Dumpsta121

That mean you already transferred..

Spreddsheet sawing that you were transferred on 02/10/2014..Didn't you?

Please call USCIS and find out where you get transferred.

Congrats Julio_ Hima..

so happy for u

Thanks so much! I'm really happy to hear that news!

I may have been transferred on the 10th, but if I was, I wasn't aware of it, haha. I'm not sure where that date would have come from. I don't know if anyone else would have been able to check my case, but I don't think so.

Like I said, I never got an email, and I'm not sure how many days the website has been changed. I try to not check it too often to get it off my mind.

Either way, you are the bearer of very good news for me, Deep! Thanks

Hey guys,

I haven't gotten a transfer email or text yet, but the website shows my status as this:

The I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN was transferred and is now being processed at a USCIS office.

However, I don't know really remember exactly what it said before. Does this mean I have had a transfer already, or is this just the generic text? Thanks!

Thanks! I've been lurking here since day one. You guys have helped keep me sane.

Luckily i'm living together with my husband in Brazil during this process and we've been here together for 8 years already, so we don't have quite as urgent of a situation as others. I really admire and feel for the people who are waiting this time out separated from their significant others.

Also, thank you so much those who are compiling the timeline document. It is by far the most transparent metric we have for estimating the length of this process.

Hey Guys,

I thought Id already checked in, but I guess I hadn't. If you'd like to add me to the document tracking, my NOA1 began on August 18th. Still waiting on a transfer.

" As far as the age difference goes, don't worry about it. Love is love, and when you're crazy about each other it's pretty obvious and the rest of the world can just deal with it."

Yes, Love is love! I will sure keep you guys informed about how we go and the stages of immigration.

Thank you for your support.

If it puts your mind more at ease, my mother, a 50+ woman met and fell in love with a Tunisia man of 29. They got the K-1 fiance visa fairly easily, and they had only known each other a year or so. Tunisia is even a relatively more complicated country to get the K-1 from and they did. As long as you have good bonafide evidence of your relatoinship, you are fine. I think as you start looking more into the process, you will so how doable it all is. I was where you were just 1.5 months ago. After a ton of research, I feel a little more confident (although, I still have a very long way to go).

Hi Fulano de Tal. This is an aside, but also kind of appropriate, since it's one of the first major same-sex threads (at least that I've seen), but it looks like you and I are in very similar situations. I`m the USC in a same sex couple, also living in Brazil. I just got my NOA1, how is your progress going?

Honestly, it would probably be good to get a few of the Same sex couples in touch with one another, at least in a simple thread like this. I have a feeling there may be a few RFE's or similar roadblocks that come up commonly in homosexual situations, simply because it is such a new process. We may be able to trade some good information.

Fulano, I just realized I assumed you were gay based on the post in this thread and your picture. I hope that was accurate! Either way, sorry for assuming.

Hi, and welcome aboard...

There are quite a few same-sex couples who have joined recently, and if you haven't already done so, there's a discussion thread called "Bi-National Same Sex Couples: Show Up!" where a lot of people have introduced themselves. Many same-sex couples seem to be going the fiance visa route, although there are a number of married couples as well. It's really interesting to see the variety of countries already represented.

As far as the age difference goes, don't worry about it. Love is love, and when you're crazy about each other it's pretty obvious and the rest of the world can just deal with it.

Good luck with your process and keep us posted!

Hi Fulano de Tal. This is an aside, but also kind of appropriate, since it's one of the first major same-sex threads (at least that I've seen), but it looks like you and I are in very similar situations. I`m the USC in a same sex couple, also living in Brazil. I just got my NOA1, how is your progress going?

Honestly, it would probably be good to get a few of the Same sex couples in touch with one another, at least in a simple thread like this. I have a feeling there may be a few RFE's or similar roadblocks that come up commonly in homosexual situations, simply because it is such a new process. We may be able to trade some good information.

Yup, I recommend avoiding a lawyer. As long as your reading,organizational and google-fu skills are decent, the lawyer cant really do much that you cant.

Even for homosexual couples, I don`t think there is a strong need for a lawyer.

It doesnt matter who actually pay the fee, as long as you include it with your packet. For example, my mother took out a money order for me, since I'm not in the US.

The only requirement is that it must draw on US resources.

Good Luck man! Doma was such a victory!

I just got my NOA1 for my Same-sex marriage today. I waited for seven years, I can wait another one now while going through the immigration process.

Just received my NOA1!

I'm pretty excited because I was a bit worried I had sent the packet to the wrong lockbox! I know it's a really long process, but it feels great to officially have the first step moving forward.

I'm an Auguster too!

I mailed mine in last Friday and I believe it arrived on Monday! No Noa yet, but it's early days still.

Hoping for an expedient journey for all of us!

Hey, I havent gotten a receipt yet.

Ill check with my mother about the money order. I paypalled her the money and she bought the money order for me.

So, all petitions go to the NBC before being processed? That is a relief. I didn't realize the initial lockbox didnt really matter.

Hey guys,

I sent my I-130 packet to my mom to forward to the Chicago Lockbox, but we must have miscommunicated somehow and she sent it to the Phoenix address. Is this a major problem? I'm living out of the country, so I think it doesn`t matter too much, but I`m worried that now my documents are going to be lost.

Thanks.

Thanks again guys!

Ill check out the NVC forums now.

Thanks guys!

I`m lucky in that waiting isn`t a problem for me. My spouse and I are nice and settled together in Brazil, so it is really just a matter of finalizing life here once we get the approval. I`m actually a little worried the process will go too quickly not too slowly (if I get expedited because I am out of the country, it looks like that is happneing with a lot of people). The ideal time for me to move would be next July, but I am flexible up to 3 months before, and indefinetly after. The biggest time pressure for me is to be able to spend some quality time with grandparents before age catches up to them too much.

I appreciate all the help! Here is to a speedy and easy process for all of us!

Thank you!

So, I believe my packet is arriving at the USCIS today (maybe tomorrow).

When should I expect my NOA1?
How should I expect to be contacted for the NOA1? I sent the email notifcation form, is that the only contact I will receive?

Is there something else I need to do between now and receiving the NOA2, other than preparing the NVC packets?

Thanks.

Unfortunately, I have to send the packet to my mother first (she needs to add in a few minor things from that end).

I think that I'll just send her a pre-labelled envelope using our Brazilian address as the return address. That shouldn't be a problem, right? That's not misconstruing information or anything, as far as I know.

Chris/Trinh, thanks for all the information. The postal service is decent here. Sometimes it is great, sometimes it is terrible. Packages tend to be a problem while paper documents are normally ok, but slow. That's my biggest fear with using the address here; the Brazilian mail service isn't too trustworthy. Luckily, I can use DHL for sending in important documents, and it sounds like I can get status updates through contacting the USCIS.

Man, this process is intimidating.

I am the petitioner living in Brazil with my beneficiary.

I'm going to be mailing things to my mother through DHL, who will forward the documents to the Chicago Lockbox.

All the addresses I've included on my I-130 and G-325s have my Brazilian residence (which is where I currently live). I'm curious if I should use my mother's address as the return address, or if it is better to use my Brazilian address. I'd like to have a chance at the expedition I've seen happen with the chicago lockbox in cases of "exiled" couples.

How will the USCIS get in contact with me for RFEs and NOAs? Im also sending in the document requesting digital contact, but from what I understand, that is only for the NOAs, correct?

Thanks!

I took them at 2x2. Thanks for the clarification guys, it was really useful! Sending the packet on Thursday!

Thanks so much guys!

That really helped to clarify it. So, to summarize, I need a 2x2 photo with a face that fits the face dimension requirements.

So, I know I need to include passport photos with my g325-a biographies, but I'm confused about the size to include.

One site mentioned that the pictures need to include a face that is between 25-35 MILLIMETERS. Another site said that all photos must be exactly 2 x 2 INCHES.

Any tips?

Thanks!

I'm finalizing my g325s and I'm a bit confused about what to do regarding the A file number. From what I understand, that is an alien registration number. Neither of us have that, so I wrote "none." Is that acceptable, or is it necessary to leave that space blank?

In 2002, my spouse was denied entry into the US, because he had overstayed his previous visa (irresponsible, I know, but he was a wee teenager at the time). He never had to go to court, or anything, he was simply denied entry at the airport, and given a 5 year ban.

So, I've read up everything I can about this, and what I understand so far is that since the ban has expired, it isn't that big of a deal for a cr-1 process.

What I want to know, though, is if I need some kind of form, document or other paperwork to prove that the ban is over, Is there a specific, additional paper or form I need to submit? He was able to get a tourist visa to the US 2 years ago, and he has entered the country twice with that visa (although he always has to go through one additional step at POE, because of it). We don't have any paper work or number from the removal proceedings, but I know it is in the system somewhere. Honestly, I don`t even know what authority I could get the paperwork through; USCIS, DHL, NSA, INS?

Thanks!

I´m in a similar situation, but living in Brazil,where full marriage was recently approved. I went through a process to upgrade my civil union into a marriage, and I'm waiting on that document to arrive so that I can send off my I-130 packet.

My recommendation,if you have the financial resources for that, is to get married in a SSM state in the US, Vermont, CT, etc. If you live in one, even better. By the way, it doesn't matter if the state you LIVE in accepts SSM or not, immigration is a purely federal issue. I´m going to be moving back to Louisiana, strongly against SSM, but I'll still be able to get a CR-1 for my husband.

But yeah, Civil Unions are generally not sufficient (although if you have been in one for an extended period of time, it will make great evidence of a bonafide relationship).

Thanks! Great tips guys.