Reynal2m

Thanks! This is so relieving

Thank you! The case is still not under active review and remains in the 'Received' status. We're hoping to hear something from USCIS soon

Hi everyone, My spouse filed our I-130 petition on March 26, 2024, and we hadn’t received any updates until June 12, 2025 (5 days ago), when we got an email from USCIS saying: “We have taken action on your case.” However, our USCIS online account still shows the same status: “Case Was Received and A Receipt Notice Was Sent” — no visible updates or changes. We chatted with Emma yesterday (June 16), and the live agent informed us that our case was transferred to another service center. It’s discouraging because we were hopeful this meant our case was finally moving forward. Has anyone experienced a similar transfer from the California Service Center? If so, how long did it take after the transfer for your case to progress? Priority Date: March 26, 2024 Original Service Center: California Update 1: June 12, 2025 – Received “We have taken action” email Update 2: June 16, 2025 – Live agent confirmed service center transfer Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences! Renzo & Reynaldo.

We just got an email about 30 mins ago: We have taken action on your case! No updates yet.

They are currently working on March 25, 2024 cases! Check your USCIS account and emails.

Our case was filed on March 26, 2024, but it still hasn't moved to 'Active Review' — the account still shows 'Day 1' status. Did your case go into 'Active Review'? Most March 2024 approvals I've seen transitioned to "Active review" in April 2025.

You can begin your application online, and the system will save your progress for 30 days. Each time you log in and make changes, the 30-day period resets. However, if no changes are made within 30 days, your application will be deleted. The online platform is self-guided and will inform you of the documents you need to upload. Be sure to read and follow the instructions carefully.

If this was me I would be very happy.

If you are overseas, I personally would choose to file online. That way, you can get updates directly through your email and your USCIS account. Here's a comparison of online vs. paper filing: Online Filing (through USCIS account) Advantages: Faster submission: No need to mail anything—submit instantly. Real-time status updates: Easily track your case, receive notifications, and upload additional evidence if requested. Fewer mistakes: The system checks for missing fields and errors before submission. Secure and centralized communication: Messages, RFEs (Requests for Evidence), and notices are all stored in your USCIS account. Immediate receipt notice: You get your I-797C (receipt notice) immediately after submission. Paper Filing (via mail to USCIS) Advantages: Accepted for all I-130 categories, including both immediate relatives and preference categories. Traditional method: Some feel more comfortable with physical copies and certified mail tracking. Easier to attach original signatures if required or preferred. Disadvantages: Slower processing: Includes postal delivery time, USCIS intake scanning, and data entry. No instant updates: You must wait for mailed notices unless you link your receipt to an online account manually. Higher chance of delay or error: Lost mail, scanning errors, or incomplete forms are more common.

The I-130A doesn’t need to be signed if the beneficiary lives overseas. If I were in their position, I’d just submit it online—thousands of people do it that way without any issues. There's no need to risk delays or problems with the mail when you can save time and handle everything online.

You're welcome! Honestly, this was much needed and will be a big help to many people.

Oh, do you mean to confirm that you're documentarily qualified? You can check here: NVC Timeframes

The NVC recently launched a new tool to help determine that: IV Scheduling Status Tool

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. What I do know is that the NVC sends an update email every 60 days to let you know your case is still waiting for an interview. I believe they'll notify you separately when your interview is actually scheduled, since they have to give you enough time to complete the medical exam beforehand. Hopefully, someone with more experience can chime in with more details.

The NVC has just introduced a new tool that lets you see the date of the cases currently being processed by each embassy: IV Scheduling Status Tool According to the tool:

If I were you, I'd submit it as soon as possible and keep a copy for your records. Live agents will most likely give a generic or pre-written response.

I have another question — I understand this isn’t legal advice, but I’m hoping your experience might help clarify things for me. We’ve completed the DS-160 and are now trying to schedule the appointment on the https://ais.usvisa-info.com website. One of the questions there asks: "Have you previosuly issued a visa to enter the U.S?" — to which we answered yes. After that, a follow-up question appears: "Complete the following information from your most recently issued U.S. visa." Here’s where my question comes in: If I enter the details of her most recent visa — a J1 issued in 2019 (her previous B1/B2 was issued in 2014), will that affect her eligibility for the interview waiver? Or is this question unrelated to the waiver process? I am just trying to see if the system will still acknowledge that the visa we are applying for renewal is the B1/B2.

Thanks! For the question "Date Last Visa Was Issued," should we enter the J1 visa, since that was the most recent visa she received?

Hi, I have a quick question regarding my friend's B1/B2 visa renewal. We believe she may qualify for the interview waiver. She currently holds a 10-year multiple-entry B1/B2 visa issued in 2014, which is about to expire. It’s important to note that she has never used this B1/B2 visa to enter the U.S. However, she did travel to the U.S. once under a J1 visa in 2019 for a summer work program, and that was her only visit to the U.S. so far. While completing the DS-160 form, there's a question under "Previous U.S. Visas" asking: "Date Last Visa Was Issued?" We’re unsure whether to list the B1/B2 visa from 2014 or the J1 visa from 2019, especially since she is applying to renew the B1/B2 and the following question asks if she is applying for the same type of visa. Could you clarify which date should be entered in that field? Thanks in advance for your help! Best regards,

I would also like to know.

Given that you’ve lived together for over a decade, own property, and share finances, you already have solid evidence of a bona fide marriage. However, since you married quickly after your first in-person meeting, it’s wise to include some pre-marriage relationship proof to preempt any concerns. How Much Pre-Marriage Proof to Include? U.S. immigration authorities (such as USCIS for a spousal visa or green card application) generally prioritize evidence of an ongoing, shared life over time, rather than just the relationship’s origins. However, in cases where a couple married soon after meeting in person, officers might scrutinize whether the relationship was genuine before marriage. Since your marriage followed two years of online communication, it would be beneficial to provide at least some proof of that period. What Pre-Marriage Proof Should You Include? You don’t need to overwhelm them with every old email or chat log, but consider submitting: A few key emails or chat logs (screenshots or excerpts showing meaningful communication, not every single message). A timeline of your relationship (outlining when you met online, started dating, first met in person, and married). Photos from your wedding and first meeting (if available). Affidavits from friends/family who knew about your relationship before marriage. Any travel records or tickets showing visits or plans related to meeting. If you already submitted a lot of this for your UK visa, you might be able to reuse some of it. Main Focus: Post-Marriage Evidence Since you've been married for 16 years and living together since 2011, the most important evidence will be: Joint financial documents (bank statements, mortgage/deeds, insurance policies, tax returns). Proof of cohabitation (lease/mortgage, utility bills, ID cards with the same address). Photos together over the years (including with family/friends, at holidays, events, etc.). Correspondence addressed to both of you. Any travel records or documents showing a life built together. Do You Need to Dig Up Old Documents? Not necessarily. If you can provide a solid summary and a few key pieces of pre-marriage proof, your long-term marriage and shared life will carry more weight. Immigration officers want to see the full picture of your relationship, but they understand that couples don’t always keep records from years ago.

I have a question regarding my case: I am a U.S. citizen petitioning for my spouse, who is currently in the Dominican Republic. We have been waiting for USCIS approval for approximately 12.5 months. My husband is planning to move to Madrid, Spain, in September 2025 to study for 1-2 years on a student visa. I have read that transferring the case at the NVC stage—before becoming documentarily qualified (DQ)—is easier than transferring after it has been assigned to an embassy. Is this process relatively straightforward? He will have an acceptance letter from the institute stating his study period from [XX] to [XX], along with a student visa showing its validity dates. Do you think this documentation will be sufficient for the transfer request? Regards,

We reached the inquiry date because the processing times in California SC lowered to 8 months.

Update: An inquiry for the K-3 visa was submitted yesterday, and the USCIS agent advised waiting 30-60 days for a response. Unfortunately, I-130 processing times have now increased to 17 months, plus an additional year-long wait for an interview in my husband's country.

Contact the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic Directly – try calling or emailing the embassy's visa section directly, rather than just the support team. Escalate the Issue – Ask to speak with a supervisor or a higher-level officer at the consular section to see if they can resolve the issue more quickly. Submit a Case Inquiry to the Department of State – You can use the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) Inquiry Form or contact the National Visa Center (NVC) if the issue is related to your case status. Reach Out to Your U.S. Senator or Congressperson – They can often intervene with USCIS or the embassy on your behalf. Try a Different Browser or Device – If the issue is technical, switching browsers, clearing cache, or using a different device might help.