Living Abroad Filing I-130 for Husband

[lucybelle 453]

Another USC living and filing from abroad! I DHL'ed my I-130 up to my mom who forwarded it to Chicago Lockbox with the fee. What I recommend is to NOT put a return address on the packet when in the USA. When my mom forwarded our packet they took the address off the return address of the envelope and listed that as my address. Even though I specifically listed my Costa Rican address on all places in the application and cover letter, PLUS wrote "FILED FROM ABROAD" in big letters on the envelope. I had to go through a lot to get it changed to my actual Costa Rica address, and I probably will not be in the "auto-expedite" because of it.

[CrammyFamily 2]

Thank you everyone for the support and answers. You have all given great insights. We were discussing that since it is malaria season, I will go back to the US and start the paperwork from there. I just really hope this process isn't so long! I never imagined having a baby without my husband being there. Anyway, thanks again for everyone who has replied. I appreciate the responses. I hope to give a few of my own once we get the ball rolling! What an awesome community.

[MB & Rap 0]

well i also applied for a spousal visa but we did everything when ma husband was not in america he was in afghanstan and when he petitioned in for me wit filling i-130 i was in uganda and he was in afghanstan and USCIS was sending emails to his american address n it was the sister receiving them and then after she would send them to me thru DHL which would take 2 working days for me to receive them and actually it has taken us a yr till date tho am on the final stage but i would like to say that i think yo hubby will not b able to make it coz this whole process takes along time

well i also applied for a spousal visa but we did everything when ma husband was not in america he was in afghanstan and when he petitioned in for me wit filling i-130 i was in uganda and he was in afghanstan and USCIS was sending emails to his american address n it was the sister receiving them and then after she would send them to me thru DHL which would take 2 working days for me to receive them and actually it has taken us a yr till date tho am on the final stage but i would like to say that i think yo hubby will not b able to make it coz this whole process takes along time

[CrammyFamily 2]

Is it true that he can apply for a tourist visa while we are waiting for the immigrant visa process to go through? I saw mention of that on someone else's thread, but can't seem to locate it again.

[aaron2020 11,652]

Is it true that he can apply for a tourist visa while we are waiting for the immigrant visa process to go through? I saw mention of that on someone else's thread, but can't seem to locate it again.

Your husband can apply for a tourist visa. He will need to show strong ties to home to overcome the presumption of illegal immigration to get the visitor visa. He will have to return home to finish processing his immigration visa.

Some spouses can get the visitor visas and some cannot. It's up to the officer to decide if someone is seeking a visitor visa for a short trip to the US or trying to fraudulently immigrate the the US early on the visitor visa.

[CrammyFamily 2]

Ok, gotcha. Thanks aaron2020.

[lucybelle 453]

Is it true that he can apply for a tourist visa while we are waiting for the immigrant visa process to go through? I saw mention of that on someone else's thread, but can't seem to locate it again.

Just want to reiterate, tourist visas are for tourism, not for immigrating. He can visit, but he cannot live in the USA until he has the correct visa.

[oklai125 4]

Hi everyone! Congrats on the baby! My husband and I are also trying to get him a visa to the US with the I-130 petition. He is Ugandan and is still living there, while I returned to the US in December. We lived in Uganda together for just over a year and it's been over 6 months since I've seen him. I sent in our I-130 about 1 1/2 months ago (I was super meticulous and was waiting until I could find a job here) and I've heard that we can expect at least another few months to go by before we hear anything. I think we will also have to get my mom to co-sponsor.

We are trying to plan a visit, but I've read that there is a fair chance that he could be denied entry because of our pending immigration application. So now I'm thinking that I'll just plan to visit him since I miss Uganda and we likely won't be able to go back to Uganda together for at least a couple of years after he gets to the US.

I'm relieved to see several other Ugandan couples in this process! Good luck to all and I'll be looking for updates!

[CrammyFamily 2]

Hi Oklai125! Yes, it really is good to see other Ugandan/American couples, and be able to talk about the experience together. It has really encouraged me! Thanks for the well wishes, and the same to you. I think we will just drop the tourist visa because like others have said, the officer won't be able to believe he will leave after seeing the baby. Oh well. It will all be worth it in the end, when we don't have to worry about separation again!

Take care and good luck!

Amelia

[oklai125 4]

Others filing for Ugandan spouses, since the US Embassy in Kampala seems to process limited types of visas, does that mean that my husband will have to travel to Nairobi for his medical examination and interview? Of course we'll do whatever it takes, but it would be much more convenient if it was all done in Kampala!

Also, have any of you thought about how often you'll be visiting Uganda once this process is completed? I know permanent residents of the US shouldn't really be out of the country for more than 6 months at a time, but we'd love to have the option of spending several months out of the year in Uganda (if and when funds, jobs, schools, and the like allow us to do so!).

[Ryan H 3,897]

Others filing for Ugandan spouses, since the US Embassy in Kampala seems to process limited types of visas, does that mean that my husband will have to travel to Nairobi for his medical examination and interview? Of course we'll do whatever it takes, but it would be much more convenient if it was all done in Kampala!

He will have to travel to Nairobi for the interview, there is no other option. For the medical, I would suggest contacting the Immigrant Visa unit at the Embassy in Nairobi and asking them if there is an approved panel physician in Uganda whose results they will accept. If they say no, then the medical exam will also have to be done in Kenya by an approved panel physician.

[CrammyFamily 2]

Well, I just got back to the US this week, and found out my copy of our marriage certificate was misplaced while my family was moving! My husband is scanning his and hope to get everything sent off by Monday! I think you are able to visit Uganda as often as possible once his Conditional Residency has been lifted, which is two years. But I could be wrong about that. As far as medical exams go, there are no Embassy approved physicians in Uganda, so everyone from East Africa has to be examined in Nairobi. You can get your husband's vaccinations done for cheaper in Uganda though! Just make sure they are done by an approved clinic and that they give him a valid vaccine record! Good luck! I know you must be missing him because we are only on week one being apart and already going crazy. I love you all!

[CrammyFamily 2]

Okay, the new plan is to file from the US since I am already here, and all the forms are filled out, but by January, I will be going back to Uganda to stay through the rest of the visa processing. Is this possible? And if so, should we change all the forms and put our Ugandan address on them?