i-130 filed in London, What happens next?

[birdyconfused 0]

Hi folks

Want to thank you all who helped me filling my i-130 forms.

I sent my i-130 on 28th of July and haven't heard anything from them. However, on 1st of August they have debited my credit card with the petition fee. Does this mean they have accepted my petition to be processed at USCIS London? or are they gona decide it at some later stage?

It appears that USCIS london is taking about 2 months to start processing petitions from the time its been filed. Any idea how much time they typically take to make a decision after starting the processing? and then how much time it may take to schedule the interview after approval?

I read somewhere that if USCIS London agrees to process your application, you can simultaneously file immigration visa application as well. Is there anyone with such experience?

Regards

[meauxna 15]

However, on 1st of August they have debited my credit card with the petition fee. Does this mean they have accepted my petition to be processed at USCIS London?

Yes! Congratulations.

Timelines are funny---there is no telling really what their schedule is like at the moment. I don't think the Consulate will take a provisional file anymore (where you turn in the visa app before they have the petition approval).

Your best bet is to start getting the visa app and Packet 3 materials ready now; getting the police certificate underway is a good start. You will hear from the IV Unit when they have your case and the sooner you can return the 'I'm ready to interview' checklist, the faster you'll get in line for an interview.

The I-864 also takes folks some time to complete, and it is not too early to start on it.

Total processing time (including I-130) has been around 4-5 months last time I looked. Bear in mind that summer timelines are slower than the rest of the year.

[birdyconfused 0]

maexuna! thanks a bunlde. you've been very helpful.

They have neither acknowledged nor give any response as to what is happening with my application except quickly charging the fees. Should I expect any correspondence from them? if not then should I contact them to ask what's happening to my petition?

So what is included in packet 3?

About police certificate. Lets say if I get police certificates now and im called for an interview after six months from now, wouldn't I have to get polic certificates to cover that time period as well?

However, on 1st of August they have debited my credit card with the petition fee. Does this mean they have accepted my petition to be processed at USCIS London?

Yes! Congratulations.

Timelines are funny---there is no telling really what their schedule is like at the moment. I don't think the Consulate will take a provisional file anymore (where you turn in the visa app before they have the petition approval).

Your best bet is to start getting the visa app and Packet 3 materials ready now; getting the police certificate underway is a good start. You will hear from the IV Unit when they have your case and the sooner you can return the 'I'm ready to interview' checklist, the faster you'll get in line for an interview.

The I-864 also takes folks some time to complete, and it is not too early to start on it.

Total processing time (including I-130) has been around 4-5 months last time I looked. Bear in mind that summer timelines are slower than the rest of the year.

[meauxna 15]

maexuna! thanks a bunlde. you've been very helpful.

They have neither acknowledged nor give any response as to what is happening with my application except quickly charging the fees. Should I expect any correspondence from them? if not then should I contact them to ask what's happening to my petition?

So what is included in packet 3?

About police certificate. Lets say if I get police certificates now and im called for an interview after six months from now, wouldn't I have to get polic certificates to cover that time period as well?

hi birdy,

Glad my old info can still be of use... You may get a postcard soon indicating that they are working on your petition. Don't bug them, they'll bug you. They took your money, that's the good sign.

"Packet 3" or the visa application packet info can be found either on the Consulate's website, or more reliably from other VJers. Look in the IR/CR forum or the Embassy forum (maybe even a pinned Embassy link at the top of each page?) for the usual requirements.

I am 90% sure that the police certificate is valid for one year. Getting it now will not be too early as it takes 40 days to receive.

Happy Hunting!

[Anyta Holland 1]

Hi,

Once you get your postcard as meauxna said, you will now for sure when was your I130 filed (they give you the date on this postcard) you can then go to the Embassy's website in London, and see what dates they are processing, you will know at least when they are working on petitions filed on X date. I know it gave me some hope when I saw that they were processing petitions filed on the date ours was you can check this here.

I think it took about 6 weeks after that to receive NOA2 (check my timeline).

Meauxna has given you good advice in saying to start preparing for packet 3. If I was you, I would start NOW, that means that when you get your NOA2 and then packet 3 a few days after you can send everything straight away and get an Interview date ASAP.

The police certificate takes about 40 days to come back to you, and you would need one for Pakistan as well, and any other country you have lived in for more than 6 months. So get that one going, by the time you get them back, it might be nearly time to send them to the Embassy!

Good luck in your journey!

[birdyconfused 0]

O yeah i got the post card yesterday. My petition is filed on Aug 1, 2006 so the journey starts They haven't mentioned whether I've been allocated a file number yet. is it allocated when they start the processing? I honestly dont know what NOA stands for, and how many NOA I am gona get?

Thanks for making me feel better guys and all the wishes of luck.

Now about police certificates. Do my husband need to get police certificate for each city or each country he has lived in for more than 6 months?

Anyta! it appears that you filed at London. My husband has no record of vaccination, and he doesnt know it either that which vaccinations he might have got since childhood. Are they gona give vaccination at the time of medical? If yes, then

is there separate charges for that?

is it gona take long to get the vaccination done? if yes, is it a good idea to get it done now by the local GP? and I wonder, whether local GP is qualified enough to decide which vaccination to provide?

I seem to ask too many questions, but what could I do. This is a the most complex immigration process in the world.

Thanks again for your help.

[meauxna 15]

O yeah i got the post card yesterday. My petition is filed on Aug 1, 2006 so the journey starts They haven't mentioned whether I've been allocated a file number yet. is it allocated when they start the processing? I honestly dont know what NOA stands for, and how many NOA I am gona get?

Thanks for making me feel better guys and all the wishes of luck.

Now about police certificates. Do my husband need to get police certificate for each city or each country he has lived in for more than 6 months?

Anyta! it appears that you filed at London. My husband has no record of vaccination, and he doesnt know it either that which vaccinations he might have got since childhood. Are they gona give vaccination at the time of medical? If yes, then

is there separate charges for that?

is it gona take long to get the vaccination done? if yes, is it a good idea to get it done now by the local GP? and I wonder, whether local GP is qualified enough to decide which vaccination to provide?

I seem to ask too many questions, but what could I do. This is a the most complex immigration process in the world.

Thanks again for your help.

birdy, you're not going to get any "NOA"s. That stands for Notice of Action and typically applied to petitions filed in a US Service Center. You have now received notice from London USCIS that they are processing your I-130; that is the important thing. Next, you will hear from the London Consulate that they have rc'd your approved petition and want to start the visa application.

You can read the police certificate guidelines at the London Consular website. One police certificate per country is what I recall.

The vaccination information is also posted there, and somewhere here at VJ. The immigrant does not need to have the vax record (my husband did not) and the examining doctor will interview him to determine which jabs he needs. You can look at the info beforehand to decide which vax are missing, but we were advised by the Consulate to NOT do that, and we saved getting two shots that we thought he needed. In the UK, I believe you can get these shots for free at your regular doctor's office....check in the UK Forum here at VJ.

Chin up, girl! This part isn't all that hard, just more reading.

[TracyTN 237]

I just stuck this link in another thread here, so I thought I'd impart it here as well:

UK vaccination info

[jpkeswim 0]

Birdy confused,

I noticed that you filed at London...we are going to file there too can you please give us the address? Thanks....

[Anyta Holland 1]

Right...

Meauxna when you receive the approval of petition, it says on the top Notice of Approval, that's why I have been calling it NOA2....

When we went for hubby's medical they asked us for his vax records, and were ready to sell us any vax that he didn't have... The thing is, that I checked the vax requirements and enquired at our GP's office and he needed MMR and TB they were both given to him and we had to pay £25. My mother in law lost my husbands vax records and I enquired at the GP's if it was safe to have them again, and was told that it would be fine. Vax requirements can be found here.

Regarding the police certificates I think I got it wrong and you need to get certificates for countries where the visa applicant has lived for more than 12 months. More info here.

Hope this helps!

Edited August 12, 2006 by Anyta Holland