claire_in_nl

1 hour ago, jakelake said:

Where is the petitioner? Isn't the petitioner in the US?

I'm the petitioner, and I'm living abroad with my husband until he gets his visa.

1 hour ago, J&O said:

We had exactly same situation. Sep 8 we have send the papers and Sep 9 we've got that "false checklist". The package was delivered at sep 12. But we didn't get any emails from NVC about that. We found out our scan date is sept 21 by the phone call. But I still be kinda confused. Did you have any emails from NVC after that "check list"? 

Hmm, maybe it was just a coincidence that I got that email right after they got my package. I haven't heard anything else from NVC, not even an automated response to the message I sent through their online contact form.

 

Is there a way to find out your scan date, besides calling them?

Hi everyone,

 

I sent my documents (both packages together) to NVC in September and received a confusing email from them, right after the documents arrived. It had the subject "NVC Notice of Missing Item" and stated that they had received the package, but essentially both the Affidavit of Support documents and the civil documents were missing. No specifics. 

 

Is this the infamous "false checklist"? The email was sent so quickly after package delivery that I doubt a human had time to examine the contents of the package. I used NVC's online contact form to ask for clarification, but so far no response. I hate to call them unnecessarily, since I'm abroad and that's a very long-distance call. 

 

What so you guys think? Do I need to worry? Do I need to call them, or will they send me something by mail if I really need to send something again? Is this just their standard way of saying "Hey, we got the stuff you sent"?

 

--Claire

 

4 hours ago, EvdH said:

Gefeliciteerd! I got that weird notice about the name change yesterday. Did you get that as well? Or just the approval? I am getting nervous now as I am worried something is wrong with our case :-( 

I just got 4 identical approval emails. What was the name change notice?

Just got 4 emails from USCIS saying that my I130 had been approved. Guess they really meant it. I filed in November, but better late than never. Good luck to all you Nebraska folks still waiting. Hang in there.

Just got 4 emails from USCIS saying that my I130 had been approved. Guess they really meant it.

23 hours ago, AmyLo said:

Anyone else ready to give up and go live in your spouse's country? 

 

So. darn. frustrating. I cannot imagine what it is like to wait longer than we already have. 

 

Ugh. 

I've been living in my spouse's country for years and finally decided to throw in the towel and go back, taking him with me. Just hoping I'll be granted permission to go before I completely lose my nerve and decide it's easier just to stay here and be unhappy and homesick. The more time I have to think about what could go wrong in moving a family of 4 to another continent, the less it seems like a good idea.

Thanks for the advice, guys. I'll try emailing the school and see what they say.

Once you get the visa, you do have time to do those things before moving over if you so wish or when you get to the NVC stage you can begin your plans, etc.

Part of the issue is that in order to re-establish domicile for the NVC and embassy, you really should have a place to live in America and school for the kids already arranged by the time you submit that paperwork. Have you thought about how you will fulfill the guidelines of the I-864 yet with regards to that and monetary requirements?

I've maintained an address in the US through my parents and have a driver's license and bank account, although we probably don't want to end up settling there. I'm thinking I'll probably have to use one of them as a joint sponsor, since I doubt anyone will want to hire me if I don't know how long it will be before I can start. My current job (Dutch employer) could probably be done remotely, at least part time, for a while, but I don't know if that would be considered sufficient.

Should I go ahead and sign them up for school in the town where my parents live, even though we don't know when we might be coming? Any advice on when to start looking for a job in the US?

This process is pretty daunting. It's one of the main reasons I've lived here so long.

I'm mostly concerned about the uncertainty of the timing. I like to have things laid out clearly so that I can plan, but I'll just have to have faith that I (we) can somehow manage to find a new job in a hurry, sell our apartment, find a place to live in the US and a school for the kids on short notice. Or is there a sane way of doing this that doesn't involve splitting up our family for a while? I hate to be cynical, but the whole process kinda gives me the feeling that they don't want us back.

1. Country USC resides in: Netherlands
3. When did you file the I-130: November 3rd, 2016
4. How long had you lived abroad: 12+ years
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your situation? No, but it was pretty obvious from the documents I sent
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? No, got NOA1 Nov.18th 2016

I just got Nebraska, too. Is the process really so much slower that way?

I've been stuck living abroad for more than 12 years now, so I guess a bit of extra time here won't kill me. The timing of our move will be tricky either way.

Does that email with the subject USCIS Acceptance Confirmation count as NOA1? I'm still trying to figure out all the stages in this wacky process.

Claire,

Consider a change of direction and a move to the UK, Australia or Canada - The Netherlands is not easy if you do not speak the local language.

I stayed on for an extra 2 weeks after a family visit with my wife tto the USA, dug around in Mass, went to a "impromptu street car" meet next to my hotel where all the owners were from Puerto Rico and I was the only European .... were far more friendly to me than the local Swiss! These experiences help and it confirmed I am interested to move.

We also are working on "reverse culture shock" which may affect you. We are doing what others have done and friends suggested we do, choose a state where no family are based so it is new for us ( plus mum-in law cannot pop round for a 7am cup of coffee!) A number of couples we know suggested this and they enjoyed making a new base for themselves together.

One idea is to keep the links alive for your husband when you move, soccer, Netherland USA chamber of commerce or meetup groups for Dutch speakers, it will all help him have a non-you network to build on.

Not easy, best of luck.

Thanks for the advice, hateadminforms. The language actually is one of the major causes of stress here. I can speak Dutch well enough but I still don't feel like a fully functional human being when I'm speaking it. Luckily my husband's English is extremely good, and he's not nearly as self-conscious as I am.

We'd thought we might try to live not too far from my parents, especially since we have young children, but there's something to be said for making a new base for ourselves.

I just filed an I-130 for my husband, and I'm terrified that he will get cold feet about moving to the US, even if the visa process is successful. He was ambivalent at best about the prospect of moving, even before this happened, and I feel like a terrible person for asking him to do this for me.

I'm still anxious to get back there, though I had hoped that it would be under better circumstances. After 12 years of living abroad and still not feeling at home, I'm throwing in the towel. Living in a foreign country is stressful enough for me even when we don't have a president everyone hates. I'm working at home for a couple of days because I can't bear the thought of seeing my colleagues right now.

Thank you. I guess that's the address for delivery methods requiring a signature on receipt.

Hi everyone,

Sorry if this question has already been answered somewhere, but I'm getting ready to submit the I-130 on behalf of my Dutch husband. We live in the Netherlands, and I'm planning to send it with PostNL as "Aangetekend" (International Registered Mail), but not Priority.

I'm not sure which Chicago Lockbox address I should use.

The instructions say:

For U.S. Postal Service:

USCIS
P.O. Box 804625
Chicago, IL 60680-4107

For Express mail and courier deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: I-130
131 South Dearborn-3^rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

How do I know if it's going to be arriving in Chicago with USPS or with Express mail (whatever that is)? Which address did other folks filing from abroad (and not using a courier service) use?

Thanks