Whimplet

I've found 4-5 couples that have submitted I-130 for IR-1 since March 2016. You should be able to find them using the timeline feature and searching on DCF/London.

I've created a thread here for our journey http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/593072-dcf-london-i-130-mailed-7-april/

I'd be uncomfortable submitting a credit card in someone else's name. Maybe someone that has experience doing so could confirm if it will work. If you don't have access to a credit card in your name it might be worth the hassle to get a money order or cheque. Isn't there something like a pre-loaded credit card you can get? UK card is fine to use.

I guess the self addressed envelope will be fine to your husband's work address. I think you need to notify the embassy of your new address if you move during the application process. Are you able to use the new address from the start?

These are the fees I'm expecting.

· $420 I-130 Alien Spouse Petition for Immigrant visa

· £235 Medical exam for Immigrant visa

· $325 Immigration Visa for 1 time entry to USA

· $165 USCIS fee for green card (permanent residence)

· You might have incidentals for passport photos, photocopies, and vaccinations if required.

My employer wants me to be working in the USA by 1st Sept - so we're under relatively tight timelines also.

If we can get the case number in the next 10 days or so i think finishing within 6 weeks is still possible.

I'd prefer to go as a family and not leave them behind in the UK.

As I'm transferring with the same employer and my income is well over the poverty level I'm not concerned about going early to re-establish domicile or anything like that. But there would be nothing preventing me from doing so if the situation called for it or even required it to help the approval along...

We received the NOA2 approval via post on Saturday. Strangely it says the approval happened on 10 June 2016 so I'm surprised we haven't also received the NOA3 yet. I've submitted a follow up via the Immigrant contact form on the website today for an update, requesting the case number.

NOA2 is confirmation of I-130 petition approval by USCIS.

NOA3 is confirmation of case number and that Dept of State Visa processing unit has received the petition for the immediate relative category.

We're both waiting for NOA2 as what was sent on the 23rd.

But I'm told by Nigel on this board that he received both at the same time in a matter of days.

His visa was just approved on 21 June. You can find his timeline just below ours in the list, he started in early March.

So we might get NOA2 and 3 together or we might have to wait for 2-3 weeks for NOA3 which gives us the LND number and allows us to book our interview slot.

I'd add that your husband doesn't need to be in the UK while his citizenship application is being considered.

Normally the biometrics request comes relatively early, once he's submitted them he is free to do whatever he wants.

But will have to return for the ceremony.

If you haven't already submitted his citizenship application, please do the new JCAP (joint citizenship and passport application?) as I believe that means there is no passport interview and you get the passport shortly after the citizenship ceremony.

Otherwise after the ceremony he might need to remain in the UK for 3 weeks or so until he gets his passport due to the interview requirement.

petitioner doesn't need to be there - he can start the move.

His role was the I-130 request/approval and to act as sponsor on the I-864 form (if his income allows) - after that he's not involved in the process

if my wife reads this she'll probably acknowledge that I'm also useless now that our I-130 is approved

I've updated my timeline/info here, but my priority date was April 25.

Just had confirmation today of approval on 13 June, but for some reason was only posted on 23 June.

If you're timeline is similar to mine you should be hearing something soon

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/593072-dcf-london-i-130-mailed-7-april/page-2#entry8197938

NOA2 approved as of 13 June!!!

I couldn't wait for next week, so I just replied to the NOA1 email that I received from the USCIS asking for a status update.

They replied within 2 hours and confirmed that my I-130 was approved on 13 June 2016 and that the approval confirmation was posted on 23 June 2016 - so assume I'll have the hardcopy today or Monday.

Great news! Look forward to getting the NOA3 so we can get the interview date confirmed...

Have updated my timeline, and included summary here:

Our timeline:

05-Apr-2016 Submitted Online Malaysia Police Certificate Request

UK Embassy website just updated from 2 May to 4 May as of 24 June - so not a big move this week.

I still haven't had any update regarding NOA2 approval from my I-130 application via the London Embassy, was expecting to have heard something by now.

Will try to figure out best way to contact USCIS at London Embassy on Monday to get an update.

I'm the USC living in the UK, filed the I-130 with London embassy with priority date of 25 April.

The USCIS UK Embassy website says they're working on dates beyond 25 April as of last week.

How long should I wait to have confirmation?

Is there still a phone number to call the Embassy and inquire? or is it only the online contact form?

I'm not too worried about the NOA2 confirmation (unless I'm missing an RFE), but want to get the NOA3/LND case number asap so I can get my interview scheduled.

I know of at least 2 other VJr's in the UK with similar timelines waiting for updates.

Thanks for sharing - I'm hoping to have my NOA3 by end of June and need an early/mid-august interview date for a planned move in September...

Hey y'all, my fiance just booked his interview! So for those wondering, we got our LND number on Monday morning, the status on the CEAC website went to "In Transit" Tuesday afternoon, but the system didn't allow him to book it until 24 hours after that (this afternoon). We got a much earlier date than expected, 7/19! He said there were still a few dates scattered about in late July, before consistently open dates starting in early August.

We might have faced something similar. check my thread for date specifics, but it was something like 7 April that we submitted the I-130 and tracked to embassy on 8 April. We didn't hear anything, no email or payment taken, but on 20 April we received our application returned due to invalid payment.

I used an Amex card that handles foreign currency better, but it apparently didn't work for them.

Resent application that day (20 April) with visa card, and had email by 26 April with priority date for 25 April.

I'd assume if it's been more than 15 business days and payment hasn't been taken somethings gone awry - either not received at embassy or payment not accepted.

Should be good news for Voyager and myself.

The London USCIS I-130 Processing page now says as of 17 July they are processing petitions filed on 2 May 2016.

My priority date is 25 April - does that mean I should be expecting something in the post early next week (either RFE or Approval of NOA2?)

Just can't happen fast enough!

I ordered all of my IRS transcripts yesterday (16 June 2016) - so hopefully that won't take more than 30 days to arrive in London, but should still be with me well in time for our upcoming interview...

https://uk.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/government-agencies/dhs/uscis/i130filing-html/

Hi Voyager - good to know someone else with similar timelines - please check in and let me know if/when you have positive progress...

I'm still not entirely sure of how we receive the NOA2 confirmation. Is that sent in the self addressed envelope that we send in with the application?

Since our original was returned due to the credit card payment issue, I'm not freaking out trying to remember if we included a new envelope with the resent application.

What happens if we didn't? Do they mail it or contact us by email?

All fingers and toes crossed to see the processing date beyond 25 April tomorrow!

So as of 13 June the review date is 18 April - which if we're lucky means that sometime during this week they could get to our priority date of 25 April, which will hopefully be confirmed on Friday and we'll receive something in the post this week or next.

I will be chasing for our LND number asap so that we can book our interview.

We need to have our interview by mid-august so we have any hope be moving by 1 Sept to the states as my job is transferring me as of that date...

Thanks both - we're trying to get the GP to do the MMR test or might go private to have it done to know what if anything she is missing.

Good to know that there might be discretion with the approval but yes expect if she needs the MMR we'll get it done after the pregnancy.

We're expecting to have our NOA2 this week or next.

And we've been diligently trying to prepare for everything required for the interview and medical appointment.

Just as my wife was going to her GP to get an 'extra' MMR vaccination as it doesn't appear on her records, she realized that she might be pregnant.

Clearly unplanned and very early days, but in fact she is! So the vaccination is now out of the question.

We're trying to get the GP to do a blood test to determine if she has the MMR. Based on her DoB and location growing up we think she might have MM but not the R.

So if she's lacking this vaccination, but is pregnant so can't have it now, will she be able to pass the medical or will they make her wait until after she gives birth before they approve the visa, or will they approve but insist that she should get the vaccine once she's in the USA?

Thoughts?

In the tedious period of waiting...

Still awaiting arrival of tax returns.

Slight complication with the MMR so another GP appointment this week.

Not alot else to do, but feel otherwise we're prepared.

Annoying that prior to the bank holiday the USCIS I-130 review page on the London Embassy site only moved from April 4th to April 5th!

Then last week it moved to 11 April (as of 3 June). Hoping for another jump this week so that our priority date of 25 April gets actioned soon...

I-130 processing at the London embassy only moved from 29 March to 4 April as of 20 May, was hoping for another 2 week jump!

We're going through the IR-1 process via London DCF right now, assuming approval sometime before the end of summer!

Once my Malaysian spouse becomes resident in the USA, has her SSN etc, she will be required to report on her worldwide income for USA tax purposes.

She has both the Malaysian Bumiputra ASB and ASB2 investment funds. I know that the USA has tricky rules around ETF's and other foreign funds.

While it's a very attractive investment vehicle, if it is severely taxed and a labour to report each year, it may not be worth retaining the funds.

Does anyone have experience with filing their USA tax returns and reporting the value/ownership of the ASB including yearly gains?

Is there an online resource somewhere with guidance for Malaysian's living in the USA for this and other tax questions (also how to handle EPF etc?)

Thx

Quick update for our journey.

I-130 processing at the London embassy only moved from 29 March to 4 April as of 20 May, was hoping for another 2 week jump!

Received the UK ACRO Police Certificate on Friday 20 May, waiting to get GP vaccine MMR, otherwise running out of things to do in preparation for receiving NOA2/submitting DS-206...

Our timeline:

Based on advice above this may no longer apply.

But just to point out that you can subscribe to Skype and have a world phone number which you can select.

I've lived abroad for several years but basically kept a USA 'local' number with Skype.

I think you can subscribe for a month, and you can pick the state/area code and number and you can use that for someone to call you back. If you have the skype app on your smart phone the call will come through just like a normal call would as long as you have an active data connection e.g. 3g/4g/wifi

This is good info thanks for posting.

What was the timeline for you to have your ITIN in your hand?

Can you share anything about the stages of the process at high level and how long it took including your interaction with the London Embassy?

I might need to go through this very soon (and will be time critical) so would be really helpful to know.

Thanks

Perhaps sad but was anxiously awaiting (refreshing webpage) the embassy processing time update today. (https://uk.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/government-agencies/dhs/uscis/i130filing-html/)

Processing date 'only' moved 8 days, and is now 29 March.

That could mean they would process our priority date by the first Friday in June which is slightly earlier than the timeline I've mapped out.

I guess it's also possible that some weeks won't jump by 8 days or other weeks jump more, so trying not to get hopes up or read into this too much (although that's easier said than done!)

I saw that jump for the March dates too! I Hope that means they're catching up

Also hope the new interview scheduling process works in everyone's favour...

Wow that's interesting, also seems odd about the short notice relocation as an acceptable reason. Why does this not translate into a reason to expedite via DCF eligible countries?

I'm currently living in London, have filed DCF via London embassy, but I'm also in the scenario as the USC moving within same company to USA job/role at short notice (due to oil and gas market conditions) - I will include this as part of my expedite request to the London embassy

Thanks for that

I've calculated a timeline that puts us roughly in mid-August for completion if we don't have any RFEs.

We've just applied for the UK police certificate, and the rest is just waiting...

My employer wants to move me as of 1 July, so I am preparing a request for expedite based on financial hardship and will see if that can help us move things along as I've had feedback that this has a 'chance' at being successful

I think we have all other evidence/documentation available and will submit at the appropriate time as speedily as possible!