Going to see hubby after filing i130...don't know whether it's a good idea?

[MumtazG38 1]

I just went to the Wiki and checked out LingChe's shortcuts and they were EXTREMELY helpful....but I still have one question, what if I want/need to travel to Pakistan to spend some time with my husband during this procedure? I need to see him so that we can take pictures to prove we're still together and also possibly open a joint account and live together for a month or two in order to fit the on-going marital relationship/bonifide marriage requirements. With so much to do....all the tedious work...filing...mailing...getting mail.....how would I leave for Pakistan for a month or two without basically putting the whole cr1 process on hold? What if I missed any noa's or rfe's or any other important things...what if they arrive sooner to my home address? would there be any way I could get those things mailed to my address in Paki for the time ill be there for? Would my going to Paki make things possibly go slower or take longer? Couldn't I just use Pakistan address so that everything can be mailed back to me at that address somehow?

Edited December 27, 2008 by MumtazG38

[MumtazG38 1]

My parents don't want to help me at all so I can't ask them to forward my mail to me either, nor anyone else would have access to our mailbox.

Also, would the procedure/visa type change if I were to go to Paki and file from there (keeping in mind, I will also be using a joint sponsor who is permanent resident in the U.S.). I think that going to Pakistan and taking care of it from there would be much easier for me, because my husband would be with me to help with everything....where-as I don't have any means of transportation here in the U.S and can't get anyone to drive me to the post office....they would get suspicious and lets just say bad things would happen. Any chance I could do this entire process (exactly as I would here) from Paki? What would be different, if anything at all?

Edited December 27, 2008 by MumtazG38

[ARALB 0]

I just went to the Wiki and checked out LingChe's shortcuts and they were EXTREMELY helpful....but I still have one question, what if I want/need to travel to Pakistan to spend some time with my husband during this procedure? I need to see him so that we can take pictures to prove we're still together and also possibly open a joint account and live together for a month or two in order to fit the on-going marital relationship/bonifide marriage requirements. With so much to do....all the tedious work...filing...mailing...getting mail.....how would I leave for Pakistan for a month or two without basically putting the whole cr1 process on hold? What if I missed any noa's or rfe's or any other important things...what if they arrive sooner to my home address? would there be any way I could get those things mailed to my address in Paki for the time ill be there for? Would my going to Paki make things possibly go slower or take longer? Couldn't I just use Pakistan address so that everything can be mailed back to me at that address somehow?

I will tell you this... I filed my I-130 at the very end of June, it had arrived by July 3. I went BACK to Jordan at the end of July to attend some inlaws weddings... THE DAY AFTER I LEFT, I got the first NOA.. Then managed to miss out on the K-1 or is it K-3 because I wasn't here to send in the I-129F packet immediately! I sent it once i got home, and got it back a week later saying that our chances of using that option were out the window because the I-130 had been approved. So just be careful-- things take so long to get overseas... Case in point- I sent a letter with some photo cds to my husband the middle of October, he did not get them until Christmas Eve!!!

Once you have filed your I-129f, it shouldn't be a big deal to go for a visit... I would advise you to have as much ready for your AOS as possible before you go, and have someone here to check your mail for you and be ready to send whatever you might get via DHL, or another courrier! Then your process isn't being delayed more than the 2 weeks it takes for the courrier to get things back to you and then back to the NVC! Good luck on your journey!--Amy

[MumtazG38 1]

Well I don't think I'll be filing the i129f because that would be for the K3 visa and I'm applying for cr1. So would it be okay if I left directly after filing the i130...or would it be smarter to wait to get my noa1 so I can keep track while I'm overseas. When should I plan on coming back? Would I be able to stay there until he gets his visa and we can go back to the states together?

[brnidokiegurl 0]

seems most cr1 are taking at least six months some more, after filing you dont have really anthing else to do until the 2 arrives and you know its on the way to NVC, you can watch thru the online status changes, but once it hits nvc you need to be back and ready with all your paperwork ready to work quickly to finish your case as it goes quicker now, the key being have everything signed and ready to go, the idea of waiting until he gets the visa keep in mind it could be close to a year after filing

[MumtazG38 1]

So what should I do.....when should I go and for how long?

So there is no way I can apply from Pakistan is there? My being in the states is probably mandatory right......I hope not. Is their any part of the process where it would be ok for me to do it sitting in Pakistan?(During i130-noa1-noa2 while getting mail forwarded to me in paki, or afterwards sometime??) Like couldnt I just use my Pakistani address.....or would that just complicate my case more.

Edited December 28, 2008 by MumtazG38

[geezer 1]

I'd definately go. I have a IR-1 and IR-2 filed in early December and I plan at least 2 trips of about 8 weeks each scheduled for the next 10 months. I think it makes more sense to spend time for my family than wait for a very slow process and be lonely. I'll just get my mail and file the papers when I return. I would be more concerned about getting the paperwork lost by having it forwarded to me there.

[MumtazG38 1]

I'd definately go. I have a IR-1 and IR-2 filed in early December and I plan at least 2 trips of about 8 weeks each scheduled for the next 10 months. I think it makes more sense to spend time for my family than wait for a very slow process and be lonely. I'll just get my mail and file the papers when I return. I would be more concerned about getting the paperwork lost by having it forwarded to me there.

What about if I did DCF? Would that be slower? I want a quicker way...and I'm planning on going to see him once......and staying for 2-4 months atleast, if not until we can come back together.

[geezer 1]

I'd definately go. I have a IR-1 and IR-2 filed in early December and I plan at least 2 trips of about 8 weeks each scheduled for the next 10 months. I think it makes more sense to spend time for my family than wait for a very slow process and be lonely. I'll just get my mail and file the papers when I return. I would be more concerned about getting the paperwork lost by having it forwarded to me there.

What about if I did DCF? Would that be slower? I want a quicker way...and I'm planning on going to see him once......and staying for 2-4 months atleast, if not until we can come back together.

Yiu would have to establish residence in Pakistan before you could do DCF. I'm not sure how long that would take..check out the us embassy website for that country's DCF requirements as it seems every country is different

[MumtazG38 1]

what's the us embassy website?

[geezer 1]

what's the us embassy website?

http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/

click on visas..it looks like you need to live there at least 6 months before you can do DCF..

[MumtazG38 1]

oh.... so I geuss DCF would not be a good idea then. *sigh*.....it's just so hard to swallow the prospect of not being with my husband for such a long time. Since it isn't advisable to go or be in Paki while the case is with the NVC....that only leaves me with after filing the i130 and waiting for the noa2. Is there any way you could get email notification or a call in Paki or something for the noa2? Because I don't trust my mother to send me my mail, even these important documents and I don't necessarily trust carriers to get my mail to me either. Plus...I'm afraid that if my father sees these mails...he will open them for sure and figure out what I am doing and make a huge fight out of it. I just wish there were some way I could just get the mail directed/redirected to my address in Paki without so much of a fuss.

so should I do that then? file i130 and go to Pakistan for 2-4 months...and come back and do the rest then? Being a month or more late to sending in the info the nvc requests won't harm our case will it?

[geezer 1]

Personally I dont see any problem with being there while your petition is at the NVC. Also it will be six months or so before you have to worry about that.

Why dont you just get a PO Box if you dont want mail going to your parents home? Or sign up with a private PO Box if you also want mail forwarded.

[patita 0]

Personally I dont see any problem with being there while your petition is at the NVC. Also it will be six months or so before you have to worry about that.

Why dont you just get a PO Box if you dont want mail going to your parents home? Or sign up with a private PO Box if you also want mail forwarded.

I agree with Geezer! - Get a PO BOX and tell them to forward your mail! However I'm not sure how this is going to be if it's a foregin address - additional charge I guess! Not sure though!

Or get a PO BOX and ask a FRIEND to help you with this - somebody who you can trust!

But definately if your parents are gonna flip out cuz of it dont even bother them - it may cause you a huge headache and we dont want that right:)

cheer up - everything will be fine!

i keep saying this to me everyday sometimes it works! haha

[merijan 0]

I think no matter what you decide you need a PO box. I think it would be wise so you dont have anyone taking your mail or haveing more conflict.