Mudasirk

Update:
Got an email on monday 5/21 from NVC asking me to submit the police certificate. I called and ask if a copy is ok, they said it is. Expressed mailed that yesterday and was received by them today, Hoping the case will be completed and interview assigned soon.
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My guide to this whole i-130 - cr1 process, from a LPR to a Citizen upgrade.
Now, as an advice for anyone reading, and wondering what the vital part of the whole process is, well it is getting the documentation done well ahead of time so you don't run into delays.
A realistic estimation date of file to completion of a case, is about 8-10 months. Any faster than that is just out of sheer luck or other circumstances.
Here are few pointers from me and a very easy to follow guide in SIMPLE english to the process! I will try to keep it very structured like a recipe with basic explanations of the step.
As you will be doing all the legwork up until the process is completed. This is what you will need.
If you are an LPR and filed i-130 while you were an LPR, and then naturalized, You must call USCIS the day you naturalized and upgrade the petition and ask for it to be immediately expedited. The case will be completed in 60 days from that call.
What you need with you for the entire process from the petitioner standpoint.
- Proof of your residence or citizenship
- Your Drivers license, or ID
- The Marriage certificate
- Photo of the beneficiary (spouse) - passport size
- Biographic page of their passport
- Birth certificate (spouse)
- Police clearance for spouse - this Takes anywhere between 1-5 months depending what country the spouse is from
eg. Malaysia takes 6 weeks.
- DS230 part 1 and 2 completed and signed by spouse
- DS3230 - completed and signed
- tax returns with w-2 recent year only. If you are petitioning for 2012, your returns for 2011 will be the most recent, regardless of which month it is.
- If you haven't filed taxes yet, returns for 2010 and the last paystub for the 2011 showing the total gross must be sent with all the other supporting finance including all 2012 paystubs or JUST GO FILE YOUR TAXES!
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HOW THIS WORKS:
Filling I-130 is a 2 step process in the USA before your spouse will get an interview at her home country.
- First step is to establish your eligibility to be a petitioner of an Immigrant of this class.
- Second step is to establish if the person you are petitioning for is Eligible for Immigration and you have the means to sponsor their transition to USA.
Step One: USCIS - takes a minimum of 5 months,(realistically 6 months) BUT CALL USCIS If its over 5 months with no approval or rejection, will get a guaranteed 60 days response.
USCIS, requires a lot of documentations of you and the person you are filling for, if you have all of the things i listed above- you are in good shape. Only send COPIES to USCIS.
As soon as you submit all the forms and fees for the initial I-130 form - do the following.
1. Get the person you're filling for apply for a police clearance immediately. No country has this "certificate of good conduct" available immediately. This is a letter of any criminal history from the country your spouse is residing. It takes 1 - 5 months to be completed - Important scale 10. Have it mailed to you and keep this.
Get the ds-230 from state.gov filled and signed by the person you are sponsoring and have them sign it but do not date it yet and mail it to you. You keep this until further notice
When your case is 100% completed in USCIS (5-6 months), you will receive a notice a.k.a (NOA-2)saying your case is now with NVC and they will soon contact you.
Step 2: The NVC (2 months)
Wait for about 5 business days, and call NVC (the number is in the letter) and read them your USCIS case number and see if the NVC has assigned a case number for it. The Case number from NVC will start with a City code and the year (for eg; Kuala lumpur, Malaysia in 2012 will be KLL2012*******) Get this number for your case. IMPORTANT!
What do you do after you get the case number? Assign agent immediately
Go here: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Email_DS-3032_form
Copy paste with your details and send it.
Wait few days, and you will get a response and via email and there will be .pdf file attachments that will have the AOS (affidavit of support requirement) - pay that and send it in
Wait a day or so - the status should change to PAID - Fill the affidavit of support form and submit the documents supporting your claim in that form (w-2, pay stubs etc)
This will take between 2-20 business days. Just your luck.
Now you will receive another email asking for you to pay and submit the ds230 part 1
Now, go ahead and pay the fee, print the cover letter from there.
Now get the ds230 with the following all originals or certified copies.
- The Marriage certificate
- Photo of the beneficiary (spouse) - passport size
- Biographic page of their passport
- Birth certificate (spouse)
- Police clearance for spouse - this Takes anywhere between 1-5 months depending what country the spouse is from
eg. Malaysia takes 6 weeks.
- DS230 part 1 completed and signed and dated!
- DS3230 part 2- completed but no signatures or date.
Now once they receive, it will take another 2-20 business days for the documents to be reviewed. Just your luck.
Once everything is reviewed, you will receive another email either asking for more documentations or stating they have finished the case.