I-130 November Filers

[nanana 74]

hi guys, I am the December filer - only one so far so I guess I will follow your topic too because you are the closest to mine at least for now

I haven't received my noa1 yet. Did anyone send papers to Phoenix? how long it usually take to get it?

Maybe we will have more luck since there is not so many of us-winter fillers ? I am trying to have good thoughts about it.

Cheerio.

[Sylea 30]

Posted these questions in the wrong thread, so here they are again!!

Hello all - so interesting to read others experiences.

I had a question - our lawyer filed our I130 on Nov 8 and we got our receipt number Nov 22. Is the receipt (or case) number considered to be the NOA1?? Or just the receipt??

I had also received another comment asking why we hired a lawyer when we could have done it all ourselves - my husband and I both have full time, stressful demanding careers in our respective countries, and decided it was a worthwhile investment to use a reputable immigration lawyer who was familiar with navigating thru the process. The cost to hire the lawyer was not prohibitive for us, and it means that the limited time we get together online and our few visits a year are not used up fussing over filling in forms!!

After 5 years long distance, I am hopeful that the processing times start to improve - it's a bit disheartening to know it will likely be another year before I can relocate to live with my spouse. For a number of reasons, we had no option but to choose Consular Processing.

I'd also be interested to know what other Canadians on here will be going through Vancouver - seems most of the contributors on here are through Montreal??

best of luck to all!

[casualsurfer 25]

I filed on Nov. 19 and the Chicago Lockbox received on Nov. 20, the NOA1 shows a date of Nov. 20, notice date was Nov. 22.

I wish Taiwan had a TPS (Temporary Protected Status) designation. Not to diminish the typhoon's destruction but Haiyan affected much of Southeast and East Asia too...just read a lucky lady got hers in 13 days!

[thedude6752000 360]

I filed on Nov. 19 and the Chicago Lockbox received on Nov. 20, the NOA1 shows a date of Nov. 20, notice date was Nov. 22.

I wish Taiwan had a TPS (Temporary Protected Status) designation. Not to diminish the typhoon's destruction but Haiyan affected much of Southeast and East Asia too...just read a lucky lady got hers in 13 days!

Are you adjusting your wive's status or trying to bring her here from Taiwan? Also what service center did you go to? Vermont or Nebraska?

Edit

So yours was Texas.

Edited December 12, 2013 by thedude6752000

[casualsurfer 25]

Are you adjusting your wive's status or trying to bring her here from Taiwan? Also what service center did you go to? Vermont or Nebraska?

Edit

So yours was Texas.

The notice that I got was from Nebraska.

My wife is in Taiwan now. She's been visiting the US on and off every few months. My concern is this past visit (September - November) we were retained at POE (SFO) and the officer told us to make sure she gets an adjustment in status. Now I'm worried they'll hassle her again at the POE if she visits me again after only two months (Nov. - Jan.)

[thedude6752000 360]

The notice that I got was from Nebraska.

My wife is in Taiwan now. She's been visiting the US on and off every few months. My concern is this past visit (September - November) we were retained at POE (SFO) and the officer told us to make sure she gets an adjustment in status. Now I'm worried they'll hassle her again at the POE if she visits me again after only two months (Nov. - Jan.)

Bad news buddy. They are not going to let her in. The POE officer was trying to save you some grief, now that you have put this in and she is out of the country they will not let her back into the country while this petition is underway until she gets the visa.

Edit: It is theoretically possible but realistically unlikely that they will let her in. The burden of proof will be on her to prove she will return to Taiwan after she is done in the US and this is exceedingly hard with a pending immigrant visa petition.

Edited December 12, 2013 by thedude6752000

[casualsurfer 25]

Bad news buddy. They are not going to let her in. The POE officer was trying to save you some grief, now that you have put this in and she is out of the country they will not let her back into the country while this petition is underway until she gets the visa.

Edit: It is theoretically possible but realistically unlikely that they will let her in. The burden of proof will be on her to prove she will return to Taiwan after she is done in the US and this is exceedingly hard with a pending immigrant visa petition.

So...you're saying don't bother trying at all while the I-130 is pending? What if the I-130 is approved (NOA2)? Or do we have to wait until she gets her CR-1/IR-1?

[thedude6752000 360]

So...you're saying don't bother trying at all while the I-130 is pending? What if the I-130 is approved (NOA2)? Or do we have to wait until she gets her CR-1/IR-1?

You can try but you'd better be prepared for her to be sent back at the POE. Sorry

Also they would not let her in until the visa is in her hands now.

And you should change your timeline to "CR-1" and Nebraska Service Center.

Edited December 12, 2013 by thedude6752000

[casualsurfer 25]

You can try but you'd better be prepared for her to be sent back at the POE. Sorry

Also they would not let her in until the visa is in her hands now.

And you should change your timeline to "CR-1" and Nebraska Service Center.

Maybe I should try to apply for K-3 in the mean time...

[thedude6752000 360]

Maybe I should try to apply for K-3 in the mean time...

I will be too, but it's mostly a feel good measure or, at most, a way for you to get someone to lay hands on your case. The K-3 is, 99.9% of the time, simply merged with the I-130 at the service center and then administratively cancelled out once the I-130 is approved.

Edited December 12, 2013 by thedude6752000

[nightingalejules 678]

Posted these questions in the wrong thread, so here they are again!!

Hello all - so interesting to read others experiences.

I had a question - our lawyer filed our I130 on Nov 8 and we got our receipt number Nov 22. Is the receipt (or case) number considered to be the NOA1?? Or just the receipt??

I had also received another comment asking why we hired a lawyer when we could have done it all ourselves - my husband and I both have full time, stressful demanding careers in our respective countries, and decided it was a worthwhile investment to use a reputable immigration lawyer who was familiar with navigating thru the process. The cost to hire the lawyer was not prohibitive for us, and it means that the limited time we get together online and our few visits a year are not used up fussing over filling in forms!!

After 5 years long distance, I am hopeful that the processing times start to improve - it's a bit disheartening to know it will likely be another year before I can relocate to live with my spouse. For a number of reasons, we had no option but to choose Consular Processing.

I'd also be interested to know what other Canadians on here will be going through Vancouver - seems most of the contributors on here are through Montreal??

best of luck to all!

We applied in October, and are also hoping they speed things up.

Most of Canada is serviced through Montreal. I think it's really just Alberta and BC that go through Vancouver. With any luck, this means that our post I 130 processing will go fast, due to Vancouver processing fewer applications!

Edited December 12, 2013 by nightingalejules

[casualsurfer 25]

I will be too, but it's mostly a feel good measure or, at most, a way for you to get someone to lay hands on your case. The K-3 is, 99.9% of the time, simply merged with the I-130 at the service center and then administratively cancelled out once the I-130 is approved.

Thanks, you're right. By the time the K-3 is approved the I-130 is most likely also approved and therefore K-3 cancelled...

[Sylea 30]

Rats - VJ's assessment of possible adjudication times on my timeline went from Feb-May2014 to April-Aug 2014. Wah.

Come on Texas, speed it up!!

[angeldaemon13 42]

"Your case has been accepted and routed to the USCIS Vermont Service Center for processing. Within 7-10 days by standard mail you will receive your official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) with your Receipt Number xxxxx. With the official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) you may visit www.uscis.gov where you can check the status of your case using My Case Status. We suggest you wait until you have received your Form I-797 before checking My Case Status."

My NOA1 came with transfer to nebraska.

[angeldaemon13 42]

Posted these questions in the wrong thread, so here they are again!!

Hello all - so interesting to read others experiences.

I had a question - our lawyer filed our I130 on Nov 8 and we got our receipt number Nov 22. Is the receipt (or case) number considered to be the NOA1?? Or just the receipt??

I had also received another comment asking why we hired a lawyer when we could have done it all ourselves - my husband and I both have full time, stressful demanding careers in our respective countries, and decided it was a worthwhile investment to use a reputable immigration lawyer who was familiar with navigating thru the process. The cost to hire the lawyer was not prohibitive for us, and it means that the limited time we get together online and our few visits a year are not used up fussing over filling in forms!!

After 5 years long distance, I am hopeful that the processing times start to improve - it's a bit disheartening to know it will likely be another year before I can relocate to live with my spouse. For a number of reasons, we had no option but to choose Consular Processing.

I'd also be interested to know what other Canadians on here will be going through Vancouver - seems most of the contributors on here are through Montreal??

best of luck to all!

Welcome!! There seems to be a handful of us!!

The receipt is acknowledgement they received your petition. It has a receipt number that you can use to check your case on USCIS. it is not your case number.

Some people hire lawyers, some do not. That is up to you.

Vancouver handles Fiance visas, Montreal handles Spousal visas. I think you can request to have it moved to Vancouver, but not positive.