Mrs. Dea

Good Day All

I need some advice. Our case is at NVC we recieved email to pay fees and now my DS 260 is unlocked to fill out. We did consular filing; staying in my home country until everything is sent to my consulate for interview. Based on the timeline I suspect this can be as early as December once I submit AOS ans DS 260, correct?

Our wedding was in June 2018 and that would mean I would get a 2 year GC. As much as I really want to be next to my husband, I don't want to wait 2 years for conditions to be removed and go through all this paper work again.

Would you advise to delay filling out the AOS and DS 260? And for how long? What implications would this have on my process maybe?

I also read somewhere that after all paperwork is done at consulate and immigrant visa is issued, the applicant has 6 months to leave their home country and join spouse in the US. If this is true, should I go ahead with paperwork now, and lets say I get a January interview date, then can I leave my country June (after wedding date) and hopefully get IR-2 stamped at the point of entry ?

Thank you guys in advance, I really appreciate your help thus far.

Hello

As per VJ timeline it says we are to recieve DS 261/ AOS bill

We are consular filing and I the beneficiary got an email from them yesterday with a CEAC website to log in with case # and invoice #. I did so and the 'choose agent' option is greyed out but the option for AOS bill ans DS 260 to 'Pay Now' is blue . When I click pay now on both it takes me to the invoice and requires billing information

Is this this the "AOS Bill" to which VJ timeline refers ? And "send AOS packet and IV packet" is this all online through this CEAC websites ? And not some physical mailing process as it seems. I keep checking post office thinking we'll receive something else in mail.

Go ahead and pay or wait ?

Lovely sounds good 

I already have an SSN from a previous eork and travel visa, i wonder if they will let me keep it? And if yes, can i start applying for work or for compaby transfer prior to leaving for the US?

Good Day

I am the beneficiary and my interview is coming up at the consulate in my country. We didn't choose to adjust status but I stayed in my country and did consular filing. When I come to the US; how soon will I be able to work? Or apply for work.

Do I have to wait on them to send me the green card and a work permit ? Or as soon as I get my immigrant passport I can start looking for work?

I already work for a US company that has a branch in my country too. 

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

Where do you get an October 2020 expiration date?  USCIS forms don't expire as they go by edition dates and can be deprecated at anytime.   The current version is slated to be October 15, 2019.

 

The new i864 is going to be very different 

Yes there is an expiration date stated in the top right hand corner of the form I just see it and he is correct 2020. However there is details on the website saying after Oct 15 they will no longer be accepting that version and will put out a new version.

25 minutes ago, saladboye said:

1. Its done online, why waste on postage ? You may need to bring a copy to the interview but thats it.

 

2. That depends on a lot of factors. Its better to have 2x the required to be on safer side. This all depends on the interviewing offer and what he thinks is best. If the petitioner has a retirement account or stocks or savings, that can tip the odds in your favor,

 

3. Yeah he can if he is in US as a LPR or a citizen.

 

4. Yes. If co-sponsors are involved you cannot use EZ version of the form. Yes they will all have to fill out the A form. Your niece may not have to if she is not an adult yet but will be counted on the household size calculations

 

5. No. The current version doesnt expire till Oct 2020 anyways so dont worry about using the wrong one or not using the latest one. Even if it is out, it is likely similar and just minor changes here and there.

5.  I saw the below on this website https://www.uscis.gov/i-864 which sounds like we should wait.

What to Know About Sending Us Your Form

The current edition of the form, dated 3/6/2018

• We will accept the current edition of this form if it is postmarked on or before Oct. 14.
• We will not accept it if it is postmarked on or after Oct. 15.  

The updated edition of the form

On or after Oct. 15, we will accept only an updated edition that will be linked to this page.

2. That depends on a lot of factors. Its better to have 2x the required to be on safer side. This all depends on the interviewing offer and what he thinks is best. If the petitioner has a retirement account or stocks or savings, that can tip the odds in your favor,

Ok this sounds good then because my husband can add in his retirement and savings. Thanks much for this idea.

1. Its done online, why waste on postage ? You may need to bring a copy to the interview but thats it.

This one confuses me.

"Submitting Evidence

The principal immigrant must submit one original Form I-864 for his or her file along with supporting financial evidence of the sponsor’s income. A Form I-864 is considered original if it is signed in black ink."

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/tips-filing-form-i-864-affidavit-support-under-section-213a-ina

This sounds like my husband is to fill out the form and ensure I have them to upload to the online NVC portal.

And then here, it sounds as if my husband should be filing this from his end in the US based on this? or if Form EZ then below:

Where to File

Good Day:

1. Am I to have my husband (the petitioner) fill out Form I-864EZ sign and send to me to attach to the Form DS-260?

 What other forms or documents should I have him send me in the meantime. (Consular processing)

2. According to this https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p , my husband's W-2 shows, 30K and it says here for 2 people it would require 21,137. I have seen on here where person's met the requirement but was still asked for co sponsor. Would it be too cautious to take the co sponsor route .

3. Also, as the beneficiary, can I use my brother as a co-sponsor or does he have to be related to the petitioner.  

4. "The sponsor must complete Form I-864 and each household member must complete Form I-864A"  Does this mean that, If I can use my relative, would my husband fill out I-864 and my brother fill out I-864A as well as his wife and daughter (my niece)?

A new version of Form I-864 comes out October 15, is there a way to get a hold of the new versions before they are posted on the website ?

Thank you in advance 

Good Day

I am the beneficiary and I live outside of the US and currently awaiting my case to arrive at consulate. I am perusing Form DS-260 and notice it is asking for Affidavit of Support . I will be designated as the agent. 

1. Am I to have my husband (the petitioner) fill out Form I-864EZ sign and send to me to attach to the Form DS-260?

 What other forms or documents should I have him send me in the meantime.

2. According to this https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p , my husband's W-2 shows, 30K and it says here for 2 people it would require 21,137. I have seen on here where person's met the requirement but was still asked for co sponsor. Would it be too cautious to take the co sponsor route .

3. Also, as the beneficiary, can I use my brother as a co-sponsor or does he have to be related to the petitioner.  

4. "The sponsor must complete Form I-864 and each household member must complete Form I-864A"  Does this mean that, If I can use my relative, would my husband fill out I-864 and my brother fill out I-864A as well as his wife and daughter (my niece)?

Thank you in advance 

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

DCF  means you filed your petition DIRECTLY with the consulate abroad or via a USCIS international field office.   If you submitted the petition stateside,  that is not DCF but normal consular process 

Thank you this is now clear 

We did what you call "stateside" at a lock box address. So I will refer to it as Consular Filing  Thank you. 

5 minutes ago, payxibka said:

How does someone request DCF?  

 

It's pretty apparent you are confused 

The letter does read "as per your request"

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

How does someone request DCF?  

 

It's pretty apparent you are confused 

It is possible I may be confused hence seeking clarity, we have never gone through this process before all new.

What I meant was, there are 2 routes: 1. Stay in the US and Adjust status or 2. Select to have case processed at the consulate in the beneficiary's country 

We selected Option 2 as I am not living in the US. Case has been approved. All my questions refer to the consular process.

8 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

I'm confused.  Did you do DCF or stateside filing?

We requested Consular Filing 

Good Day

Thanks to this community I prepared my I-130 with my husband and we are now approved. We requested DCF.

So I did some more research in the guide section and want to confirm a few things:

1. Wait 30 days or 6 weeks minimum for NVC to receive case file from USCIS . How will I know when they have received it ? We haven't been getting emails just post letter which there is a lag in time when we receive mail.

2. How long does it stay with NVC because from here my case needs to get to the consular in my country ? 

3. Would you suggest creating an online account to get notified ?

4. In the meantime what other DCF upcoming documents should we get familiar with or prepare. So far we have gone over i-864 for sponsor and DS 260.

I wish I could get and estimate of days until interview on VJ like we did for NOA 2 

Thank you in advance.

I found this answer helpful as I was just about to ask the same question. We got our NOA1 on March 6, 2019  and out of anxiety I feel like it is taking sometime to  hear from them. Creating a VJ timeline has ours at November 2019 as a cut off. So that is approx 9 months before hearing anything of or next to NOA2. 

5 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Correct for this stage. At later stages the beneficiary will have the requirement to notify address changes. The I130 is about the petitioner and the relationship with the beneficiary. 

Aaah great. Thank you Lil bear.

Good Day from the I-130 instruction form it reads:

"A petitioner who is not a U.S. citizen must notify USCIS of his or her new address within 10 days of moving  from his or her previous residence"

Just to be clear; does this mean there is no requirement for the beneficiary to update address if he/she moves also or this is just for the petitioner. We are doing consular filing process.

Aah Thank you I was confused because I was seeing otherwise that it was (1) that they will use the approval date to determine IR-1 or CR-1 and that when you get your GC in mail 90 days after arriving and then you would have to file some other form to correct it. 

Hi Guys:

I have read a few forum topics on this but I am still not clear:

We are doing the Direct Consular Filing and I would like some clarification on how a 2 yr versus 10 yr marriage is counted for either receiving an IR-1 vs CR-1 green card:

1. Is it from the date of marriage to the date of receipt on NOA2?;

2. Is it the from the date of marriage to the day upon arriving in the US at the point of entry?

3. Is it from the date of marriage to the date you first filed I-130?

Thank you in advance 

20 hours ago, pushbrk said:

An I-797c is just a notice of action.  Is this a receipt notice or an approval notice?

Its says Type of Notice: Receipt. Just so I can update my timeline; Is this what is called NOA1?

21 hours ago, Ben&Zian said:

 

The NOA1 for your I-130 I'm assuming is the March 11th date? Are you a US citizen? If so process will be 12-14 months.... if LPR, two years. It's a waiting game now until you hear approval for the I-130.

The petitioner is a US Citizen; thank you.

Good Day:  

We received Form I-797 C on March 11. All our information on the form looks correct. What should we do next, or what are we awaiting next?  How long estimate again before we hear from them? The beneficiary is outside the US and we opted for consular processing. 

Thank you in advance.

Hi Guys:

We mailed our I-130 package to the Chicago Lockbox to the PO box address sent on Saturday, March 2 and now the tracking is updated with this but not showing as delivered:

Is it that a representative from USCIS comes and clear the P.O Box at a certain time? And would you know how frequently they clear it?

@pushbrk thank you. Indeed I saw the thread before posting this question because after going through the thread I did not see any Jamaican posting or answering same. As one person said in the thread; there may be differences of treatment based on the country arriving from so I posted it to see if I could get an answer specific to arriving from JA'can ports. It was a helpful thread and I will indeed be prepared.

10 hours ago, Apple Bee said:

 

To answer the bolded:

 

Just update your profile and select Jamaica as your country  and any threads you make will automatically appear there.

Thank you I tried that now and I see like a hashtag with Jamaica but I go in the Jamaican portal and my question is still not there.

Good day 

I am not sure how to get this thread in the Jamaican portal.

But my question is did anyone have problems traveling to the US while consular filing for I-130 was in process? What were the circumstances? 

This is under the circumstances that you already have a visiting visa at the time the petition was filed.