charity1214

No problem

If I were you, I'd keep calling everyday, possibly even twice a day. When I first called NVC, the guy told me that I should wait another week before calling. I, of course, didn't accept his answer, so I called back the next day. Lo and behold, I get my case number! If I had waited like that guy suggested, I wouldn't have gotten a head-start on the NVC process. I'm not exactly sure when my case arrived at NVC. The first guy said there was no record of my case, but 24 hours later, NVC had it and was inputting it in their system. I'm guessing that if NVC got your case on April 4th, you should be getting your case number this week, or next week at the latest, depending how busy they are. Just keep calling, you'll get it very soon

I agree. I was told on a Monday that the file was in the building but no case number had been assigned yet. Call back in 2-3 weeks. I said that I was hoping to get started with EP and all I needed was a case number and was there any chance it could be sooner? She nicely said, try back Friday. I checked the automated system on Friday- no record of our case, BUT when I called immediately after and asked an operator, she had everything there... case number, id numbers, invoice numbers, etc. So don't feel bad about calling sooner and asking.

Saylin, did you get my PM by any chance??

I'll ask on here too... I am using EP for NVC but I will be using a co-sponsor (my dad). Since I will be filling out the I-864, then emailing the supporting documents, how will he do his?? Obviously not online right?? So then do I have him do the paper copy and then just scan and email it? Will i email it with the supporting documents? Or should I email it by itself with it's own cover letter so they know that it's a true I-864 and not a "supporting" document like the other things I'm emailing?

thanks in advance!

Great guide, wish I had found it in my multitude of Google searches and VJ searches.

I agree... it needs to be added to the NVC wiki page as a link. It was the first guide that truly fit my situation and was concise and thorough. Kudos to Saylin for writing it up!

Bumping this topic again....

My husband has a Chevy Cobalt. It is not paid off. So it'll cost around $100 to get the compliance letter correct?? Does anyone know if GM will require the car to be paid off or not?

I am trying to figure out which declaration reason I can use for my husbands car on HS-7 (Declaration form).

2B requires the "compliance letter" for permanently importing which is what most of you probably did.

but could we also do 5? (Does not conform but a) i'm a non-resident b) temporarily using it for a period of no more than 1 year and c) will export it before the 1 year is up)

If we do reason 5, can we change our minds within the year time-frame and go ahead and import it then?

Thank you in advance for your help!

*pokes her head in* Hi! Still waiting on the NVC to issue a number. Is it sad that even though the hubby and I are going to drag our feet in this, I still want them to hurry up and freaking give us a case number already?

Have you spoken to a person yet? or just checking the recorded message?? I checked my recorded message on Friday and it said No case on file yet, but then called and talked to an operator and got everything!!! Good luck!

Sounds like your packet was similar to mine. I highlighted things that were in my "supporting evidence" to help them find why I might have included it but nothing official, and I did tabs at the bottom as well. I also double holed punched at the top because I read somewhere that they assemble via top brackets and so I figured "why not?" Just do priority mail, nothing rushed. I was approved in 4 1/2 months with no RFE's. Good luck! I think it's a beautiful packet

Hey Everyone!

I am finally ready to send out our I-130 package and I am so excited about it. I've put my cover letter below and was hoping a few of you could look at it and tell me if it sounds ok and if I am missing anything.

Also, do I just mail this USPS and would do you recommend next day or anything like that?

I am going to put tabs at the bottom and just put one big clip on everything, is that alright?

Should I put a mini table of contents in front of each section or is the one in the front ok?

Thanks so much for all your help you guys!

April 3rd, 2011

USCIS

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-4107

To Whom It May Concern:

Please find enclosed my Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative on behalf of my U.K citizen husband, Ben Nicholas Lastname.

Included are the following documents:

 Required Documentation (Red Tabs)

• Personal Check in the amount of $420

• G-1145 Form

• I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

• Full Copy of Petitioner's American passport

• Copy of Petitioner and Beneficiary's Marriage Certificate

• Petitioner's G-325A

• Petitioner's Passport Style Photo

• Beneficiary's G-325A

• Beneficiary's Passport Style Photo

• Supplemental Documentation (Yellow Tabs)

• Explanation of Name Change Document

• Name Change Court Order

• Relationship History Statement

 Evidence of Bonafide Marriage (Green Tabs)

• Pictures of Petitioner and Beneficiary - (November 2007 – December 2010)

• City of New York Parks & Recreation Marriage Event Permit

• New York Wedding Week Hotel Receipt

• Club A Steakhouse (Reception Dinner Venue) Contract

• Club A Steakhouse Reception Dinner Menu

• Various Flight Records (2008 - 2011)

• Full Copy of Beneficiary's Passport

• Relationship Affidavits from U.S.A. & U.K. Citizens

Thank you very much for your prompt attention to this matter.

Respectfully,

Date:

Katie Middlename Lastname

My address

My Phone Number

My Email

Yay! Grats! You got everything you needed! If you're planning on doing EP, then you can shoot off the optin email now. Try logging onto the payment portal. If a bill is available, then pay it. And if you can sign onto the other area successfully, then fill out the DS-261!

One step ahead of ya!! Already sent that in and checked all portals. So far, they aren't ready, but I'll be checking now everyday!

You're good... the amount is for the TOTAL Family number... 2 = must make more than $18,387

:thumbs:

NOA2 -> NVC process is a killer. Im calling daily trying to get my NVC case number and so tired of hearing "We dont have record of that case number on file".

I just want to get moving.

i could've written this post myself! Even though it's a relatively short phase... it's the thought that it's so simple and should only take a few seconds to do that gets me!

I can confirm this as well. Husband went to get his last week and ended up at OPP. He has to wait a week or two to get it back too because they said they "only do them in batches" and to check back in a week or two. Anyone else get that line? Was slightly frustrated but trying to take it all in stride.

Congrats on the approvals!

I stopped looking at my timeline once it was saying August, but guess who sneeked a peek and noticed its back to April 5-11th.....

I have a good feeling for you... GOOD LUCK!!!

Just keep calling! I'd call twice a day, so again later tonight. Exactly a week after my approval I was able to get a case number from the operator as they were inputting my case into their system. Don't forget to ask for the Invoice ID Number AND the Beneficiary ID Number once you get your case number. Also, give over the email addresses of both you and your spouse. Good luck! You can have a case number any moment. I'd be relentless with calling NVC if I were you.

Normally I would be, but since my husband doesn't have his stuff ready to go quite yet, I am fine with waiting a day inbetween. But NVC be warned when he gets it all in hand... THEN I'll be GO-GO-GO!!! LOL

Honestly, i think the hardest part is waiting for the I-130 to be approved... the rest tends to go a bit faster. I know it seems like you've waited forever to be together (we all know that feeling!) but I think you are getting close and it won't be long. I agree with the others that it's a shame that you have to use a lawyer because at this point, there is so much wonderful support and help and guides to follow on VJ, the lawyer only means a 3rd party to work around now and you are at their mercy to file things for you. But, it is what it is and you can't go back and change that part, so here a virtual hug for you and encouragement that you are hopefully over the hump now and soon you'll be getting that interview and crossing that border!!!

{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}

Called again today to see if we had a case number yet. She said we have it here in the building but it has not been entered into the system yet. She said to wait 2-4 weeks and I would get a packet (ha ha ha.... ) so I sweetly said "Is there any chance that I could find out my number sooner than that? We are hoping to work through Electronic Processing and are just waiting on a number" and she was very nice and said to give it a couple days and check back for the number. That suits me fine for now. Gonna try back tomorrow or Thursday and see if my call prompted getting a number

Wish me luck for a case number by Friday!

Hey everyone.

We just recently sent off our I-129f and I'm looking into what documents we'll need for the next step. I know I need to get a new birth certificate, mine doesn't have the info they want. I'm born and raised in Alberta, and I know I can order a new birth certificate from Vital Statistics. However, there are two options that could be what I need and I'm just confused as to which I should order. There's the birth certificate which has all the info I need on it (name, gender, date of birth, place of birth, registration number, registration date, name of parents and their place of birth), but then there's the photocopy of registration of birth, which is a photocopy of the original registration, and also has all that info and says that it has an official raised seal and all that.

So, is there anyone out there from Alberta or anyone who knows for sure which one I need to get? Any help would be much appreciated!

-sam and dan

Like the other said... Long form. Order - http://www.servicealberta.ca/pdf/vs/REG3023.pdf and get the one with "Certificate with Personal Information and Parentage". Won't take long

Good luck and welcome to the process!

My fiance is in Cuba and I need to send her some of the forms she is required to fill out. The problem is Cuba has the worst telecommunications in the Americas. Attachmenst larger than a few KBs simply will not go through. I have tried sending the G-325a form to her in a variety of ways but 568KB is just too big. I am a computer specialist and so is she, but neither of us have been able to find a way to shrink, compress, convert or otherwise modify that PDF file to a size Cuba's frail emails system will accept. We are also concerned that any such modification will make it unacceptable to immigration.

Any ideas?

Sounds like you would be better off just printing it off for her and mailing it. Sometime technical stuff will just be more headache than it's worth.

Just my 2 cents.

After I filed our I-130 I just sat back and relaxed. Told my husband to relax for 3-4 months, then we'll start prepping for NVC. It worked like a charm... at 4 months, I started getting financial documents ordered, birth certificate/marriage certificates ordered, figured out how to get police certificates, and started putting together everything so when the time came, we were ready. I started reading up on NVC steps, making lists of what I still need to do, etc. Finally, at 4 1/2 months, we got our NOA2 and now we are 90% ready to go. Just waiting on case number to be assigned.

My advice... don't stress or get impatient about the wait. We were lucky and had holidays and things to keep us busy and distracted. The time flew by. I only checked our case on the USCIS site once a week or so, because I knew that any news would come via a text message or an email. I started checking daily around the 4 month mark when I saw that late October and early november filers were beginning to see action. Maybe we're lucky, but so far it's been easy for us and just keeping perspective about things and staying patient seems to help. We knew from the start it would be a long process, but it goes by quicker than you expect.

Good luck!!

I am trying to bring my wife into the USA from Canada. We have been married one year... It is now time for her to submit her Visa application to the NVC, and for me (as the petitioner) to submit my Affidavit of Support. I am starting a new business, and do not show significant income for the last couple of years. I have about 50k equity in a home, and 30k in an IRA. We have no children.

Question #1: should I ask my Mom to be a (non-household) joint sponsor? She has a nice pension and assets, but am not sure if the NVC wants to see more than one Aff. of Support...

Question #2: If I use a Joint Sponsor in addition to my own Affidavit of Support---Is there an additional AoS fee that my Joint Sponsor must pay---on top of which I have already paid?

Question #3: What document will suffice to prove that my Joint Sponsor is a US Citizen? (her passport is not current)

Question #4: Can the Joint Sponsor's proof of citizenship be included with her I-864a, in the same submission as my (the Petitioner's) Affidavit of Support package?

Question #5: The I-864a seems to be written for a Household Member. What form does a Joint Sponsor use if they are not a household member?

Thanks in advance to anyone with the energy (and expertise) to answer these questions for me!

Kevin

#1- That is completely up to you, but completely acceptable. I am using my non-household father as a joint sponsor.

#2- To my knowledge, there are no additional filing fees for the joint sponsor.

#3- Good question... I didn't realize that it was required as part of the AOS package. Will be watching for an answer.

#4- unsure

#5- as the above poster replied... non-household joint sponsor's fill out the I-864 as well. I-864a is for HOUSEHOLD only. The I-864 has places to designate their role in the support even though it's the same form we fill out as petitioner's as well.

I also posted some questions right after you in a new thread.... they might pertain to you as well, or maybe not. Feel free to participate too.

Good luck!

I am planning to use my father as a joint sponsor for our Visa Request. He does NOT live with me. He is employed and makes enough to meet the 125% guidelines.

My questions...

#1 - He and my mother file joint taxes, and my mother has retirement income. Do I need to use them BOTH as sponsors since the tax transcripts/tax returns have BOTH incomes listed? I would prefer to just use my dad and his SOLE income as it is high enough for our needs.

#2 - If I only use my father as a joint sponsor, then when we get to 24b. we are NOT required to list any other income if we are not relying on it as support correct? Therefore, the TOTAL household income doesn't necessarily have to MATCH the tax returns, just has to reflect what we are "using" as AOS and showing proof? Is that correct?

#3- I have already filed taxes for 2010. How soon can I request a tax transcript so that I can use 3 years of transcripts, rather than 2 years of transcripts and 1 year tax return (trying to keep things simple).

it's been 12days still no NVC case number

I hear ya... been only a week here but it's one of those things where I have most everything ready to start and just need that first contact to get the ball rolling. I feel like I was patient for 4 1/2 months... now a week feels like an eternity! Ahhh patience is a virtue!

I rented a 14' uhaul and towed my vehicle behind it. I entered through the Ambassador Bridge, pulled up and officer asked for my passport and what I was bringing in. Told him all of my personal things. I had hand written on a piece of paper what was in "most" of the boxes. He handed the paper back and asked where I was moving too, that was it..let me go not even checking one thing.

Each step of the journey has been a lot easier then what I have read here on VJ. I am feeling blessed that things moves so easily and without problems, strange for me. I'm glad I had tons of advice here at VJ. I already have my SSN# and a job interview tomorrow...crazy, I haven't even unpacked. It's been a blurrrr to me so far!

It's always so refreshing to hear stories of very smooth and painless steps in the process!! Glad it worked out for you and good luck at the interview! Welcome to the US!

Thank you all for the warm welcome... I hope my visit to this thread is short! (no offense... just ready for interviews and being with my sweetie!)

If you guys dont' mind... how long from getting your notification that your petition was approved until you received your case number? I'm being patient (i promise!!) but just curious to others in this same month.

Just wanted to introduce myself... just got the text and email last Wednesday evening that our petition was approved which brings me here now!! I have been gathering and prepping our things for a few weeks now to assist in quicker process through the NVC stage, but still waiting on my husband to get his things done and compiled. Our only hiccup at the moment is getting everything he needs for the police clearance since he does have an old pardoned offense. We should know more this week, but I am extremely confident that we'll be able to glide through NVC without too many hitches.

Saylin, I am planning on using your guide, step-by-step, so thank you in advance for putting that together.

Hi everyone. I'm here to say my wife's I-130 was APPROVED TODAY!!!! YES!! Thanks for all the help and support from everyone here, and to those who have not been approved yet, good luck, I'm sure your time is coming soon. Praise the Lord!

Congrats!! And welcome to the club!

NOA2 approval today.

Congratulations to all my fellow approved members!!! Looks we were all on the same pile! I hope for the rest of you that it continues!! BEST OF LUCK!!! :)