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Carla Pas

Please HELP! US mailing address but living abroad, where to file?

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Brazil
Timeline

Hello.

 

My spouse and I are mailing the I-130 petition today and were certain that because we both live abroad we were supposed to mail it to the Chicago lockbox. But since our mailing address is in California, shouldn't we be sending it to the Phoenix lockbox? Thank you so much for your attention and help in advance!

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24 minutes ago, Carla Pas said:

Hello.

 

My spouse and I are mailing the I-130 petition today and were certain that because we both live abroad we were supposed to mail it to the Chicago lockbox. But since our mailing address is in California, shouldn't we be sending it to the Phoenix lockbox? Thank you so much for your attention and help in advance!

IMO it's based off where you live

https://www.uscis.gov/i-130-addresses

Spoiler

Aug 2011 - Arrived on F1 visa

09/06/2015 Started exchanging messages

10/13/2015 We met in person

07/01/2017 We got engaged!

10/31/2017 We got married!

11/08/2017 AOS Package (I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131) sent via USPS - Chicago Lockbox

                      (Priority Mail - USPS autocorrected zipcode to 60680-4187)

11/12/2017 Package delivered (Delayed due to USPS mistakenly took it to 60624 and Veteran's Day) 

11/13/2017 Received Date (Priority Date)

11/21/2017 Received 4 e-mails & 4 text notifications (01:30 AM EST); checks cashed

11/28/2017 Received 4 NOA1 hard copies

12/09/2017 Received Biometrics Appointment Letter (for i-485 and i-765)

12/21/2017 Biometrics Appointment

01/08/2018 **I-765 and I-131 Approved** (61 days)

01/16/2018 %%Received combo card%% (tracking shows USCIS sent it on Jan 11 from MO, then Jan 15 USPS closed for MLK day) 

01/20/2018 Received approval letters for EAD and AP

09/20/2018 Received text 'Interview was scheduled' and interview notice will be mailed

09/27/2018 Received Interview notice by mail

10/25/2018 Interview day

10/26/2018 I-485 case status updated to "We ordered your new card"

10/29/2018 Case Status updated to "We approved your Form I-485"

10/31/2018 Case Status updated to "We mailed your new card"

11/01/2018 My card was picked up by the USPS with tracking number assigned

11/05/2018 Green Card Received 

 

Side note: I turned my maiden name into second middle name. In the combo card, my given name is First Firstmiddleinitial, however on the back of the card, they attempted to list my second middle name. 

 

My application package:

Interview Experience:

 

 

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1 minute ago, Carla Pas said:

Sorry. What is IMO?

In my opinion lol, I'm pretty new with all this, so I'm not 100% with my answer. Hopefully other member could answer soon or you can try calling USCIS Hotline

Spoiler

Aug 2011 - Arrived on F1 visa

09/06/2015 Started exchanging messages

10/13/2015 We met in person

07/01/2017 We got engaged!

10/31/2017 We got married!

11/08/2017 AOS Package (I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131) sent via USPS - Chicago Lockbox

                      (Priority Mail - USPS autocorrected zipcode to 60680-4187)

11/12/2017 Package delivered (Delayed due to USPS mistakenly took it to 60624 and Veteran's Day) 

11/13/2017 Received Date (Priority Date)

11/21/2017 Received 4 e-mails & 4 text notifications (01:30 AM EST); checks cashed

11/28/2017 Received 4 NOA1 hard copies

12/09/2017 Received Biometrics Appointment Letter (for i-485 and i-765)

12/21/2017 Biometrics Appointment

01/08/2018 **I-765 and I-131 Approved** (61 days)

01/16/2018 %%Received combo card%% (tracking shows USCIS sent it on Jan 11 from MO, then Jan 15 USPS closed for MLK day) 

01/20/2018 Received approval letters for EAD and AP

09/20/2018 Received text 'Interview was scheduled' and interview notice will be mailed

09/27/2018 Received Interview notice by mail

10/25/2018 Interview day

10/26/2018 I-485 case status updated to "We ordered your new card"

10/29/2018 Case Status updated to "We approved your Form I-485"

10/31/2018 Case Status updated to "We mailed your new card"

11/01/2018 My card was picked up by the USPS with tracking number assigned

11/05/2018 Green Card Received 

 

Side note: I turned my maiden name into second middle name. In the combo card, my given name is First Firstmiddleinitial, however on the back of the card, they attempted to list my second middle name. 

 

My application package:

Interview Experience:

 

 

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Since you live abroad, you file to the Chicago lockbox, as noted in the link above. Your mailing address is merely that - a place where you receive mail.

 

Too bad DCF isn't available.

3 minutes ago, Carla Pas said:

Sorry. What is IMO?

"In My Opinion"

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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1 minute ago, K1_Journey said:

If you are living abroad, why are you not doing a Direct Consular Filing(DCF) at the US embassy in the country you are both living in? You can bypass USCIS and save yourself 3 months processing time if you do a Direct Consular Filing if its available at the embassy in the country where you live.

 

For information on Direct Consular Filing please see http://www.visajourney.com/content/dcf

DCF is not available in Brazil.

 

There must be a USCIS field office at the embassy: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices

Edited by geowrian

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Brazil
Timeline
39 minutes ago, geowrian said:

DCF is not available in Brazil.

 

There must be a USCIS field office at the embassy: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices

Brazil doesn't have a USCIS office.

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Brazil
Timeline
2 hours ago, NikLR said:

it is based off your physical address. 

Thank you! Our cover letter has the California mailing address instead of our physical address. Do you think that is fine? We are also using the California mailing address on the envelope. Any problems with it?

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1 hour ago, K1_Journey said:

Current DCF procedures state that if a US Citizen lives overseas they may file the I-130 for a foreign spouse, child or parent at the US Consulate / USCIS Field Office governing their place of residence.

 

Consulate means Embassy, check with your local Brazil embassy they may or may not allow DCF, but you should at least look into it by contacting them to see if this is an option available at the US embassy in Brazil

The embassy/consulate must have a USCIS field office or else it will be processed in the US.

 

Sources:

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/petition/file/filing-immigrant-petitions-outside-the-u-s.html

https://www.uscis.gov/archive/archive-news/uscis-centralizes-filing-form-i-130-0

 

Filing without a USCIS office requires exceptional circumstances that meet the criteria outlined in the second link.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 07/11/2017 at 2:20 PM, geowrian said:

Since you live abroad, you file to the Chicago lockbox, as noted in the link above. Your mailing address is merely that - a place where you receive mail.

 

Too bad DCF isn't available.

"In My Opinion"

Yes brasil has DCF available, I  just did my  case  starting on  July 2017, and ffinish  the hole process in october/2017.

 

On 07/11/2017 at 3:37 PM, geowrian said:

DCF is not available in Brazil.

 

There must be a USCIS field office at the embassy: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices

 

My  Roc timeline:

08/16/19  sent I-751 packet to USCIS Lockbox in Dallas

08/21/19  packet received by USCIS

08/21/19: received text message with case number ( Texas Service Center)

08/23/19: received extension letter in the mail

08/30/19 received fingerprint appointment letter

09/17/19  fingerprint appointment day (done)

09/24/19  fingerprint review completed

giphy.gif

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Chile
Timeline

That's interesting sergojax, did you have an extreme circumstance? Because according to the website of the US embassy in Brazil, "Only in extreme emergencies, with prior approval of our Regional USCIS Office, can Petitions be filed at the Consulate General. "

 

https://br.usembassy.gov/visas/family-immigration/how-to-apply/

Edited by hm139
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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
Timeline

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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12 hours ago, hm139 said:

That's interesting sergojax, did you have an extreme circumstance? Because according to the website of the US embassy in Brazil, "Only in extreme emergencies, with prior approval of our Regional USCIS Office, can Petitions be filed at the Consulate General. "

 

https://br.usembassy.gov/visas/family-immigration/how-to-apply/

You right, DCF is only in  extreme emergencies or others emergencies that are analyzed by  USCIS Office, Brazil  don’t' have  USCIS office so the regional office for Brazil are Lima(Peru) , my case  was not "Extreme emergency" but I remember I have explain my case on one letter and send to Rio consulate whit some documentation that prove my residence in brazil and my  emergency and RIO consulate send those  documentation to USCIS office in Lima (PERU), after few weeks I got email from Rio consulate that says USCIS Lima (Peru) was approved to file DCF on Rio consulate, so  there are some regulations in relation to file  DCF in Brazil , first the petitioner( US citizen )must establish residency in Brazil, and the second most important is  to have a reason to be able to apply , as for example,: emergency situations , situations involving health and safety of the petitioner, humanitarian reasons etc, if you do not have one of these reasons probably your  application tru DCF  will be denied, I recomend if you have some kind emergency and have residence in Brazil  just give a try on send  one email explaining the reason , that's what i did and and I was surprised when they accepted.

My  Roc timeline:

08/16/19  sent I-751 packet to USCIS Lockbox in Dallas

08/21/19  packet received by USCIS

08/21/19: received text message with case number ( Texas Service Center)

08/23/19: received extension letter in the mail

08/30/19 received fingerprint appointment letter

09/17/19  fingerprint appointment day (done)

09/24/19  fingerprint review completed

giphy.gif

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