johnnydobbins

11 minutes ago, MexicoExpat said:

Is there likely to be any problem that I don't currently have my card as my residency is being renewed?

They are going to want to see the card, most likely.  But, having said that, when I showed mine last week the guy seriously asked for more proof I'd been living in the country for more than three months.

Either way, you'll likely have your card back from immigration before you get your i130 appointment.

49 minutes ago, MexicoExpat said:

My original plan was to apply in January of 2020 to meet that timeline.

I would not wait --you can get the I130 approved and then deal with scheduling the visa appointment more liberally, likely stretching it out to match your timeline.  Don't miss your chance to DCF and get that part covered fast and easy; you'll be miserable waiting on the "mail it in" method.

18 minutes ago, MexicoExpat said:

Did you have any issues making the appointment to file the I-130. I'm also about to start this process in Mexico City, and whenever I visit the USCIS website to book the appointment, it says there are no appointments available. I'm hoping they haven't already stopped accepting applications due to USCIS closures abroad.

They have not stopped accepting appointments yet and do not have a scheduled close date.  Try every day and you'll get one either when the next full month opens up or when someone cancels. 

15 minutes ago, MexicoExpat said:

Did you have any issues making the appointment to file the I-130. I'm also about to start this process in Mexico City, and whenever I visit the USCIS website to book the appointment, it says there are no appointments available. I'm hoping they haven't already stopped accepting applications due to USCIS closures abroad.

It was tough to get the appointment scheduled; we checked every morning early and it appears they open a one month block all at once.  Just check every day and you'll eventually see a lot of them open up and then they go fast over the following days.

I was able to get an earlier appointment that the one we got when the full month opened just by checking every day; you'll see random days and times open when people cancel their appointments.

Don't give up, be persistent --you'll get the appointment!

20 minutes ago, geowrian said:

I don't believe Mexico City has picked up all territories that the other 2 had.

According to USCIS, they have.

Quote

The USCIS Field Office in Mexico City, Mexico, will assume responsibility for certain immigration services provided to individuals residing in the Mexican states of Baja California Norte, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa, and Sonora (see table below).

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/mexico-uscis-ciudad-juarez-field-office

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/mexico-uscis-monterrey-field-office

Doesn't hurt to check before misguiding people with hunches.  Also, Mexico City USCIS isn't just 'Mexico" its:

Quote

USCIS Mexico City is in the Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean District and has jurisdiction over U.S. immigration matters in Canada, Cuba and Mexico

And they don't have a firm date yet for closure so if any of you are wanting to DCF, I would.  Don't be discouraged by 'closure' notices until its actually posted on the USCIS website.  Also, email USCIS in Mexico City to confirm if you have questions --they typically respond in under a day.

There is a lot of confusion around this for some reason I guess because people keep making posts that aren't backed up anywhere.  I would always confirm directly w/ Mexico City on any questions you may have.

HRQX Is correct here; the USCIS office at the Embassy in Mexico City is open.  They did close the USCIS office at the Consulate in Juarez.  Folks often get confused because, oddly enough, all of the Consulate Interviews for CR/IR-1 happen at the Juarez consulate.  So while you can't file your I130 in Juarez, the interview will be Juarez.  

People who were previously covered by the Juarez USCIS office geographic region, they now fall into the Mexico City USCIS geographic region.

I filed our I-130 packet today in Mexico City and it was a breeze.  We showed up early, found the right line and obtained those important little 'tickets' to enter the building.  We were the first in the USCIS office there and the person who received us was very nice and polite.  The first thing he said when he saw my permanent residents card was, how else can you prove you've been living in Mexico more than three months.  I had a brand new passport with one entry stamp in it which caused him to say "it looks like you've been here about a week".  Thankfully having lease details solved that.  A word of advice to anyone else going in to DCF, have more than your Temp or Perm residents card handy to prove you've been living in the country.

He reviewed the full packet of affidavits, leasing details, 3 years of joint travel documents, a similar amount of photos and the reviewed our original certificates, etc.

He asked for a copy of my beneficiaries visa (b1/b2 border crossing card) --which we had not expected and did not copy but we did have the card.  He made a quick copy for us, wrapping up the doc review.

At the end, he read out what their process was (noa1, noa2 then Juarez) and that it takes 'about 8-9 months' for the entire process but their part should be fast.  I'm thinking the DCF approach will not take that long, but it was nice of him to just explain everything as clearly as possible so we understood it.

We followed the Mexico City DCF guide shared here by another user and it was very helpful.  Now we're just looking for our NOA1 and NOA2 to come hopefully quickly so we can start preparing for Juarez.

Some notes about the Embassy: 1) they will store your bag and electronics for you so don't resort to using anyone in the street for that. 2) have your appointment letter. 3) When 'getting in line' find and clear yourself with the 'embassy worker' who is there so you get those necessary tickets (ours were purple squares) to enter the building.

Call the number and then dial 1,2,2,2. It works!

Thanks! Called, the young lady was nice and said my case was outside normal processing time of 5 months and opened a service request for me. Lets see what happens.

So only 3 people left in VSC?????

Baby21 and jonnydobbins did u guys call vsc??

Any updates?

Anyone have a direct number? I keep getting an automated system that just tells me what the website tells me.

My husband got a RFE while out of town working and got a reminder text about it only friday saying its due on Saturday the 26, he only got to read the actual letter a few minutes ago, they want a passport photo of him and his biological information..is this correct and needed? As I am the beneficiary and he is the petitioner. He didn't send his passport photo initially maybe he was supposed to? But he filled in both our biological information in the initial application and only my passport photo was included.,very strange in deed. Can someone help me with this, I have a feeling they have mixed up who is the applicant etc but the NOA1 is correct.

Thanks from a stressed Irish woman stranded in Ireland waiting for her spousal visa.

:-)

Hi there! Its correct that the petitioner and the beneficiary both need to submit a G-325A and passport sized photos. Assuming you are cr1/ir1, check out this guide for details: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

So now I have hope that some other people here that are at the VSC have been approved and don't know it. I actually live in Vermont (3 hours from the center) and just got the letter today- 5 days after I got approved. So those that live in other parts of the country maybe will get their letters later this week from the VSC.

Did you get your paper mailed noticed before you got your email or the website was updated? I'm waiting at VSC too.

I got the transfer letter in the mail today- my case was transferred to the Vermont Service Center. (Whoever is updating the spreadsheet can add that to my info).

Interesting that I got routed there, as I currently live in Vermont. Was anyone else transferred to Vermont? I will have to check the September sheet to see how fast they are moving there.

I REALLY hope everyone else in the October (especially early October) gets their transfers very soon! I bet it will be this week.

I got moved into Vermont Service Center directly after getting my NOA1; welcome to the small crowd hanging out over here.

I really wouldn't start to worry quiet yet, there have only been a couple OCT transfer/approvals at this point. But it does feel sooo close, right?

I-130 Mailed to Chicago lockbox today! Let the anxiety begin!