Hi guys,
I hope you don't mind a long post.... I read the guides, this thread and the James shortcuts (but not thoroughly.. i will tonight however) I was on this list a few months ago but because of inactivity I was removed. I applied for the K3 visa in May (I-130) and June (I129F). My I-130 was approved very quickly.. I-130 mailed 5/25/07.. NOA2 rec'd 07/20/2007. My I-129F wasn't even accepted into VSC until Sept. even though it was rec'd by the Chicago lockbox in June. I decided at the time of the approval of the I-130 to pursue the K3 visa because the wait time at the embassy in Lagos, Nigeria is approx. 2-3 months for a K3 interview but approx. 10 months for a CR1 interview. My husband and I have an 18 month old son who has only spent one week with his father so far. I also have two other children from a prior marriage (that ended badly). Time is of the essence to us. Adjustment of Status and further fees are things I don't mind as long as he's here sooner. With Lagos, the CR1 is a bad option, or so it seems. Despite the fact that I clearly had K3 written on my I-130, when it was approved, it was sent to the NVC. I rec'd the AOS bill and choice of agent form. I did nothing with them. In september I read something (cant remember what exactly) that made me worry that they could possibly deny my I-129F because I had the I-130 at the NVC. I asked the NVC to return my I-130 to VSC. They told me they can't do that. They said that normal procedure is to hold it there until my husband is in america. When we are ready to adjust his status, they will receive a request from USCIS to return the I-130, and they will return it at that time. Meanwhile, they put it in storage to be held for the adjustment of status.
I was told this week, by VSC (using the RFE Trick.. THREE TIMES) that when my I-129F is finally reviewed (it's still "on the shelf") it will be terminated because I do not have an underlying I-130. They did not put it that way. They said since my I-130 is approved I don't need the K3. I argued, they didn't care. They claimed it is their policy to terminate the I-129F when the I-130 has been approved. I could argue this all day with all the information I have obtained but it does no good. I have already waited 5 months for the I-129F to be approved. Finding this out NOW was heartbreaking to say the least. If you read my posts in the K3 forum, you know how devastated I was/am. I am now wondering if my husband will be here before our son's 3rd birthday.
Either way, I have a few questions for you all, I hope you don't mind my ignorance. I have been trying over the last few days to familiarize myself with the CR1 process so as to avoid asking tedious questions that are obvious to everyone else. I did read this thread and found it to be extremely helpful, I'm very grateful to all of you for your helpful posts. I still have much to learn. I did read a bit frantically hoping to get as much info in as short a time as possible.
I called the NVC two days ago and asked them what I need to do in order to reactivate my case. The nice woman (a refreshing experience to speak to a nice person as opposed to the nasty shews at VSC) told me to simply send a letter or email to the NVC telling them that I would like to continue processing my case. I did that immediately after hanging up with her. I got an automatic reply about an hour later but nothing else since then.
She also told me something else I would like to run by you all. Please let me know if this sounds off track. She said I should NOT send in the AOS bill fee but I should send them the choice of agent form. She said they have to generate another bill for me since I am reinstating the case. Why would they have to do that? Can I still use the James shortcuts somehow to make this faster? If so, how?
Also, my husband would like to start collecting the information he needs as quickly as possible. He wants to go get the police certificate right away. I asked him to wait until I asked you guys if he needs a special form to do this. Does the DS-230 packet have a special form in it that needs to go to the police station with him? Or can he simply provide a "police certificate"?
Is there a place that any of you know of that shows exactly what comes in each of these packets we all receive such as scanned copies? I have not memorized what everything is yet, please bear with me.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this. It would be great if you could fit me back into the chart too