Nynn

Oh I am so so happy, guys! Today when I called NVC, the lady on the phone told me case was completed on the 3rd, yesterday, and said they just scheduled the interview date - September 21st!!!
OMG FINALLY!!! :joy:
There were no checklists, obviously the papers I sent were all good!!! So happy! Now the last two hurdles remain! The medical exam (praying to God mom has no complications from the darn vaccines) and the Interview itself!
Godspeed to all of you! Keep us posted!

They have the privilege of entering the US for 90 days now. Is that not enough?
Your parents won't be able to keep the green card "active" if they are not living in the US. The green card is for residing in the US not visiting. They would have to spend more than six months at a time in the US and spend less than that back in their home country. Yes they can try it and will be able to travel back and forth for a while but eventually it will catch up to them if you are planning on doing this for years.
What you want to do is a short term solution (maybe a year or two). But after that their permanent residency would be in jeopardy.
A decision has to be made, immigrate to the US or continue visiting for short periods.
P.S. Anyone that is not a citizen can be denied entry at any time.

Hi,
My Mom went for her interview at USA embassy in Kiev Ukraine on JUNE 11. IR5 VISA. Interview was at 8.a.m . It took total of 20 minutes. She was asked 4 questions:
1 What's your daughter's name?
2. How long has she been living in USA?
3. How she met her husband?
4. Which state she lives in?
That was it. They also did a quick check of some papers, did not look at originals at all. One document was I-864a, which had a couple of errors that we sent to her instead of NVC because they were going to send the NVC documents to Embassy soon.
Everything went very smoothly. We did everything our selves, did a lot of checking here for other peoples experiences. Some other Internet searching.
Hope this helps others. We look forward to my Mother coming here soon. She wants to spend the Summer in Ukraine then plans to be here maybe by September.
Olga

Lying on a visa application would do more than complicate things

Hello, All.
I am happy to say I have had my interview at the US Embassy in London (June 22nd, 2016) and have had my Spouse Visa granted. My wife is an American Citizen and I am British. She initially put in the I-130 petition in for me back in March 2015. However, we put it on the back-burner for a few months to see if we had any chances for her British Spouse Visa.
As you may be aware, the British Immigration system is the worst and puts couples through torture for years before they tell you anything - long story short, we went into appeal and decided to ####### it. We decided in January this year to continue with the US Spouse Visa. I filled out all forms, prepared all paperwork and gathered all documents myself (saving me a few thousand dollars for Attorney costs).
I have outlined all my steps and timing approximations below:
Filed I-130 application with proof of marriage in the final week of March of 2015 ($420).
Received confirmation that it has been accepted at Lockbox in Nebraska, also in March 2015.
I received notification that I had one missing document - so resent that specific document.
My file was transferred to the NVC (National Visa Center) and received confirmation on December 4th, 2015.
The NVC confirmation instructed me to do the following:
Assign an agent DS-261, so I assigned myself
Pay the Affidavit of Support fees, so I paid $120
Pay the Immigration Visa DS-260 fees, so I paid $325
Submit Affidavit of Support and supporting documents, so I submitted my wife's and brother-in-law's financial docs such as IRS Transcript, W2 and Employer confirmation letter as well as proof of citizenship/identity/address/relationship, marriage proof, police certificate, birth certificate, passport copy and signed Affidavit of Support forms I-864
I submitted all of this in March this year (2016).
Got confirmation from the NVC on May 6th, 2016, that the NVC has received everything they need and it is being sent to the Embassy in London for interview scheduling.
On May 10th, 2016, I received my US Embassy Interview date and time of June 22nd, 2016.
I then scheduled my medical for June 8th, 2016 at Knightsbridge Doctors in London.
Obtained a vaccination report from my doctors before the scheduled medical date (£33).
Attended medical and learned that I needed to update my vaccination with 2 new shots, so I paid £80 for 2 new shots and another £250 for a full body medical check.
Medical report is sent to the Embassy directly in approximately 4 days from the day of the medical.
Prepared all my original documents:
Valid Passport
Passport copy
2 x (2"x2" passport photos) - the size is American size photos
Birth Certificate
Birth Certificate copy
ACRO Police Certificate (£45 from what I remember)
ACRO Police Certificate copy
Marriage Certificate
Marriage Certificate copy
Marriage Deed
Marriage Deed copy
ALL correspondences received from the USCIS and NVC
Copies of Affidavit of Support documents initially sent to NVC
Tonnes of evidence of marriage, traveling, communication, gifts and general living life together on a long distance basis
SPOUSE VISA GRANTED! Interview was ~5 minutes.
As soon as I receive my passport back with the immigrant visa packet (THIS MUST NOT BE OPENED, ONLY CBP AT THE AIRPORT IS ALLOWED TO OPEN THIS - I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH), I will need to pay $165 USCIS Immigrant fee. Without this payment I will not receive my Green Card in the mail.
Note: Affidavit of Support documents and forms were sent by the NVC to the Embassy in London and I was not required to take it in again, but just in case of any issues I still took it. Also, everyone's case can be different - so the NVC will write to you with what you need to take to the Embassy. The list above outlines me acquiring everything they asked for and extra stuff in case.
I hope I have outlined my case end to end with enough information to help anyone out there that is in similar circumstances.
Regards

We signed everything in black ink from the I130 to the AOS to the waiver documents. Nothing was ever questioned.

I just want to share my mom and I journey of petitioning her. Which hopefully could help fellow applicant who just applied or soon be applying IR-5 for their parent. This all the things I done
FIRST STEP I submit all the list of document I need for petitioning my mom
form I-130
Form G-1145 E-Notification
Check $420
My birth certificate (COPY)
My marriage certificate (COPY)
My naturalization certificate (COPY)
My passport (COPY) ( I just submit even if doesn't need it. It won't hurt anyway)
My petition to change name court (COPY) (I change my middle name that’s why)
Mom birth certificate (COPY)
Mom marriage certificate (COPY)
I Submit above-listed documents to USCIS Phoenix Lockbox: (note: read the instruction for form I-130 where to send your file)
USCIS
ATTN: I-130
PO Box 21700
Phoenix, AZ 85036
The 5th week of October I Receive e-notification route it to Nebraska service center
1st week of November I receive notice of action 1 (NOA1)
4th week of November I receive the official approval notice NOA2 in the mail
1st week of December I check uscis website got a update my case was sent to the Department of State for visa processing. Now I found out it was sent to Department of State for visa processing Now going to start to bug them calling once a week.
2nd week of December I called NVC contact number 603-334-0700 to get MNL and invoice number. she told me they don't have my receipt number in their system yet. She ask if I have a approval notice I said yes. she told me Its usually take up to 35days before they receive it. try to call after 35days.
3rd week I called NVC. The call representative told me they received my case Dec 08 but I can't get a case number yet because it's usually take about 4 weeks. Now I know they receive my case I will call again next week.
4th week I called NVC. I asked the call representative if I can get a case number and invoice number. After she gave me the case and invoice number. I asked her if do I need to get beneficiary number?. she said I can gave it to you if you wanted too And I said sure. ( I know I don't need the beneficiary number I just get it just incase I might need it. It's not a big deal it just good to have it though.) As soon as I get my case number I went online and click on Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx then start the ds-261, online choice of address and agent .After I finish the ds-261 I print the choice of agent confirmation for my own record. so I can review my papers. I guess I like printing everything then I sign out then sign back in hoping the AOS and IV fee is unlock so I can start to pay oh well it wasn't hehehe... check again tomorrow.
Dec 22 sign in in CEAC website. yehey! AOS is ready to pay. I paid $120.00 dollar. I print the receipt and the document cover sheet. I try to pay IV fee but it's still locked it won't let me so I sign out. I checked my email I received the welcome letter from NVC at the same day. I filled Affidavit of support form http://www.uscis.gov/forms everything you need how to fill up the form every part and number is in the instruction and the instruction is awesome They make it easy.
5th week of december i called nvc I ask call representative if she can review my ds-261 because I can't pay the IV fee. She told me somebody already working with my case and she can't do it she can't review my ds-261 over the phone, I have to wait it take about 2 weeks. Well I guess I try to call again may be I will find a call representative that willing to review my ds-261 so I can start to pay the IV fee.
Second time I call nvc same question if she can review my ds-261. she told me she can't and It take about 45 days and I just have to wait. (in my mind huh last time I called it take about 2week now 45days). My husband said can you stop disturbing them. I told to my husband ohh no I can't I love nvc i miss their ringtone make me sleepy lol!
Third time calling NVC of course bug them again. i just like to call every week lol!. this time I called 2pm and a nice agent answer. I told him my aos showing not paid and I already paid it Dec 21, he said it's rejected either I put the wrong info or I have to call my bank. I also ask if he can unlock the IV fee so I can pay it together. He said yes I can review your ds-261 over the phone now. (in my mind I was thinking wow finally got a nice agent that willing to review my ds-261). He just ask me what is your birthdate and who is the agent. He told me it will take about 7 days for them to send me the IV fee Bill before I can pay. I ask him another question if I can submit the aos and IV document together. He said yes but I have to separate them with rubber band. ( in my mind huh rubber band. I'm going to rolled them up lol!.) But I'm not going to follow what he said about rubber band I just going to put a paper clip or folder for aos and iv document so it look more presentable and nice then send them in one envelope. Done paying aos fee. Then after 2days the IV fee become available I didn’t have to wait 7 days like the agent said. Done paying IVF.
SUMMARY :
Here's all the link I use.
I-130 and affidavit support form http://www.uscis.gov/forms (note: all the form you need is in this website) CEAC website https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx (note: website for ds-261, AOS Fee, IV Fee and ds-260 NVC contact Info http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/nvc/nvc-contact-information.html COST:
Petition Filling Fee $420.00
AOS Fee $120.00
IV Fee $325.00
TO VJ ADMINs, moderator and organizer etc.. I have a request can you please leave my post open I mean available for me to edit. so I can add the medical and interview here. I'm still in the process it will be nice to add more info the medical and interview journey here than to make another post. i'm still on IV fee process waiting for it to show paid so I can start ds-260. thank you admins appreciate y'all.

Some hope now. Nebraska is catching up and as per latest processing time frame, they are in 5 months timeline now.

It was also shocking to me when I checked that my case was already approved in 27 days. Yeah, like u guys, I was so disappointed when they forwarded my Mom's paper to Nebraska as I already read that it's so slow there. So, I expected the worst from them haha. But, I just don't really have an answer as to why it was so quick though.
I wish I had taken a pic of my Mom's papers coz even though it was less than 15 papers, I compiled it neatly and in a binder with a clear plastic cover for each page. I had done that with my citizenship and it was quickly approved too. I don't really know if it helped my case or not because I really didn't do anything out of the extraordinary. I also did not expedite my Mom's papers, I was kinda thinking about it because I didn't wanna wait for like 6-11 months. I guess, I just got really lucky.
Now, hopefully NVC will be faster as well. I wanted my Mom here ASAP because my Father just died last December and no one will take care of her but me. I'll start calling the NVC next week. I'm hoping that she can already fly here next month. Gotta be positive! hehe! I'll keep U guys posted.

For my MOM:
January 4, 2016 - sent her petition to Chicago
January 5, 2016 - USCIS received the papers
January 7, 2016 - accepted and routed to USCIS Nebraska
February 1, 2016 - case was approved