Afte I-130 how long do you get to send everything back?

[Katie & Jeff 0]

Most people want to speed up the process, but we want to slow it down (maybe). We are both living overseas, so will do DCF. I have read other experiences and it seems DCF in Australia is relatively quick. We do not want to move until end of July/start of Aug 2012 and do not want to sell our house/quit our jobs until that time.

So once the I-130 is approved do they give you a deadline of when everything else has to be sent back to them? We don't want his visa approved too soon, because he will then have to go there sooner than planned.

thanks in advance!

[WaitingToExhale 3]

well dont file until y'all have made up you minds...too many couples unsure and clogging up the system and then wanting a "delay".sheesh!

[Katie & Jeff 0]

well dont file until y'all have made up you minds...too many couples unsure and clogging up the system and then wanting a "delay".sheesh!

Thanks for your reply, however it does not answer my question.

We have made up our minds, but for many reasons cannot make the move until July/Aug when his semester would start. Sydney is not accepting I-130's after Aug 14. Therefore, we need to either try and file through the Consulate now and slow down the process or after the 15th of August file through Chicago and HOPE it gets approved before Aug 2012.

Can anyone provide any advice?

[Stephen&Kim 1]

I am not sure how quick the consulate their is at processing but I know that once the visa is issued you have 6 months to actually use it. So if it takes 6 months to process then you would be good!

Thanks for your reply, however it does not answer my question.

We have made up our minds, but for many reasons cannot make the move until July/Aug when his semester would start. Sydney is not accepting I-130's after Aug 14. Therefore, we need to either try and file through the Consulate now and slow down the process or after the 15th of August file through Chicago and HOPE it gets approved before Aug 2012.

Can anyone provide any advice?

[Stephen&Kim 1]

you could also try posting your question in the Australia Regional Forum, they would probably have more info over there.

[LBeachey 44]

after the 15th of August file through Chicago and HOPE it gets approved before Aug 2012.

If you file in Chicago now, I don't think there will be any issue with being approved by next Aug. I would guess you would be approved sometime next spring. Essentially you are looking for an approval after Feb 2012 since the visa is good for six months.

The biggest issue I see with this is it costs more to file at the Chicago Lockbox than DCF plus the cost of sending everything internationally.

[Katie & Jeff 0]

If you file in Chicago now, I don't think there will be any issue with being approved by next Aug. I would guess you would be approved sometime next spring. Essentially you are looking for an approval after Feb 2012 since the visa is good for six months.

The biggest issue I see with this is it costs more to file at the Chicago Lockbox than DCF plus the cost of sending everything internationally.

It costs more to file through Chicago?? I didn't read that anywhere. Is the I-130 not $420usd through Chicago? Or would we have to file some sort of adjustment of status too? We are both living (legally) outside USA. Great more costs...

[LBeachey 44]

It costs more to file through Chicago?? I didn't read that anywhere. Is the I-130 not $420usd through Chicago? Or would we have to file some sort of adjustment of status too? We are both living (legally) outside USA. Great more costs...

Breakdown of fees:

CR1:

I-130 Petition fee: $420 (USCIS)

IV fee: $330 +$74 (NVC or DCF)

I-864 Fee: $88 (NVC) Not collected when DCF.

Subtotal: $912 OR $824 (DCF)

So I may have scared you a bit (sorry), it costs $88 more if you go through the NVC then if you DCF. FedEx(or similar) from Australia to US will probably cost about $30 every time. Assuming NO RFE's, I think you would only have to mail everything once to USCIS. I am not sure if you will have to mail anything to NVC or if you can do Electronic Processing with Australia.

[Katie & Jeff 0]

Got my appointment in Sydney to file my I-130 in August!