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Michael85.asl

HELP! I just found I am in need of a Visa and we are stuck!

By Michael85.asl in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,790

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

You can apply for the I-130 anytime after married.

An I-130 is not something that is applied for, it is a petition form that is filed.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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Billious
Billious

I guess I find this to be insensitive. We all miss our significant others, and I don't think there's a single one of us who wouldn't snap our fingers in a second to bring them over if we could. I di

Cathi
Cathi

If you and your wife are broke who will fulfill the affidavit of support, and where will you get money to survive when you move to the US? Questions the embassy will no doubt pose

Justine+David
Justine+David

Um...the large of users on this board had to wait for their fiance or spouse while doing US immigration. Why do you consider yourself to be more special snowflake than any other people who are also wa

Michael85.asl Contributor

Michael85.asl   5

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: France
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted (edited)

update:

WE talked to the French Embassy in Chicago and currently they are taking 7-10 days for processing the long-stay visa based on being a spouse of a French citizen. They were nice and she said it IS possible to speed up a bit if things go smooth and there are no problems when I fill out the forms.

So I will fly back to MI and apply in person in Chicago as required with my documents and will work in MI as I wait (helps pay for the flight as well) Then return to France and turn in the paper work for I-130.

I do have 1 question reguarding the i-130, I read a long 32 page discussion on here about applying for the i-130 from abroad from a country with NO DCF option. I am legally on the rental agreement here in France (one proof that I am living here) so my question now.

1. IF we send our i-130 from abroad to the Chicago lock-box would it even be possible to (slightly) speed it up based on us both being abroad in a country without DCF option?

your input has all been quick and I really appritiate this forum and the amount of knowledge and help I have found.....you guys all seriously make this legal mess more understandable and helps us all get educated and more able to research and learn. thanks

Edited by Michael85.asl

Living in France since 04/04/2013

Married: 06/07/2013

USCIS:

Filed I-130: 08/02/2013 (filed from France)

NOA1: Date accepted: 08/06/2013

NOA2: Date recieved email 11/04/2013

NVC:

Received our file: 11/08/2013

File # and IIN 11/19/2013

expedite granted 11/21/2013

mailed to Embassy 11/21/2013

Embassy:

Received files 11/25/2013 (DHL)

CEAC "ready" 12/04/2013

Received packet from Embassy 12/10/2013

Submitted DS-2001 "ready for interview" 12/10/2013

Interview 12/19/2013 -Approved-

POE 02/02/2014

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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,790

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

1. IF we send our i-130 from abroad to the Chicago lock-box would it even be possible to (slightly) speed it up based on us both being abroad in a country without DCF option?

There is nothing you can do on your own to speed it up unless you qualify for an expedite. When USCIS sees that you the petitioner is living abroad, it's possible they will adjudicate it quickly. FYI: USCIS will deny an auto expedite queue for petitioners living abroad exists.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   43,433

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted

Same time for everybody.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

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  • 3 weeks later...
CaroSL Rising Star

CaroSL   68

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: France
 Timeline
Posted

Hey,

I don't know what your situation is now... but you should check this out: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/320498-frenchamerican-couples-part-ii-2011/?p=6283505 or ask your wife to do so.

Good luck

Good luck in your visa journey!

From the day we sent I-129F to the day I recieved my K-1: Exactly 9 months
I am the benifeciary

event.png




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  • 5 weeks later...
Michael85.asl Contributor

Michael85.asl   5

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: France
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Just giving an update for everyone. I did go back to Chicago and got my long-stay French visa (spouse-visa) that part at least was very simple and I only had to wait 1 week for it. Now I am back in France and we are preparing our i-130 packet as we speak.

Thanks for all the tips and advice

Living in France since 04/04/2013

Married: 06/07/2013

USCIS:

Filed I-130: 08/02/2013 (filed from France)

NOA1: Date accepted: 08/06/2013

NOA2: Date recieved email 11/04/2013

NVC:

Received our file: 11/08/2013

File # and IIN 11/19/2013

expedite granted 11/21/2013

mailed to Embassy 11/21/2013

Embassy:

Received files 11/25/2013 (DHL)

CEAC "ready" 12/04/2013

Received packet from Embassy 12/10/2013

Submitted DS-2001 "ready for interview" 12/10/2013

Interview 12/19/2013 -Approved-

POE 02/02/2014

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lost_at_sea Experienced

lost_at_sea   995

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

Just giving an update for everyone. I did go back to Chicago and got my long-stay French visa (spouse-visa) that part at least was very simple and I only had to wait 1 week for it. Now I am back in France and we are preparing our i-130 packet as we speak.

Thanks for all the tips and advice

That's great. Glad you've had progress.

You're back on a fairly usual path now, so you should be able to follow the guide here quite easily from here on out: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

* I-130/CR-1 visa by Direct Consular Filing in London
3rd May 2013 - Married in London
7th May 2013 - I-130 filed
4th June 2013 - NOA2 (approved)
16th July 2013 - Interview (approved)
30th July 2013 - POE San Francisco
29th August 2013 - 2 year green card arrived

 

* How? Read my DCF London I-130 for CR1/IR1 Spouse Guide

* Removal of Conditions (RoC) via California Service Centre
1st May 2015 - 90 day RoC window opened
6th May 2015 - I-751 filed (delivered 8th May, cheque cashed 18th May)
7th August 2015 - Approved / GC production
27th August 2015 - 10 year green card arrived

* Naturalisation (Citizenship) via Phoenix Lockbox

* San Francisco Field Office:
1st May 2016 - N-400 window opened
20th August 2016 - N-400 filed
26th August 2016 - NOA1
13th September 2016 - Biometrics

12th January 2017 - Biometrics (again)
30th May 2017 - Interview (approved)
7th June 2017 - Oath

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