HKJ

Assuming you provided an email address, your first notice of approval, will be by email.  It will be followed by a paper notice by mail.  You don't need an "online account" with USCIS to check the status of your case using the case number, but don't expect any updates. It's a black hole.
 

You can create a USCIS online account and add a case using the receipt number you have. If I recall correctly anyone can create an online account and they’ll verify identity via SSN and a few questions from your credit report.
 
I’m not sure how well that will work given USCIS technology (we filed online so no experience doing it myself), but it’s an option they give you on the online account.

Correct, but the petitioner will also use the new name on the affidavit of Support, and a copy of the new passport will be submitted to NVC as well.  Just think of it as using the new name going forward.  No need for any "notification".  Note that since that was your intention, you could have filed using the married name.  Either way works fine,

After filing the I130 and before approval, my wife processed her name change to include new passport and national ID card. At the NVC stage, we filed the DS260 and uploaded all the documents supporting the legal name change and copy of new passport. After submitting all the NVC documents and before the review, my lawyer sent an enquiry to NVC and they changed her last name in CEAC. I was also informed that even if NVC didn't make the change, it would not be a problem at the interview but wife would have to make sure she carried both the new and old passports.

You can make the update when you fill out the DS260, and have your interview.
 
Good Luck!

We finally received the paper version receipt notice 🤩 They received our petition March 5th.  So it's been a good while 🙂

Happy to have another Finn here 🤩
I think we used ä and so far no problem 😊 We only sent our spouse visa petition in in March 2025 so haven't heard much back yet at all as expected. 
Best of luck with everything!

Ok, perfect 👌 🙂
Thank you!

What i understood that they will mail the visa since we are not locals! So i hope we don't need to travel twice there 🥲

We are still awaiting our NOA2 but applicant from sweden here. Adding it to follow your progress and sharing my own

I had to file with this embassy back in Jan 2023 for visitors visa (lost WVP back in 2011) and that process was fairly quick, took about 2 months from aplication to getting my passport back.
One thing that does come to mind that you could try looking into is where you can claim your passport after your visa's have been completed, as I had to pick mine up in Stockholm aswell.
 
Best of luck to you all

A month is longer than normal, but be assured, you don't ever need the hard copy receipt notice for anything.  No need to stress about it.  They have your case and it's in the queue.  You have your case number.  There's no new information on the hard copy.

Ok, thank you 😊 

The NOA's have been taking a lot longer lately.  I wouldn't panic yet. 

Yes, im glad too!🥰 i don't think there is too many Finns in here 😅
I'll update you how the interview process and everything goes! 
 

I know right 😅 oh well 🤷 
It'll be a good while before my interview since we only just sent in our petition....
But glad to find another Finn here 🥰 and hopefully things will go fast and smoothly for us all!

Oh that's great! Please share your journey aswell!
Kinda sucks to go all the way to Sweden for an interview, but luckily it's easy to travel there 😁

Hi, here's another Finn who noticed the same thing about the interviews being held in Stockholm instead of Helsinki...We are applying for the spouse visa as we are married already. 
Glad to hear Stockholm handling things smoothly without a backlog 🤩

Ok, husband checked with his bank ---the check/cheque 😁has been cashed 🥳
 
They received our I-130 03/05, we got the receipt notice txt msg 03/11 and that's the day they cashed the cheque too✅
I read that it takes 2-4 weeks to receive the I-797c so its been two weeks now so I think we are good. So far so good 😊 

Did you pay by personal check/cheque? If so that is the easiest to find out. Otherwise call your bank 

Let us know when it arrives.

You won't get a receipt notice unless they cashed your check.  Check your online banking to confirm.  At intake, your file gets a cursory look.  If something is wrong, there will be no receipt notice.  In a month or so, you get your whole package back telling you what was wrong.  (Not necessarily a clear explanation, but something.)

That’s what I meant - I’m a Brit! Just made me realise that the American spelling seems normal to me now after nearly 2 years (although it probably helps that I hadn’t used a cheque in the UK for about 15 years….be prepared to travel back in time in terms of banking, it’s like 1998 here 😂).

Your bank should be able to tell you. But if you know it’s been received then that’s good, the clock has started ticking. 
 
P.S. It seems I’ve now been in the US for long enough for ‘cheque’ to look wrong to me. 😂

Temporary work visa is inconsistent with your immigrant intent. Your I-130 is pending because you're planning to live in the US.

Some work visas are dual intent so not an issue.
 
The big question is which one, might be an issue.