Our case is a little different than usual, but we got accepted!!!

[Gakkykiba 3]

Hello everyone!

First of all, we would like to thank all of you guys for the awesome help in this forum.
We want to share our story and the nature of our case because we couldn't find a lot of information regarding a case like ours. We are hoping that our story will be able to help others in the future. We'd like to let the people in the same situation as ours that it is possible.

I am an LPR and currently outside the US for education (2nd degree in College, out here since 2012 & graduating in 2016). We first posted last year in this forum and asked questions regarding how to properly file a case like ours, but most of the people said it wasn't possible and I might be in violation of my residency status. We were supposed to file last year after we got married in March of 2014 but the idea of me violating my residency status kind of scared us and our filing got delayed.

I did a lot of research and finally went thru with it a couple weeks ago. We went first to the US Embassy in Manila to try Direct Consular Filing (DCF), but unfortunately we were not accepted as they only process US citizen' spouse petition and not with the LPRs, they told us to mail it to Chicago Lockbox instead (I was kind of expecting this so we made a packet for mailing even before we went to try DCF). We tripled check everything, but then I remembered the issue about my residency status and I decided to include US domicile evidences on our packet. It includes:

• A short letter (explaining our case, why am I outside the US, and reasons of my intention to go back to the US for good)
• US Driver's License Copy
• US Bank Statements
• US Credit Card Statements and Year-end summaries
• Copy of Re-entry Permit
• Copy of tickets

We were very anxious on what would happen next. I was thinking that the worst case scenario would be that they deny our application and then question my residency status (scary!). We are very happy that it all worked out and we got accepted today. We kind of wish we went thru it last year though, could've saved us a lot of time, but hey at least we're here now. Let the waiting game begin. Thanks again everyone!!!

Quick questions:
1. Is it safe to say that our PD is when they received and accepted our application? The E-notification only includes a receipt number, no PD mentioned. It might be in the hard-copy, we're just too excited and hyped at the moment. Lol
2. What should we be doing and expecting next? (Sorry, my research was only focused and limited to filing)

[apple21 953]

They merely accepted/acknowledged the i130 package. They haven't approved your case yet.

Edited August 1, 2015 by apple21

[indhiraastacio 38]

Try to have as many ties as possible to the US..report your income if any/pay taxes, try to get bills in the US under your name, if possible, at your residency in the US get the lease under your name, just try to have concrete things that will tie you to the US and fulfill the necessary requirements, affidavit, proof of bona fide marriage. You should be fine.

Edited August 1, 2015 by indhiraastacio

[Gakkykiba 3]

They merely accepted/acknowledged the i130 package. They haven't approved your case yet.

It's good enough for us now that our case is accepted and going to be processed.

Try to have as many ties as possible to the US..report your income if any/pay taxes, try to get bills in the US under your name, if possible, at your residency in the US get the lease under your name, just try to have concrete things that will tie you to the US and fulfill the necessary requirements, affidavit, proof of bona fide marriage. You should be fine.

Yes, that's what i've been doing. Thank you!!!

[apple21 953]

It's good enough for us now that our case is accepted and going to be processed.

Yes it will be. Did you put a US mailing address? Because in the event of an RFE (request for evidence), USCIS will mail an actual letter but will not mail it overseas.

[Gakkykiba 3]

Yes it will be. Did you put a US mailing address? Because in the event of an RFE (request for evidence), USCIS will mail an actual letter but will not mail it overseas.

Yes I did put both of my addresses. How long is the waiting time for the decision? Around 5-8 months right?

[MollieW924 0]

Yes it will be. Did you put a US mailing address? Because in the event of an RFE (request for evidence), USCIS will mail an actual letter but will not mail it overseas.

We didn't realise our marriage certificate was just a souvenir, so we had an RFE mailed to us at our Australian address in January.

OP good luck!!!! Very exciting to get it going.

[kzielu 1,147]

Yes I did put both of my addresses. How long is the waiting time for the decision? Around 5-8 months right?

Around that - may be longer but it's not really important with wait for PD to be current being much longer.

[Gakkykiba 3]

Hello Everyone Again!

We have received the I-797C in the mail. They sent it to my US Address. Our priority date is July 29, 2015.

I have been checking Igor's list for an idea of how long CSC usually approves a case. I am just wondering why some others got approved 2-3 months and there are some unapproved petitions for almost a year. What are the usual reasons?

What should we be preparing for next? Hoping we get approved soon.

Thanks everyone!

[Gakkykiba 3]

AOS = Affidavit of Support
IV = Immigration Visa
IL = Immigration Letter

Are those the correct meaning for the acronyms? I get confused a lot when reading some threads as AOS can also be Adjustment of Status. Thanks again

[alefonck 16]

AOS = Affidavit of Support

IV = Immigration Visa

IL = Immigration Letter

Are those the correct meaning for the acronyms? I get confused a lot when reading some threads as AOS can also be Adjustment of Status. Thanks again

IV stands for ''immigrant visa.'' This can stand for the supporting documents which you are supposed to submit to the NVC after payment of Affidavit of Support fee along with the Affidavit of Support financial documents. It can also stand for the other fee that you have to pay for the processing of your ''immigrant visa'' at the NVC.

IL stands for ''Interview letter.'' You get this after completing your case at the NVC and your priority date is current.

You got AOS right.

[milimelo 4,185]

There won't be a quick approval - you'll still have to wait for the visa number to become available - around 2 yr wait currently.

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/law-and-policy/bulletin/2015/visa-bulletin-for-august-2015.html

[Gakkykiba 3]

IV stands for ''immigrant visa.'' This can stand for the supporting documents which you are supposed to submit to the NVC after payment of Affidavit of Support fee along with the Affidavit of Support financial documents. It can also stand for the other fee that you have to pay for the processing of your ''immigrant visa'' at the NVC.

IL stands for ''Interview letter.'' You get this after completing your case at the NVC and your priority date is current.

You got AOS right.

Thanks so much.

There won't be a quick approval - you'll still have to wait for the visa number to become available - around 2 yr wait currently.

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/law-and-policy/bulletin/2015/visa-bulletin-for-august-2015.html

Yes I am aware of the wait for the PD to become current. I just wanna get over the feeling of being nervous on being approved or declined.

[Rian Treasures 0]

There won't be a quick approval - you'll still have to wait for the visa number to become available - around 2 yr wait currently.

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/law-and-policy/bulletin/2015/visa-bulletin-for-august-2015.html

[Rian Treasures 0]

Hi Gakkykiba,

please I just went through your timeline and I observed that you received a 2 year conditional green card in 2009 and by year 2010, you became a US citizen after removing the conditions on the green card.

so my questions are

what qualifies one for a 2 year conditional GC?

After removing the conditions on the GC, is the person going to get a 10 year GC?

Did you get become a US citizen because your husband naturalized at that time.

thanks for your kind reply.