Off to a fast start

[RickD 0]

I hope this is a good sign that the CSC is getting things done more quickly. I sent the I-130 for Ivonne overnight on 01/06/2009. My check cleared on Wed 1/14 and I received the I-797 this afternoon. I will FedEx the I-129F spouse visa petition package tomorrow. We are praying for God's continued blessing on this process.

I-130 Journey

01-06-09 - I-130 sent USPS Next Day Air to Chicago Lockbox

01-14-09 - Check cleared

01-16-09 - I-130 NOA1 back from the CSC

xx-xx-xx - I-130 touched

xx-xx-xx - I-130 NOA2(approved)

I-129F Journey

01-17-09 - I-129F sent

xx-xx-xx - I-129F NOA1

xx-xx-xx - I-129F touched

xx-xx-xx - I-129F touched

xx-xx-xx - I-129F NOA2(Approved)

xx-xx-xx - I-129F Case number assigned @ NVC

xx-xx-xx - I-129F NVC forward case to Bogota

NVC Journey Begin

NVC Received/Case number assigned :

DS-3032 / AOS Bill Generated :

Pay AOS Bill:

AOS Bill Show as PAID:

Mailed I-864 Package:

E-mail/Mail DS-3032 :

IV Bill Generated :

Pay IV Bill :

IV Bill Show as PAID:

Mailed IV Package:

Case Completed at NVC :

NVC Left :

Bogota, Colombia smile.gif

Consulate Received :

Medical:

Interview Date:

[Princess In Love 0]

CSC is definitely doing things faster than VSC , we sent our I-130 the same day as you and we had our check cleared only yesterday and we are still waiting for NOA1 .....good luck

[james&adry 3]

CSC is definitely doing things faster than VSC , we sent our I-130 the same day as you and we had our check cleared only yesterday and we are still waiting for NOA1 .....good luck

Hey Rick this is good news. I am just curious and don't mind me being frank, being the noobie I still am I am always coming up with more questions when I see other people's progress. Adry and myself have yet to marry but we have set a date for March 21st 2009 in Barranquilla, Colombia. We want to file the I 130 because it allows her to work almost immediately when she arrives to the States and 'act' like a US Citizen. My question to you is I noticed you have also filed for the I 129F. Im assuming you are already married (because of the I 130) but why the I 129F? Isnt that not needed?

Curiously intrigued,

James

[RickD 0]

CSC is definitely doing things faster than VSC , we sent our I-130 the same day as you and we had our check cleared only yesterday and we are still waiting for NOA1 .....good luck

Hey Rick this is good news. I am just curious and don't mind me being frank, being the noobie I still am I am always coming up with more questions when I see other people's progress. Adry and myself have yet to marry but we have set a date for March 21st 2009 in Barranquilla, Colombia. We want to file the I 130 because it allows her to work almost immediately when she arrives to the States and 'act' like a US Citizen. My question to you is I noticed you have also filed for the I 129F. Im assuming you are already married (because of the I 130) but why the I 129F? Isnt that not needed?

Curiously intrigued,

James

Ivonne's parents are pretty traditional and since Ivonne was the last unmarried daughter (I like to believe that God was saving her for me ;-), we honored their desire for both the civil and Christian ceremonies to take place in Bogota. So, we are going through the I-130/I-129F process. The I-129F spouse visa petition will allow Ivonne to enter the US IF the I-130 petition takes a while. In past years the I-130 could take a year to two years to be processed. More recently, there have been cases where the I-130 and the I-129F have been approved at about the same time (six months or so). In those cases, then it would make sense to drop the I-129F and go with the I-130.

My advice to MOST couples is do the fiancee visa if at all possible. Ivonne and I would be together right now if the family situation had been different. If you have a religious ceremony but do not register it with the government, then you can legally enter the US on a fiancee visa and do the legal wedding in America (but that does have the disadvantage of your spouse not being able to work right away - same situation with the spouse visa). There are pluses and minuses to each process, so each couple must decide for themselves what will work best for their situation. If you do the legal wedding in Colombia, as planned, have all the forms and paperwork on a flash drive and fill them out while you are there. Print out your wife's G-325 and have her sign it, plus an extra couple of sets of the form, (in blue ink so they know it's the original copy) and hand carry it back with you. Because we had all of the paperwork locked down before I left Bogota, I was able to next day the I-130 package to the Chicago Lockbox just two days after getting back. Having your paperwork complete, accurate, and organized will ensure fewer problems and possible delays. Between the online Spouse Visa kit I purchased ($49.95), the information on this website, and a lot of prayer, I feel pretty confident that we will have a smooth process. I pray that you have the same experience.

Rick

[james&adry 3]

CSC is definitely doing things faster than VSC , we sent our I-130 the same day as you and we had our check cleared only yesterday and we are still waiting for NOA1 .....good luck

Hey Rick this is good news. I am just curious and don't mind me being frank, being the noobie I still am I am always coming up with more questions when I see other people's progress. Adry and myself have yet to marry but we have set a date for March 21st 2009 in Barranquilla, Colombia. We want to file the I 130 because it allows her to work almost immediately when she arrives to the States and 'act' like a US Citizen. My question to you is I noticed you have also filed for the I 129F. Im assuming you are already married (because of the I 130) but why the I 129F? Isnt that not needed?

Curiously intrigued,

James

Ivonne's parents are pretty traditional and since Ivonne was the last unmarried daughter (I like to believe that God was saving her for me ;-), we honored their desire for both the civil and Christian ceremonies to take place in Bogota. So, we are going through the I-130/I-129F process. The I-129F spouse visa petition will allow Ivonne to enter the US IF the I-130 petition takes a while. In past years the I-130 could take a year to two years to be processed. More recently, there have been cases where the I-130 and the I-129F have been approved at about the same time (six months or so). In those cases, then it would make sense to drop the I-129F and go with the I-130.

My advice to MOST couples is do the fiancee visa if at all possible. Ivonne and I would be together right now if the family situation had been different. If you have a religious ceremony but do not register it with the government, then you can legally enter the US on a fiancee visa and do the legal wedding in America (but that does have the disadvantage of your spouse not being able to work right away - same situation with the spouse visa). There are pluses and minuses to each process, so each couple must decide for themselves what will work best for their situation. If you do the legal wedding in Colombia, as planned, have all the forms and paperwork on a flash drive and fill them out while you are there. Print out your wife's G-325 and have her sign it, plus an extra couple of sets of the form, (in blue ink so they know it's the original copy) and hand carry it back with you. Because we had all of the paperwork locked down before I left Bogota, I was able to next day the I-130 package to the Chicago Lockbox just two days after getting back. Having your paperwork complete, accurate, and organized will ensure fewer problems and possible delays. Between the online Spouse Visa kit I purchased ($49.95), the information on this website, and a lot of prayer, I feel pretty confident that we will have a smooth process. I pray that you have the same experience.

Rick

That does make more sense to me Rick, thanks for clarifying this up for me. I would definately want my hunny here asap but worried that a I130 would take a long time.

James