DeParaquedasBrasi

I’m in the same boat mate. Married in 2017 and moved to Brazil and never took any action. Mom is sick and needs taking care of so we submitted our i-130 the past April. It’s gonna take roughly a year or more. I kick myself for not doing something sooner/pre Trump. 

Follow this link to the processing times website. 

You're gonna need an NOA1 (I-797C) before you can find out what processing center your case was sent to....each one is different....just pray you don't get Nebraska.

In case you don't know, NOA1 is the receipt the USCIS sends you by mail after they receive you documents, keep it and don't loose it. It usually takes about a month to get after your packet was delivered.

https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

2 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

Grocery store analogy . . . Some checkout lines are faster than others.   

 

Every petition is unique, has different variables and every petitioners and beneficiary background will be different.   Then each adjudicator works, well however they work.  Then cases will also get moved between centers to even things out.  Hopefully no RFEs.

 

and yes being a USC does make it faster . . . otherwise you are applying for a F2A visa

4 hours ago, geowrian said:

In general, things are processed first come, first serve. But it's more like a massive supermarket with 100+ checkout lanes. Some are faster than others. Some need a price check. Sometimes somebody is paying entirely with small coins. There's always somebody going faster than you, and always somebody going slower than you.

There's also things like expedites, extended background checks, verification of documents, RFEs, etc., that impact timelines.

 

Best thing you can do is not focus on others...you'll drive yourself mad.

 

It's generally faster for a USC petitioning an immediate relative than an LPR doing so, yes (even more so when PDs are not current...then it adds year(s) to the process for an LPR).

Thanks for that illustration, makes sense.

just one more question, do you get a notice/email once they actually start working on your case, or do they just eventually send an NOA2 stating if it’s been approved or denied?

I’ve always been under the impression that I-130 cases are processed and approved in a first come-first serve order, but looking at the historical chart on this site I see inconsistencies. I filtered it to show only cases in Nebraska since that’s where my case is (why god WHY NEBRASKA), and I see inconsistencies.

Example: some people who filed in July of last year barely got their NOA2 this month, yet others who filed in January of this year got their NOA2 this month also......???

That throws me off to understand where exactly they stand as far as what month they’re working on. 

Does being an US citizen petitioner make your case go faster. 

‘We’ve been married for over 2yrs but just now filed in April so I understand we have a long ways to go. 

5 hours ago, Hank_ said:

You don't have to move back, but you do need to have U.S. residency established, be it using your sister's address or ...

 

Do you have a U.S. bank account?   

 

 

1 hour ago, Nitas_man said:

I certainly did not move back first and we were out over 4 years.  I planned for that though.

 

Do you have a current drivers license/bank account/credit card/US address?  Where did you put as your permanent address on the I-130?

Yes I have a valid Texas drivers license and bank account. I actually have a house in Texas but it’s not in my name. My dad has a lot of land  and lives on one sid. He gave me a piece on the other side to build my house but the titles were never separated since the land is still his. I file my taxes and put my American address as my residence, but I put the Brazilian address as my current address on the I-130 since I figured they could see that I was spending more time in Brazil than USA. 

11 hours ago, geowrian said:

The sponsor will address the public charge concern. However, you must still provide your own I-864 as the primary sponsor, and the I-864 requires either US domicile or sufficient intent to establish US domicile.

What exactly qualifies as sufficient is at the discretion of the CO, and tends to differ from embassy to embassy. Brazil isn't one that stands out as being overly strict, and you have only been living there for roughly 2 years, so I wouldn't expect too much evidence being requested for US domicile. That said, check the NVC wiki (https://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process) for ideas. I doubt you will face to much trouble given the working int he US, US tax returns, presumably a current US driver's license, etc.

 

Beyond that, moving back to the US to actually establish domicile beforehand is an option. A couple weeks to months before the interview is usually sufficient.

Thanks for the information. Very helpful. 

Hello everyone, 

  I’m a Texan who married a Brazilian in 2017. I moved to Brazil after our wedding because at the moment we didn’t want to live in America. Now that we’ve decided to move we filled and got our NOA1 in April of this year. 

Heres my question, 

I’ve read many threads on here saying the petitioner has to move back to show proof and domicile and income. Well our sponsor is going to be my sister and brothers-in-law who own a chemical shipping company and make an income in the mid 7 digits. Is it really still necessary for me to move back before hand?

And if so, when exactly is a good time to move? Once our case is approved? Once the NVC sends our welcome kit?

I’ve filled my income taxes for the two years that I’ve lived here since I would go back and work for a few months (we are able to survive off what I make in 3-4months). 

Thanks for the advice in advance.