On 4/3/2023 at 4:16 PM, Crazy Cat said:

You can list assets.  The CO might accept that.  Good luck.

thank you. We have decided to proceed with filing the forms with the bank statements. We thought its best to get in line instead of waiting for the job, Worst case, we will get an RFE even though bank statements are much beyond the requirements. If we are successful, we should have the job/current income situation sorted out by the time of the interview. My husband is interviewing and hopes to land a job soon.

About my original question, when filling out the I-864 and I-864A, should we add the tax records and bank statements on both sides or just one of the two forms since everything between us is joint?

6 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

Your current annual household income is $0 if he is unemployed.  Find a joint sponsor.  CURRENT annual income is king, not what was earned in past years.

Thank you, i am provding bank statements as suplimental which show cash in the bank 6 times as much as the 125% of the house hold size. Would that cover the problem?

We are filling out I864 (me) and I864A (my husband, household member) for my mom. I don't work and so we are adding my husband's income for the income/support requirements. We file taxes together (married filing jointly) and also hold joint bank accounts together. I have a couple of questions.

1: In both forms, they ask about taxes and income. Should I leave I864 fields empty or add the income, and tax there as well as I864A that my husband is filling out?. Also, what do we do with numbers in our checking/savings account since they are joint accounts? Add them in both forms and just the I864A?

2: My husband has been unemployed for the past couple of months. However, he expects to find a new job soon. Our tax returns show sufficient income over the past three years and our banks have more than enough to substitute for current income and meet the income criteria. Should we add someone else as a joint sponsor and/or wait until my husband finds a new job or file anyway?

Thank you for your help.

Hi all, 

Thank you all for the responses. I guess the best course of action is to get the mother over and have her file for just the youngest one as a follow-in immediately and also file for the one that is over 21 (which will take longer). I did add all the children to the I-130 including the two married ones. 

Hi all, I am a US Citizen and filed I-130 for my mom on October 22, 2021. My mom's case got approved on the 24th of February 2023 (roughly a week ago) and it arrived at NVC yesterday. I have two brothers who were under the age of 21 and unmarried when I filed my mom's application and still are unmarried though one is now over the age of 21. At the time of filing, one of my brothers was barely under 21 born on 11/22/2000 (20 years and 11 months old) and the second is still under 21 (born on 11/29/2004). When I filed the 1-130 petition for my mom, I added their names to the I-130 application. I used an online CSPA calculator, and both qualify from the under the age of 21 perspective, but my question is do they qualify as Derivative beneficiaries of my mom's visa application?

If yes, the CEAC says I can add derivatives under the "applicant Information" section. Does that section open after pay the fees for the primary applicant because I don't see it yet? Finally, When I add the derivative/accompanying relatives (my brothers) will CEAC tell me if they qualify or not?

thank you

Hi everyone, got an email today that my case was being actively reviewed. I logged in and while the case history says case is actively being reviewed, there is an approval letter in documents...which says the case has been sent to nvc issued on 24th-feb. so i guess we are off to the nvc stage now..

Hi Everyone, i wanted to check in to see if anyone had their cases approved since its been a year for october filers. My case is in Vermont and since March says actively being reviewed...

Any updates for anyone? My case status still says case "actively being reviewed......." since March 2nd.

9 hours ago, simaysimon said:

I am still waiting and i found out a month ago that if you filed online the service center on your NOA is not where your case goes. The tier 2 said they automatically assign a center for online applications but it most likely goes somewhere else. Mine shows Nebraska but actually it is in Texas. I put in a expedite request and they said that takes around a month to answer and in genetal i130s take around a year to be processed.

The same thing happened to me. I was told that the case is in Vermont, the NOA says Nebraska...

6 minutes ago, KAMN said:

according to their timeline....its Oct 20th, 2021

Yes, it is 20th of Oct and my case is in Vermont (at least as per the phone calls I made....my NOA1 says its in NBC)

No approval yet but my case status changed to "Actively being reviewed on March 1st) .... For some odd reason, i did not get a notification until late March. Its been two months and it still sits as being actively reviewed...Hope it moves forward soon.

Just a quick update. I finally got a call back today from level-2. She said the case is actually in Vermont (same as the level 1 told me).. Apparently it was routed through Potomic but the receipt says NBC....sigh, go figure. she said it happens sometime that the receipt is generated first and then the case is routed...feel better about level 2 saying its in vermont but obviously any discrepancy in this process makes you worried. So it will be a long wait and i hope its not a problem. Timelines on USCIS site say 9-12 months. I cant find many recent cases that were vermont. Any one else here whose case is in Vermont?

23 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

I doubt your petition will be rejected, but USCIS might send you an RFE.

 

Ok sounds good. I was thinking about sending a letter to USCIS to make an edit to be able 1) to confirm that the case is actually in Vermont by sending the letter to Vermont and b) making them edit add the petitioner in the beneficiary's family section. Is there a template that I could use to send in the request? the second question is do they actually inform you (by updating your online account that they have taken action or something) of any updates made based on your request/letter...if they don't then it does not help to send them a letter

8 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

In that case, it is USCIS mistake.  Somebody got confused and thought that your mother wants to adjust status as she is currently in the US.  If your mother does not actually intend to AOS, call the USCIS hotline (I recommend you call only after she returns to Pakistan).  Tell the agent that your mother is not adjusting status and will be pursuing a visa from Islamabad, as indicated in the I-130.  Request that the I-130 be transferred from NBC to a service center that handles cases intended for consular processing.  Ask to speak to a supervisor or a Tier 2 officer if the agent says they don't have the authority to resolve your issue.

 

Thank you again for your guidance. I called this morning. The agent said she sees the case being assigned to Vermont. Then I said to her that the receipt says NBC. She said she sees the problem and then said she will escalate to level 2 to confirm. She said i should be expecting a call within the next 30 days from level 2. Do they actually call?  or should i be prepared to call again in 30 days...

The premise/reason of my call was that I wanted to make an edit to the submitted form. That I had forgot to list my own name as a child in addition to the 4 brothers and sister I listed in the family of beneficiary section. She said to submit a written request. Then I asked where should i submit the request to because the letter has NBC's address but you are saying the case is in Vermont. Then the rest of the conversation above followed. Is making that mistake on the form (not including me as a child) big enough that they will reject the case?

45 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

If the receipt notice says NBC and your mother is currently outside the US, then you probably made a mistake in filling out the I-130 form.  Check the I-130 case snapshot PDF -- did you enter a city & state for part 4, items 61a & b?

 

Part 4, 61 a and b are empty and 62 a, b and c say she will file in Islamabad, Pakistan. However, she is currently here on a B2 visa until Dec 3rd. So I did fill out the sections 45 thru 47. Her I-94, Passport number etc. She is expected to leave by 3/27/22 according to her I-94 but will actually leave on Dec 03, 2021. 

Do you think that may have caused this problem and if yes, what should I do to fix this problem?

@ChancyPart 4, 61 a and b are empty and 62 a, b and c say she will file in Islamabad, Pakistan. However, she is currently here on a B2 visa until Dec 3rd. So I did fill out the sections 45 thru 47. Her I-94, Passport number etc. She is expected to leave by 3/27/22 according to her I-94 but will actually leave on Dec 03, 2021. 

Do you think that may have caused this problem and if yes, what should I do to fix this problem?

1 minute ago, Chancy said:

 

The receiving service center should be listed at the bottom left corner of the PDF receipt notice.

 

Its says National Benefits Center (NBC) located in Overland Park, KS but I don't see any processing times for them at USCIS website. Do they process I-130's?

Hi all, Just filed online for my mom. Quick question, my receipt number starts with IOE. How/When did you find out what your service center is? I checked the receipt i downloaded it does not have any service center listed? Do they assign one later?

12 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

You may not think the A number relevant but uscis still asks for it on forms even where it is clear the subject is already a citizen (for example the question on the n400 form about whether a parent of the applicant is a USC.) 🤷‍♀️ 
 

Is there no service center listed on the receipt notice?

Yeah Weird that they still care for it but oh well...

The receipt number starts with an IOE which is ELIS...I don't see anywhere on the receipt notice I downloaded under documents what the service center is. The address in the bottom of the letter says it comes from National Benefits Center but not sure if that is the service center. If yes, there are no timelines for it on the USCIS webpage that gives timelines for processing...

1 minute ago, SusieQQQ said:

Not sure why you think it’s a problem having your A number? Of course they know you’re a citizen, you provide proof of that for the petition, and your A number is on your naturalization certificate too. 
 

They don’t need their passports for your petition for them - any passport they get now will be long expired by the time they get their visas anyway - but yes they need the birth certificates. Seeing as these have obviously been issued more than a year after birth, expect RFEs of some sort for other evidence to prove the sibling relationship (though those RFEs may take years to get to you too seeing how long the sibling process is).

thank you again. good point about the passports. So i will tell them to focus on getting the birth certificates ready.  

I did not think the Alien # number would still be valid/relevant given I am a Citizen now but as long as it does not become an issue, i am fine :).

The receipt number says IOE...Are they going to assign me a service center in the near future or its going to remain IOE for the duration of the I-130 process? 

20 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

You do realize this will take around 15 years?

yes, I understand that. Still figured that if I wait until my mom arrives in say 2 years, and become a citizen, it would still take them 10+ years. So overall, it would be a wash.So i plan to file for them as brother/sister myself... Now there are two younger brothers, one that would be over 21 and the other that would be under 21 when my mom is anticipated to arrive in 2 years, for whom my mom would file as a green card holder. 

20 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Curious, what documents? As with your mom, not much is needed for filing, especially if your birth certificates all show the same mother. It’s a little more complicated for half siblings by the same father.

They are getting their passports and birth certificates. Neither is automatic in Pakistan.

One more question, when I filed for my mom, I did not enter my Alien number as I am a recently naturalized citizen. I used the online account I used to file for my own naturalization to file her I-130. However, when I looked at the receipt notice, it picked up my Alien # from the account. Is this a problem or are they going to be able to figure out that I am a citizen. I did provide my naturalization certificate number so not sure why they would have my Alien number on the receipt notice...

24 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

1. No. It’s not relevant until you file for someone else (or would be submitting at the same time)
2. ?

3. Secondary evidence only needed if you don’t have the required documents

4. Yes, this is normal. Further documents only required at NVC and interview stages. 

thank you for your help, I just submitted and removed the brother and sister's name. I noticed that No. 2 is a question on the I-130 form as well. If the beneficiary belongs to a country with a native language other than English. So I wrote scanned and uploaded a PDF with her name and address in Pakistan.

I am about to file an I-130 for my mother. As I am filling the online form, I wanted to ask a couple of question for clarity.

1: I plan to file a petition for my brother and sister as well in about 2 months (they are preparing some documents). The form for my mom asks me if I am also filling someone else's case. Should I say yes or no? I am not exactly sure when I will file for my brother and sister so not sure how to answer this question

2: Native Language: The form asks for a "document". Should I just write on a piece of paper or should I submit an ID document from the country which has her name and address in native language.

3: Also, they asked me to submit my naturalization certificate and my birth certificate with my mom's name on it. I have attached those forms. Then on the next page it asks for secondary documents. Do I need to submit any if I am providing my naturalization certificate and birth certificate?

4: The form did not ask for any pictures or any other documents (other than the secondary documents I mention above) like her passport copy or her birth certificate or picture. Is this normal?

Thank you,

2 minutes ago, HRQX said:

Yes. The odds of ageing out (i.e. the case turning from F2A to F2B) are low: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/child-status-protection-act-cspa

CSPA for Family and Employment Preference and Diversity Visa Immigrants

If you are a family preference (including VAWA), employment-based preference, or DV applicant, your CSPA age is calculated by subtracting the number of days your petition was pending (pending time) from your age on the date an immigrant visa becomes available to you (age at time of visa availability). However, you must remain unmarried in order to qualify.

The formula for calculating CSPA age is as follows:

Age at Time of Visa Availability - Pending Time = CSPA Age

Example:

You are 21 years and 4 months old when an immigrant visa becomes available to you. Your petition was pending for 6 months. Your CSPA age is calculated as follows:

21 years and 4 months - 6 months = 20 years and 10 months

 

 

F2A is "Current" right now, but in the future who knows. I.e. at some point the category could be over subscribed and thus it would retrogress.

Great. Hopefully, 2 years window + CSPA is good enough for the last one. Thank you again for the explanation of the process.