DCF in Frankfurt - Just Received I-171 Today

[TexAg 0]

Hi all,

New member here, so please don't treat me too harshly.

My wife (German citizen) and I (American) are relocating back to Texas from Germany.

I filed the I-130 directly at the Frankfurt Consulate on the morning of April 14, 2014. We applied for the IR-1 Visa.

Much to my surprise I received a piece of mail today (May 7) from the DHS/USCIS office in Frankfurt. It was the I-171.

NOTICE OF APPROVAL OF RELATIVE IMMIGRANT VISA PETITION (Form I-130)

Box 1 was checked which states:

YOUR PETITION TO CLASSIFY THE BENEFICIARY AS AN IMMEDIATE RELATIVE OF A UNITED STATED CITIZEN HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE CONSULAR SECTION AT THE U.S. CONSULATE, FRANKFURT, GERMANY. THIS COMPLETES ALL ACTION BY THIS OFFICE ON THE PETITION.

The Consular Section will contact the beneficiary within 1 to 2 weeks after the approval of the I-130 with information regarding the visa issuance process. Inquiries concerning visa issuance should be addressed to frankfurtvisainquiries@state.gov. USCIS will be unable to answer any inquiry visa issuance.

I am assuming this is the NOA 2.

I also assume that we should be getting instructions on how to proceed in the next week or so (scheduling medical exams, sending in other forms, etc...).

So, considering this, would you expect that my wife will have an interview sometimes in the middle of June?

How long do you have between receiving your visa and traveling to the US? I've read there is a deadline where the visa receiver has to travel to the US in a certain amount of time.

Thanks to all and I look forward to any responses, advice, personal experiences, etc...

[snugglebug2014 0]

hey im a newbie as well living in europe with my husband~ could you help me figure out what to include with i-130 im so confused. how did you get a response so quick? it seems most peoples take 2-4 months

[TexAg 0]

Snugglebug, I will send you a private message

[awaywego 28]

hey im a newbie as well living in europe with my husband~ could you help me figure out what to include with i-130 im so confused. how did you get a response so quick? it seems most peoples take 2-4 months

Here's Frankfurt's page for filing I-130 petitions directly with them: link The "I-130 Petition Checklist" PDF has the requirements (and initial instructions).

[TexAg 0]

Here's Frankfurt's page for filing I-130 petitions directly with them: link The "I-130 Petition Checklist" PDF has the requirements (and initial instructions).

Thanks for providing the link.

Judging from her previous posts, it seems that she is filing from Albania though. Snugglebug, correct me if I am wrong.

[JasMi 1]

Hi TexAg,

My husband (American) and I relocated from Frankfurt area to Texas last year. Because of my husband's work orders, the Consulate accommodated my interview before his scheduled date of leave. Our CR1 visa process was quite lengthy, but eventually I got the interview scheduled 2 weeks prior to our intended leave. My passport with the visa was ready to pick up the day after the interview. The Consulate was quite co-operative in this regard.

As for medical exams and other documents to send in, we were informed about it in person, on submitting our I-130 form. So, we pretty much knew the time frame for the next steps. Also, once issued, the visa (CR1 in my case) was valid for 6 months.

I hope your visa process goes smooth! Let me know if you have any questions.

JasMi

[awaywego 28]

Thanks for providing the link.

Judging from her previous posts, it seems that she is filing from Albania though. Snugglebug, correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks for the info. I have not seen this person's other posts.

Sorry for helping derail your thread. I can't actually answer your question, since we haven't gone through the process yet, but I recall quick turnarounds on timelines of others that I've seen around.

Edited May 8, 2014 by awaywego

[TexAg 0]

Thanks to all who have replied with their answers and I hope that you are enjoying Texas JasMi. We can't wait to get back!

My wife just ordered the police record from the German authorities today, which they say takes about 2 weeks to get.

Now just waiting on the official packet from the Consulate.

I will be leaving to come back at the end of June to start my job and then fly back at the end of July to supervise the movers. My wife, daughter, and I will then all fly back together.

Hopefully everything will be in order by end of July.

[awaywego 28]

Just noticed. Is the IV Checklist the document you're waiting on? If so, you could download it from this page and get started collecting the paperwork (including police certificate) while you're waiting for it to arrive via post: http://germany.usembassy.gov/visa/iv/step5/#frankfurt

[TexAg 0]

Thanks awaywego,

Just received Packet 3 in the mail on the morning of May 10 and filled out the DS-260 online.

Wife has already ordered the Police Report on May 9.

Will submit the DS-260 this evening.

Just have to finish the I-864 for me and I-864A from my parents. The reason we are submitting the I-864A from my parents is that I don't want to send in only my fully signed offer letter from the company that I will begin working for in July in the US. Plus, while I can submit the last 3 tax returns, I cannot submit a W-2 with them, as the German company I'm currently working for doesn't issue W-2's. The I-864A is our safety net to decrease any delay in timeline for the Visa issuance.

Thanks for everyone's time. I will update our timeline as new things happen.

Have a great week!

[schinx87 1]

Thanks awaywego,

Just received Packet 3 in the mail on the morning of May 10 and filled out the DS-260 online.

Wife has already ordered the Police Report on May 9.

Will submit the DS-260 this evening.

Just have to finish the I-864 for me and I-864A from my parents. The reason we are submitting the I-864A from my parents is that I don't want to send in only my fully signed offer letter from the company that I will begin working for in July in the US. Plus, while I can submit the last 3 tax returns, I cannot submit a W-2 with them, as the German company I'm currently working for doesn't issue W-2's. The I-864A is our safety net to decrease any delay in timeline for the Visa issuance.

Thanks for everyone's time. I will update our timeline as new things happen.

Have a great week!

Hey there! I think in your case you file two separate I-864s -- and only file the I-864a if you're in the same household. I filed an I-864, and my parents filed, a separate I-864, as they were our joint sponsor As your US taxes filed in Germany will include foreign income, you should be able to submit proof of German earnings (you get a year end summary here) in lieu of the W-2s -- as you have to submit some kind of pay stub to show where your earnings came from as a supporting doc with the I-864s. This worked fine for us -- we weren't requested to bring any additional proof to the interview.

[TexAg 0]

Thanks to all that responded!

The wife just got her approval to schedule an interview today in the mail!

[schinx87 1]

Congrats!! All the best for your interview!!

[TexAg 0]

We just scheduled her interview at the Frankfurt Consulate for June 26.

Now going to get the medical exam on June 16!

[schinx87 1]

We just scheduled her interview at the Frankfurt Consulate for June 26.

Now going to get the medical exam on June 16!

Here's something I wish somebody would have told us -- we did the Medical more than 10 days before the interview and they barely just sent off to Frankfurt in time for the interview -- one of the consular workers literally left us standing at the counter to go check the most current post.

Make sure and keep on top of the doctors office so they don't delay releasing your visa