Cannot get interview for I-130 Petition in Tokyo?

[Rebecca W. 0]

I am trying to file an I-130 petition to eventually get a K3 visa for my husband, a Japanese national.

We are both currently living in Tokyo, Japan. I went to the embassy website for Tokyo, and tried to schedule an appointment my I-130 petition, but all the slots are "unavailable", even for the next two years! I tried other embassies in Okinawa and Sapporo, both all unavailable for years! Am I missing something on making an I-130 petition appointment at an embassy?

So I have a few questions:

1) Is it even possible to get an appointment to submit my I-130 petition? I called the Embassy in Tokyo, and the person transfered me to a recording of how I can call a number and pay to get answers to my questions. Who/Where should I contact for a more direct answer?

2) Would I be better off just to mail it in to Chicago? That would save me a morning of my time, but I'm not quite sure how to pay the $420 filing fee from Japan, as I don't have a US bank account. Would they accept a postal money order from Japan in US Dollars?

3) I'm returning to the States in April, leaving my husband alone in Japan for a while. He's worried that the process won't be smooth, and I'll have to come back to Japan to fix some issue. Once I have the I-130 petition done, is my "side" of the visa process paperwork basically done, other than preparing the relevant documents of what he needs for his interview? In other words, my physical presence won't be required in Japan.

I thank you all deeply for your help.

[Rebecca W. 0]

Hi everyone! I found out why I am unable to make an appointment.

I found this information on a completely different part of the US visa website.

"I-130 Petitions

Notice: Effective August 15, 2011, petitioners residing outside the United States will no longer be able to routinely file Forms I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with U.S. embassies and consulates. Petitioners residing overseas in countries where USCIS does not have a public counter presence will be required to file their Forms I-130 by mail with the USCIS Chicago Lockbox. As part of this change, U.S. embassies and consulates will only be able to accept and process Forms I-130 in exceptional circumstances."

[jaycali 415]

Yep, only certain embassies and consulates will take I-130s. You'll have to mail it to Chicago. On a positive note, it seems like petitions mailed to the US where the petitioner is living in a VWP country with the beneficiary are going by pretty fast. I would mail it while you're still residing in Japan.

[Darnell 8,479]

you not want a K-3 visa for your husband, do you ? Really?

Comparison on K-3 vs CR-1 - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/204324-wondering-if-i-made-a-mistake-marrying-in-us/page__view__findpost__p__3060767

K-3 administratively closed - http://www.visajourney.com/news/2010/02/07/department-of-state-to-close-k-3-visas-if-i-129f-and-i-130-petitions-approved-and-received-together/

[VisaJourney2011 14]

Hi Rebecca W.,

jhsm85 is correct. We have had Japan CR1 applicant who got NOA2 approved in 13 DAYS ! :wow:

That is SUPER FAST !

Most of us have been waiting for over 4 months, some over 5 and 6 months just to get NOA2 from USCIS.

Look at this links for SUPER FAST NOA2 approval : http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/334452-october-2011-filers/

Timeline of that Japan applicant screen name: rey11 http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=110272

I think you should go for CR1 instead of K3. I did K3 because i thought it would be faster but NO thats not true. :-( I have been waiting for almost 5 months now.

I wish i had gone CR1 just like many on here have suggested me last year and just only submitted I-130.

I filed our I-130 04 Oct. already received text 12 Oct! I guess NOA2 is the longest wait.

*** Update: Received NOA2 message 25 Oct 11!

Just filed normal, wasn't sure why sent to CSC which seem to be behind everyone else. I wasn't expecting anything until Feb2012. then I notice that the Japan members I'm following was getting approved in like 17 days. so it gave me some hope. I received the notice in 13 days

Yep, only certain embassies and consulates will take I-130s. You'll have to mail it to Chicago. On a positive note, it seems like petitions mailed to the US where the petitioner is living in a VWP country with the beneficiary are going by pretty fast. I would mail it while you're still residing in Japan.

I am trying to file an I-130 petition to eventually get a K3 visa for my husband, a Japanese national.

We are both currently living in Tokyo, Japan. I went to the embassy website for Tokyo, and tried to schedule an appointment my I-130 petition, but all the slots are "unavailable", even for the next two years! I tried other embassies in Okinawa and Sapporo, both all unavailable for years! Am I missing something on making an I-130 petition appointment at an embassy?

So I have a few questions:

1) Is it even possible to get an appointment to submit my I-130 petition? I called the Embassy in Tokyo, and the person transfered me to a recording of how I can call a number and pay to get answers to my questions. Who/Where should I contact for a more direct answer?

2) Would I be better off just to mail it in to Chicago? That would save me a morning of my time, but I'm not quite sure how to pay the $420 filing fee from Japan, as I don't have a US bank account. Would they accept a postal money order from Japan in US Dollars?

3) I'm returning to the States in April, leaving my husband alone in Japan for a while. He's worried that the process won't be smooth, and I'll have to come back to Japan to fix some issue. Once I have the I-130 petition done, is my "side" of the visa process paperwork basically done, other than preparing the relevant documents of what he needs for his interview? In other words, my physical presence won't be required in Japan.

I thank you all deeply for your help.

Edited January 6, 2012 by VisaJourney2011

[Darnell 8,479]

I went to the embassy website for Tokyo, and tried to schedule an appointment my I-130 petition, but all the slots are "unavailable", even for the next two years! I tried other embassies in Okinawa and Sapporo, both all unavailable for years! Am I missing something on making an I-130 petition appointment at an embassy?

I don't believe you .

You didn't just 'show up' and ask for an appointment.

Instead, you tried to book an appointment online, finding is impossible so to do.

Why is it impossible, you ask? Concept of 'direct consular filing on an I-130' to Japan, to the US Embassy, USCIS Office,

is

unavailable, after August 2011.

Instead, you've got to 'sling all' into the Chicago Lockbox, uscis address.

The good news is that once you've submitted yer hefty I-130 packet to USCIS lockbox address in Chicago -

you get some priority for petition adjudication (which is mondo frickin cool) - be in/out in under 30 days at USCIS..

More work at NVC, of course,

but

if'n you pay attention, and pay more attention to the Ling Che Shortcuts here on the Wiki Space (come back on a PC running Winders - else you can't find it) - then you can 'go fast' at NVC...

Check in again after you've read all, aye?

Good Luck to you !

[Rebecca W. 0]

I don't believe you .

You didn't just 'show up' and ask for an appointment.

Instead, you tried to book an appointment online, finding is impossible so to do.

Why is it impossible, you ask? Concept of 'direct consular filing on an I-130' to Japan, to the US Embassy, USCIS Office,

is

unavailable, after August 2011.

Instead, you've got to 'sling all' into the Chicago Lockbox, uscis address.

The good news is that once you've submitted yer hefty I-130 packet to USCIS lockbox address in Chicago -

you get some priority for petition adjudication (which is mondo frickin cool) - be in/out in under 30 days at USCIS..

More work at NVC, of course,

but

if'n you pay attention, and pay more attention to the Ling Che Shortcuts here on the Wiki Space (come back on a PC running Winders - else you can't find it) - then you can 'go fast' at NVC...

Check in again after you've read all, aye?

Good Luck to you !

I'm sorry, but you misread my post. I did not "show up" and ask for an appointment. You cannot get into the embassy without an appointment of some sort. I said I looked on the embassy website.

I was confused at first, because there STILL is a page to make an appointment for an I-130 petition in at the US Embassy in Tokyo, even though they don't do it anymore. However, on a totally different website, it says that DCF petitions in Tokyo are no longer allowed.

I don't see why they don't take down the website appointments for I-130 petitions if they don't do it anymore.

Hi Rebecca W.,

jhsm85 is correct. We have had Japan CR1 applicant who got NOA2 approved in 13 DAYS ! :wow:

That is SUPER FAST !

Most of us have been waiting for over 4 months, some over 5 and 6 months just to get NOA2 from USCIS.

Look at this links for SUPER FAST NOA2 approval : http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/334452-october-2011-filers/

Timeline of that Japan applicant screen name: rey11 http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=110272

I think you should go for CR1 instead of K3. I did K3 because i thought it would be faster but NO thats not true. :-( I have been waiting for almost 5 months now.

I wish i had gone CR1 just like many on here have suggested me last year and just only submitted I-130.

Hello. I decided to go to CR1 after looking around here. Thanks for the info!