sanchez411

Not to be the bearer of bad news but I've read elsewhere that the IO can still deny the Visa even if you meet the supplement income criteria as they strongly prefer either a co-sponsor or employment. Again, that's what I've read after searching high and low on this website. I'm in the same situation and have US cash well over the the requirement for the supplement income but will still be seeking a co-sponsor.

I live in Toronto, Canada so can someone please tell me who make the cashiers cheque payable to for the AOS $88 fee? The website states it should be made payable to "Department of State".

I just want to confirm that there is nothing missing before or after "Department of State".

Also, once they receive my cashiers cheque, what is the next step for me to do? Do I just wait until they have confirmed they have received my payment?

Many thanks!

Hmmm.. my husband and I are not planning to leave the country until April or May of next year, and we got our NOA2 hardcopy last week. If the whole process, interview and all, ends up being done a lot sooner, then would we have a problem if we don't move until May? We're in Canada and it's not too hard to get to the border, so he could just enter and come back for a few months, right?

Another question: What is the rush on getting the case number if you can't do anything until the NVC does the manual load into their system? The guides I've been reading make it seem like I should get the case number RIGHT AWAY... but I don't see the point. And besides, as mentioned, it seems like we might be ahead of schedule for our move date. I did see upthread that most people "wait a few weeks" before contacting the NVC, which I'll definitely do, because... oops... I barely have any of our documents together! I really didn't think it would come so soon! Sigh... I have to get my back taxes filed even though I haven't worked in the US for four years. And a million other things. It's like a part time job!

As you are not a rush, I would wait the full 30 days as in states in the NAO2 letter before contacting the NVC. As far as stalling till next April/May, Im not sure how long you have or if there is a deadline to produce certain documents/pay fees and mailing additional forms.

Hi! I am a us citizen and my husband is australian. We have been together since 2006 and married since January 2012. We live abroad in Australia but want to go to the USA.

I posted our petition I-130 at the end of May and we received the letter in the mail that they had it on June 20. I checked the case status and it's been approved! Now were waiting to see what the next steps are.

We don't want to enter usa until January as hubby wants one last Christmas here.

Congrats! Looks like we're in the same boat. Just curious, do you forsee any issue in that you are intentionally delaying the process after your I-130 has been approved?

Hi sanchez...what service center was your application been transferred? Are you on premium?

No premium. Just filed like everyone else. No idea why it got approved so fast. Was routed to CSC which have been moving very quickly for the past few months.

Congrats Sanchez. Wish you quick and smooth NVC stage.

When is your NOA1 date and which service center ? Did u expedite your case?

Thanks!

NOA1 Priority date was May 31. Approved on June 16…No, did not expedite nor any special requests whatsoever. Routed to CSC which seems to moving VERY quickly.

Amazing...NOA1 as mentioned earlier in this thread was received on May 31 and our I-130 was approved on June 16....16 day turn around is incredible.

Amazing...NOA1 as mentioned earlier in this thread was received on May 31 and our I-130 was approved on June 16....16 day turn around is incredible.

Congrats you've started the process! I'm still getting my paper work together and trying to somehow get my husbands signature mailed to me for the g325a. Any tips?

You can either have him print/sign and then scan and send as an attachment. If he has a touch smart phone, he can quite easily download a program for free such as docusign where he can sign the document using a touch pen and send via attachment.

I don't know about other filers that are routed to California. But ours is not a case of living abroad with partner. I am waiting here to be united with my husband. Our case is routed to CSC.

lol...well that throws my theory out the window.

I'd read somewhere that they're taking onboard the applications for those that would've done direct consular filing...

Are all the people on this thread who've been sent to California living abroad with their partners? Please let us know!

DCF hasn't been available for quite awhile now...at least in Canada, not sure about other countries. Wondering why suddenly CSC is only now taking that into consideration?

Looks like we have another pattern emerging...

Pattern or is it that filers abroad are automatically sent to CSC within the past few months? Curious how many abroad filers for May were routed elsewhere??

I was just wondering whether your case was transferred to California or not? We filed with USCIS Chicago Lockbox and it got routed to CSC.

Yes, filed with USCIS Chicago lockbox, routed to CSC.

Have a look at the I-130 filers thread for April/14. It appears the bulk of them were routed to Cali and the turn around time was approximately 1.5-2 months. It appears that filers from abroad were sent to Cali and expedited where as those that filed from within were routed to Nebraska. If its anything like April, then it 'appears' to be a very...very good thing to be routed to Cali. Again, that was the situation in April so not sure if Cali has become suddenly backlogged since then but imo, I think worst case scenario is the standard 5 months however Im cautiously optimistic we will be receiving a verdict much sooner.

Received NOA1 today and have also been routed to CSC.

Just received my NAO1 and case has been routed to California. Anyone else been routed to Cali? What are their current wait times?

Hi All,

Canadian Citizen, married to American Citizen living in Toronto for the past 7 years (married 7 years). Leaving Canada for the U.S.

Just submitted the I-130 (along with the G-325a for the both of us) and item was delivered successfully today

Will be visiting my in-laws for a few days in June. Will this cause any issues for me crossing the border?

Also, anyone what the approximate wait time is from end to end in terms of submitting the app I-130 to getting the Greed Card for Canadian Citizens?

Many thanks!

Hi All,

Canadian Citizen, married to American Citizen living in Toronto for the past 7 years (married 7 years). Leaving Canada for the U.S.

Just submitted the I-130 (along with the G-325a for the both of us) and item was delivered successfully today

Will be visiting my in-laws for a few days in June. Will this cause any issues for me crossing the border?

Also, anyone what the approximate wait time is from end to end in terms of submitting the app I-130 to getting the Greed Card for Canadian Citizens?

Many thanks!

Yes totally acceptable.

If you live near a BMO branch, walk in there and ask for a money order drawn on a US bank. BMO happens to have a sister financial institution in the US (BMO Harris bank).

All their US money orders are drawn on that bank.

I did that. it was all good.

Okay great. Thanks MTLGUY.

I'm hoping Scotiabank will be able to do the same.

Canadians are in line just like everyone else, nothing extra speedy:)

Everyone last year took a hit in the timeline as the US Immigration system had shifted their focus to things like DACA and illegal immigrant issues which meant our petition sat in a 'dusty box in a warehouse' for 6 months before being looked at. Many others waited much much longer than that... some even nearly a year before having their I-130 approved! Horrible, but at least now they've attempted to deal with the back-log of 500 000 petitions and get their goal timelines under control.

If that hadn't all happened, then yes I would have likely been done by now.

I've only got ~ a couple of months left dealing with the NVC stage and then will await the interview. My best guess is roughly 3 months to go, hoping for not much longer than that as I miss my husband desperately, and wish to get on with my/ our life

Here's to hoping you and your family are re-united sooner then later!

Petition takes 10 months right now.

Unlike Canada the US immigration system isn't based on where the beneficiary is from.

No Canada xpress post is canada post which turns into USPS (us postal service) in the USA. You send to the post office box.

Canadian check is not okay.

you can try a US money order from a Canada bank account.

Thanks NLR,

Can anyone confirm if a US money order from a Canadian bank account would be acceptable?

One more question, I noticed 2 addresses in regards to mailing the I-130 to the Chicago Lockbox.

or U.S. Postal Service

Be sure to read the instructions of the forms you fill out, as yes, the G325A is a requirement when sending in the I-130. (One for each of you).

Here's your link for the form and instructions:

http://www.uscis.gov/i-130

I was just about to delete my post. Yes, I understand that the G325A is a requirement...sorry about that.

I noticed that it has been almost a year for you in terms of your application. Any reason why it's taking this long? I was under the impression it should be one and done within 10 months of submitting from Canada.

In the instructions with regards to the cheque/money order:

:

First of all, does it really have to be drawn from an instituion located in the US as stated in the I-130 instructions? If not, do I have to send a money order/draft or will a personal cheque in American funds be sufficient?

Thanks,

All of the above advice is very good! Be sure to read those links provided.

The issue of domicile is important in the 2nd stage, ie the NVC stage after you get the I-130 approval. So you do have some time before needing that proof. However you should be actively starting to decide exactly what proofs you can obtain and how you will obtain it, as nothing ever happens as easily as hoped

We chose to have my husband move back to the US and although we're apart, we won't have to deal with proving 'intent' to re-establish which is much more difficult. I realize that's not really an option for you, so search this thread and follow those links as already mentioned.

Oh, and I'm not sure about the taxes. My husband filed even though he didn't make any substantial money (0-1000) in the years he was here in Canada obtaining his PR.

And good luck!

Thank you everyone for your replies thus far. Your assistance is much appreciated!

I'm in the process of filing the I-130 but as per the guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

I will also have to send out the G-325A.

I haven't seen any mention of anyone sending out the G-325A as well. Is that a requirement? Is there any advantage to sending it out along with the I-130?

Thanks,

What visa are you going for? Where is the USA spouse/partner now?

My wife (US Citizen) and myself(CAN citizen) live here in Canada. We are planning a move to the US so I will need a Green card to work. When it comes for the interview to prove domicile, do we have to go to Montreal or can this be done at the US consulate in Toronto.

Thanks

It seems all the interviews to establish domicile is at the Montreal Consulate. I live in Toronto so can this not be done at the Toronto Consulate or would I have to travel to Montreal?

Thanks,

Unfortunately, having a bank account only is not enough proof to establish the intent of moving back to the US; which makes total sense from the point of view of a Consular Officer: lots of foreign nationals can open a US based bank account, deposit money in it, and call it a day. That doesn't mean they have the intention to move there. so the same logic applies for the US citizens who happen to be residing outside the US for a while.

If you have a special needs child, it's up to you guys to prove that it will be a hardship for your wife to move back all by herself (with or without the child). what you're looking at is to try and expedite the process. it's "doable" but from what I've researched, it's highly unlikely they will grant it.

Their definition of "hardship" is vague at best.

Thanks,

From what I've researched, if you have no income then you do not have to file taxes with IRS and this is the case with my wife as she has lived with me here in Canada for the past 7 years and has not worked.

In terms of proving domicile in the US, I don't see the point of getting started on that process started at this point as it will take a year (at the very least) before I receive a green card. At what point do they ask to prove domicile? I would find it hard to imagine that it would be 6 months+ before the app is approved. I would hope they would ask us to prove when it's getting closer to the end and not so early in the process. It doesn't make sense to sign up for a lease or buy a house a year in advance.

Any thoughts on this as well?

Thanks,