LadyJane

Congratulations!

Hi everyone,

Please add me to the list. We got our NOA2 on 7/3/07!

We are checking the automated system at NVC every Tuesday since the NOA2 email, but the NVC has not yet received the case from USCIS.

Thanks!

Hi all,

Please add me to the list, our NOA2 for the I-130 was 7/2/2007. yayayaya!

We are still waiting for the NVC to receive our case from CSC. From what I've seen, it is taking about 3 weeks for the NVC to receive cases from USCIS. Is that a good estimate?

Thank you! Lady Jane

Hi all,

Please add us to this list. Our NOA2 was 7/2/07! Thanks and good luck everyone!

Lady Jane

Please update Lady Jane for a NOA2 of 7/2/07! Yay! We're soooo happy!

I put the photos in a baggie and stapled the baggie to a sheet of paper. There are some suggestions on the USCIS webpage if you are going to submit to NSC, which is our "hometown" service center. In that sheet, they had wanted the photos put into your application via a baggie stapled onto a sheet of paper.

Good luck!

I got NOA2! I got NOA2!!! It was mailed to my man on June, 14!!!!

:yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:

Please someone update me, I am too excited to do anything right myself

Okay, we did not get the snail mail yet (obviously), I did not receive an e-mail either.

But I went to USCIS website, and it was there - APPROVED!

For those interested how important it is not to make mistakes onthe paperwork:

We did not put None or N/A for the A number.

We had gaps in employment history (not big ones, 1 - 3 months).

We still lucked out and got NOA2, not RFE!

Rika

Many congrats! Good luck in your next step!

I waited less than 2 weeks for the check to get cashed. USCIS is pretty quick about cashing the checks, which is good because they stamp the back of it with your receipt number. If your bank has online check viewing, you can see it right away-sometimes before you get your NOA1. You can use that receipt number to track your progress online.

Good luck!

We filed our I-130 in late-March, so we included information about our relationship. We wrote a two-page summary of our visits that included pictures of us with our respective families and friends, and us from our vacations together. We also included two months of phone bills, copies of a few postcards we exchanged, and copies of airline or train tickets. We also included an affidavit from my friend who witnessed the wedding and a brief summary of the wedding, including photos and copies of our wedding licence fee receipt and the receipt from our rings purchase. For what we could get jointly, we send evidence that we are co-mingling finances and naming each other as beneficiaries.

Good luck!

I'm with Marilyn and Karen on this too. Stick it out and go with the CR-1. It will take longer but you'll avoid the mess of AOS, not to mention the "new and improved" fees.

My spouse is on the CR-1/IR-1 path, so our case is a bit different. We chose that because we didn't want him to have to wait 60-90 days for Advance Parole, which is what you'll apply for after you get here (in addition to AOS and EAD).

It is my understanding that if you are here under a K-3, and doing your AOS, then you really shouldn't leave the US without your Advance Parole. Read the paperwork regarding the I-131 petition and check out if your K-3 allows entries from multiple countries. I think that with the K-3 you do have multiple entries, but I'm not sure if that means you can go to other countries other than your home country.

In any case, to be safe, I'd suggest waiting until you get your advance parole approved.

Good luck w/ your interview!

There is a long discussion about the Montreal timeline in the Canada regional discussion forum of VJ. It looks like it'll be a 4-6 month wait.

Good luck!

It would help to know if your spouse lives in a VWP country (visa waiver program), which could mean that they could visit for short periods without a special visa. But even under the VWP your spouse needs to show ties to their country, and it is always possible that they could get turned away at the POE. As far as I know, getting a visitor visa while you're in the process of getting a immigrant visa is impossible.

salam/hello

I have recently gotten married and my husband and I decided it was better for him to go back overseas while I file here. I must mail my I130 but I am nervous to do it myself. Not because I am going to do it wrong as I am not afraid to hassle the USCIS for questions:) I have it filled out but what I am nervous about is if something is done wrong on it, they will send it back and make the process go longer. (after they sat on it for a month before sending it back to me I'm sure) I want things to go quick (ok as quick as immigration will allow). I'm wondering if it is to my benefit to hire a lawyer even though my husband is overseas or just go ahead and deal with it on my own?

What is everyone's experience with immigration lawyers? In the waiting process, I'd think they would know who to talk to to get answers more than the average person like me would. I have also been warned that they (immigration) hassle you at the interview as well but they are lighter on you if you have a lawyer. (although I assume my husband will have a seperate interview in the middle east and I will have one here)......What kinds of things do they ask at the interview? (I know it is early but at least my husband and I can take advantage of all the time we must wait and prepare ourselves)

Thanks

First of all, congratulations on your recent wedding! May you have a long and happy marriage.

I would say to first read the guides here regarding the CR-1/IR-1 process. It is ONLY my opinion (and I'm so not a laywer) that if your situation is straightforward then the guides and the forums here will provide all the help you need. If you have specific questions that aren't answered in the guides, please ask us and we'll try our best to help you out. But, please remember that this is not legal advice.

The immigration process requires patience, a request for evidence (RFE) is never welcome! But remember that the only important thing is being reunited with your spouse.

A lawyer, despite some ads, cannot speed up the time it'll take for your husband to get his visa. If they claim this, run run run away from them!

But, a lawyer specializing in immigration may help you prepare your documents because they have had more experience. Overall, it's about how comfortable do you feel navigating the system, knowing all the specifics about your situation. We're all here for you too! Best wishes.

We sent in our I-130 on 3/26/07 to NSC, and on 4/6/07 my check for the fee was cleared by the CSC. On 4/9/07, we received the paper copy of the NOA1 from CSC.

You're not alone. I've been reading from the forums that people who have sent their I-130 to VSC, and subsequentially forwarded to CSC, have not yet received the paper copy of the NOA1. If the check is cleared, though, your receipt number is on the back and then you can track online. Of course, this doesn't help when you're filing the I-129F.

Good luck!

There's a repository for folks who have come over to visit while waiting for their green card. The key is to make sure you have plenty of documentation that your spouse has ties abroad, and do not lie to the POE.

Good luck, and enjoy your visit.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;#entry222834

We filed our I-130 in late-March, so we included information about our relationship. We wanted to include plenty of evidence that our relationship is bona fide, without overwhelming the reviewer. We wrote a two-page summary of our visits that included pictures of us with our respective families and friends, and us from our vacations together. We also included two months of phone bills, copies of a few postcards we exchanged, and copies of airline or train tickets. We also included an affidavit from my friend who witnessed the wedding and a brief summary of the wedding, including photos and copies of our wedding licence fee receipt and the receipt from our rings purchase. For what we could get jointly, we send evidence that we are co-mingling finances and naming each other as beneficiaries.

Good luck!

For all of the waiting on your first visa, this must be one heck of a good offer for him to essentially abandon his green card when he just got it. You've got to ask yourself if it's really worth a) not seeing him everyday for the next 2-4 years and B) the possibility that he may not get another green card.

What a horror story...I commend your patience! A touch at this point is great news. Although there have been people who have been touched then no action for monthes, the majority recieve an RFE or approval within a week or two of the touch. Keep us posted. Hopefully an approval will follow soon.

When you want something done right do it yourself. Forget the lawyers.

I'd agree with the above statement. In most marriage-based immigration cases, the process is straightforward. We DID call a laywer when we were starting the process, but she knew less than we did! Visajourney.com has helped us more. But for some people where the non-USC is overstayed then a (good) laywer is indispensible. If you are looking for free or reduced cost services, talk to your church. Some churches have a non-profit immigration law firm in their Rolodex.

I hope that your process goes smoothly this time!

Hi all,

My husband and I are on the IR-1/CR-1 route. I am the USC and my husband is a Canadian citizen.

Our timeline is:

3/15/2007: Got married in Michigan

3/26/2007: Sent I-130 to NSC

4/6/2007: Check cashed by CSC

4/9/2007: NOA1 from CSC

And, nothing since then. Not even a wee little "touch".

Please add our information to the list!

Thanks!

We filed our I-130 in late-March, so we included information about our relationship. Regular photocopies are just fine, for now. We wanted to include plenty of evidence that our relationship is bona fide, without overwhelming the reviewer. We wrote a two-page summary of our visits that included pictures of us with our respective families and friends, and us from our vacations together. We also included two months of phone bills, copies of a few postcards we exchanged, and copies of airline or train tickets. We also included an affidavit from my friend who witnessed the wedding and a brief summary of the wedding, including photos and copies of our wedding licence fee receipt and the receipt from our rings purchase. For what we could get jointly, we send evidence that we are co-mingling finances and naming each other as beneficiaries.

No NOA2 yet, and we haven't been "touched" since NOA1. I was hoping to at least get "touched" by now!

Lady Jane

I would agree with all of the previous postings. It's OK to visit the US, but bring lots of documentation and always be honest. And, remember they can turn you away. We are on the CR-1/IR-1 route and now my husband always carries our I-130 paperwork, a bunch of recent bills, letters from his employer, his lease etc when he visits. It helps he is on a motorcycle and it's obvious that he's not moving down here.

If you are spouses, then I would also recommend that you bring a bit of documentation when the USC is crossing into Canada. It may seem that YOU are the one with immigration intent if you say that you are visiting your spouse in Canada. Hey,it can't hurt to carry your USCIS NOA's! If they do ask, having those forms will be very handy to show the Canadian border folks that you do not intend to immigrate to Canada.