I-130 out of country

[Dumpsta121 10]

I am the petitioner living in Brazil with my beneficiary.

I'm going to be mailing things to my mother through DHL, who will forward the documents to the Chicago Lockbox.

All the addresses I've included on my I-130 and G-325s have my Brazilian residence (which is where I currently live). I'm curious if I should use my mother's address as the return address, or if it is better to use my Brazilian address. I'd like to have a chance at the expedition I've seen happen with the chicago lockbox in cases of "exiled" couples.

How will the USCIS get in contact with me for RFEs and NOAs? Im also sending in the document requesting digital contact, but from what I understand, that is only for the NOAs, correct?

Thanks!

[Ryan H 3,812]

The G-1145 only provides you with electronic notification once the file has been accepted. If you wish to receive additional electronic notifications, you will need to create an account (no charge to do so) through the USCIS website.

[Ozz777 23]

We live in Australia and sent everything directly to Chicago Lockbox from here using only our Australian address. We received the email NOA1 first, and then the postal NOA1 at our residence here. I'd label everything with only your Brazilian address, if you're hoping for the expedited handling from USCIS. Good luck.

[Chris & Trinh 15]

I am the petitioner living in Brazil with my beneficiary.

I'm going to be mailing things to my mother through DHL, who will forward the documents to the Chicago Lockbox.

All the addresses I've included on my I-130 and G-325s have my Brazilian residence (which is where I currently live). I'm curious if I should use my mother's address as the return address, or if it is better to use my Brazilian address. I'd like to have a chance at the expedition I've seen happen with the chicago lockbox in cases of "exiled" couples.

How will the USCIS get in contact with me for RFEs and NOAs? Im also sending in the document requesting digital contact, but from what I understand, that is only for the NOAs, correct?

Thanks!

File with your foreign address and DO NOT include your US address if you want any chance of the process to go quicker. Your file will be sent to the Chicago lockbox then get sent on to NBC (National Benefits Center). That is where it will be processed.

You can follow your case status on the USCIS website, but it does not always work. You can call and get update statuses on your case by calling USCIS (free using skype) and you can sign on on the USCIS website for email status updates.

For RFEs and NOAs you will get an a notice in the mail or also will know with status updates if yo uhave them emialed to you. Hopefully you have a half way decent postal system there.

I live in Vietnam and the postal system is OK but slow. I got my case updates via email that were 10-20 days before i received the hard copy in the mail.

[Dumpsta121 10]

Unfortunately, I have to send the packet to my mother first (she needs to add in a few minor things from that end).

I think that I'll just send her a pre-labelled envelope using our Brazilian address as the return address. That shouldn't be a problem, right? That's not misconstruing information or anything, as far as I know.

Chris/Trinh, thanks for all the information. The postal service is decent here. Sometimes it is great, sometimes it is terrible. Packages tend to be a problem while paper documents are normally ok, but slow. That's my biggest fear with using the address here; the Brazilian mail service isn't too trustworthy. Luckily, I can use DHL for sending in important documents, and it sounds like I can get status updates through contacting the USCIS.

Man, this process is intimidating.

[Ozz777 23]

Unfortunately, I have to send the packet to my mother first (she needs to add in a few minor things from that end).

I think that I'll just send her a pre-labelled envelope using our Brazilian address as the return address. That shouldn't be a problem, right? That's not misconstruing information or anything, as far as I know.

Chris/Trinh, thanks for all the information. The postal service is decent here. Sometimes it is great, sometimes it is terrible. Packages tend to be a problem while paper documents are normally ok, but slow. That's my biggest fear with using the address here; the Brazilian mail service isn't too trustworthy. Luckily, I can use DHL for sending in important documents, and it sounds like I can get status updates through contacting the USCIS.

Man, this process is intimidating.

no, you're fine to do as you plan. Send to your mom, have her add whatever she needs to and then forward it on from there with only your return address. The only reason to do this is for the possible expedited processing. That is not guaranteed however.