OnAJourney

2 hours ago, MJY said:

Where did you guys end up posting the financials online?  

I uploaded the documents under the "upload" and then it asks for Cateogory, I chose "Other" because that's where it really goes. 

I sent a message in the Inbox to USCIS to confirm if upload documents was okay and I got a reply today saying that yes, go ahead and upload as many documents as you can relevant to the case. 

This will absolutely help with moving it quicker when it goes to NVC. Because once the file goes there, they will send you a letter of all the required documents (wasting time) then you'll gather and send it or upload it (again wasting time). So if the documents are already available, they can go ahead and review to send it to embassy for interview date. 

Just now, Eugenia2017 said:

Yes me too ! Now I checked my Uscis account and showing IOE number and this message “Your benefit request has been accepted and is under review.”

Yes, this number is also on your payment receipt too in case you need to just check the status without logging into your account. 

I don't know if it makes a difference or not because I know the next set of documents will be required by NVC but bunch of people I know submitted their financial documents online right now so that the file gets moved to NVC with documents already there for review so I uploaded my Affidavit of Support, Tax Returns/Transcripts, other documents to prove our marriage already online. So you can also upload those if you wanted to. 

Just now, Eugenia2017 said:

I just received only email about payment received for I130 and tracking number , I will check on my USCIS account .

When you submitted your I130?

On that payment receipt is also your IOE number. I submitted mine on Saturday and received the Receipt# within two minutes of making the payment. 

3 minutes ago, Eugenia2017 said:

So you just downloaded the photo on one side?

Yes. Just scanned in the 2x2 and uploaded. Remember that when you scan the picture, it won't be 2x2 so you have to crop it to adjust before you upload the picture. 

Just now, Eugenia2017 said:

Did you receive confirmation from USCIS? I just submitted my aplication yesterday 

When I made the payment online after submitting - I received my confirmation with the Receipt number starting with IOE. This morning I noticed my online account has the Receipt Notice attached there. 

7 minutes ago, INF said:

Thank you so much. Did you also put in your current address as part of petitioner 5 year address history?

I've been living in the same place for over 20 years so I just put my current address. for the current address, it does ask for start and end date too so it doesn't require the 5 year history. 

4 hours ago, MJY said:

Also, regarding the passport photos do we still need to write our name and stuff on the back on the picture? (upload them?)

 

 

I honestly don't think so. I didn't and I got no error. 

8 minutes ago, MJY said:

So basically, xx-xx-xxxx to 11-20-2019

Yes. That's what I did. Same thing for the physical address. 

2 minutes ago, MJY said:

I called too.

 

Seems like they don't really have the answers to many questions...

Anything that asks for end date, put in the day you're filing so it's the most current date. 

I actually don't think that many of the USCIS employees even realize that the online system will customize the form as you fill it out to only ask for relevant information. Paper form has too many fields that aren't really required. 

On 11/19/2019 at 12:30 PM, INF said:

That's good to know, thank you, however, as we took the pictures already we will include.

Are you currently in the US? If so, I'd also file Adjustment of Status form I-485. 

7 minutes ago, INF said:

I was wondering did you get any errors on entering your current employment. It does not let my husband proceed without an end date on his current employment. We have called USCIS multiple times with no help other than to fill out the paper copy way. I would prefer online!

lol, don't you love that? 

For employment - I used the date of filing so it's "current" as you can't put "Present" or anything as such online, which you can on the paper form. 

26 minutes ago, MJY said:

Good or bad?

I don't know how the other centers are doing but Potomac processing time is 7 to 9 months - which is anyway average if there aren't any RFE's etc. 

I was reading yesterday that people with Receipt number starting with IOE are getting approved much quicker than even the processing time listed online. 

3 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

And still your BIL though he found a secret way to adjust status from visitor visas to bypass waiting a decade.  lol

No, not really. One of his friends from China had adjust the status of his parents when they'd come to visit so he thought the same could be done for siblings. 

Not every country is able to get visitor visas to the US so easily, hence the question of - if adjusting status was an option then why do people even have to wait for decades lol. 

Applying on the Fiance visa especially when you have not even met her is not going to go well in the interview anyway, hence why they didn't keep her passport. If they had approved it, they would've kept her passport even if they wanted to send it to AP. 

9 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

You can’t file adjustment of status unless priority date is current. At the moment the current priority dates for most F4s is early 2007, with 2004 for India and 1997/98 for Mexico and Philippines. 

So there is no way that your BIL’s brother and family are going to be adjusting any time soon if he hasn’t even filed for them yet... even if they have a  brand new 10 year multiple entry B it’s not going to last long enough for them to try! (And of course, entering on a B visa with intent to adjust is immigration fraud.)

That's not even the intent, they are aware that there's a long wait and hence are in no hurry to even migrate really. My BIL was just wondering if that's even an option, which clearly it isn't. 

6 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

Sibling petitions are taking from 14-24 years depending on the country.

 

There is no skipping of the wait.  Everyone waits.

 

First, it's immigration fraud to use a nonimmigrant visa to enter the US with the intent to adjust status.  Preconceived intent could be a reason to deny the adjustment.  

Second, the beneficiary has to have a current Priority Date in order to qualify to adjust status.  So no skipping the line. 

Sibling petitions have for decades taken decades lol. 

I have not filed. My brother-in-law would like to file for his brother but they also have a visitor visa to come visit. 

Are the siblings petitions still taking 10+ years? If a sibling comes to the US on a visit visa, can an adjustment of status be filed or no? 

14 minutes ago, MJY said:

Did you write anything for the passport photos?  

I did not. 

Also, just a quick update - I saw the Receipt notice online just now and the case is assigned to Potomac Service Center. 

15 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Lockboxes and service centers are separate. What lockbox you send a form to has no bearing on the service center that gets assigned the case. It will always be transferred from the lockbox to a service center as the lockbox does not adjudicate forms.

That's interesting because my sister had sent her husband's to Vermont lockbox (few years ago) and her service center was also Vermont. 

19 minutes ago, MJY said:

Few questions?

 

Regarding the passport photo, how did you guys submit it online?  

 

Also, can we pay via cc the 535 usd fee?

For my pictures, I had CVS give me electronic copy of my 2x2. For my wife's, I scanned it in and then cropped it so it was exactly 2x2 before I uploaded it. 

Yes, you can pay via CC, debit card or bank account. It gives you the payment confirmation and your Receipt # right away. 

On 11/18/2019 at 10:31 PM, Jorgedig said:

Luck of the draw.  Just like when a petition is sent to the lockbox.

Lockbox addresses are based on the State petitioner lives in. So in that case, you know exactly which service center your case is at. From there, if they transfer the cases for various reasons - that's a different story and they do inform you about it. 

Online filing is not specific to any specific location. 

17 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

You'll save a few days.  Mailing time, plust the time it takes the lockbox/intake facility to convert your paper filing to electronic.  THEN, your wait will be the same as somebody whose paper file was converted that same day.

Any idea which center the online filings go to? 

3 hours ago, Layth.W said:

Hello Jeanne,

 

So we filed the I 130 in 22 March 2019. 
Received the I 797 in 10 June 2019.
Filled the NVC documents on the 20th of September 2019.
NVC approved our documents on the 27th of September (received an email from NVC).

 

Since then we are waiting for the consulate interview. usually how long does it take to schedule the interview ?

I sent the embassy an email last week and they said that they did not receive our case yet !

It depends on the available slots for interview. I've seen people get an interview within a month to waiting for 6 months before they get an interview. You could call NVC and find out the current status and see if the file has been transferred to Jordan Embassy? 

5 hours ago, MJY said:

Anyone use an app to produce the passport 2' x 2' photos?   (What program/app?)  

 

Initially, I was going to go to the Costco near me and just get them done, but I am doing the app via online, so it seems pointless to get a physical copy of these photos.   

I had it done at CVS and had them email to me instead of giving me the hard copy. Quick and easy. 

2 hours ago, user555 said:

So they imported everything into CEAC from USCIS with no issues? 

Seems that way. Didn't get any errors, current status said benefit was accept and under review - as expected. 

Plus the beneficiary does not need to sign I-130A if they're out of the country so you basically upload that form (which it tells you at one of the steps that that needs to be filled out - gives you the link to download the form) without signature. 

I found the online filing seamless!