I-130 Greencard application questions

[zbg 0]

I've spent a bit of time trying to figure out the boards here, so please excuse me in advance if I'm asking redundant questions. It could just be that I'm a bit slow, but it is a myriad of terms I'm not used to.

My situation is my husband is USC and lives with me in Australia. We've been married for 5 years.

I presently have a B1 visa for temporary visits.

Filed our I-130 application in late January to Chicago Lockbox. Have received the notification that they received it, and they cashed the check. Assume that's NOA1?

It's been sitting in "initial review" stage ever since - over 4 months now.

I can't tell what happens next? Is it the NOA2 where they request more details, more money, we send that to them, and then it gets transferred to a Service Center (Texas, California or Vermont)?

If my assumption above is correct - and from wherever it is now (presumably Chicago) it gets sent to another center, how long likely before that happens, and then once it is transferred to the next center is it another lengthy wait before our local Consular/Embassy interview for approval?

Again my loose understanding is/was that send to Chicago, Chicago check all the details and send to one of the 3 centers who verify next set of information, who then send back to Australia for in-person interview for final approval. My understanding is last stage back in Australia will be swift, and upon interview - Visa should be within days of that - but I have no idea if I'm likely to be waiting for days, weeks, months or perish the thought - years.

Lastly - I've read elswhere that my hubby could have sent the application locally to Australia so wonder if we screwed up and should have done that in the first place?

Thanks for your help and advice in advance.

[Ryan H 3,810]

The petition (an I-130 is a petition form, not an application form) has long left the lockbox facility in Chicago. What are the first 3 letters on the receipt number (this is how you can tell where it is)?

It would not have been possible for your husband to have filed an I-130 in Australia, there is no USCIS field office there.

[DreamAngelsWish 0]

I am a USC living in England (with my husband, a British citizen) right now and I filed a petition I-130 fon our behalf from here (not in the US), we mailed it in to the Chicago lockbox. We received notification they got it electronically on March 13th 2013 and we were never able to check our status online with our confirmation number they gave us. We called a couple times, the first a couple weeks after we had our number to check and they said it takes awhile to update this time of year and to call them if it hasn't been posted in 45 days... Again, it wasn't and we called and they said there really wasn't much they could tell us and we asked if we should call back and check again in a month and they basically said that we should probably just wait and not bother calling... (great...) Then on May 8th (a few days later) we looked online again and it was in the post decision phase and had been approved.

Your petition has likely been routed from Chicago... I believe the first three letters of your comfirmation number (to check the status online) corresponds with the office that is dealing with your petition... As far as how long to the interview from this point-- I have no idea! I want to know myself. I am really hoping that we can get all this taken care of and our Visa before September but I am definitley not holding my breath! I just can't bear the weather out here much longer! (Seriously! It is hailing and storming right now!! ) Must get back to Arizona sunshine!!!

Edited May 11, 2013 by DreamAngelsWish

[dwheels76 5,466]

I've spent a bit of time trying to figure out the boards here, so please excuse me in advance if I'm asking redundant questions. It could just be that I'm a bit slow, but it is a myriad of terms I'm not used to.

My situation is my husband is USC and lives with me in Australia. We've been married for 5 years.

I presently have a B1 visa for temporary visits.

Filed our I-130 application in late January to Chicago Lockbox. Have received the notification that they received it, and they cashed the check. Assume that's NOA1?

It's been sitting in "initial review" stage ever since - over 4 months now.

I can't tell what happens next? Is it the NOA2 where they request more details, more money, we send that to them, and then it gets transferred to a Service Center (Texas, California or Vermont)?

If my assumption above is correct - and from wherever it is now (presumably Chicago) it gets sent to another center, how long likely before that happens, and then once it is transferred to the next center is it another lengthy wait before our local Consular/Embassy interview for approval?

Again my loose understanding is/was that send to Chicago, Chicago check all the details and send to one of the 3 centers who verify next set of information, who then send back to Australia for in-person interview for final approval. My understanding is last stage back in Australia will be swift, and upon interview - Visa should be within days of that - but I have no idea if I'm likely to be waiting for days, weeks, months or perish the thought - years.

Lastly - I've read elswhere that my hubby could have sent the application locally to Australia so wonder if we screwed up and should have done that in the first place?

Thanks for your help and advice in advance.

Okay lets help clear up some of your confusion.

I am sure since you filed in january your receipt# starts with MSC. Since your husband is there with you there is no local USCIS office here so yoru petition more than likely is being processed right at the NBC in Missouri.

"Initial Review" you will be in until you are approved. Doesnt mean ant one is looking at yoru file or anything. Once you get receiipt number you are tagged "Initial Review"

Once you are approved at USCIS you will be sent to NVC for further document processing. Please go to this thread for NVC filers ask questions and read Post #1 and #2. Your husband has Domicile things to do and well there may be alot you need to get set up now while you wait.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/427843-nvc-filers-may-2013/

[zbg 0]

First 3 letters are MSC. Yes.

[Boggy1974 124]

Also, I would add to what dwheels said by asking that you read thoroughly the I-130 & NVC guides up the top of this page.

The steps are clearly laid out there. In addition, give yourself some 6months to 1year wait time for the entire process. Good luck!