I-130 should be approved in a month or so. Next steps...

[richpowell 0]

Hi all,

I've been reading through this website trying to piece together how the next steps in the I-130 process will go. I'm trying to make sure I have all the right pieces together and ready so that the NVC part goes as quickly as possible. Here's what I know and what I don't know:

• I'm a US Citizen living in the US and I filed two I-130s for my dad and stepmother who currently reside in South Africa. NOA1 is September 17th, 2013. Based on other timelines I see for IR-5 it looks like the I-130s should be approved around March/April.
• Once the I-130's have been approved I'm planning on calling the NVC every 3 days or so to get the NVC case numbers.
• Once I have the NVC case numbers I go online and try to file the DS-261 (Choice of Address and Agent). I assume that the NVC rep. who finally gives me the two case numbers will give me the links to file the DS-261 and pay the I-864 fees?
• After the DS-261 I pay the I-864 (AOS) fee online and print out the receipt/cover sheet. Then I file the I-864 by mail along with the receipt/cover sheet. Do I need to file a separate I-864 with a separate fee for each parent? I assume so.
• Once the I-864s are approved I'll somehow be notified that I then need to pay the IV fee ($420) for each parent and file a DS-230/DS-260. How am I notified I need to file the DS and which one will it be? The online version or the paper version?
• If it's the DS-230, do I as the petitioner need to file it or do my parents need to? I'm trying to figure out whether my parents need to mail me all their passport sized photos, original documents, etc. that I will then file from the US to the NVC.
• If it's the DS-260 then I assume since it's all online I just upload scanned documents? Nothing needs to go by snail mail from my parents to the US.

Thanks everyone for the help!

[Shiobhan 235]

No one here can give a definitive timeline each

person case is unique in its own way, some goes

quickly others slower, some adjudicators work

faster than others, here will be just a guesstimate

its along a waiting process .they are also backed up

[richpowell 0]

No one here can give a definitive timeline each

person case is unique in its own way, some goes

quickly others slower, some adjudicators work

faster than others, here will be just a guesstimate

its along a waiting process .they are also backed up

Thanks for not answering any of my questions. I don't recall asking how long processing was going to take?

[nightingalejules 678]

Hi all,

I've been reading through this website trying to piece together how the next steps in the I-130 process will go. I'm trying to make sure I have all the right pieces together and ready so that the NVC part goes as quickly as possible. Here's what I know and what I don't know:

• I'm a US Citizen living in the US and I filed two I-130s for my dad and stepmother who currently reside in South Africa. NOA1 is September 17th, 2013. Based on other timelines I see for IR-5 it looks like the I-130s should be approved around March/April.
• Once the I-130's have been approved I'm planning on calling the NVC every 3 days or so to get the NVC case numbers.
• Once I have the NVC case numbers I go online and try to file the DS-261 (Choice of Address and Agent). I assume that the NVC rep. who finally gives me the two case numbers will give me the links to file the DS-261 and pay the I-864 fees?
• After the DS-261 I pay the I-864 (AOS) fee online and print out the receipt/cover sheet. Then I file the I-864 by mail along with the receipt/cover sheet. Do I need to file a separate I-864 with a separate fee for each parent? I assume so.
• Once the I-864s are approved I'll somehow be notified that I then need to pay the IV fee ($420) for each parent and file a DS-230/DS-260. How am I notified I need to file the DS and which one will it be? The online version or the paper version?
• If it's the DS-230, do I as the petitioner need to file it or do my parents need to? I'm trying to figure out whether my parents need to mail me all their passport sized photos, original documents, etc. that I will then file from the US to the NVC.
• If it's the DS-260 then I assume since it's all online I just upload scanned documents? Nothing needs to go by snail mail from my parents to the US.

Thanks everyone for the help!

I don't think the rep will give you the links... you'll probably have to wait for the hard copy, which should contain instructions for the next step. It seems like the front-line people who talk to you on the phone are not authorized to do very much. But a lot of countries are now able to do most of the post NVC processing online, so that should make it faster. Some of the forms are technically supposed to be filled out by the beneficiary at this stage, too, I think.

Yes, you'll have to file Affidavits of Support and pay the fee for each parent seperately, but you might be able to send them together in the same envelope.

It will be the online version- I'm 90% sure that they've completely switched over to efiling for that one. I also think that's the one that the beneficiary(ies) file.

I'm not to this stage yet (and I hope your guesses as to approval time are right, because I'm right behind you!) but I think you don't actually attach anything to the email - someone correct me if I'm wrong - NVC already has copies of everything, don't they? -- but your folks will have to have all their original documents when they go for their interview.

I think you're right... nothing physical has to go to the US at NVC stage. (They just want your fees, but that's already there!)

As I say, I'm not at this stage yet so I'm not 100% sure. But I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong!

[Lukiduki 5]

Please get case numbers and IID numbers (invoice identification#) for dad and mom.

In the same phone call, please do not forget : give the attendant your email address for future correspondence with NVC.

Use the case numbers and IID numbers in the link:

https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/

Keep checking the above web site when the AOS invoices of $88 each will be available for payment,

Please check for IV package invoices too.

AOS package is petitioner package

IV packages is the beneficiaries packages

After you have made those payments, keep checking when the payment will be received from NVC and the two forms I -864 will be available for you to download.

Each form comes with barcoded cover sheet. You should fill the forms using the computer with capital letters. Please do not leave blank spaces, you should write N/A instead.

You can't send those forms on line. After all typing, print and sign the forms and barcoded cover sheets.

Add the required documents (tax return transcripts W2 etc.) and mail to NVC.

The IV package is being done at the same time by your dad and mom.

Do not wait for your AOS to be approved. It does not work like that.

In fact, you can print PDFs sample forms and fill them in by hand in advance as a scratch.

AOS and IV package may be sent together or not, but IV package does not depend of AOS approval.

AOS can be sent from You in the US and IV can be sent from South Africa to NVC OR they can send to you and you send both packages to NVC.

DS-230 is obsolete. It has been replaced to DS-260 it is part of IV package.

Please check The 2 first posts and signature Links of Saylin in:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/478133-nvc-filers-february-2014/

Regards