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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Georgia
Timeline
Posted

Hi all,

First post on VJ (which is a Godsend, btw!); all the information here is so helpful. My wife and I are just preparing to submit our paperwork to start the whole IR-1 process, so thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

I searched the forums for an answer to this question but didn't find it.

For USCs outside the US, Per changes Aug. 15th 2011, IR-1/CR-1 petitions can only be filed abroad (DCF) at Embassies/Consulates with a USCIS public counter presence. All others must send I-130s to the Chicago Lockbox directly. As a USC in a country without a USCIS counter (Georgia), this means I have to send all the docs to Chicago. Fine.

So two questions:

1. How do you pay the fee if living abroad? USCIS site says they need a personal check/money order drawn from a US financial institution. Does this mean I need to send to a relative in the US, have them obtain a money order, and then forward on with the full package to Chicago? Seems there has to be a better way to do this!

2. If my current address is abroad (and noted as such on all submitted forms), does this mean we'll be bound to slow and unreliable international snail mail for future communications related to the case? Or possible to use a US address of a relative as the correspondence address? Seems like the former could add months to an already lengthy process.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Got Married: 2006-09-09

USCIS

I-130 Sent: 2011-09-09

I-130 NOA1: 2011-09-15

I-130 Approved (NOA2): 2011-10-05

21 days from NOA1 to NOA2

NVC

NVC Received: 2011-11-04

Received DS-3032 / I-864 Bill: 2011-11-04

I-864 Bill Paid: 2011-11-05

IV Bill Paid: 2011-11-10

Return Completed DS-3032: 2011-11-07

Return Completed IV Packet: 2011-11-18

Return Completed I-864: 2011-11-25

Case Completed at NVC: 2011-11-30

Interview Date: 2012-01-04

112 days from NOA1 to Interview

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Georgia
Timeline
Posted

You will have the opportunity once your case is approved and sent to the NVC to select an agent for your case. This should be someone inside the US (Maybe a parent/sibling/friend) with a valid US checking account who can facilitate the payments for you. This will make the process much easier for you! If you have any questions shoot me a message!

02/06/2011 ~ MARRIED IN REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

03/31/2011 ~ FILED I-130 & G325A (SENT TO CHICAGO LOCKBOX VIA UPS)

04/09/2011 ~ RECEIVED NOA1 IN MAIL :-)

07/11/2011 ~ APPROVED WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!!!!!

07/29/2011 ~ NVC RECEIVED CASE

08/22/2011 ~ RECEIVED NVC CASE# AND IIN

08/24/2011 ~ EMAILED DS-3032 SENT VIA HUBBYS EMAIL ACCOUNT

08/25/2011 ~ RECEIVED 3 EMAILS FROM NVC

08/25/2011 ~ PAID AOS FEE $88.00

08/26/2011 ~ AOS FEE SHOWS "PAID" - RECEIPT PRINTED AND READY TO MAIL

08/30/2011 ~ AOS PACKAGE SENT FEDEX OVERNIGHT

09/01/2011 ~ IV BILL INVOICED AND PAID

09/06/2011 ~ AOS PACKAGE APPROVED

09/09/2011 ~ IV PACKAGE SENT TO NVC VIA FEDEX OVERNIGHT

09/15/2011 ~ CASE CLOSED

INTERVIEW DATE ~ 11/30/2011 - APPROVED

12/04/2011 ~ ENTERED USA THROUGH JFK AIRPORT

STILL WAITING FOR GREEN CARD......

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Georgia
Timeline
Posted

Also... try emailing the Tbilisi Embassy to ask them specifically what the process is. Some things I read were not accurate and when I emailed the Embassy directly they responded pretty fast with their specific requirements/procedures!

Their email address is ... tbilisiimmigrant@state.gov

02/06/2011 ~ MARRIED IN REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

03/31/2011 ~ FILED I-130 & G325A (SENT TO CHICAGO LOCKBOX VIA UPS)

04/09/2011 ~ RECEIVED NOA1 IN MAIL :-)

07/11/2011 ~ APPROVED WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!!!!!

07/29/2011 ~ NVC RECEIVED CASE

08/22/2011 ~ RECEIVED NVC CASE# AND IIN

08/24/2011 ~ EMAILED DS-3032 SENT VIA HUBBYS EMAIL ACCOUNT

08/25/2011 ~ RECEIVED 3 EMAILS FROM NVC

08/25/2011 ~ PAID AOS FEE $88.00

08/26/2011 ~ AOS FEE SHOWS "PAID" - RECEIPT PRINTED AND READY TO MAIL

08/30/2011 ~ AOS PACKAGE SENT FEDEX OVERNIGHT

09/01/2011 ~ IV BILL INVOICED AND PAID

09/06/2011 ~ AOS PACKAGE APPROVED

09/09/2011 ~ IV PACKAGE SENT TO NVC VIA FEDEX OVERNIGHT

09/15/2011 ~ CASE CLOSED

INTERVIEW DATE ~ 11/30/2011 - APPROVED

12/04/2011 ~ ENTERED USA THROUGH JFK AIRPORT

STILL WAITING FOR GREEN CARD......

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: India
Timeline
Posted

Hi all,

First post on VJ (which is a Godsend, btw!); all the information here is so helpful. My wife and I are just preparing to submit our paperwork to start the whole IR-1 process, so thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

I searched the forums for an answer to this question but didn't find it.

For USCs outside the US, Per changes Aug. 15th 2011, IR-1/CR-1 petitions can only be filed abroad (DCF) at Embassies/Consulates with a USCIS public counter presence. All others must send I-130s to the Chicago Lockbox directly. As a USC in a country without a USCIS counter (Georgia), this means I have to send all the docs to Chicago. Fine.

So two questions:

1. How do you pay the fee if living abroad? USCIS site says they need a personal check/money order drawn from a US financial institution. Does this mean I need to send to a relative in the US, have them obtain a money order, and then forward on with the full package to Chicago? Seems there has to be a better way to do this!

2. If my current address is abroad (and noted as such on all submitted forms), does this mean we'll be bound to slow and unreliable international snail mail for future communications related to the case? Or possible to use a US address of a relative as the correspondence address? Seems like the former could add months to an already lengthy process.

Thanks for your thoughts.

1. You can purchase a draft in a bank in your country drawn on a US bank in USD for the fee. Yes, you will have to send the appilcation to Chicago office address.

2. While the physical NOA1 (Notice of receipt) comes in regular mail, if you submit form G-1145 with your I-130 petition, you will get am email. Also you can enroll on the USCIS web site to know the progress (you can do that after you get the USCIS Case number). Here is the link to that https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/Dashboard.do

USA

01/08/13 - Approved and GC is order for production on 1/8/14

09/12/13 - Case transferred to CSC. NOA2 received on 09/18/13

08/30/13 - Biometrics Done - No walk ins allowed at this LSC (received on 8/16/13).

08/05/13 - NOA1 (received on 08/10/13)

08/01/13 - Mailed I-751 (received on 8/2/13 - check cashed on 8/5/13)

12/28/11 - Received SSN (applied on 12/20/11, as we didn't get based on DS-230 options)
11/28/11 - Received Green Card (Expires on 10/30/13) - Welcome Letter on 11/17/11
10/30/11 - POE - Houston, TX

Chennai Consulate (40 days)
10/28/11 - Received Visa papers and Passport at VFS
10/25/11 - Interview Cleared Successfully (Spouse was not allowed in)

NVC: (90 days from NOA2 to Consulate)
08/31/11 - Case Completed (Interview 10/25/11) - Received at Chennai on 09/19/11
07/22/11 - NVC Case Number

USCIS: (92 days)

6/21/11 - NOA2 (NOA1 on 3/25/11) - took a month to get to NVC
3/21/11 - I-130 sent to USCIS Lockbox, Chicago.

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Georgia
Timeline
Posted

Thanks guys!

Got Married: 2006-09-09

USCIS

I-130 Sent: 2011-09-09

I-130 NOA1: 2011-09-15

I-130 Approved (NOA2): 2011-10-05

21 days from NOA1 to NOA2

NVC

NVC Received: 2011-11-04

Received DS-3032 / I-864 Bill: 2011-11-04

I-864 Bill Paid: 2011-11-05

IV Bill Paid: 2011-11-10

Return Completed DS-3032: 2011-11-07

Return Completed IV Packet: 2011-11-18

Return Completed I-864: 2011-11-25

Case Completed at NVC: 2011-11-30

Interview Date: 2012-01-04

112 days from NOA1 to Interview

 
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