USC petitioner living abroad

[NepaliDreamer 8]

I thought I would also post part of my cover letter as an example:

January 5, 2013

Dear Sir or Madam,

REQUEST FOR IR-1 IMMIGRANT VISA FOR MS. FIRST NAME, LAST NAME INITIAL

I am requesting an IR-1 immigrant visa for my wife NAME-HERE. We have been married for eight years and we live together in Nepal. We have two children, X and X who are American citizens and have Consular Reports of Birth Abroad in their names. At this point our family would like to move to the USA.

I think that having children will really push your case through. In fact I was told so by the embassy in 2011, "Get CRBA for your children, it will make your wife's immigration process much quicker"

[NikLR 13,227]

I thought I would also post part of my cover letter as an example:

I think that having children will really push your case through. In fact I was told so by the embassy in 2011, "Get CRBA for your children, it will make your wife's immigration process much quicker"

Do you know why its quicker? Because then you are not petitioning for children as well. It's also proof of relationship. Multiple children generally means a longer term ongoing relationship.

Edited April 2, 2013 by NikiR

[MeredythB 38]

Do you know why its quicker? Because then you are not petitioning for children as well. It's also proof of relationship. Multiple children generally means a longer term ongoing relationship.

Good point. Also, filing from abroad also deals with that tricky issue, face time. If you're already living with your spouse in a foreign country, it cuts down on the chance that you're only married for immigration purposes to the States. I included copies of both my immigration card and the visas in my passport as the spouse of an Irish citizen in my relationship evidence. The burden of proof in these situations is often easier to meet.

Edited April 2, 2013 by MeredythB

[NikLR 13,227]

And you have someone to wait with. And hugs. I miss my husband a lot lately, we normally visit every 2-3 months and it's about that time. But I know the permanent visit is coming soon. Lol

[LucienDavid 0]

Woohoo! I-130 is done!

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: 27th February 2013

4. How long had you been living abroad: 3.5 years

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes

6. What is the reason for your residence: family 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, all addresses on all forms were our French address

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, insofar as it was listed in the header and references to our French apt lease were in the table of contents.

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? I guess, approved on 18th April (50 days)

[G&Mhk 1]

1. Country USC resides in: Hong Kong

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

3. When did you file the I-130: Dec 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: Student

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, 41 days.

Thank you for this post. You've given me hope as my situation is remarkably similar to yours. Basically I'm only staying in Hong Kong until my wife's visa is approved and then we're going to move home to Maryland. Luckily, I am just here for work and I never changed my permanent address and I still have some significant family ties to the U.S. -- will put all that on my cover letter with the I-130 this week.

[qm3tam 0]

Thank you for this post. You've given me hope as my situation is remarkably similar to yours. Basically I'm only staying in Hong Kong until my wife's visa is approved and then we're going to move home to Maryland. Luckily, I am just here for work and I never changed my permanent address and I still have some significant family ties to the U.S. -- will put all that on my cover letter with the I-130 this week.

Good luck, just follow the guides and its pretty straightforward, we have an interview date for June already.

[diht 0]

1. Country USC resides in: Ireland
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: January 2012
4. How long had you been living abroad: 5
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: work permit/student/tourist/ other--this is my other country of citizenship.
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
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? Not sure, maybe, 35 days

Our case then went to the National Benefits Center and on to the NVC. I hope it gets out of there soon! Good luck everybody!

[lucybelle 453]

I'm starting to think I will not be/have not been expedited

[Wingnutfish 18]

Luckily, I am just here for work and I never changed my permanent address and I still have some significant family ties to the U.S. -- will put all that on my cover letter with the I-130 this week.

Everybody correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you need proof of ties to the U.S. for the I-130 package. That comes later, when you have to give proof of domicile to your embassy.

[Wingnutfish 18]

I'm starting to think I will not be/have not been expedited

Sorry to hear that! Did you do anything differently from the other posters in this thread?

[Ryan H 3,812]

Everybody correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you need proof of ties to the U.S. for the I-130 package. That comes later, when you have to give proof of domicile to your embassy.

Domicile is dealt with when submitting the Affidavit of Support package (I-864), not when submitting the I-130.

[oohpartiv 484]

I'm starting to think I will not be/have not been expedited

I'm pretty sure you're the member that got talked into changing the address on the I-130 to an American one, right? In that case, no, you probably won't get expedited, unfortunately. After you changed the address, you gave NBC the right to send it off to a local office, which is probably where it is right now.

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Not sure, maybe, 35 days

It was absolutely expedited! If 35 days isn't fast, I don't know what is.

[Mk&Ang 2]

1. Country USC resides in: Morocco
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: April 10 2013 NOA1
4. How long had you been living abroad: almost 3 years
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: to be with my husband
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes, other than the required US address where I used my parent's home address.
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? not really (we send it to my mom so she can put a us bank check in it )
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? yes (copies of my residency card)
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? Not sure yet - haven't received NOA2.

if there is anyway to activate that "auto-expedited"???

[oohpartiv 484]

if there is anyway to activate that "auto-expedited"???

No. USCIS denies that it exists. It's more of a trend that folks here on VJ have caught onto.