Jasontnyc

September 24, 2012

11:41 PM NC time

I had said good night to my wife one and half an hour ago. I was at work when she called. All out of breath and excited. She was asleep when she received a text message stating that there was a case update. She immediately checked the website and jumped with joy. Our petition has been approved, finally.

We are so happy. Took almost 9 months and it was like waiting for a baby.

Thanks to Allah almighty, we shall now proceed to NVC stage.

Thanks all who prayed. Wishing you all the best for your petitions.

Congrats on the great news!

quick question....can the pp photos be the same ones from the i-130 app? (assuming they are under the 6 mth mark?)

Yes, that's what I used.

Thanks! That was really reassuring. Question though: It says that there are only certain countries where it works to send them documents online. I noticed Pakistan wasn't listed there but many people on this forum, including you did email the form and it was accepted. Should I also email a copy in case or is it a bad idea to confuse them with two?

Also Good luck with your interview Hope it goes really well iA and you get your visa soon!

I think mine was around 7. It was just processed today so see my timeline to get an idea of how many days. (look specifically at the snail mail date since email didn't work).

Woohoo...IV finally invoiced and paid

Can't be NVC for an I130 ... What service center is NBC?

It only takes once. That's why I recommend mailing from abroad with a check somebody mails you first. People make mistakes. I suggest you refrain from making those mistakes easy to make.

Its up to the OP if they think the family member is more likely to make a mistake - My post doesn't make it any easier or more likely.

There was another post highlighting the risk of sending a check to a country with an unreliable mail service.

All risks need to be measured by the petitioner.

Okay, our local bank wouldn't cooperate so I guess I'm going to do the same thing as you Jasontnyc. I was wondering if I sent it to the States first, if our case would still get auto-expedited, but it looks like yours was. Then I'm just going to make sure its exactly what they want and send it to a U.S. family member first. Thanks so much for all your replies guys. On a side note, is the G1125 still used for e-mail/sms notification? Can I just add that to the package?

Yes - add that to the top of the package.

If you read the thread about auto expediting, at least 1/3 of the people had someone "send" to package from within the US and it had no ill effect on expediting. The rest sent from abroad. So far, that seems to have no bearing.

Here's what I did since I am living abroad. I sent my entire package in an envelope within an envelope, if that makes sense, (be sure to have 2 copies of your entire package for your records) to a family member in the US. I left a blank page in the package with a paperclip where they could put the check.

Once they received it, they attached the check and sent the package as it was on to the Chicago Lockbox.

I had my NOA2 within something like 9 business days (since I am abroad, just like yourself).

It is actually possible to get a US check issued from SOME foreign banks but it is FAR EASIER to do the above.

For all of you USC's who are abroad (specially those in Europe), how did you pay the fees without having a U.S. bank account?

I mailed it to family in the US, they attached the check and then they sent it to the Chicago lockbox. Doing that didn't effect the fact that we got expedited.

If that is not an option, many banks can meet the requirement. I did some research at the time and found it was possible but a whole lot easy to go the US relative/friend route.

Uggh...still waiting on DS-3032 acceptance.

Sent the first one on 8/28, two weeks later got rejected, sent again on 9/11...still nothing even though some people who sent theirs on the 10th have since gotten invoiced.

This is by far the most useless form/part of the process What's wrong with designating an agent over the phone? I mean that's how we have to give them our email address anyway!

Sorry fo the rant.

Mine got accepted and still no invoicing - ended up physically sending it and that one was acknowledged and my invoicing should be early next week.

I feel your pain as the email trick seems to be a bit iffy right now.

Hi,

For those of you who submitted an Affidavit of Support, did you submit all 3 tax reports (instead of 1)?

Do you think that it could make a difference?

Thank you

I submitted 3 since I had easy access to them but I have no idea the effect. My AOS was approved in less than a week but there could be loads of other reasons for that since most are approved in that time frame.

I must be missing something. I just get a blank box. Is there a hyperlink I can add or do I have to type it in manually?

Find a timeline signature you like of someone else's and cut and paste - then just change the dates to the match your own

By the way,

Can I send the IV package as soon as I have the barcoded cover sheet (whist the bill is 'in process')?

Or do I have to wait for it to show as 'paid'?

Thx!

It seems to take less time than AOS to say PAID so it may not matter. The only issue is if you make a mistake and the payment fails so it is up to you whether to wait one extra day or not.

Dear Abby says my aos hasn't been reviewed, will take 20 biz days.. *sigh*

Mine got accepted yesterday so far less than 20 days (8 business days actually) - Hopefully yours is anytime now.

Unfortunately it could still be another 5 business days until my IV invoice.

I got an email today claiming missing information and then the text below. They have my DS-3032 so is this just a false notification?

_____CORRESPONDENCE INSTRUCTIONS:_________________________________

We are waiting for the form DS-3032 (Choice of Agent) that was previously sent to the beneficiary. This form tells us how to contact the beneficiary during the immigrant visa process.

The agent selected by the beneficiary can be the petitioner, another relative, a friend, an attorney, or a charitable organization, such as a church or other immigrant assistance organization. Mail delivery is often unreliable in many parts of the world, so we strongly suggest that the beneficiary choose someone who has an address in the United States.

It is acceptable that the beneficiary not name an agent and have us contact him/her directly. If the beneficiary is unable to locate a copy of this form, he/she may notify the NVC via a letter or an email, which indicates his/her choice.

Regardless of the beneficiary's choice, the beneficiary must notify us of his/her choice before we may continue processing this file. In the event that the beneficiary is under the age of sixteen, it is acceptable to have the beneficiary's parent or guardian sign the form.

I thought the K3 just gets closed when it hits the NVC and there is no longer any reason to file it.

I hope your I130 gets approved soon.

He texting me asking if he can go get his medical now. Yay I'll give you a medical alright.

Hahahahaha

Alright, we'll probably do that. So the date of the interview is the determining factor in whether one is considered CR-1 or IR-1, correct? Is one year a good amount of time to estimate how long the process will be? Thanks a lot.

Its when the VISA is granted but that is usually right after the interview. You can view the average timelines by going to Immigration Timelines ( http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/ ). Its around 9 months I believe but it seems to be trending longer.

oh okay... thanks

wow, yours was expedited .. lucky!

Are you (petitioner) living outside the US? Did you not get expedited?

i wonder if i should send that in as well? i dont understand why its taking so long for this. i know they said 5-15 business days the last time i called them and asked about it, but geez. me and you got our case num around the same time right? ugh this is just crazy. i hope it goes fast for both, well all of us actually.

Have you called the NVC and asked them if they have your DS-3032? I called a week after getting the "acceptance" email and they said they still didn't have it. Thats why I sent the physical form. I don't think it would hurt to just throw it in the mail, just in case!

Still waiting on ds3032 to be accepted and have the IV bill be posted... i swear this wait is gonna kill me. I dont understand why its taking this long really.

I think we are in the same boat...The email trick didn't work for me so I physically sent the form in. Sounds like next week before we get an IV invoice although it could always be quicker.

You're almost to the finish line!!

Oh ok. That makes total sense. I thought the paperwork was different. So I'm thinking if it takes the year to obtain the visa like I've read on the forum that we'll apply for it a year after marriage. It seems like it would be harder for them to deny a CR-1/IR-1 rather than a K-1, seeing that we would actually be married. Or would that be an incorrect observation? Thanks a lot. You've helped a ton.

Not necessarily harder - all depends on proof of marriage. You will have it easier though than those from the middle east and a handful of other countries. Yes, apply after a year of marriage and you can easily stall the process a little bit if new be by waiting a few extra weeks to submit paperwork at different stages to insure it is over 2 years when you get your interview.

NVC says it will be at least another week before my IV invoiced!

I have a question, Do You think I should file I-129F (k3) while waiting for my I130. or It will just slow things down.? I havent gotten my hardcopy of NOA1. maybe because the mailing system in the Philippines is not good. Any advice? and I dont know if Im going to be auto expedited because mine was transferred from CSC to NBC.

No point as they take around the same time - The I-129F will be closed as soon as your I-130 is accepted as well.

Yep!!!! See, remember we had an attorney listed.... I emailed them on 8/31 when I got our case # and told them to remove her as the agent. When I called on 9/11 they said she was still listed. They responded later that day and said they would remove her and send all correspondence to me.

I remember now. That's great news!