CR1 for a Pakistani beneficiary

[In_AR_From_TX 0]

So in an nutshell let me explain my situation.

I am a USC and I had originally planned on applying for a K3 for my wife. Lucky me the day the USCIS gets the I-130 they stop processing K3's. This prompts me to my first question:

1- On the G-325A I had stated that I was applying in connection for a K-3 (I am referring to where on page 1 of the G325A it asks you "This form is submitted in connection with an application for) Does it matter that I am no longer pursuing the K-3 visa option. I never sent in the I-29F.

So her I-130 got approved and is now with the NVC. I have paid both the fees for the AOS and IV and have sent in the AOS and its relevant documentation. I am currently am in wait mode b\c I did not do my homework and did not get the Police Certificate and Birth Certificate ahead of time. Hopefully and GOD willing the BC and PC should be ready next week and I will then send of the DS 230. This kind of leads me to my next question:

2- According to the AVR they snail mailed my wife the DS 3032 but she has not received it yet. However thanks to the great members of of VJ I was able to get the NVC my and my wife's email addresses and they emailed both of us the DS 3032 and accepted her emailed DS 3032. My concern is that they have the correct address for her in Pakistan, it is the same address I have sent her letters and cards on, should I be worried that she might not receive the Packet 3 or Packet 4 since she has yet to receive the DS 3032 yet.....One thing to note however is that even though the NVC AVR stated they had snail mailed her the DS 3032 packet and me the DS 3032 packet and AOS bill on the 30th of March I received the snail mail copy of the DS 3032 on the 8th of April and the postage showed that it had not been mailed till the 5th of April. Does the embassy in Islamabad mail the Packet 3 and Packet 4?

3- Can someone please educate me on the Packet 3 Packet 3.5 and Packet 4 stuff? I would also like more info on the following forms DS 156 DS 156K I 134(doesn't the I864 do the same thing as the I 134?) I am reviewing the information here http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Pakistan&cty=Islamabad but would love more information if anyone else has any that they could share.

4- What other fees if any should I expect to pay at the embassy. I have already paid the the I-130 fee the AOS fee and the IV fee.

I can appreciate how this post can be overwhelming b\c of the amount of information I am requesting and the amount of information that I am giving. But I would be so appreciative if you can answer any of the above questions. My wife and I miss each other like crazy like I am sure all the couples who are apart and going through this process do. I am hoping that I can get every thing done correctly and swiftly so that I can bring my wife back with me when I go to visit her in July\August. Based on what I have seen and read my goal seems very attainable; for me to accomplish all this I need your help. I would be eternally grateful for any information or advice that anyone could give me.

Thank you in advance for your help and I will keep this thread updated with any and all updates regarding our journey through this process so that in the future someone else can benefit from all this.

Thanks

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

For our CR1 process, we did not receive any thing thru snail mail, ALL documents were rev'd electronically. You will have to send the 1864 snail mail, because it requires an orginal signature and attachments.

More important if you follow the James short-cut for this process, all of your questions will be answered.

Look under the wiki site for the James short-cut.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

For our CR1 process, we did not receive any thing thru snail mail, ALL documents were rev'd electronically. You will have to send the 1864 snail mail, because it requires an orginal signature and attachments.

More important if you follow the James short-cut for this process, all of your questions will be answered.

Look under the wiki site for the James short-cut. http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/James%27s_Shortcuts

[Darnell 8,480]

there is no P3 packet for a CR-1, sorry.

when you mail in the DS-230, there is place there to note her address. Have her current address there, and also attach a 'change of address letter, and also call NVC about the address change.

DS 156 DS 156K I 134 forms are for the K-3 and K-1 visas . You are not handling those. More confusion on yer part, IMO.

Nota.Bene.: The info at http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Pakistan&cty=Islamabad is K-1/K-3 specific - has no info on the CR-1/IR-1 at all.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Darnell

[In_AR_From_TX 0]

there is no P3 packet for a CR-1, sorry.

when you mail in the DS-230, there is place there to note her address. Have her current address there, and also attach a 'change of address letter, and also call NVC about the address change.

DS 156 DS 156K I 134 forms are for the K-3 and K-1 visas . You are not handling those. More confusion on yer part, IMO.

Nota.Bene.: The info at http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Pakistan&cty=Islamabad is K-1/K-3 specific - has no info on the CR-1/IR-1 at all.

Darnell no doubt all of this is primarily confusion on my part.

Thanks for the info on the P3 what about the P3.5 and P4 are those part of the CR1?

I must be getting old but can you tell me why you are talking about the address change?

Update on my wifes case --- We are hoping to have the BC and PC done by the end of next week and in my hand the week after. Wish me luck all

[Darnell 8,480]

Darnell no doubt all of this is primarily confusion on my part.

Thanks for the info on the P3 what about the P3.5 and P4 are those part of the CR1?

I must be getting old but can you tell me why you are talking about the address change?

Update on my wifes case --- We are hoping to have the BC and PC done by the end of next week and in my hand the week after. Wish me luck all

My concern is that they have the correct address for her in Pakistan, it is the same address I have sent her letters and cards on, should I be worried that she might not receive the Packet 3 or Packet 4 since she has yet to receive the DS 3032 yet....

Do you have an 'address' concern, or not? If not, disregard what I've written. If you do have an address concern, then fix it with the DS-230. She is not 'required' to receive a DS-3032 via postal mail. ONE OF YOU is required to send in the DS-3032 form. If you've not downloaded it already, had her sign it and send it in to NVC, then I am stumped. Are you waiting on NVC to 'send you something via postal mail?' OK - fine - expect a wait of 1 to 3 months, then.

Most ppl do not wait on NVC to receive forms via postal mail from NVC. Most ppl here on VJ want more speed, and use the shortcuts from the Wiki, either LingChe's shortcuts, or James' shortcuts. Are you following a shortcut, btw? If so, re-read it a few times during the next 48 hours, make copious notes, pen to paper.

If you are wanting speed at NVC, then you should rethink yer steps, after you've studied the shortcuts. Yer about to tip into the 'postal mail waiting game', and waiting sucks.

There is no P3.5 for an I-130 petition, either.

FWIW, the Islamabad website is very sparse for exact info for What happens with the P4, for a CR-1 Visa - but you can dig around as well, see if anything helps you -> http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/visas.html

Good Luck !

[sachinky 465]

You've paid the fees and both are showing as PAID?

Then SEND those packets in.

Don't wait for NVC to send you anything via postal mail.

Download the latest forms, fill them up, and send it in with the supporting documentation.

[In_AR_From_TX 0]

Hey guys I fear that I have not expressed myself clearly enough on a couple of points, my apologies for that.

I did pay both the AOS and IV fee bills and have also sent in the DS 3032. I have received the response from the NVC that they have received her DS 3032 and have accepted her request to have me act as her agent. I have also sent in the AOS packet I-864 BUT am currently waiting to send in the DS 230 and the other documents required b\c I am waiting to get a birth certificate and police certificate for my wife. She should hopefully have that sometime this week and will be sending it to me via fedex\dhl. As soon as I get it I will be then mailing off the DS 230 packet. So thanks your advice (Darnell and sachinky) I did get the DS 3032 submitted and accepted and also sent in the I-864 packet all I am waiting to do now is send in the IV packet, which I will do as soon as I get the birth and police certificates. I know stupid me should have had these done before hand.

As for the address, the address the NVC has is correct but my wife has not received anything in the mail yet. My concern with the address is that I want to ensure that things that will be mailed to her from the NVC or anywhere do arrive at her address. As soon as she gets one piece of mail from the NVC I will feel that yes the NVC is able to deliver items to her. Hope that I was clear as to what my concern was regarding the address.

Guys do you think there will be an issue that since I sent in her G325A stating that I was applying in conjunction with a K3 visa app but am no longer persuing that, that will be an issue?

Also can anyone educate me on Packet 4?

Life'sjourney,

I did visit the James shortcut wiki page there is def good info and suggestions there but not the kind of information that I need at this point.

Thanks all

[sachinky 465]

P4 for CR-1 cases is just the appointment letter for the interview.

NVC will mail absolutely NOTHING to your wife so you can stop worrying about that.

As soon as she gets her BC, PCC, ask her to send the packet to NVC with the attached barcode.

No, it doesn't matter what you wrote on the G325A. K-3 is dead now. We didn't know and we wrote it was for Legal Residency.

[Darnell 8,480]

yer wife will not receive any postal mail whilst the case is at NVC, unless you are really stalled. If 4 months have transpired, for example, from the time you paid the IV fee bill to today - SHE MIGHT receive a DS-230 form. But don't count on it.

Once the appointment date is set, somehow she'll receive an appointment letter, and that MIGHT be postal, or it MIGHT BE via email. Hard to say, I've no clue.

BUT - tell her to expect NOTHING from anybody, not even a postcard, until the appointment letter is ready (and even then, it might not be postal, it might be an email).

Once she has the appointment letter in her hands, she can go get a medical exam and vaccinations.

Edited April 27, 2010 by Darnell

[In_AR_From_TX 0]

hey guys so I have an update. My wife finally got the DS 3032 via snail mail so that makes me feel better that she will receive items at her address. Of course the fact that they mailed it almost a month ago is a little disturbing but I even though the NVC had stated they mailed the DS 3032 on the 30th of March based on what I have seen I dont think their mail dates on the AVR are correct. Not to worry we already filed the DS 3032 via email and proceeded with the other steps.

She will have the police certificate and birth certificate completed and mailed out to me late this week or early next week and I will then be submitting the DS 230 and the other required documents.

Question, actually 2 of them

1-- Can I send the NVC certified copies of the birth certificate and the police certificate? The concern my wife has is that documents have known to be stolen in Pakistan when mailing them abroad.

2-- The NVC AVR still keeps telling me they are waiting for the DS 230 paperwork, they have had my I-864 for over two weeks now so can I assume that they have accepted my I-864 and I need not be concerned about it any longer?

Thanks again guys

[Darnell 8,480]

Question, actually 2 of them

1-- Can I send the NVC certified copies of the birth certificate and the police certificate? The concern my wife has is that documents have known to be stolen in Pakistan when mailing them abroad.

2-- The NVC AVR still keeps telling me they are waiting for the DS 230 paperwork, they have had my I-864 for over two weeks now so can I assume that they have accepted my I-864 and I need not be concerned about it any longer?

Thanks again guys

1. Sorry - these must be originals or certified copies. If a certified copy, the certification MUST be from the original issuing authority, and NOT a 'notarized' copy. Remember - it's 1--original plus 2--a regular photocopy, for each document. If any concern, send it DHL, don't muck about with postal. Please review DS-230 - http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3190.html all 7 pages. Seriously !

2. Generally that's right, but you should call NVC and inquire about it, as well. 2 weeks is NOTHING for that 'queue to review'. Just because you sent it, is no real indication it was reviewed.

[In_AR_From_TX 0]

Darnell thanks for the info.

There has been an update on my case, so I got an updated AVR message on the NVC system telling me that they have sent me a checklist b\c something is missing from my I-864. So apparently what I am missing is the tax form fo 2009. I had included a cover letter with my origial I864 submission where I informed them that I had received an extension for 2009 and had however included my W2 fro 2009. I called up the NVC last night and verified that they need something that shows them that I have been given an extension for 2009.

As for the forms I will definitely reread all 7 pages again (especially considering the fact that I did not know I had to include 2 photocopies as well for the documents).

Thanks I will be back with an update when I have another one.

Thanks

[Darnell 8,480]

it's 1 photocopy per 'thing' -

one original thing - one photocopy of the original thing.

sorry for my confusion - i was trying to make a list.