When should we expect a reply after DCF I-130 for CR1/IR1?

[Artist 0]

I posted here earlier and was directed to this forum since we did a DCF. I thought we were waiting on an NOA, but I was told since we did DCF, our process would be different. I'll paste the relevant bits here, without the NOA stuff:

My husband (New Zealander/Australian) and I (American) got married in February, and we did a Direct Consular Filing (DCF) in Melbourne, Australia (where we both live) on April 21st. We were filing an I-130 for a CR1/IR1 visa. It's now May 13th, and we've not heard back yet.

I'm beginning to get a little worried, because it seems that a lot of people get their a reply quite quickly if their filing went smoothly. Ours went VERY smoothly--only took a few minutes--but I was concerned when the guy doing our paperwork didn't even think we needed to include much evidence. (I'd brought photos, photocopied stuff, everything. He didn't want any of it.) He just stamped his approval, telling us we'd get the notification in about two weeks, and off we went. We did pay that day, in cash, because their credit card and other processing systems were down. We have the receipt from that transaction.

It's just been three weeks now, but I want to know what to expect. My student visa in Australia runs out on September 30th, and we have like a "proper" wedding with our families and friends (not the courthouse one!) on October 28th, so we're pressed for time, all around, I'd say.

If it is indeed normal that they're taking longer than they'd said they would (I mean, it IS government, I know.), what can we be doing now that will aid our process in the next step? Like, could we go ahead and setup an immigration doctor's appointment, ahead of time a bit, so we have something ready for when we get to that step, or any other stuff? As I'm sure you all know, it's the waiting that kills on this sort of stuff, and I'm going nuts not having anything to do for it, just depending on people I'll never meet to do me right.

Thanks, everyone.

[kaffy 2]

Like I said in the other thread, most Aussie DCF petitions are approved in 1-2 weeks

I-130 approval and Packet 3 comes via email. Did you give them your correct email address?

[Artist 0]

Like I said in the other thread, most Aussie DCF petitions are approved in 1-2 weeks

I-130 approval and Packet 3 comes via email. Did you give them your correct email address?

They have our address, as well as both our email addresses. We're online all the time (geeks here), so we'd know if we'd gotten anything.

[kaffy 2]

You are at your 3rd week.. I'd wait another week then contact the Consulate if you still haven't heard anything. NVC might be slow with the Adam Walsh name check causing the delay..

The email is simply a link to the website anyway so if you'd like to start collecting bits and pieces for Packet 3 have a read of: http://sydney.usconsulate.gov/consular/visas/iv/family.html

[Artist 0]

You are at your 3rd week.. I'd wait another week then contact the Consulate if you still haven't heard anything. NVC might be slow with the Adam Walsh name check causing the delay..

The email is simply a link to the website anyway so if you'd like to start collecting bits and pieces for Packet 3 have a read of: http://sydney.usconsulate.gov/consular/visas/iv/family.html

Thanks so much, Kaffy. I can't believe it's just a damn link they send you! This could go so much quicker if some common sense was involved. Thanks for that!

Why exactly would the Adam Walsh name check cause delays? Would there be a bit of a problem, since he's a New Zealander by birth, but an Australian citizen too (living here since he was 5)?

[kaffy 2]

The email is a link to the website, plus some other information too but yeh.. all the Packet 3 info is on the website.

I'm guessing is that they might be a bit behind with workload and that's what's causing the delay. The Adam Walsh check is actually a name check for the US citizen petitioner, not the immigrant beneficiary.

[kaffy 2]

Another thing, how quickly your petition is processed could also depend on where it was filed. Mine was filed in Sydney (we were QLD residents) and was approved in 1 week. Another VJer who filed through Melbourne before me, didn't get her Packet 3 until after I got mine..

see her timeline here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1825468

Nothing you can do about this unfortunately.. just gotta sit tight & wait

[ebo11 0]

Hi Artist,

I lodged my 1-130 in melbs on april 22 and haven't heard back, so i emailed the sydney consulate and they replied with the following:

Thank you for your inquiry.

Upon receipt of the I-130 petition from the U.S. Consulate General in Melbourne, the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney transmitted the U.S. citizen petitioner’s biographic information to the National Visa Center (NVC) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. For your case, the name check was transmitted on May 4. NVC will then forward the petitioner’s information to the Vermont Service Center (VSC) to perform certain background checks required by the Adam Walsh Act.

NVC will return the results of the name check to the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney. If the petitioner’s name check reveals no ineligibilities, the petition will be approved and the immigrant visa process may begin. If ineligibilities or potential ineligibilities arise, the petition and supporting documents will be forwarded to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Bangkok, Thailand for further processing and final adjudication. This process can take up to 60 days.

Sincerely,

(MR)

Immigrant Visa Unit

U.S. Consulate General, Sydney[/i][/i]

seems like they're just backed up.

good luck and i hope you hear back soon!

[txladykat 1]

The Adam Walsh act is for the USC, not the immigrant. It could just be the USCIS is backlogged on doing the Adam Walsh check on the USC.

You are at your 3rd week.. I'd wait another week then contact the Consulate if you still haven't heard anything. NVC might be slow with the Adam Walsh name check causing the delay..

The email is simply a link to the website anyway so if you'd like to start collecting bits and pieces for Packet 3 have a read of: http://sydney.usconsulate.gov/consular/visas/iv/family.html

Thanks so much, Kaffy. I can't believe it's just a damn link they send you! This could go so much quicker if some common sense was involved. Thanks for that!

Why exactly would the Adam Walsh name check cause delays? Would there be a bit of a problem, since he's a New Zealander by birth, but an Australian citizen too (living here since he was 5)?