Hi Folks, well, we finally did it - we filed our I-130 petition with the embassy here in London.

We mailed the package on Sat 18th March. We haven't received a NOA yet, just a postcard giving us the official date of filing. They tell us the date of filing is 22nd March 06. (funnily enough, they put the date in the British format dd/mm/yy. I wonder why? British staff at the US Embassy?) They also gave us the web address so we can check which receipt date they are currently processing. The card says that the current processing time for I-130 petitions is approximately 12 weeks from the date of receipt. The web address says "As of March 24, 2006 we are processing petitions filed on February 20, 2006. That means they are about a month behind.
Here's the question. . .
TWELVE WEEKS??? Does that mean that in 12 weeks time, around about June 14 2006, we'll have had the final interview and Visa issued? Or do they mean 12 weeks plus the 4 or so weeks that they are behind?

The EXACT wording on the postcard is "Processing Time for I - 130 petitions: The current processing time for I - 130 petitions is approximately 12 weeks from the date of receipt. Petitions are adjudicated in the order in which they are received"


I know they said that DCF was faster, but 12 weeks? Thats incredible if it's true. There has to be something we are missing. Any observations, comments? We sure would appreciate some.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Kind Regards Trish and Dave.

Processing and approving the I-130 is only one step on the road to the visa, or so I've been told. An approved I-130 does not a visa make.

Don't complain about the speed of DCF processing. It is still the fastest method. If you sent your petition to a USCIS service center, the processing time will be more than 12 weeks to get an approved I-130 at the embassy. Be patient and wait. At least you're together with your spouse, while many other couples are far apart.

In 12 weeks your petition will be adjudicated. If it is approved then London will set an interview date for 4-8 weeks afterwards. I would count on waiting at least 4 months before you will receive an interview date.

hello,

The postcard *is* your "NOA. It acknowledges receipt of your petition and confirms that they have accepted it for processing.
The 12 weeks is standard language, and does not necessarily reflect reality. You can look at other London-filed I-130s to see what they're up to lately, but you'll find that the I-130 petition will probably be approved much faster.
You *will* face a longer wait for an interview and again, if you look at other similar cases, you'll find that the total processing time (to visa issuance) does run about 4 months. For comparison, a similar US-filed case would take aprox 7-10 months.

As an aside, I think you are misreading the website. It does not indicate that they are 4 weeks behind. It means that they are processing petitions submitted a month ago (not the 12 weeks your NOA says). Adjudication of the I-130 takes a very short time, once it is your turn (like days).

Your job now is to look ahead to the next step and prepare for it. After the I-130 is approved, it is sent to the Immigrant Visa Unit of the Consulate and they will send you "Packet 3". If you have everything required for P3, you can immediately return your 'ready for interview' document (DS-2001?) and get in line for an interview. You should be ordering, or have already ordered, your police certificate and have all your other visa application evidence ready, like the I-864. You do NOT return this evidence to the Consulate, but you must have it in hand to get in the interview pool.