Where is our NOA1?

[JustJ 0]

I'm wondering if anyone's noticed a delay in the initial receipting process. Our attorney filed our documents (I think both I130 & I120f, but not sure) on May 21st at VSC, and we have not yet received our NOA1.

[YuAndDan 153]

The I-130 first goes to the PO BOX in Chicago, and then later the I-129F is filed to the service center that Chicago sends the I-130 after getting I-130 NOA1 letter, I hope he did not send them together to the wrong place.

In many cases when a lawyer is involved USCIS sends everything to the lawyer.

Note: The K-3 is no longer a relevant visa type, it was developed at a time when I-130 for spousal visa was taking a year or longer to process through USCIS, in this case the K-3 allowed entry to the USA to wait for I-130 approval, so that the couple can either adjust status or interview for the spousal visa, since USCIS has begun approving I-129F AND I-130 on the same date, this eliminates the whole reason for K-3 (Entry and waiting for I-130 approval).

K-3:

I-130: $355

I-129F: NONE

Consulate: $131

Adjustment Of Status: $1010 I-485

($1496)

CR-1

I-130: $355

NVC I-864: $70

NVC Visa fee: $400 ($355+$45)

($825)

I see many posts from K-3 holders stating, "Wow this sucks, I am stuck at home because I don't have EAD, DL, etc, or I am having hard time getting added to bank accounts because of NO SSN." K-3 has a 90 day or longer period of limbo while waiting for EAD or Green-card.

K-3 was developed at a time when CR-1 was taking much longer that today, NVC and USCIS has greatly streamlined the CR-1 process to the point where K-3 becomes irrelevant.

I bet the lawyer sugested K-3 so that they can charge more for filing I-129F and also charge you when you adjust status later.

[JustJ 0]

Thanks for your post. I'm pretty sure he filed the I-130 properly. I didn't get copies of anything, so I'm in the dark. I'm just a little worried because it seems like most applicants receive their NOA1 fairly quickly. We're now at 21 days since filing & I have nothing. If the initial process is this slow, then I'm wondering how bad the rest will be.

My husband and I dated long-distance for almost 5 years. We've spent everything we have on traveling back/forth to keep the relationship alive. Now that the petition is filed, he can't enter the country, so the separation is extraordinarily hard. I have a full-time job & only get 15 days vacation per year.

I know I'm not alone in my anxiety - I'll bet everyone here has a similar (or worse) story.

So hard when all you want to do is be together and start building a life.

[JustJ 0]

Okay, to clarify for future lurkers, my attorney filed only the I-130.

And I think I was confused from reading the receipt dates on the timelines. It seemed like everybody was getting their receipts so quickly, and ours was delayed.

The receipt date listed on our timeline is 5/28/09, however, I didn't receive the notice in my mailbox until June 15th. Just thought if anybody else was confused, it might clear things up.