n2ojones

Aloha,

My wife would like to return to her country for vacation. Unfortunately there is no immigration office where we live so we're hoping someone here can help.

Her visa reads "R" under "type" and "R3" next to that.

We are confused because it says her visa expires 6-09 but her green card does not expire until 2-10. Does the residence card over ride the visa? Will she be able to travel home without fear of problems when returning?

Since it appears her visa has expired (!?!) should we take action or will that be updated upon her retrurn?

Thanks in advance...hope you can help!

Green card rules, no problem. The visa is for the scrapbook now

Thanks to you all for your quick and informative replies. Good news seems to be an oddity these days so your posts were extra-appreciated.

Aloha,

My wife would like to return to her country for vacation. Unfortunately there is no immigration office where we live so we're hoping someone here can help.

Her visa reads "R" under "type" and "R3" next to that.

We are confused because it says her visa expires 6-09 but her green card does not expire until 2-10. Does the residence card over ride the visa? Will she be able to travel home without fear of problems when returning?

Since it appears her visa has expired (!?!) should we take action or will that be updated upon her retrurn?

Thanks in advance...hope you can help!

Thanks for your attention and opinions,

My wife and I initially applied for both the 130 and the 129f. The 130 was approved and forwarded to the NVC about 6-7 weeks ago. 10 days ago, the 129f was approved and (supposedly) forwarded to the NVC.

Today I received the DS-230 fee bill as well as the go-ahead to complete and send in my 864.

t is my understanding that the 129 should hit the embassy in Bangkok before the 130 and therefore we would like to go that route. BUT...we certainly want to secure the CR1, so if you were in my shoes, would you send the fee bill and complete the 864?

I ask because I know that since we are going the 129f route, we will have more work to do once she lands in the US. Will that "work" involve these same documents..and therefore I might as well submit them now? Or do I run the risk of just losing my $380.00?

I also understand that IF the 130 is complete befoire our interview...we can ask that the 128f interview be performed as a CR1 interview. I just don't know if the 130 will be ready by that time...probably 8-10 weeks from now.

Please help as I can mail the money order tommorow, but not on Sunday.

Thanks in advance!

Thanks for the clarification on the notification, Yodrak. Apparently you understood my post as a statement instead of the question it was meant to be. As always, thanks for the answer.

Kang Lang...wow, 17 months apart? That's just wrong! But you will never have to wonder if your love is real or not...that's for sure!

As for Brian Wright...yes, he will work with you (ala carte;). Tell him you are in a similar position as "n2ojones" and ask how much he would charge to fine-tooth the details. I too started out with someone else... but then fortunately found Brian.

Congrats again and I wish you well.

Kang Lang,

I-129f petitions are not entered into the NVC's automated information system - they don't spend enough time at the NVC, and the NVC doesn't do anything with them except forward them on, so it's not worth the effort to put them into the system.

Yodrak

FINALLY!!!!! Decided today after the automated system told me no record existed of my case at the NVC to speak to a live person (who was incredibly nice btw) that my petition reached them on 18 April and was sent to BKK on 20 April. Fingers crossed now that we can be reunited on his B'day in early July!

They don't give any sort of notification, Yodrak? It don't sound like Kang Lang got anything. It seems e-mail would be more efficient than having us all call for a status check...right?

can anyone recommend someone/agency to help my fiance prepare his packet 3 docs? he does not read english and will need help. i had someone prepare his original docs g-325a etc. but she takes too long to respond and i want to compile this all now so that by the time we receive packet 3 instructions he can just drop it in the mail.

thanks a bunch!

lyn

Hey Kang Lang, congratulations!

You and I are only a few days apart, so your news, (I hope) is good news for us both. We are also in a similar position. Well, actually my wife speaks and reads English quite well, but this far along why take any chances?????

So I am using Brian Wright of mythaifiancee.com I have had many e-mails with him and have also spoke with him on the phone a couple times. Smart, considerate and ONLY does US visas. You don't want to find out how important that is. I found out the hard way.

So.....do you think early July is realistic????? I was thinking August...but I like your thinking better.

Just curious,

On your NOA2, did it say that they "sent the original petition to the NVC"?

My NOA2 says this, but it looks like a form letter. After reading this thread, I wonder if "sent" really means sent?

Thanks for the excellent replies, Karencee and mybackpages. I will definitely let the travel agent do all the work!

I got a $70 "processing fee bill" for my 1-864. In fact, I did not know about this and then, with our case being held for 6 weeks at the NVC, I got a letter saying "we cannot process your case until you have paid the $70 fee". I hope that did not mean it just sat there for 6 weeks before I was notified of this.

There's never a dull moment with this stuff, is there?

Thanks for the replies, Mary K and Floridaguy.

I am surprised about the passport. I always assumed that one's spouse, once in America would be entitled to the same travel opportunities as the other. In many countries, it will be near impossible for a Thai woman to get a visa while they will have no problem welcoming her as an American.

We had hoped to travel to Europe next year. Could this be a problem?

Thanks again

Oh, Floridaguy...I could have sworn I sent $70 for the 864. Maybe I have my forms mixed up.

Thanks for the replies, Mary K and Floridaguy.

I am surprised about the passport. I always assumed that one's spouse, once in America would be entitled to the same travel opportunities as the other. In many countries, it will be near impossible for a Thai woman to get a visa while they will have no problem welcoming her as an American.

We had hoped to travel to Europe next year. Could this be a problem?

Thanks again

Oh, Floridaguy...I could have sworn I sent $70 for the 864. Maybe I have my forms mixed up.

My (Thai) wife and I have decided to go the 129f route as it will get her here quicker, probaby by a couple months.

Since we already filled out the 130 and it has been approved and I have paid the 864 fee and the DS has been "generated", can we use all of this for the AOS?

I'm a bit confused on how the AOS works, and I will continue reading on the subject....but the answer to the above would give us a good start-point.

I also wonder what happens in the way of passports. Will my wife get an American passport and be able to travel relatively freely, with me, like an American?? If not...what has to happen to make that happen?

Thanks in advance!

In my exhaustive study of this forum, things can get a bit askewed...especially late-nite, but I thought I read somewhere that if a person has filed both the 129f and 130, and got an interview for the 129 (being the faster), they could contact the embassy and ask that the interview be changed to target the CR1.

Anyone know if this is standard...or did that particular poster just get very lucky?

Whewww,

Thanks folks. I wish I would have asked earlier! Odd that it would happen to two of us, though. I know I did not switch mine. :shrugs:

Wow...out of the blue, i can no longer just scroll up and down a thread. I hit the topic and then must click on every post following..as lame as I am about visas..I am twice as lame with computers. Kinda' lame, I guess.

In all seriousness, and this IS.. as my favorite forum is now a navigational nitmare, there must be some way to get back to the old scroll-down format. It takes forever to read 5 posts!

Thanks in advance for your input.

So....Once the 129f is "approved", it sits at the "NVC for a couple weeks" and then is forwarded to the apropro consulate? Does anyone know, in the case of a 129f, what goes on at the NVC?

I ask because I am curious as to if there are any other forms or fees that need be taken care of iE: Financials etc. Isn't there like a 134 or something that need be signed, notoraized and returned to the NVC...or is that presented at the interview at the consulate??

I guess the easiest question is: Once we recieve the approval....do I need to do anything else (on the USA end) or can I travel to see my SO without fear of an un-answerable letter sitting in my mailbox?

Hope I didn't thread-jack but felt my question didn't warrant it's own thread.

thanks!

I was just curious. I have read that once an item from the NVC is "generated" that it is officially in the system and therefore, a timesaving method would be to go ahead and send fee (or item) to the NVC immediately.

Anyone know if this is true? I have paid the fee for my 864 and await the bill for my (Thai) wife's DS 230.

Anyone know the amount of the fee?

Thanks so much.

The IV fee must be sent in with the IV fee bill, which you don't have yet. The IV fee bill has the case number on it as well as a case-specific barcode. It also has to be sent to an address in St. Louis, not to the NVC in NH.

Most things can be sent in as soon as they're generated if you're willing to "self-generate" the barcoded forms yourself, as the shortcuts in this thread demonstrate. However, the IV fee bill is the one document that is as yet incapable of being "self-generated" because of an odd, apparently random check number that is assigned to the case number on the document.

Thanks for the reply/information, James. And the best of luck to you and yours.

I was just curious. I have read that once an item from the NVC is "generated" that it is officially in the system and therefore, a timesaving method would be to go ahead and send fee (or item) to the NVC immediately.

Anyone know if this is true? I have paid the fee for my 864 and await the bill for my (Thai) wife's DS 230.

Anyone know the amount of the fee?

Thanks so much.

Well, Yodrak, I'm no stranger to confusion...or finding my foot in my mouth...

After re-checking your timeline...I see it was more like 7 months. I was confused by the "377 days for 130" remark. In fact, I still am.

But that shouldn't detract from my expressed sentiment; Because of you, I was able to identify the fact that my "visa agent" was little more than uh, ambitious....

....but now exposed (and disposed). Thanks again.

Still have not heard back from Bill White (!?!).

Holy cow, Yodrak....just checked out your timeline. They messed you around for over a year!?!?! I guess it is us benefitting from the experience they thrust upon you.

Thanks.... and sorry you had to endure that.

Thanks for that link! It says we will need to copy the bio pages of my wife's pp. But it is in Thai. Does that have to be translated prior to sending to the NVC?

Also, on the passport, her name is written in Thai but the applications are in her english name. How should she sign the DS...in Thai (like her PP) or in English??

Hope I didn't thread-jack here...just searching for info and found this informative topic.

Thanks.

I apologise for myn plethora of questions, but the search feature is down.

After exhaustive research in this excellent forum, I have decided to (have my wife) download DS230, sign and send to me (as agent). I will then fill out and submit to the NVC.

I now they are going to ask for some extras...like PP-bio page and birth certificate. Does this have to be translated? Probably a stupid question, but she is far from BKK and cannot find a translater in her town. Suggestions would be appreciated.

BTW...I know there is a link that shows what extra info the NVC wants for the 230...but for some reason I cannot open it. Can someone tell us, aside from the items mentioned above, what they might be?

One more question....Her passport has her signature in Thai. Should she sign the (first page of) 230 the same or in english? Thanks so much and know that one day i will offer help to a newb as well.

Hi,

My wife and I are at the -submit 864 and DS 230-stage.

I am about 20 hours away from her (she's in Thailand) and we would like to hire someone to help her dot the I's and cross the T's in Packet 3.

Sunbelt's pricing seems to be a ood deal....too good to be true?

Please offer your opinion on this operation. I have tried the search engine but it is down and we don't want to lose what little momentum we have.

Thank you very much.

Wow...like I said...this is an awesome forum.

Thanks so much for the rapid replies. Your posts made me happy i stayed awake all nite looking for a way to expedite this painfully, deliberately, slow process.

And as an aside...You helped me win a bet with my wife!

Devbit, you say that I should date the forms when I send them...let me ask you this, will it look odd to the NVC if they send me her forms on the 20th, I recieve them on the 24th...but mail them back on the 25th?

Cuz my plan would be to have her fill them out and have them waiting here when the NVC package arrives. I would then send her copies immediately. The NVC won't say..."How the heck did these get to Thailand and back so soon"? LOL. that is why I am confused about the date thing. Or are you saying I should wait a week, date them, then send them back.

Sorry if I am being redundant (or simple)...ZERO sleep late nite. Thanks again for your help!

Doc-cute, Do you think the NVC does not care one way or the other if the barcodes are on the paperwork or not? I ask because maybe they gave you a break and would prefer the barcodes in most instances. Thanks again for your reply!

Hi, like everyone in here, I am looking for a way to speed up this process.

I am in the states and my wife in Thailand. We are to the point where I have paid the 846 fees (await the package) and the NVC has received her petition designating me as our agent.

I have already filled out the 846 and await the NVC's actual documents, before submitting, with any additional requests.

Looking at the flowchart, I see my wife needs to fill out the DS-230 (signing page 1 but not page 2).

Here's where I am trying to save some time:

Could I just have her download the forms, fill them out and send to me? This way they will be ready when the NVC sends me, the agent, the actual forms. I would then place them in the NVC's included envelope and send back to them. Is this cool or will this anger someone?

I understand there is a question asking if "anyone helped fill out the forms?" Would it be wrong to just say yes and admit that we are trying to expedite the process??

Anyone know where the best (legal and current) copy of this form can be downloaded?

I thank you (very much) in advance. Both for your time and this great forum.

n2ojones,

Your timeline indicates that your wife will be applying for an immigrant visa. If that is correct, then you will be receiving an invoice from the NVC for a $70 I-864 processing fee. After you pay the fee the NVC will send you an I-864, which you will fill out and return to them with the necessary supporting documentation. The NVC will verify that all of the necessary supporting documentation has been provided. If they think that something is missing you will get a letter requesting it. The NVC will not examine the content of materials to determine what your income is and whether or not it is sufficient - the consulate will do that.

Your wife should be prepared with updated supporting documentation, as may be appropriate, at her interview. For example she may be asked for your most recent pay statement to verify that you are still working, and for the same employer, as when the I-864 was first submitted.

Yodrak

Hey Yodrak, I have read every post in this thread with special attention on yours. Allow me to say that if this (excellent ) website does not have you on the payroll...they should. Like so many others, I REALLY appreciate the info and insight you provide.

...and if you are feeling very tolerant, could I ask you to please expound on your reply. My concern is that the NVC does not have any of my financials (to date) to document. When you say they are making sure the documents are complete, do you mean in the form of questions?

I was under the impression that I would be turning my financials in at the interview...but that don't make much sense either. Seems it would take quite some time to go thru all that #######. If you can point me to a thread that explains the steps ( I hired an agent) I would quit littering this thread with my assanine questions. Promise.

Thanks again!

Wow...I wonder what the mix-up was. The NVC had our case since Feb 18th when I called on March 28th. At that time the recording said they had sent our case to the embassy in BKK. Next thing I know, iget the bill for the processing fee and they had changed the recording reflecting this.

So now I will have to wait for the 864, fill it out and return for them to check-out BEFORE they will send our case to BKK? Damn.

And like an idiot, I listened to our agent in Thailand who instructed me to "immediately send all my financials to his office in Thailand". I was in such a rush to do so, that I did not make copies of (all) of those documents.. It cost $90 bucks to send the package fedex and now it looks like I will be needing it back to fill out the 864.. Now with Sonkran who knows when I will get it back. What a mess.

Thanks again, Yodrak. As bad as they are, I really do appreciate having the facts (for a change).

n20jones,

The NVC checks the financial package for completeness - is all the required documentation present. The consulate checks the information in the documents to determine whether or not the financial qualifications are met.

Yodrak

Hi again,

After being told (by the NVC recording) that our package was "sent to BKK on 3-26"..it turns out it was not. They sent me a letter saying they could "not process our petition because the $70 processing fee was not paid". Their message was changed to reflect this as well.

So Obviously I sent this money to the NVC immediately and my question is this: Does the NVC go thru my financials in NH...or does that happen in BKK? I ask because I have not (yet) been asked for my paperwork (taxes etc) so we could be in for a VERY long wait, if this is the case.

Man...what next?

Thanks in advance.

Hey Yodrak, I have read every post in this thread with special attention on yours. Allow me to say that if this (excellent ) website does not have you on the payroll...they should. Like so many others, I REALLY appreciate the info and insight you provide.

...and if you are feeling very tolerant, could I ask you to please expound on your reply. My concern is that the NVC does not have any of my financials (to date) to document. When you say they are making sure the documents are complete, do you mean in the form of questions?

I was under the impression that I would be turning my financials in at the interview...but that don't make much sense either. Seems it would take quite some time to go thru all that #######. If you can point me to a thread that explains the steps ( I hired an agent) I would quit littering this thread with my assanine questions. Promise.

Thanks again!