Stand alone I-130 for stepchild(ren)

[jimnlena 8]

Hi my name is Lorraine my hubby file a i130 for my 3 kids want to know how long it take be approve they r in Jamaica

Unfortunately right now approvals are slow, we have been waiting almost 7 months now, and Ukraine is usually a quick consolate for approvals!

[luvwtrNamy 2]

Hi my name is Lorraine my hubby file a i130 for my 3 kids want to know how long it take be approve they r in Jamaica

Hi lorraine! It took us 4 months to be approved at USCIS. One month between USCIS and NVC #. another month processing at NVC and now a month since case closed and still no interview. Every case is a little different. depends on where you filled initial case and how backed up they are. Also, don't know if it always takes a month for it to arrive at NVC after NOA 2. We heard at the time ours was approved that they had sent some files to storage on accident instead of directly to NVC but who knows if that was true. And I have seen some people complete their case at NVc and the next week get their interview scheduled. Wish I could tell you if our case was typical or not. We didnt get and RFE and its still been 7 months. Hope that helps. Good luck.

[lovejamaica 1]

Welcome to the thread Where are you now in the process for your stepdaughter?

help me beejay. i have two step children in jamaica and we just got into the system today. nvc told me they are now working with kingston to get me my interview. well i won't be going. but the children will be going. they live with my husbend's sister, their mother flaked off.....i'm scared they will do a paternity test. his name is on the birth certificate but he was never married to her. and i don't wanna pay another 2000 dollars and make the kids wait even longer....alot of paternity test are being done right now in jamaica because 33% of all dna tests done are not the father so they are increasing the percentage of tests i think based on that alone. I got school records to send with the kids to the interview that say he registered them in school as the parent.... not much for pictures except last year because the hurricanes in jamaica...what do you think?

[lovejamaica 1]

HEY there Im not sure what I was refering to there. But you pay for your visa to be sent to you by DHL once your at the embassy. Its a trivial amount of money. Like 10 or 15 US or something. And they use to let you pay for expedite it quicker. So we will see if you can still expedite or not.

AND GUYS NO FREAKING INTERVIEW DATE YET...IM SO BLOODY ANNOYED...SERIOUSLY I JUST TOOK OFF MY PTO DAY I HAD PLANNED CUZ I THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE HERE AND WE WOUDL BE GOING TO STATE FAIR!! NOT...

so you are in the system and you are like me....waiting for nvc to get you an interview date working with kingston???? so how long have you been waiting just to hear your interview date and time? then when they give you the date and time it's another month wait????? do you think they will do a paternity test for your kids? i will be watching your threads closely since you are ahead of me. don't leave me hanging after you get the kids visa, keepme posted plz am dying of anxiety. and thanks

[sancruz 26]

So glad that I found VJ. I have learned so much from reading everyone's posts. It helps to know i am not alone going through this process. I have been obsessed reading everyhing to learn and be prepared as much as possible. The waiting is the hardest part. Filed I-130 July 1st and still waiting on approval. Hoping and praying it wont be much longer. Has anyone on this thread completed the whole process From filing to bring child home? I've read that the process takes about 10 months from start to finish and just wonder if that is accurate.

[gdalicia 1]

Hi everyone...just wanted to give a quick update that I checked the USCIS website today and we have a RFE. I was pretty much expecting this since my husband's name is not on the BC (we submitted DNA results with the I-130). I assume they'll want all the typical stuff...photos, money order receipts, etc etc. Kind of a bummer. Our NOA1 dates was 6/29 and RFE date is 9/5 so they are processing pretty quickly at CSC!

[sancruz 26]

Hi everyone...just wanted to give a quick update that I checked the USCIS website today and we have a RFE. I was pretty much expecting this since my husband's name is not on the BC (we submitted DNA results with the I-130). I assume they'll want all the typical stuff...photos, money order receipts, etc etc. Kind of a bummer. Our NOA1 dates was 6/29 and RFE date is 9/5 so they are processing pretty quickly at CSC!

Sorry to hear about the RFE but maybe you will get everything back on track soon. Do you have to wait to recieve something in the mail to see what they are looking for or will they email something to you? Glad to hear that CSC is processing quickly though. Our NOA1 date was 7/09 so maybe we will be hearing something soon. Good luck with your case.

[beejay 123]

Hi everyone...just wanted to give a quick update that I checked the USCIS website today and we have a RFE. I was pretty much expecting this since my husband's name is not on the BC (we submitted DNA results with the I-130). I assume they'll want all the typical stuff...photos, money order receipts, etc etc. Kind of a bummer. Our NOA1 dates was 6/29 and RFE date is 9/5 so they are processing pretty quickly at CSC!

Thanks for the update gdalicia. Sorry to hear about the RFE . That's great that you're able to see the upside that things are going quickly at CSC . It shouldn't be too much of a delay if you guessed right on the RFE and are ready to send everything out. Hopefully once they receive your response it will be petition approved and on to NVC!

I can't remember, did you have other evidence beside the DNA in your initial filing? I'm wondering if the DNA will hold more weight once you get to the embassy. I would like to know if they discredited (maybe not the best word) the DNA in your packet or are just looking for proof beyond the biological relationship for the "bona fide" parent-child relationship as stated in the I-130 instructions for fathers and children 'out of wedlock'.

Well the more experiences we get the more we can figure out this process for future filers.

Hope the RFE is what you are expecting. Keep us posted!

[beejay 123]

help me beejay. i have two step children in jamaica and we just got into the system today. nvc told me they are now working with kingston to get me my interview. well i won't be going. but the children will be going. they live with my husbend's sister, their mother flaked off.....i'm scared they will do a paternity test. his name is on the birth certificate but he was never married to her. and i don't wanna pay another 2000 dollars and make the kids wait even longer....alot of paternity test are being done right now in jamaica because 33% of all dna tests done are not the father so they are increasing the percentage of tests i think based on that alone. I got school records to send with the kids to the interview that say he registered them in school as the parent.... not much for pictures except last year because the hurricanes in jamaica...what do you think?

I'm certainly no expert but it seems like you are headed in the right direction with the school records. I think it works in your favor that your husband is on the birth certificate but someone from Jamaica would have a more qualified opinion than me. It's unfortunate that there aren't pictures, did you at one time have pictures? I would try and get creative to think of any documentation, receipts, records you might have that show your husband has been providing (emotionally and financially) for his children from the time there were born until now. Do you have any cards/letters from the children to their father? I don't know what will be the tipping point for requesting a DNA but all you can do is provide the evidence you have and hope for the best but be prepared for the request.

I don't think it will be an issue to have your sister-in-law/current guardian take them to the interview if neither of you are able to go. If a DNA is requested that can be coordinated with your husband in the U.S., that part won't delay the process.

A few questions:

How old are the kids?

Was their birth registered shortly after they were born? i.e. They weren't late registered?

How long has the sister been the guardian?

How soon after their birth did the mother leave?

Was there any formal agreement that granted your husband/his sister guardianship over the kids?

Did you husband reside with the children for any period of time?

What are the custody laws in Jamaica? Will you need anything from the mother allowing you to take the children out of the country?

Hopefully some of our Jamaica filers can weigh in on your situation.

[jimnlena 8]

Crapola!! They request same documents we already sent!!Certfied copy of birth certficate , guess we will send another, but specific they ask for passport page. All she has is ukrainian travel document fine in ukraine till 18 years, anyone have any issues like this?

[beejay 123]

Crapola!! They request same documents we already sent!!Certfied copy of birth certficate , guess we will send another, but specific they ask for passport page. All she has is ukrainian travel document fine in ukraine till 18 years, anyone have any issues like this?

I know sometimes there can be false RFEs depending on the timing of when you submitted the AOS packet and when you paid the IV bill, but I don't think that's what this sounds like.

Does your daughter have a passport now? She will need one in order for the embassy to put the visa in and for her to leave the country so that might be why they sent an RFE for it instead of accepting the travel document. How long will it take to get a passport for her?

You could ask in the RUB forum to see if there are any quirks to submitting certified birth certificates. Was it similar to the one you submitted when you were going through your process? This is the part that makes me think it could be a false RFE but I'm still pretty sure you will need to get your daughter a passport.

Was there anything else they asked for?

[DEBANDPHIL 0]

sorry to be such a pain guys & gals, but need more help and you lot are the best at answering questions..

so qualify to fill 1-864ez yehhhh....individual income, on my husbands w2.. am i correct

adjustable gross income on irs federal form..am i correct

the amounts are different because we had some unexpected other income...does this matter that amounts will be different if i send both the tax form and w2???

also under family household size,,, i am the spouse ( b ), but i still also come under my husband filing an i-864 and legal permanent resident ( d ) which do i check

think sometimes people who prepare these forms need to really clarify and make filling them in a little less confusing..do you agree?/

thanks again debbie

Edited September 6, 2012 by DEBANDPHIL

[jimnlena 8]

I know sometimes there can be false RFEs depending on the timing of when you submitted the AOS packet and when you paid the IV bill, but I don't think that's what this sounds like.

Does your daughter have a passport now? She will need one in order for the embassy to put the visa in and for her to leave the country so that might be why they sent an RFE for it instead of accepting the travel document. How long will it take to get a passport for her?

You could ask in the RUB forum to see if there are any quirks to submitting certified birth certificates. Was it similar to the one you submitted when you were going through your process? This is the part that makes me think it could be a false RFE but I'm still pretty sure you will need to get your daughter a passport.

Was there anything else they asked for?

Nothing esle just these 2, and according to wife Ukraine does not give passports till age of 16 and visa go into travel document, which actually looks just like pasport.

[beejay 123]

Nothing esle just these 2, and according to wife Ukraine does not give passports till age of 16 and visa go into travel document, which actually looks just like pasport.

If that is the standard for minors in Ukraine then you should be able to call and ask for a supervisor at NVC and get this straightened out. Be prepared to reference what you are saying in case they are unfamiliar with the policy in Ukraine. You could also try emailing them with documentation showing that passports are not issued to minors in Ukraine and that the travel document is the standard for international travel.

Did you send a copy of the 'bio-page' of the travel document? Are they asking for all pages?

You could also post in the RUB forum to get more specific regional advice http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/98-russia-ukraine-and-belarus/

Another thought...if NVC is giving you trouble you could try to get something from the US embassy in Ukraine saying that the travel document is accepted for minors....or you could also try the Ukrainian embassy in the US to get them to send you a document stating that the minor travel document meets the standards for international travel and is what is used for Ukrainian minors to travel internationally.

This sounds like a real RFE that was sent by someone who didn't bother to check up on things.

[gdalicia 1]

So we received our RFE in the mail...they are asking for DNA testing, which we sent with the original petition. HOwever, it appears that they want original results from the testing agency, not a photocopy. It just says that they lab should be accredited, but does not indicate that the testing has to be done through the Consulate so that's good news. Otherwise, it says we can submit evidence of relationship stuff like photos, school records, etc. I'm pretty sure I can call the DNA lab and have them submit results directly to the address provided and we should be good to go!