I-130 Advice

[Hunter 73 2]

Hi everyone ... I am a US citizen living in Scotland UK with my Scottish husband.  We've been married since 2018.  We filed our I-130 in August 2020 and still haven't received our approval from the Nebraska Service Center.  My UK Biometric Residence Permit expires May 16, 2021.  I don't know whether to renew my visa for a cost of £2500 or go back to the US to begin to get re-established there.  My husband I just don't want to spend large amounts of time apart if we can avoid it.  Any advice; when we could expect things to start moving along or how COVID is affecting visa processing at the US Embassy in London; would be appreciated.  Would it be better to use the £2500 for my husband to travel to the US to visit?  Thanks in advance ... Dawn

[Crazy Cat 41,978]

I see no way his visa will be issued by mid May.  Unfortunately separation is the norm for the immigration process. It isn't fun, but it can be done.   Good luck.  

Edited February 19, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[Boiler 45,657]

I would plan on the end of the year at the earliest, lots of changes and no way of really knowing.

 

[Kel_H 42]

I personally know someone who filed I-130 in October 2020 and got NOA2 from USCIS in January 2021. I don't know if they got really lucky or what!

[Crazy Cat 41,978]

1 minute ago, Kel_H said:

I personally know someone who filed I-130 in October 2020 and got NOA2 from USCIS in January 2021. I don't know if they got really lucky or what!

Has the visa been issued?

[Kel_H 42]

29 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Has the visa been issued?

Not yet. I think they've finished uploading everything to NVC though and are just waiting for an interview. This is for Algeria and they're currently only conducting immigrant interviews (including K-1) plus their volume is pretty low, so I'm guessing their interview will be soon.

[JeanneAdil 6,539]

Since you have to establish US residency and have income that will satisfy the requirement that it will be US based or continue when you move here, why not make the move and be ready for those issues for the interview

Many of us are or were separated during this process and its not easy but there are some things we must accept

 

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

I’d say head home and establish domicile... you’ll need it anyways prior to the interview... plus finding work in the US is still precarious so it will give you the opportunity to do that also. Unfortunately separation is all part of the process, 99.9% of us have to go through it at some point

[mycase17 114]

5 hours ago, Hunter 73 said:

Hi everyone ... I am a US citizen living in Scotland UK with my Scottish husband.  We've been married since 2018.  We filed our I-130 in August 2020 and still haven't received our approval from the Nebraska Service Center.  My UK Biometric Residence Permit expires May 16, 2021.  I don't know whether to renew my visa for a cost of £2500 or go back to the US to begin to get re-established there.  My husband I just don't want to spend large amounts of time apart if we can avoid it.  Any advice; when we could expect things to start moving along or how COVID is affecting visa processing at the US Embassy in London; would be appreciated.  Would it be better to use the £2500 for my husband to travel to the US to visit?  Thanks in advance ... Dawn

It shows Nebraska is currently processing July 1, 2020 for USC spouse, so I believe in a month, you will be able to inquire about your case but like Cookie Cat said I don't think you will be done with whole NVC process till end of this year. 

[Hunter 73 2]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.  I never did expect our visa to be processed by mid-May, just wondering if people thought it would be more beneficial to our case for me to be re-established in the US rather than renewing my visa and waiting things out together in Scotland.  We would have a friend in the US willing to sponsor my husband for the financial aspect until I was working again and are going to buy a house with the money from the sale of our house in the UK.  It's never easy or as straightforward as you think it's going to be.

[isis375 105]

On 2/19/2021 at 9:07 AM, Kel_H said:

I personally know someone who filed I-130 in October 2020 and got NOA2 from USCIS in January 2021. I don't know if they got really lucky or what!

Same for me, October and then NOA2 January. I had Nebraska. 

[Kel_H 42]

6 hours ago, isis375 said:

Same for me, October and then NOA2 January. I had Nebraska. 

Wow! Yes, they had Nebraska also. Good luck on your journey