/NVC_Pr...wchart_v1-2.pdf.

Also, you will get more responses if you post in the main IR1/CR1 forum instead of in this thread. To do this, when you are looking at the forum, click on Start New Topic.

Good luck!

Hi im new in this. My husband is a legal permanent resident and he want to start the procedure. What visa we need cuz in the guide says only for Us citizen but not for LPR. Please I need information , I dont know to much the language, if anyone talk spanish is much better to me, very very thank you. :thumbs: :thumbs:

If your husband is not a US citizen yet, then he can file for you only in F2-1 category. There is an annual limitation of visas in this category. Due to the annual limit there is a long waiting list before your visa/greencard can be issued. Currently they are approving people who applied in October 15, 1998 (9 years wait)
He first has to apply at USCIS. Ones his petition is approved by USCIS it will be forwarded to NVC. But NVC will not do any further action on your case until you get through the waiting list sometimes in 2016. Then you will have your visa/greencard approved.

If your husband becomes US citizen in the meantime he can notify NVC about it. NVC will immediatelly convert the case to IR-1 and will continue to process it. There is no waiting list in IR-1 category.

Hi,

The I-130 visa petition my husband made has just been approved and I have just been given the documents to go to the next step. They've given me an "FPU Preliminary Interview Form" and the instructions say I have to return the form to their office before following the other instructions attached (which I believe is the instructions for Medical Certificate, Police Report, etc). I just want to make sure of a few things:

1) Should I fill in the FPU Preliminary Interview form first before initiating any trips to the doctor's they stated? Because the process takes a week, and I figure I could have a head start.
2) (This is connected to the first question) Should I just complete and send the FPU form before getting the other required documents? If so, what is the purpose of the FPU Preliminary Interview form, and why do I have to submit that first?
3) I am from HK and the rest of the instructions tell me to assemble all the documents in support of my application, then mail the "Form DS2001 - HNK" and Document Checklist. From what I understand, I should just assemble the required documents, then put a check on the appropriate box in the checklist, then mail the DS2001 - HNK form (which looks to be basically a statement saying everything is ready) as well as the checklist to the Immigrant Visa Unit. Could anyone confirm this for me?
4) Which name should I use? I haven't legally changed my last name yet to my married name in my passport, but I am in the process of doing that. I want to use my married name in my visa if I get it, so we've tried to file my forms for my married name because the lady at the inquiries counter said it would be OK even if my name hasn't been changed in my passport yet. But when I received the instructions, it told me that my case was being filed under my maiden name. And what's more confusing is that in my husband's letter from the Department of Homeland Security, the name of the beneficiary (which is me) is my married name. I am so confused. I really don't want to mess up. Please help!


Thanks in advance! I'm just SO conscious of trying not to make a mistake! >.<

Regards,
Candice

please help me out by answering my qestions, that 2 days back i have track my case status ,and they say that my I129f petition is approved and the notice has been sent to me. now that i ahve already send my DS230 form along with the certified copies i mean xerox with notary on it to the NVC people. why are they approving now my I129 petition , afetr such along time. is this a general way or what.
what does that I129 approved now means, does it mean that they are sending my ntervew package is my case complete or what,. plz mbit confused. plz xplain me .my actuall visa processing started on 2 march07 since then im just waiting for the visa to be approved.
plz answert my questoins, and if u have no knowldedge about this, plz send to the people u know can beter reply me as im new on this site. ill be thankful to yuo. thankyou

We just received our interview notice in the mail. I'm so excited! Does this mean we get the visa during the interview or do we have to wait more after? I know people have gone to the interview in the states and they told me they stamp the passport on the spot. Thanks!

The interview should be at the embassy of the country you're going through. The passport is stamped by the Immigration officer at the POE.

The CO should be able to let you know if the visa has been granted the day of the interview, if not, you can straight out ask. But they usually say "congratulations, your visa has been granted" or something like that.

Diana

I have been apporved for a CR1 Visa and I have already sent in the DS230 form along with my long birth registration, marriage certificate, polic certificate, divorce certificate and 2 passport photos. Although, NVC told me that they didn't receive my certificate of divorce so they sent me a letter asking to send that in. In Canada when you get a divorce you get a judgement of Divorce and a certificate of divorce. I had only sent in the Certificate of divorce but I guess they also want the judgement of divorce as well. Does anyone know how long does it usually take to receive an appointment letter? Also, Has anyone every had a CR1 interview for more than 10 minutes. I also asked NVC if it's required for me to bring additional copies of my marriage certificate, police certificate, certificate of divorce etc. And they said "No" Also, at the CR1 interview do they usually ask to see phone bills, marriage photos, etc.? From looking at some other forums that people posted, it seems as though they don't ask for all those in the interview. I will be having my interview out of montreal, QC canada.

Hi there, I wanted to know what kind of questions did they ask you at your interview and how long did your interview last?

New Fastest NVC Process link:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t=0&start=0

You'll not be disappointed

You can read post-NVC process here until your port of entry after the interview:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=133550

Good luck
Loto