HKC

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

I see you have an existing thread, one of out friendly Mods will move it over there.

Thank you. I thought I should ask in the CR-1 forum

Hello,

My wife's CR-1 interview is scheduled (at the US embassy in Korea) in early April. She had an authorized ESTA since November of last year, but that was changed to "not authorized" today.

Here is a detailed background info about us:

Dec/2021: My wife’s first ESTA gets approved. (Had no issues with the first ESTA, traveled to US for four times total, each visit lasting no longer than two weeks)

Dec/2022: We applied for CR-1 and submitted I-130

Oct/2023: I-130 approved, sent to NVC

Early Nov/2023: My wife’s passport expired, renewed it

Late Nov/2023: Applied for a new ESTA with the new passport (Never visited US with this new ESTA)

Dec/2023: Interview scheduled for CR-1

Feb/2024: ESTA Status change email received / denied 3 days later.

Could our CR-1 application/interview caused this denial? Will this negatively affect our CR-1 application/interview? Do we have to declare it at the interview?

Thank you for your help.

Update:

They denied the ESTA application after initially approving it.

The CR-1 interview is still scheduled to the on early April. Someone did say that this denial should not matter,  but we are worried that it might negatively affect the interview..

Does she have to declare this at the interview?

6 hours ago, OldUser said:

Sorry for giving you a worry

All good, no worries, thank you for answering my question though.

Still waiting for CBP to take an action for this case. No idea what caused this..

3 hours ago, OldUser said:

Good point. I went back and rechecked. It doesn't seem to be one of eligibility questions on ESTA application. I think I mixed it up with DS-160 for non-immigrant visas

Phew I was sweating about it because my wife said she doesn't remember

4 hours ago, Daphne . said:

I don't remember that being one of the questions asked when applying for an Esta?

Thank you for your reply

4 minutes ago, OldUser said:

P.S. I hope she answered truthfully question about whether anybody ever filed an immigrant petition for her in ESTA application

Oh I never knew this is part of the application questions, I never bothered to ask her what's in the application itself. I will double check. If she didn't I'm assuming there will be quite a problem?

Thanks for the heads up btw.

Hello,

My wife had an approved ESTA since November of last year. Today, she got an email saying that "ESTA Status Change" has happened, telling her to check the ESTA website. When we go to the website, it says “the application is pending”.

My wife and I are going through the CR-1 visa process. We are almost done with the process, hopefully, as her interview is now scheduled on early April. Could this be why they are reviewing the ESTA again? If they deny the ESTA after this pending status, will this negatively affect our CR-1 application?

I heard that CBP won’t say why this is happening but I wanted to know if anyone knows a similar case, where ESTA status changed due to other immigration visas.

Country is South Korea, FYI.

Here is a quick background info about us:

Dec/2021: My wife’s first ESTA gets approved. (Had no issues with the first ESTA, traveled to US for four times total, each visit lasting no longer than two weeks)

Dec/2022: We applied for CR-1 and submitted I-130

Oct/2023: I-130 approved, sent to NVC

Early Nov/2023: My wife’s passport expired, renewed it

Late Nov/2023: Applied for a new ESTA with the new passport (Never visited US with this new ESTA)

Dec/2023: Interview scheduled for CR-1

Feb/2024: ESTA Status change email received

Thank you in advance.

On 1/17/2024 at 12:36 PM, Cw1977 said:

I didn’t technically update anything. They just asked me when the last time I saw my wife was and last time I was in the US. I told him and it obv matched what was on his screen so all was good. Literally that was the total of the convo

I see. Thank you for your response. We are also being extra careful because she just got a new passport as well (ESTA already approved but never entered with the new passport). She entered couple times with her old passport w/ ESTA but I don't think the new passport should make a difference..?

Thank you to others as well who replied!

7 hours ago, Cw1977 said:

I visited (a business trip) on ESTA whilst my interview was pending. Had no issues at all - no one even mentioned it (I did use global entry though, but this wouldn’t change anything/my entry status)

Did you get to update your travel history during the interview?

43 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I do not see the difference and why it would be relevant 

We thought since DS-260 is already filed (where we declare the most recent trip to US) it may be different

Hello,

The title is pretty much it. My wife (Korean, currently living in Korea) got her interview scheduled early April. Can she visit the States (where I live) on ESTA around late Febuary-ish? I’ve heard of people visiting US on ESTA while I-130 is pending (and we did it as well) but I haven’t heard of it while its during NVC stage or after the interview is scheduled.

Thank you in advance.

Thank you guys! Cleared up our concerns for sure!

Hello,

I'm a USC (petitioner). My wife (who is overseas) just moved to a different apartment couple weeks ago.

We kind of forgot about it until I-130 Approval Notice came through yesterday!

I think I read somewhere that we get a chance to update beneficiary's address in DS260 or I864. Pretty much, we get a chance to update beneficiary's address during NVC stage.

Is what I remember above true?

The approval notice says "NVC will contact the beneficiary of this petition with further information" and we are now worried that she might miss the mail going to her old address. Do they contact via mail or email?

Thank you.

3 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

I-485 makes no sense in your situation. It is for someone who is is adjusting status in the US. Like in my situation, I came to the US on a K1 fiancé visa, married, and had to file paperwork to adjust status to receive my GC and filed I-485.

 

Some people report that filing K3 helped nudge their I-130. There’s a whole sub section on K3 in this forum. 

Yea, we are already going through standalone I-130 process, I was just curious if the concurrent filing takes less time in general.

We did file K3 as well, thanks for the info though!

8 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

If someone is adjusting status from within the US, the I485/I130 will get transferred to the local USCIS office, so processing times may vary widely.  Unless your wife is currently in the US, concurrent filing is not an option for you.

Right. I’m already going through the standalone I-130 process as we knew the concurrent filing wasn’t an option for us. I was just generally curious if the concurrent filing is faster

Hello,

I've recently came across multiple posts here and other immigration forums that shows I-130 & I-485 concurrent filing being approved less then 6 months. I-130 standalone filings, however, seem to be taking around 12 month-ish as usual..

Looking at these cases got me wondering, is concurrent filing generally faster then standalone I-130 filing? Or is this the recent trend at least?

I'm going through I-130 standalone process for my wife (CR-1) and got me curious.

1 minute ago, VinKas said:

I filed with I485. Based on other posts status will change after biometrics 

I don't think I will get biometrics since I'm a standalone filer without the I-485

1 minute ago, VinKas said:

Hi, we have applied on November 26 and I completed my biometrics on Dec 19. After my biometrics my case status was changed to case is being actively reviewed 

Thank you for your response!

Is there a biometrics for standalone I130? Are you concurrent filing with I485?

Thank you!

Hello,

I'm a USC and I recently filed a standalone I-130 for my wife back in last December.

I mailed my I-130 to a lockbox and I received NOA1 in Dec 15th with a IOE receipt number.

When I check the case using the receipt number, it shows "Case Was Received and A Receipt Notice Was Sent". However, I know couple other cases who filed around the same time as me showing "Case is Being Actively Reviewed".

I also saw someone saying that their case changed to “actively reviewed” within like a day after their submission and now I'm extra concerned.

How long does it usually take to be shown as "Case is being actively reviewed"? Is my case being delayed until it changes to "Case is being actively reviewed"?

Thank you so much!

Hello, I have been recently naturalized and my passport is currently in process.

I'm also searching for federal jobs and I landed an interview for a citizen-only government job.

Do I need to update my SSN ASAP (if I get an offer)?

Or would that not pose a problem since I have my passport and I can use that for the form I-9? Some say that SSN update is for tax/benefits.

I read some mixed answers in different places and I am not sure which information is correct.

Thank you in advance.

Edit to my comment above,

I read somewhere that one may reschedule the interview up to two times.

If the 2nd reschedule request is filed, and the 3rd appointment date later given also doesn't work out, the N400 will be automatically denied.

I am not sure if this is 100% true, however.

Thank you for your reply.

Is it possible to reschedule after the first reschedule?

That is, if they reschedule it before I come back, may I reschedule it again?

Thank you.

Hello,

A quick overview of my timeline before I ask a question:

Baltimore, MD

1/13/2020 Application Received

1/17/2020 Biometrics Scheduled

1/27/2020 Biometrics Attended/Reviewed

9/9/2020 Interview Scheduled

10/14/2020 Scheduled Interview Date

However, I'm a semiconductor engineer and I have a business trip to Korea from 9/27/2020 to 1/4/2021.

This trip is very important and accommodations like housing are already arranged.

I am planning to reschedule my interview and I head that I need to follow the rescheduling instructions on the interview notice that I got and explain my situation by mail.

My question is, will USCIS reschedule my interview after I return from Korea? Or is it completely random and they may reschedule it before I come back to the States?

I don't mind the extra wait due to rescheduling, but I cannot return to the States and go back to Korea due to the Korea's COVID-19 prevention and quarantine law.

Thank you in advance and feel free to give me any extra advices.

Stay safe and good luck to everyone!