Micam

Thank you so much. It changed to issued today so fingers crossed  

20 Dec 2023 
 
Visa status “issued”
 
hopefully I can pick up my passport soon 

DQ notice just arrived from NVC! It took us exactly 2 weeks total, including the notice that we needed to send additional documentation. The second review actually took a little longer than the first.

Waiting to hear about the interview date!

Hey all! We submitted files to the NVC - turnaround was SO FAST! It was 5 business days.
 
I wrote a short notice that because I work freelance and earn in pesos, I didn't meet the US tax requirement so I didn't have tax returns for the last few years. My dad in the USA are my joint sponsor. We also submitted all of my partner's required docs in Spanish (the original language) since we're living in a Spanish-speaking country and no issue there! Really happy we didn't have to translate anything.
 
NVC accepted (approved) everything, but asked for the 1099 and Schedule Forms from my parents' 2022 taxes. Just submitted those today so hopefully will get DQ in the next few days.
 
Just wanted to update info in case anyone hasn't sent docs yet!

Withdraw the existing petition, meet in person and then refile a new I-130 with evidence of meeting. Meeting in person to consummate the marriage is a must/requirement in order to have an I-130 approved.

It is not possible to show you met after filing with the hopes that you will be approved with the existing petition you filed.

If you filed the petition without meeting in person, you need to meet and then refile.   There is no way around that requirement.
 
It’s unfortunate that you didn’t discover VJ until after  you did that, we would have told you that you needed to meet first before filing.   Time and money down the drain.

What do you mean?  You can’t file a spousal petition until you’ve met in person after an online marriage.

Thanks for the quick replies.  I definitely took the information from the other sites with a healthy does of skepticism.  I was looking at instructions and @micam, the link you sent provided the clarification I needed.

The I-130 is the longest part of the of the process and you can be together in the UK whilst you're waiting for that. As others have said once NVC stage comes around your partner will need to prove that she can support you financially and may have to leave early to the US for this. Your partner could also look into a family member sponsoring you if they have enough money/income to do so. This will probably mean a few months apart, but you're unlikely to have any issues with an ESTA* if you take short visits whilst you're waiting on the latter end of the process. Luckily for you the NVC & London Embassy are quite speedy in comparison to USCIS, so it shouldn't be too long apart.
 
I understand this process is incredibly overwhelming when you first start to research it, I found this useful to break down the process: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition/step-2-begin-nvc-processing.html
 
Feel free to reach out - I have just completed this process and recently arrived to the US. I applied from the UK whilst my partner lived in the US, so the process may be a little different to you, but I am happy to help where I can
 
*do make sure to read up on ESTA's and what you can/can't do on them though. There's a whole thread in this forum of people discussing how their visits to the US went whilst awaiting their visa. You are much more likely to be scrutinized at the border with a pending immigrant visa.

The I-130 is the longest part of the of the process and you can be together in the UK whilst you're waiting for that. As others have said once NVC stage comes around your partner will need to prove that she can support you financially and may have to leave early to the US for this. Your partner could also look into a family member sponsoring you if they have enough money/income to do so. This will probably mean a few months apart, but you're unlikely to have any issues with an ESTA* if you take short visits whilst you're waiting on the latter end of the process. Luckily for you the NVC & London Embassy are quite speedy in comparison to USCIS, so it shouldn't be too long apart.
 
I understand this process is incredibly overwhelming when you first start to research it, I found this useful to break down the process: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition/step-2-begin-nvc-processing.html
 
Feel free to reach out - I have just completed this process and recently arrived to the US. I applied from the UK whilst my partner lived in the US, so the process may be a little different to you, but I am happy to help where I can
 
*do make sure to read up on ESTA's and what you can/can't do on them though. There's a whole thread in this forum of people discussing how their visits to the US went whilst awaiting their visa. You are much more likely to be scrutinized at the border with a pending immigrant visa.

For what it's worth, I used to teach English internationally. The students who were the best at English had found something they were passionate about and practiced a tonne. For example, some students liked to play games online where it was required you spoke to people, some loved English music, some loved documentaries or certain film genres. If there is something your partner is passionate about, maybe they could sign up to a local club and practice there! I think the key is that it shouldn't be 'work', just something positive to focus on in English.
 
I do understand that finessing grammar is slightly different, but these kinds of activities do help a lot, especially if you're able to speak to native level speakers (which I imagine will be very easy to do now!) Just my two cents anyway 

For what it's worth, I used to teach English internationally. The students who were the best at English had found something they were passionate about and practiced a tonne. For example, some students liked to play games online where it was required you spoke to people, some loved English music, some loved documentaries or certain film genres. If there is something your partner is passionate about, maybe they could sign up to a local club and practice there! I think the key is that it shouldn't be 'work', just something positive to focus on in English.
 
I do understand that finessing grammar is slightly different, but these kinds of activities do help a lot, especially if you're able to speak to native level speakers (which I imagine will be very easy to do now!) Just my two cents anyway 

For what it's worth, I used to teach English internationally. The students who were the best at English had found something they were passionate about and practiced a tonne. For example, some students liked to play games online where it was required you spoke to people, some loved English music, some loved documentaries or certain film genres. If there is something your partner is passionate about, maybe they could sign up to a local club and practice there! I think the key is that it shouldn't be 'work', just something positive to focus on in English.
 
I do understand that finessing grammar is slightly different, but these kinds of activities do help a lot, especially if you're able to speak to native level speakers (which I imagine will be very easy to do now!) Just my two cents anyway 

Hi all,
 
Just received my IL (yippee!!!!!), and have gone to register as directed on the email. When doing that I get a message along the lines of "entered case number is not ready for scheduling". Did anyone else get this, and how long did it take to actually sort out so I can reschedule my appointment, and book my flights and medical?

No I mean once the CR1 expires and you have to apply to adjust. I’m trying to think long term, and don’t want to be in a situation where I can’t get back to my family if needed. 
 
Yes, I did read it was the date from the medical, so we are taking that into consideration. 

Another update- we went back to the first SS office (the one who told us to wait six weeks) and spoke to another person. That person gave him his SSN to write down and said to wait for the card in the mail. We've been able to use the number to open bank accounts and credit cards. Eight weeks later the SS card has not arrived and we are going back to the SS today. I hope this helps someone in the future.

Thanks!! Can't wait to be there. Hubby arrives a week on Saturday to help me move. I'm nearly ready. Eeeeek.

I would add though, that if your proof of relationship is very long (mine was 20+ pages) I would add a contents just for ease for whoever reviews your case. I added a contents for mine, my logic was to make it as easy as possible for someone to approve my case! It's not a necessity though.

I would add though, that if your proof of relationship is very long (mine was 20+ pages) I would add a contents just for ease for whoever reviews your case. I added a contents for mine, my logic was to make it as easy as possible for someone to approve my case! It's not a necessity though.

I didn't need an appointment to get this letter from my GP, I just called up and explained the situation. I got charged (I think around £25) for the letter though, but it was done in a couple of days. I would try this route, it may be quicker if they can do this! 

Update: it took about two minutes. They only confirmed our address. 

Just in case anyone in the future has this problem and sees this thread - I had my interview yesterday and I had (stupidly) forgotten all about this. The person who collected my documents actually brought it up and clarified how long we had been married. He changed it there and then, and now I can see it has changed to CR1 on my CEAC page  

I didn't receive anything either - I remember being anxious I hadn't done it right whilst waiting for it to come through. I got approved in just over 2 weeks so perhaps the system just doesn't send out emails to everyone? I wouldn't worry until the expected time frame has passed! 
 
p.s. I am really enjoying seeing all these approvals come in.... congratulations to everyone!!!!

I didn't receive anything either - I remember being anxious I hadn't done it right whilst waiting for it to come through. I got approved in just over 2 weeks so perhaps the system just doesn't send out emails to everyone? I wouldn't worry until the expected time frame has passed! 
 
p.s. I am really enjoying seeing all these approvals come in.... congratulations to everyone!!!!

Just got my welcome letter!