RicknAnnie

Thank you guys for the great info! I'll let the missus know we're pretty much finished all expect the SSN which also sounds simple enough. Thanks for the guide, Darnell!

Hi VJ,

So after two long years my wife has finally stepped foot into America on IR-1 visa. She's been here for four day now and is eager to get started on her new life. My question is what's the next step in the process? I know that she will receive her green card in the mail relativity soon as per a paper she receive after an officer processed her packet at the LAX airport. After we have the green card number are we supposed to apply for work authorization? Does she need to apply for a social security card as well? I also heard on the grape vine that there's a $600.00 fee down the road to change her status. At what point does this need to be done if at all? Any input on the next phase of the process after arrival in the states would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks VJ!

-RicknAnnie

Along those lines, is my wife's ciminal background check something that I need to subit with the DS-230 or does she simply bring it with her to the interview?

Hey VJers,

Just wanted to give a little update on our situation. Since our I-130 finally hit the NVC after almost 9 months the processes has just taken off. It's taken very little time for the agents over at the NVC to process our paperwork once it arrives. We are currently on the next step which is to send in the DS-230 along with all the supporting documents. I've had to many questions during this process and I just want to say how helpful the agents at the NVC are compared to those scripted robots over at the USCIS. I guess my only real complaint is having to submit documents that I had already submitted with the I-130. Oh well, guess that's just how it is. Anyway, it's still a ways out until we have an interview date and etc but with the speed that things are being processed I'm sure it's not going to be too much longer now. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted and timeline updated.

Cheers!

Walking home from work. It was just a random meet. Her apparel shop was actually 500 feet away from my house I was renting at the time. We went on a date that weekend and fell in love in no time.

Hey VJ!

Finally got the NOA2 txt on Friday night. My wife and I were ecstatic! She's eager to move along with the process as much as I am. While we wait for the instructions listed on the NOA2, what can we do in the meantime in order to speed this up a bit? My wife is already applying for her new passport to reflex the name she wishes to use in America. I've also heard she can do her vaccinations as well? And on my end what paperwork can I do in order to get started? Any advice would be a huge help!

Thanks!

Hello VJ!

The long wait has come to an end! Our NOA2 should be in the mail shortly! I received notice not 20 minutes ago via text that our application was accepted on May 4th, 2012! I couldn't have asked for better news nor could I have made it this far without the support of these forums. Thanks to all that stuck by me during this process. As the saying goes, "Now the fun part starts".

I'll keep you all updated!

Hey Sept filers!

My priority date is September 9th, 2011. I've been constantly inquiring as to why this process is taking so long. I received an email on Monday stating that it's going to be another 30 days until I receive an NOA2... It'll be 9 months at that point. Needless to say, Obama (or whoever will be in the Oval Office) will be getting a nice letter in the mail when this whole process is over.

oh gosh that is so mean,they suck! I dont have any advice,sorry other than i really hope that you get your approval fast and that you speed through NVC, you deserve it.

Thanks for the support! I'm calling in tomorrow with a bit of a firmer resolve to see if I can't speed this up a bit. I mean it's been literally email after email of, "Wait, it will be processed in XXXX amount of time. Well I'm done playing the waiting game. I'll keep you guys posted on the events to come.

Hey VJ,

I just received an email today from a representative over at the CSC regarding my pending I-130. In short, it states that my petition is currently being processed by an adjudicator. An NOA2 will be revived in the mail within the next 30 days... Wow, 30 MORE DAYS. By that time we will be on 9 months! I feel like I've been given the round-around by the CSC as well as other entities that I've contacted regarding my case such as my Congressman. It's heartbreaking every time I call my wife to tell her, "looks we've still got a bit of a wait ahead. And I thought the initial 5 months was going to be tough. Now this... I've been very patient with the USCIS during all of this but my patients is now running thin. Would contacting the USCIS once more and requesting an immigration officer (Tier 2) help expedite the process at all? When I called last week the rep stated that they were not available for 3-4 hours. Does tier 2 have different hours of operations?

Any advice at this point would be great...

Thanks!!

Tropics

Bikinis

Our petition took 260 days (8 1/2 months) with no RFEs. (June-March) Since it's been 7 months it probably wouldn't hurt to write your congressman or senator and have them look into your case and find out what's going on.

I've actually done both at this point. My congressman informed me today that the application is still being reviewed by an adjudicator. He also mentioned that his liaison over at the CSC is also going to contact the officer to see if there's anyway to speed up the process. Thanks for the advice!

Hey VJ!

First of all, thanks for being a great resource regarding immigration issues. It's been a huge help over the entire process.

Long story short, I'm married to a Vietnamese national. I petitioned for her I-130 on September 2011 and received my NOA1 on September 9th, 2011. We passed the 5 month mark months ago and I understand that the CSC was back-logged for awhile. I've seen that they are back on track and are approving petitions at a normal rate once more, however, mine has seem to have been put on the back burner. I've done everything under the sun to get this process sped up but no avail. It's maddening being away from my wife for so long and the distance has taken its toll. Now my Congressman emailed me this afternoon stating that the application is still under initial review. I’m just curious if there's anyone else still waiting for their NOA2 that filed in September. I'm seeing approvals for October and November left and right. Could there be some kind of issue that I'm not aware of? When I called USCIS on Friday, the rep I spoke to put in a SR and said hang tight for two weeks. When I asked to be transferred to Tier 2 she said they were not available for the next 3 to 4 hours which I think was untrue but who knows...

Thanks guys!

If you believe your petition has exceeded the quoted processing time, you are then eligible to put in a service request to have someone look into the petition itself. I called in myself on Friday because I'm coming up on 8 months for my I-130. The rep said it should take about 2 more weeks to get a response. From there I contacted my Congressmen that had previously helped me on the case and his immigration aide said she would also look into it. Good luck to ya!!

I know when I had to get my criminal record check to get married in Vietnam we had to go to a building called So Tu Phap in Ho Chi Minh City. The whole process of getting married on paper actually took place there. Starting with the embassy in Australia would definitely be a great start. Good luck to ya!!

I also sent the letter to my senator today with the privacy think I got from his website.. should I call the office as well or can I just wait until he contacts me back?

I called uscis yesterday and they told me still working on aug 2 but I know for sure their not so do you think since it says aug 2 no one will be able to do anything about my case since its aug 22?

Giving them a call wouldn't hurt at all. In fact, since it's election year most government officials seems to be more on top of helping out folks like us. Be sure to ask to speak with the person responsible with immigration and they should be able to help you out from there. good luck to ya!!

I also sent the letter to my senator today with the privacy think I got from his website.. should I call the office as well or can I just wait until he contacts me back?

I called uscis yesterday and they told me still working on aug 2 but I know for sure their not so do you think since it says aug 2 no one will be able to do anything about my case since its aug 22?

Also you should hear very soon about your petition since it's a late Augest one. Like I mentioned, the CSC has quoted at most 45 more days so I bet you're well on your way

Hey Vj!

Just wanted to give you guys my results of contacting my congressmen in regards to expediting the processing time of my I-130 petition.

So the process went over very smoothly. A rep from the congressmen's office called me and ask to have all of the initial paperwork that was submitted with the I-130 faxed into her office. Exactly a week after she looked into the issue, I received an email stating that within the next 45 days the petition will be processed. I realize that this new processing time was created since now the CSC is currently doing petitions for the end of August and beginning of September fairly quickly. I am a September filer so my wife and I both have our fingers crossed that the process will start happening here very soon. I also contacted my Senator as well and his immigration aid was also very helpful with informing me of what to expect as far as the next steps are concerned. The things we do in the name of love… Thanks guys for all the support and constant information coming into these forums!

My wife and I applied almost a month after you did in September. I called in about 2 weeks ago and they said pretty much the same thing everyone else is hearing. The CSC is still stuck on July's applications. I did everything from put in a service request to writing my Congressmen and state Senator but nothing has happened yet... Looks like we're all in the same boat here. Chin up and know that even those it's taking forever, It will happen. Good luck to you guys!

did you request a service request or an expedite request?

regardless of what you asked for,

it smells like you've been asked (via that letter) to provide documentation fully qualifying stuff for an EXPEDITE REQUEST.

Yes it was in fact a request to expidite the time in which they will review my application. I figure at this point to just write a letter explaining the time my wife and I have waited and also write my Congressman for the state of Arizona. I've heard that helps as well.

On what basis did you request to expedite your application?

The USCIS rep never asked for a reason behind the request. The only thing I mentioned was that the website states 5 months processing time and we're over that time frame already. On what basis do the immigration officers expidite a case generally?

Hey all VJ members,

I called into the the USCIS to get an update to the processing times with the I-130 over at the California Service Center. They told me that they're still processing applications from July! Really?? Why hasn't the website been updated to reflect this change? On the same note I wish they had clearly let people know about the I-129F being obsolete. But I digress...

After being told that there would be about two more months before we get any word about our application I asked if they could put in a service request to expidite the wait time. The woman I spoke with was very friendly and agreed to fill out the request. That was back on the 8th. I received a letter this morning from the CSC stating that they received my request but were unable to determine if I was eligible for it. The letter itself asks for me to fax in a letter stating my situation. So have I been denied? What exactly are the requirments for be eligible? It's been over a year since my wife and I were together aside from October when I went out to visit her for two weeks. I miss her to death and I feel stuck. Any advice would be really appreciated!

Thanks everyone!