USC petitioner living abroad

[Rlelle09 28]

1. Country USC resides in: canada

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No

3. When did you file the I-130: 29 April 2012

4. How long had you been living abroad: 3 years

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes

6. What is the reason for your residence: i came here to be with my then girlfriend (now wife) and kids

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes

8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes

9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes, lease agreement, bank statements, birth certificates for my children, and PR i got through my wife for canada

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes, i only put my address at the top of the cover letter

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Just got my NOA1 last night and was routed to California

Got an rfe may 14th :-( hoping they review my response soon....*sigh*

How many of you are filing for children? For some reason I feel it may slow down my case.

RFE response review May 30th, NOA2 approval June 4th!! OMG!!! Finally!!

[PHK 1]

1. Country USC resides in: canada

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No

3. When did you file the I-130: 27 MAY 2014

4. How long had you been living abroad: 4 years

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes

6. What is the reason for your residence: Married to Canadian.

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes

8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes

9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes, bank statements, birth certificates for our daughter.

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? No, just in the forms.

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? 12 days. Processed in California.

[bulutcan 0]

1. Country USC resides in: Australia
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: 21 MAY 2014
4. How long had you been living abroad: 2 years
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: Work
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes, bank statements, and employment contract
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes, a very short narrative setting out when we met, got married and moved to Australia..
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Only 6 days. Transferred to California on 3 June 2014, processed and approved on 9 June 2014 in California.

[Tonio64 0]

1. Country USC resides in: France
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: May 13th 2014
4. How long had you been living abroad: 1 years
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Overstaying a tourist visa
6. What is the reason for your residence: To be together
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes a bank statement
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Not really , just our French adress on the cover letter
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? YES in 23 days only at CSC

I can't believe it went so fast ! We read all those stories and hoped it'll be the case for us , after 23 days here we are !

Edited June 25, 2014 by Tonio64

[HmB 0]

1. Country USC resides in: Singapore
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: June 23rd, 2014
4. How long had you been living abroad: 16 months
5. Do you reside in the country legally? No
6. What is the reason for your residence: work permit/student/tourist/other - work permit
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? No, but clearly marked as "Filed from abroad"
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes - mutual lease
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? No
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Seems like it! 7 days to get NOA1, 10 days later for NOA2! We're in shock !

[HmB 0]

1. Country USC resides in: Singapore

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No

3. When did you file the I-130: June 23rd, 2014

4. How long had you been living abroad: 16 months

5. Do you reside in the country legally? No

6. What is the reason for your residence: work permit/student/tourist/other - work permit

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes

8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? No, but clearly marked as "Filed from abroad"

9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes - mutual lease

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? No

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Seems like it! 7 days to get NOA1, 10 days later for NOA2! We're in shock !

5. Do you reside in the country legally? No <--- I meant YES! (for some reason I read it as "illegally"!)

[ayessa_phay21 0]

1. Country USC resides in: Abu Dhabu
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: July 3 2014
4. How long had you been living abroad: 12 months
5. Do you reside in the country legally? No
6. What is the reason for your residence: work permit/student/tourist/other - work permit
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes - resident card and letter from the hotel apartment we are living in
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes 18 days

[EdenG 3]

1. Country USC resides in: Israel
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: July 6 2014
4. How long had you been living abroad: A year and a half
5. Do you reside in the country legally?yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: work
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? yes, copy for work visa, bank statement
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes 17 days

I really, really can't believe this stage went so quickly. Truly thankful!

Edited July 31, 2014 by EdenG

[SharksBelow 99]

1. Country USC resides in: Australia
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: Received in Chicago 14 July, 2014
4. How long had you been living abroad: Petitioner living in beneficiary's home country for 5 months
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: work permit/student/tourist/other - work / tourist visa
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes. NOA1 17 July, NOA2 28 July so 11 days.

[DM_G 20]

1. Country USC resides in: Poland
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: April 2014
4. How long had you been living abroad: 4 years
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: To be with wife and kids
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? No. Provided Polish birth certificates of our two daughters to show bona fide relationship, I'm not sure if that proves my residency. However, I (USC) am also a Polish citizen, and listed Poland as my "Place of Birth" on I-130.
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? No
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes, 12 days.

[jpakoa 0]

1. Country USC resides in: Vanuatu
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: August 2014
4. How long had you been living abroad: 11 years
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: work/To be with husband and kids
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. Certificates of Birth Abroad for 3 children
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? No
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes, 14 days.

[jorider007 0]

1. Country USC resides in: Saudi Arabia
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: 1 August 2014
4. How long had you been living abroad: 6 years
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: Contract Work
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. Certificates of Birth Abroad for Daughter
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? No
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes. 15 days for first NOA 2 and still waiting on NOA2 for step-son (I filed two petitions)

Edited August 28, 2014 by jorider007

[mofatsd 127]

1. Country USC resides in: Switzerland
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: August 2, 2014
4. How long had you been living abroad: 9 years - 5 years in the same country currently
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: work permit/student/tourist/other - Husband work permit
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes.
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes, 20 days.

[big_promise 2]

1. Country USC resides in: Turkey
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: Express mail while in the US for a conference on August 9th
4. How long had you been living abroad: 2 months, though noted several prior long tourist visits
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Sort of... been abusing Turkey's generous tourist visa policies until now, but submitted evidence of an appointment with the police to adjust status to an extended tourist visa with my I-130.
6. What is the reason for your residence: Live with my wife while telecommuting to my job in the US (academic research, not related to Turkey in any way!)
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? No
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Presented evidence I'm in the process of adjusting my Turkish immigration status (no certified translations though!) and had my parents mention it in their affidavits.
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? No, but encouraged my parents to mention it in their sworn affidavits
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Apparently so! NOA1 August 13th, NOA2 August 27th - 14 days, learned of it via mail sent from CSC August 28th and arrived in Istanbul today. Completely unexpected as I had planned to avoid checking my status (and far less this website) for at least 3 months to preserve sanity

[DrewC 3]

1. Country USC resides in: Romania

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No

3. When did you file the I-130: August 23, 2014

4. How long had you been living abroad: 1 year and 6 months

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes

6. What is the reason for your residence: Volunteer resident permit

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes

8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes

9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. Copy of Romanian residence permit

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes, 20 days.