Beckybell

This is great news, I'm praying the Nigerian Embassy opens soooneesst.. Seems like our #loveisnottourism hashtag worked...

Lagos State Governor has announced that the cases in Lagos state(the epicenter of the virus in Nigeria) are declining, and because of this schools are reopening from the 17th of September. I hope the embassy is seeing this news because me I’m tired of seeing “When we can safely reopen”. 

My attorney has all tax documents so I don't understand what I'm suppose to do next except wait. This is so frustrating and depressing. August will be one year since I've seen my husband in person. Had planned to go back and then the pandemic and travel ban. I just want my husband here.

We're using Boundless at the moment for IR1.  We found them before we found VJ and they have certainly been helpful.  One of the things I like about them is that they ask you very simple, plainly worded questions and use the data to fill out the forms for you.  Digital copies of the forms go to you first and you actually send them yourself, they don't send it on your behalf.  So we were able to review everything ourselves before it went to USCIS (there weren't any errors, btw) and could ensure it got posted in a way we were comfortable with.  We haven't had approval on our I-130 yet, so I don't know what their assistance is like when it comes to things like the DS-260 (which only we can fill in anyway) and the I-864 and that new form for the beneficiary I've forgotten the name of.
 
They aren't perfect.  We sent them scans of our marriage certificate and they said that would be fine but didn't notice that it doesn't have proof that the marriage was registered with the county clerk so we got an RFE.  It was easy enough for me to send a scan of a certified copy of the certificate, but obviously it would have been better if we'd known to send that in the first place.
 
For us, particularly before finding VJ, the whole application process looked pretty impenetrable, especially as we are both outside the US at the moment.  Our Boundless rep is very helpful, responsive and friendly.  I can see that if English isn't your first language or the language on the applications and forms is difficult for you, their simple way of doing things might be a more approachable route.  But alternatively, if you have a very straightforward marriage-based green card situation and VJ, I don't see why you couldn't do it yourself. 
 
Obviously there's a cost to Boundless (it's gone up $200 since we signed up!) but it is a lot less than a lawyer.

I called NVC yesterday and after a 50 minute wait I was able to talk with someone. She sent an email to her supervisor and said they would create a ticket and it should be unstuck. She said sometimes they get stuck depending on where the form was sent or where it was coming from. Something to that effect any way. I pray she is right about it being untuck in a couple of days. There was system issues with the payment process my lawyer said. My husband will also be going to the embassy in Lagos. Just hope it doesn't take forever to get an interview date. He still has to get his medical once he receives his interview appointment letter. 

I can't thank God enough! Today, I received an email from NVC. Finally, I'm through with NVC stage today. Consular stage loading...! Thank u Lord!

Yea, they will sgraight up deny any petition you file if you have not met in person. I have been to Nigeria 3 times and had planned to go again before this pandemic. We are at NVC stage now, thank you Jesus !! Best of luck!!

Though we understand there is no form, and it's up to the CO's discretion, those that have been successful in getting a waiver, what additional information, documents or discussion did you have that contributed to you being approved? My husband doesn't have his interview date yet, but we are watching closely to be as prepared as possible. Now that the embassy in Nigeria will be opening, I'll be watching closely here to see how the interviews and the waivers go. Thanks!