can't locat I-94 number for I-130 form. Do I really need to file I-102!?!

[elvenshadow 19]

Hello. I am still in the process of getting my I-130 packet ready. My wife claims that she does not have an I-94 card and doesn't remember anything about it. The last time she visited the US was when we went for our US wedding in July of 2013 (we both reside in Japan). I tried using the I-94 number retrieval site here

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html.%C2'>

I tried many, many times to enter her information and every time it says that the number is not found. I checked all the hints like using maiden name or switching the birthday around in case they messed up. I tried using WT or WB, I tried just about every combination of every piece of possible relevant data that I could think of and every time it says the information is not found.

So, as suggested by them, I called the Deffered Inspection Site using a prepaid phone card from Japan, only to have them tell me that they took her card when we left the states or something (this is just general information as the person on the other end of the line didn't ask about anything personally and hardly even gave me time to finish my sentences) and said that we need to file an I-102 to get the number. So, I checked the form and it looks long and tedious but fine. What really is a shocker is that after doing a search for older threads, I saw that some people mentioned that getting the I-102 processed can take as long as 3 MONTHS! Is this for real?! Is it possible to just file the 102 with the 130 instead of writing the number or do I really have to file the 102 first and then wait like 3 whole months from now to even START the 130 process?

I also tried calling USCIS on the phone card but after wasting almost all of the minutes on it trying to navigate through endless loops of their annoying automated menu and not being able to get in touch with an actual human being, I had to give up since I am almost out of minutes. It said call between 8 and whatever time but right now its past 11 PM in Japan meaning it should be past 8 AM in the US (at least in Central time, though I have no idea what time zone the USCIS operators run on)

Anyway, as you can probably tell I am quite frustrated right now and any bit of information would mean a whole lot. Thank you.

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

Read the question again.

#14. If your relative is currently in the U.S. , complete the following

[pushbrk 13,632]

Correct. Always read carefully, interpret literally and answer accurately. In addition, when visiting from VWP countries, unless the visitor actually has a B1B2 visa, they will not get any I-94 anyway. In that case when you indicate the status as Visa Waiver, all applicable government officials will know there's no I-94. ONLY if the beneficiary is currently in the USA, would they have an I-94 in their passport, as it is a "departure card" removed on departure.

[elvenshadow 19]

Well, I feel a bit silly now. Thank you for clarifying that. It is a huge help. I am very relieved that all I wasted was the 1000 yen on an international phone card and not 2.5 months of processing time.

When I called them to ask, I explained my situation, even stating that my wife is not living in the US and that we were applying for the I-130, but they didn’t tell me that I didn’t need an I-94 number and just said I had to file an I-102. They were very unhelpful overall and outright refused to answer some of my other questions related to the topic.

In any case, I am very glad that the people on this forum are so helpful. I wish I could say the same about some people at U.S. government agencies.

[pushbrk 13,632]

Welcome to the USCIS misinformatoin line. Now you know. Ask your questions here, but first read carefully to be certain you understand both EACH question and its context. Hint: YOUR NAME is the one that goes first in the table on the second page, because YOU are your alien relative's spouse.

[elvenshadow 19]

Thank you for the additional information. I actually already filled that part out correctly so at least I got some things right. As of now, I have all of the information necessary to finish filling out the I-130 and the G-325As. So the only thing that is delaying the completion of my packet now is waiting on a few documents to arrive from the U.S. and to get some other documents translated from Japanese to English. Once we have that we should be ready to send the packet soon. I don’t know how long translated services usually take but hopefully we should be able to file within a week or 2.