USC petitioner living abroad

[AlexG187 1]

Hello all

I'm hoping someone can give me some direction on what forms need to be filled out and supporting docs once my app reaches NVC. I filed from and abroad and reside abroad so what I've found has been pretty unclear. Also if someone can tell me what the "shortcuts" are to save a little time once it reaches NVC I would appreciate it.

Thanks all.

[LoveExile 27]

I filed from and abroad and reside abroad so what I've found has been pretty unclear. Also if someone can tell me what the "shortcuts" are to save a little time once it reaches NVC I would appreciate it.

The shortcuts are nice, but be sure you understand the whole process so you know the context. Every case is different, and you don't want to miss something easy because it wasn't mentioned specifically on a shortcut.

[Jilly30 16]

Ok, so what is the definition of "residing abroad"? I am a regular US Citizen and a few weeks after filing our I-130, I decided to join my husband in Mumbai as we couldn't stand all the potential time apart. So I am now in India on a year long X visa and in the process of applying for a PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card since we have been married over a year. The PIO card is good for 15 years and means I won't need a visa anymore to visit. I originally filed with my US address, but now we maintain an apartment together in India. Is there any way to get the process expedited now? I'm also wondering if the new address together would prevent an RFE.

We were just planning to wait it out here, I was living with my parents in the US and they are notifying me of any mail that comes in my name. But if there is a way to expedite it, we'll take it! Paying rent is just wasting money!

[NikLR 13,230]

No, they won't change out a US address for a foreign one. - if they do it's with GREAT difficulty.

This thread is for people who filed from abroad with no US address. As you can see from other's even mailing from the USA can be construed as a US address. I also always suggest putting "to be determined" in the "address where relative will live" question. You can fix it later, but you can't undo putting a US address anywhere on the form.

I haven't seen very many auto-expedites lately so it may have gone the way of the dodo.

At the same point, don't lie. If you live in the USA, just suck it up and be truthful.

Edited August 3, 2013 by NLR

[stupid 2]

Hi there

I-130 filling from abroad too

Sent in the 1st week of aug and just received a NOA1 on mid aug

Wait and see to confirm or not the expedite...

MSC Missouri is handling our case.

:-)

[Michael85.asl 5]

1. Country USC resides in: France
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: 08/03/2013
4. How long had you been living abroad: 4 months, have a long-stay spouse visa
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: We are waiting for the visa together legally, it's better than being apart
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. Lots
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? We will see.....They did send the NOA1 to our apartment here in France so they know I (petitioner) am in France with my wife.

Our NOA1 had NBC, Overland Park Kansas address on it. I have searched VJ forums and have not seen any encouraging news about the new Kansas office processing I-130's but..... You never know. I really hope we get 2-3 months for our NOA2, as I cannot speak French or work here yet....I am literally waiting.

[mimistar44 5]

1. Country USC resides in: France

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No

3. When did you file the I-130: 08/03/2013

4. How long had you been living abroad: 4 months, have a long-stay spouse visa

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes

6. What is the reason for your residence: We are waiting for the visa together legally, it's better than being apart

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes

8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes

9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. Lots

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? We will see.....They did send the NOA1 to our apartment here in France so they know I (petitioner) am in France with my wife.

Our NOA1 had NBC, Overland Park Kansas address on it. I have searched VJ forums and have not seen any encouraging news about the new Kansas office processing I-130's but..... You never know. I really hope we get 2-3 months for our NOA2, as I cannot speak French or work here yet....I am literally waiting.

another i-130 filer from France! Our NOA1 had NBC too. hope NBC speed up soon.

[Michael85.asl 5]

another i-130 filer from France! Our NOA1 had NBC too. hope NBC speed up soon.

Hello, yes I've seen a few other filers from France and one a few months ago that was processed in 2 months (the USCIS step) I hope we can get the same... Was your NBC in Kansas also?

[Luluhilweh 3]

Wow long way to get here- 35 pages read @ 3 am

Hi all- just wanted to chime in here with our personal experience:

I am the USC and filed for my hubby here in Cotonou, Benin. I know I list country we applied in as Lebanon but thats because VJ didnt list Benin as one of the options lol.( I keep telling people who ask its such a small country!). We were one of the few cases that previous posters here were referring to; we were exempt from mailing and filing out his I130 to the US and went the DCF route in this country. This was so because (as our veryyyyy goooood luck would have it:( ) our appointment at the Embassy to file the I 130 was on August 15, 2011. We were notified by the EO that he was soooo sorry and could no longer accept our application due to the new rules put in place by USCIS. He prints out a memo stating that beginning that day entire process was changed from then on requiring all applications filing from overseas who did not have a local USCIS office in that country to submit their applications via mail toe Chicago lockbox facility. This was after I had waited 6 months to fulfill the residency requirement in order to be able to go the DCF route while living with my husband. I wrote to the USCIS chairman in Accra, Ghana and he granted us an exemption to be able to proceed DCF path. It took my husband's Application 7 months to get approved. The Embassy was of course aware I was living abroad the entire time with my hubby and I also provided stamps in my passport to prove entry/exit dates. So after reading these posts from various members, I wonder if it would have just been faster to file to lockbox facility in the US? Oh well, no telling now. This is just to illustrate to people that exceptions are rare as I was informed but are given under certain circumstances. Also to point out that it still took that long to process the I 130 even with me residing abroad, hardship factors looked at by Embassy, the Embassy not having a heavy load of apps to process in this small country, etc. So for earlier posters who were stating that it's almost positive that DCF route is always faster than traditional mailbox route, this is not always the case at all. Some don't come forward or care to post their story or timeline details on here. Take us as a great example, though. We have jumped through hoops to get to where we are now and still not even done. Each case has its individual circumstances that might make the time burden vary greatly from person to person. Good luck to you, I'll be following this thread from time to time. Keep us updated on timeframes!

[mimistar44 5]

Hello, yes I've seen a few other filers from France and one a few months ago that was processed in 2 months (the USCIS step) I hope we can get the same... Was your NBC in Kansas also?

ours also kansas on NOA1 letter but case number starts with MSC. i am confused?

[Michael85.asl 5]

ours also kansas on NOA1 letter but case number starts with MSC. i am confused?

Yes mine was the same.

I've seen another topic on VJ here about a new NBC opened in Overland Park Kansas and will process I-130's there....... So I guess thats where ours are?? Its always a guessing game. Lets just hope both of ours are processed soon!

[stupid 2]

another i-130 filer from France! Our NOA1 had NBC too. hope NBC speed up soon.

And 3 with us !!!

Filed from FR too mid August.

Did not receive the noa1 mail yet (just an email with MSC as the 3 1st letters of the case#)

[Ellinora 72]

We are also an overseas filer, NOA1 May 15th and our case was sent to NBC Overland Park. It's been 95 days now s NOA1 so we were def not expedited.

It seems that NBC Overland Park might not even be processing I-130s yet and won't be until the end of September:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/448502-national-benefits-center-semiannual-aila-meeting/

Edited August 20, 2013 by Ellinora

[Dfibus 16]

Just sent in my petition waiting to update my timeline and join the club.

[Macbride74 0]

1. Country USC resides in: France
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: Priority date says 7/05/2013
4. How long had you been living abroad: 25 months
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: Word
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? No
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? I have no idea about "Auto-expedited". I got my NOA1 receipt with a notice date of 07/08/2013