SamF

Adding my entry and updating Americ@'s, after receiving notification I was in line for interview!

N-400: January 2017 Applicants

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USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
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UserName......|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrview|Oath....|Field Office
WinterPark2015|08/17/15|12/27|01/03|01/13|02/07/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Orlando,FL

Cybermax......|03/27/12|12/27|12/29|01/14|01/30/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Annandale,VA

vik376........|02/27/14|12/28|01/11|01/12|01/31/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Washington,DC

digitalvx.....|03/26/14|12/29|01/05|01/11|01/31/17|02/27/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|NYC

ozcitizen.....|06/--/07|12/29|01/11|01/12|01/30/17|02/03/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Philadelphia,PA

Luis & Carol..|10/17/13|12/31|01/18|01/03|02/08/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Atlanta,GA

NJ_NJ.........|01/12/12|01/03|01/10|01/12|02/01/17|02/03/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Newark, NJ

Joe&LuMa......|09/03/13|01/03|01/12|01/13|02/07/17|02/09/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Tampa, FL

Olibecca1.....|01/06/09|01/04|01/13|01/13|01/27/17|02/16/17|03/10/17|04/13/17|--/--/--|Louisville,KY

l3thalbloo....|10/25/11|01/05|01/11|01/13|02/16/17|02/21/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Raleigh, NC

Azhrid........|04/21/11|01/06|01/11|01/12|01/30/17|02/07/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boston, MA

weakheart.....|03/29/12|01/09|01/17|01/14|02/06/17|02/28/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|oklahomaCity,OK

Blue101.......|--/--/--|01/09|01/11|01/11|01/26/17|02/14/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Fairfax, VA

Americ@.......|04/--/14|01/10|01/17|01/17|01/27/17|03/03/17|03/06/17|04/17/17|--/--/--|Cincinnati,OH

Kundan........|10/--/12|01/10|01/17|01/19|02/17/17|02/22/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Newark, NJ

nana098.......|12/13/01|01/12|02/02|01/17|02/22/17|03/06/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Newark, NJ

Waiting234....|12/23/13|01/13|--/--|01/25|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Norfolk, VA

maxcool.......|04/12/12|01/14|01/18|01/17|02/07/17|03/13/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boston, MA

Pramod........|15/08/11|01/16|01/23|01/20|02/13/17|02/23/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boston, MA

Pluto17.......|06/01/07|01/17|01/24|01/23|02/13/17|02/15/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Baltimore,MD

LJVA..........|01/--/13|01/17|01/25|01/30|02/14/17|03/06/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Fairfax, VA

astronugget...|01/15/14|01/18|02/24|03/05|03/13/17|03/15/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|New York, NY

Zhekaviolin...|04/19/12|01/19|01/25|01/24|02/09/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

jkstark.......|05/30/00|01/20|--/--|01/25|02/17/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Buffalo, NY

Ivancarranza..|08/16/95|01/24|--/--|01/27|02/24/17|02/28/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

Sakura13......|04/24/14|01/24|01/30|01/30|02/21/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Tampa, FL

J Ann.........|03/03/14|01/26|01/31|02/01|02/10/17|03/06/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Memphis, TN

flagg.........|05/11/06|01/27|--/--|02/24|03/14/17|03/16/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Greer, SC

feroze895.....|04/03/12|01/24|01/30|02/04|02/21/17|03/13/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Dallas, TX

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USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
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UserName......|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrview|Oath....|Field Office
Andy2891......|04/01/14|12/30|01/12|01/19|02/08/17|03/01/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles,CA

Jadon_Germany.|03/31/14|12/31|01/03|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles,CA

Cocann........|04/11/13|01/03|01/10|01/10|01/24/17|02/09/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Seattle, WA

Cryshiabelen..|02/07/11|01/03|01/11|01/11|01/31/17|02/06/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Las Vegas,NV

aravindk......|01/11/10|01/04|01/12|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Jose,CA

Haggischomper.|05/10/08|01/05|01/12|01/12|02/06/17|02/16/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago,IL

Juanita&David.|10/19/12|01/06|01/17|01/17|02/08/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Boise, ID

Indus13.......|??/06/13|01/06|01/19|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Jose, CA

Umadam........|04/19/11|01/07|--/--|01/18|02/10/17|02/14/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Michigan City,IN

daigo.........|04/01/14|01/07|01/12|01/09|02/08/17|03/01/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago,IL

Natasha&Luca..|03/22/14|01/10|--/--|01/18|02/10/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Fargo, ND

Lalalala321...|04/07/14|01/10|01/18|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles,CA

MyJourney.....|04/01/10|01/11|01/13|01/18|02/16/17|02/21/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Denver,CO

ac8238........|09/01/07|01/12|01/18|01/20|02/16/17|02/23/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles,CA

baobab........|01/06/11|01/16|01/18|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Jose,CA

jenafid.......|04/17/14|01/16|01/24|01/19|02/15/17|03/17/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Denver,CO

purplepretzel.|04/15/14|01/17|01/25|01/26|02/15/17|03/15/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Francisco,CA

Leon & Mylen..|04/15/14|01/17|01/24|01/23|02/15/17|03/15/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Diego,CA

Steve&Roi.....|04/16/14|01/17|01/25|01/29|02/22/17|03/16/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Detroit, MI

edrossi.......|10/08/09|01/20|01/27|01/30|02/13/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|St Paul, MN

chalie77......|12/22/11|01/21|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|california?

Elisar........|01/01/14|01/23|--/--|02/03|02/24/17|03/01/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles,CA

KleoLove......|03/--/13|01/23|02/02|02/04|02/24/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles,CA

tufeb.........|06/01/09|01/27|01/31|02/02|02/13/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Jose,CA

pknick........|03/21/09|01/28|01/31|02/06|02/24/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|San Francisco,CA

DisneyLovers..|02/11/09|01/31|02/09|02/09|03/03/17|03/07/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Los Angeles,CA

stuckinmn.....|01/05/12|01/24|02/02|01/31|03/02/17|03/07/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|St. Paul, MN

waitforit.....|04/12/12|01/14|01/17|01/27|02/14/17|03/13/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Chicago,IL

SamF..........|04/18/14|01/18|01/20|01/22|02/15/17|03/20/17|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Las Vegas,NV

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USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
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UserName......|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int Ltr.|Intrview|Oath....|Field Office

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Legend:
GC-Date: The 'Resident Since' Date located on your first green card
Sent: Date N-400 was mailed to USCIS
Cashd: Date your check was cashed / credit card was charged by USCIS
NOA: Receipt Notice Date Printed on your official I-797 notification
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In Line: Date you received e-notification about the start of your interview scheduling
Int Ltr: Date you received the official letter in the mail regarding interview
Interview: Date of your interview
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Field Office: Your local USCIS office where you will have the N-400 interview

A little update that can be useful to some:

The medical facility in Brussels (there's only one, so you don't really have a choice, unless you go to Antwerpen) asked me to bring one picture, as mentioned above. However, once there, the radiologist took one of me with his camera, and asked me to give him one. Then, the physician took another one. I'm glad I made four of them, so I still have two left for the interview (on top of the two I sent with my DS-230).

Everything went fine for the medical exam, I brought my French "Carnet de santé", and the doctor was apparently used to it, and found all the info he needed in there (not so sure it'd work that smoothly in Antwerpen.

Hope that helps a few people!

Yes you need passport size pics (white background US measurements) for interview and medical.

It wouldn't hurt to bring up to date financials since you say you are using solely assets.

Not approved NVC merely reviews and accepts our documents. Final decision is the CO's at embassy.

To get case complete you submitted all that was asked and required.

Congratulations on date. I will add you to case complete interview thread.

I always kept my passport and only sent photocopies. I believe traveling to the USA may be a problem, but other than that, you're completely free to go wherever you want.

I think the embassy in Brussels will retain my passport for a few days after the interview, if I'm granted a visa, but that's it.

Just a quick follow-up:

After checking with NVC, it was confirmed that I can legally reside in the UK (where I've now been for almost a year), and still get my case processed in Brussels, as this is where I applied in the first place. They offered to move it to the London Embassy when we talked to them over the phone, but we denied, as it gives me a good opportunity to visit the family in Brussels, and saves the trouble of getting many many documents translated from French to English.

Hello!

Sorry if this has already been answered in another topic, I searched for a while, then gave up.

I was finally given an interview date in the embassy in Brussels!

I sent all my civil documents to NVC with my DS-230 a little while ago. I was the required to complete a DS-260, and was eventually given an interview date. In my appointment letter, it says in the document cheklist that "The NVC sent this form or document to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate". Should I bring two more photographs with me anyway, or will those two suffice?

The letter does not mention anything about the i-864. Does it mean it was already approved and I don't need to bring it with me to the interview? We rely solely on my assets (immigrant) as my wife is a student. Do I need to bring new bank statements with me?

Thanks a lot for your time, sorry if those questions were already asked somewhere else, and if they sound dumb, but we started this process ten months ago, and we're finally see it coming to an end!

P.S. Does anyone know if the photograph I need to bring to the medical examination can be of European format? The medical office told me she thought so, as nothing was specified, but she didn't really seem to know...

Okay, thanks.

We updated the address via email, we'll wait to hear back from NVC before doing anything else. :-)

According to the I-864 instructions part 7 item 6-8:

"You may use the assets of the intending immigrant regardless of where he or she resides. The intending immigrant must provide evidence of such assets with this form. Form I-864A is not required to document the intending immigrant's assets."

Because of this, I always thought my assets would do. I would change those accounts to joint-accounts, but they're in Belgium and France, and we're in the UK, and she's going back to the US in ten days. I'll see with my bank if we can do it from here.

I was hoping to send the I-864 this week or maybe next week, same with the DS-230, but I guess if they give us a new NVC number, I'd better wait? I just don't wanna stay too long in London (UK) while my wife is back in the US (she has to go back to school).

Thanks for your replies!

Hello, and thanks for your reply.

We already have our NVC number, and it's Brussels. So if that means we'll go to the embassy in Brussels even though we now live in London, that's just perfect.

As for the sponsor, the I-864 instructions mention that I can use my assets on top of my wife's earnings, to meet the poverty requirement. However, my accounts are both in euro, one in Belgium and one in France, and none of them are joint account. I have accounts in the US (including a joint account), and Canada too (never closed my student account in the US, and couldn't close my BMO account from abroad, and I never went back to Canada), but I wasn't planning on using them for my assets, to not confuse USCIS (accounts in five countries could look suspicious even though they are used solely as savings, and I've been trying to close the BMO one for several months).

We tried to find joint sponsor, but could not find anyone who could do it, which is why I really hope my assets will do. Otherwise, my wife will have to go back without me, get a job, meet the requirement, and then bring me in a couple of years...

As for the original question, will NVC attribute us a new case number if we're switched to the London embassy?

Thanks!

Hello!

Thanks to all who give such good advice here everyday, it made our journey through immigration procedure way smoother so far! :-)

My question is pretty simple: my wife and I filed for a CR1 (for myself) while in Belgium. We used an address in Belgium, and were hoping to get the interview there. However, we moved to London (UK) since we sent the I-130, and just updated our address with NVC. Does that mean I'll have the interview at the London embassy?
Problems would be that I have many documents (police certificate, birth certificate, etc.) that are in French only, so if I need to get them translated, I'd rather get started now. Also, I'm using my assets to meet the requirements for the I-864 (as my wife works in London, for the US government, it's like she's making $0...), but my accounts are in France and Belgium. Will that be a problem? Should I transfer the money to the UK?

Thank you! :-)

According to the Times Blog: "Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, confirmed the effect of the ruling in a statement yesterday. “I applaud today’s Supreme Court decision…This discriminatory law denied thousands of legally married same-sex couples many important federal benefits, including immigration benefits,” she said. “Working with our federal partners, including the Department of Justice, we will implement today’s decision so that all married couples will be treated equally and fairly in the administration of our immigration laws.”"

Read more: http://swampland.time.com/2013/06/27/doma-rulings-impact-on-immigration/#ixzz2XM7uQdLp

Pretty sure that means you can try your luck at filing the CR-1 from abroad or adjusting your status once married and in the US. Good Luck.

The form itself states that the intending immigrant should fill out the form. So, the beneficiary should fill it out.

My apologize, since I arrived on this topic via a search, I didn't see it was a regional forum for Canada.

Sorry about that.

From what I understand, USCIS has several Field Offices all over the United States (different from the Service centers), and some abroad too. This is probably where the files are forwarded.

I also got an email from the USCIS office in Frankfurt, and they told me that people from Germany can still file directly with them. I would guess it is the same with people in Italy and United Kingdom, and probably every country with a USCIS office (so not France nor Belgium unfortunately).

It seems like it's back to the way it was before, 3-4 months to get a I-130 approved, and then 3-8 months until interview, depending on the service center, just like if applying from the US.

I hope that helps.

Hello!

My wife and I are going to send the I-130 now, applying for a CR-1 visa. She lives in New York, and I'm still in Belgium at the moment.

We don't have a lot of proofs with us, here's what we have so far:

- Pictures from three trips we took together (Ottawa - Montreal (our wedding trip); Washington,DC; and a week-end in Connecticut)

- Joint bank account

- One affidavit by a friend

As for phone bills and texts messaging, we use Apple FaceTime and iMessages, so no bills. I found a way to get a text file out of my phone, for the messages (8,000 just for October and November, that would be a good proof), but I'm not really willing to give it to USCIS, since it contains some very private messages, and some other where we actually talk about USCIS.

As for FaceTime, we call each other everyday, but I don't know how to get a log file.

My wife is also coming to Europe in January, planning on spending several months here, while the process is taking place, since I won't be able to travel to the US anymore. Would that help? How should we do that? Write them a letter explaining the situation?

So, considering this, would you have any recommendations for proof of bona fide?

Thanks y'all for your help, this site has been really helpful so far! :-)

I think you are over-complicating the matter. Follow the instructions on your embassy website.

From what I understand, those who used their address abroad sent their petitions to the Chicago Lockbox. They were then routed to the NBC. Why would your petition be any different (genuine question, forgive me if it sounds rude)?

You don't sound rude. Before August 2012, petitions sent from abroad had to be sent to Chicago (and were then treated at CSC, and most if not all I-130s were approved within just a few days). From what I understand, people who sent their petitions after August 15th 2012 were not aware of the changes that took place that day. And since USCIS is now immediately transferring the petition to NBC whose job seems to be only to reroute the I-130s to the proper Field Office, I'm merely wondering if it wouldn't be easier (and time saving) to send it directly to the right Field Office.

When they change things, it's always a huge mess at first. That's what happened last year when they ended the DCF and had all petitions sent to the Chicago lockbox, resulting in the "expedited" approval of I-130s, since they couldn't handle the amount of work (that's my guess regarding why they changed it again).

I'm not sure if I'm very clear, I hope I am. :-)

Another thing is, those changes took effect on August 15th 2012, while the Belgium embassy page and the Frankfurt USCIS Field Office pages seem to have not been updated since June 1st.

Unless you meet any of the exceptions (which are very difficult to do - check your embassy), you cannot send your I-130 to Frankfurt. Your petition will have to be sent to the Chicago Lockbox. I too, investigated this route, when I called the USCIS helpline to inquire how I would file. The customer service rep told me (very wrongly) to file my petition with the Athens embassy (I was living in Kuwait). Once I started digging further, BOTH embassies told me the only way to file was to send the petition to the Chicago Lockbox.

Thanks for your answer. That is indeed what I understood earlier, and what I was about to do (seemed pretty nice since most people filing from abroad got expedited and have between 7 and 20 days from NOA1 to NOA2), but that was before August 15th 2012, when USCIS changed a few things.

As explained on the USCIS website (I can't post links, sorry), and according to forum members experience who filed after August 15th, when you send your file to Chicago, USCIS transfer it to NBC (National Benefits Center, formerly Missouri Service Center), which then transfers it to the appropriate USCIS Field Office (and as they say, they will notice you they transferred the file, but wouldn't tell you to which Field Office). So, as Belgium supposedly depends on Frankfurt, my guess is it'd be transferred there, so should I send it there directly? Anyway, I'm going to call them on Monday to try clarifying this giant mess.

If anyone else is in that case, is lost, or has answer, please post here! (or should I start another thread maybe? Since the whole expedited thing does not work anymore)

Hello!

My wife (the USC) and I are planning on sending our I-130 soon from Belgium.

We were hoping to get our file expedited, but we missed the timeframe. No regret, as we got married later in August anyway.

Belgium depends on the Frankfurt USCIS field office. Do you think we should send our I-130 to Frankfurt directly? Or send it to the Chicago lockbox anyway, and wait for them to transfer it to NBC, and then to the appropriate field office?

I'm going to call Frankfurt soon anyway, so I'll post their answer here. If anyone has done that before, let us know!

And thank you all for your comments and posts, it's been extremely helpful so far! :-)