Stand alone I-130 for stepchild(ren)

[Jamaicagyaldat 1]

man i know its so disappointing..if they could at least give you a window or timeframe.. at least you wouldnt be going crazy.. Fortunately we have TOOO much going on right now on the homefront, and have ever since july, we are very distracted..we still check the mail everyday looking for our NOA2..

congrats and WILL DO!!!!!! nvc here you come!!!

sorry for your loss jamaicagyal.. i pray that ur family is strengthened and encouraged during this time.

Thank you. I appreciate that. I am calling NVC now, I hope they will give me some information. FOR the pity sakes. At least you use to be able to badger the Embassy and get information. Now nothing. So frustrating.

[luvwtrNamy 2]

Thank you. I appreciate that. I am calling NVC now, I hope they will give me some information. FOR the pity sakes. At least you use to be able to badger the Embassy and get information. Now nothing. So frustrating.

So sorry about your mom! My thoughts are with you. Also sorry no word on the interview. Us neither but things are pretty crazy here right now so maybe its better there is a little delay. Wishing the best for everyone.

[beejay 123]

Been forever since I posted as life goes on. See my Time line I did 2 stand alone I-130 for both step kids WAY back in the dark ages. Just for you to see how it was then and how it is now. Our hiccup was a notorized letter from the Mom we had to send to the NVC stating the kids were allowed to come to the US . Miss this place but since my journey is over since last year have not come on much. hope this helps you

Thanks for stopping by and dropping some experienced based wisdom on us

We had a notarized letter in our initial packet and sent an updated but un-notarized letter at the NVC stage. So far they seem to be accepting it but I was concerned that it was not notarized.

Have others done the same thing?

Jamaicagyaldat - So sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. That's a lot on your shoulders all at once. Thinking about you

[beejay 123]

kids are 11 and 13. registered after birth, sister has had them in their care for over a year now but not quite two years, the mother took off the duration the sister had them. my husbend was with his baby mama for almost 10 years. i got a noterized letter from the mother stating she releases all interest.

Thanks for sharing and giving a better picture of your situation. Not being late registered along with father's name on b/c is definitely a positive. If I understand correctly it does sound like your husband lived in the same residence with his children for awhile (also a positive). Shared residence is mentioned as proof of a parent/child relationship in the I-130 instructions so if your husband has any evidence that his residence was the same as his children's that might be worth bringing to the interview (ex. ID card, bills, address listed with children's school etc.)

Are you still in contact with their mother? I think it might be helpful if you could also get an affidavit from her stating your husband's involvement in his children's lives since their birth. A few suggestions to include in the letter would be whether he ever lived in the same house, when they separated (don't need the why) and what his involvement with the kids after separation was - did he send regular amounts of money or send for specific items, did he communicate with them regularly - what method and how often. It doesn't have to be extremely detailed but it should be specific.

Also having the SIL write an affidavit stating how long she has had the kids and maybe how it came about that she took over caring for them. Not getting into any unnecessary personal details but something along the lines of the kids came to live with me because their mother was no longer able to took care of them. The plan was they were to stay with me until they could go and live with their father. He sends me x amount of money every month for their care and communicates with them x/week or x/month or whatever.

Those are just a few suggestions. I don't know how much they are going to be willing to look at during the interview but I think it's better to look and be prepared. The no picture thing does kinda worry me though. Does their mother have any pictures of the kids when they were young? Even if your husband isn't in them I would try and get some. But as someone else said the DNA may just be an inevitable step at that cannot be avoided.

Good luck!

[beejay 123]

Update on our NVC situation - still waiting....but I think IV is complete. AOS is another matter. I was in such a hurry to send out the AOS (after rejected I-864w) that I did not sign the sponsor agreement on my husband's I-864a for either packet I didn't notice until I received a checklist for it on my stepson's case. When I called NVC they told me that my stepdaughter is complete for AOS but not my stepson. I'm not sure how that is even possible. I waited to see if I would get a similar checklist for my stepdaughter and when I didn't I sent off new forms for both using an old barcoded cover sheet for my stepdaughter and an explanation in both packets of what happened. Still waiting to hear back and still haven't received any checklist for stepdaughter. I know it's not true but it's starting to feel like we will be stuck in NVC forever.

Congrats on everyone else's milestones and welcome to the newcomers!

I hope all those waiting for interview dates hear something soon!

jimnlena - did you figure out your travel document situation?

[Jamaicagyaldat 1]

Update on our NVC situation - still waiting....but I think IV is complete. AOS is another matter. I was in such a hurry to send out the AOS (after rejected I-864w) that I did not sign the sponsor agreement on my husband's I-864a for either packet I didn't notice until I received a checklist for it on my stepson's case. When I called NVC they told me that my stepdaughter is complete for AOS but not my stepson. I'm not sure how that is even possible. I waited to see if I would get a similar checklist for my stepdaughter and when I didn't I sent off new forms for both using an old barcoded cover sheet for my stepdaughter and an explanation in both packets of what happened. Still waiting to hear back and still haven't received any checklist for stepdaughter. I know it's not true but it's starting to feel like we will be stuck in NVC forever.

Congrats on everyone else's milestones and welcome to the newcomers!

I hope all those waiting for interview dates hear something soon!

jimnlena - did you figure out your travel document situation?

OH MANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN IM SO SORRY i know how it is to be in a hurry......take it one day at a time...you will get it!

Thank you for the sympathy. It is really appreciated. It's really hard and fresh. I had to make some decisions that make me sick so yah I am barely recovering!

i call NVC yesterday..same #######, different day. : OOOOO

[NArocks 13]

Thanks NA!! glad you guys have gotten past the immigration rollercoaster and are living life together.. how old were ur kids and how was the adjustment??

The kids were 11 and 16 when I applied. However in reading your stuff ( posts lol ) . There was no DNA asked for at all and I ( USC ) was the stepmother applying. Also once dad got his PR card he applied for his son born out of wedlock that is also in my timeline. No DNA for any of them. But the consulate where you are is a random one that is for sure. I hope this process goes by in flash for you dear. The adjustment was very difficult since the dad had been here for 8 years without them, it was harder on me that is for sure since they come from a country where they have a maid and thought I was one also. Needless to say the happy family is no more , based more on my part since i wanted to slap heck out of them thought better for me to leave. We lived together almost 3 years and also neded to come back to Miami from NJ to take care of my eldery Mom. If i had to do it over again thoguh I would ( which says alot ) . Lots of luck luv

[Jamaicagyaldat 1]

Well guys finally...INTERVIEW DATE OCTOBER 25th!

[luvwtrNamy 2]

Well guys finally...INTERVIEW DATE OCTOBER 25th!

Haha! Ours is October 24th. I was so worried to sign on and say I got our interview when you hadn't heard! I didn't want to make you feel bad. And then I had to smile and even giggle because surorise surpirse looks like we got it the same day! And almost the same interview date! Yeah! Here's to success for both of us.

[Jamaicagyaldat 1]

Haha! Ours is October 24th. I was so worried to sign on and say I got our interview when you hadn't heard! I didn't want to make you feel bad. And then I had to smile and even giggle because surorise surpirse looks like we got it the same day! And almost the same interview date! Yeah! Here's to success for both of us.

Yaaaaaaaaaaa congrats! Guess were in this together!

[jimnlena 8]

Well guys finally...INTERVIEW DATE OCTOBER 25th!

Big Congrats!!!

[Jamaicagyaldat 1]

Thanks jimnlena!

Okay guys this is making me crazy. Maybe cuz im at work and im still grieving for my mom...buttt....the interview letter states to bring correct amount of passport pics, but doesnt tell you how many. It says to look at embassy site. I did, nothing is on there! How many passport pics does she bring to interview? So annoying this isnt layed out clearer!

[beejay 123]

Congrats to luvwtrNamy and jamaicagyaldat!

So happy for the both of you - that's pretty neat you have dates so close together

jamaicagyaldat - Is this link helpful at all? http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3830.html

[velrich 50]

Received interview date for Oct 18 email received yesterday. My husband was excited. Already made appointment to do the medical.

Congrats to luvwtrNamy and jamaicagyaldat!

[beejay 123]

Yay! Congrats Velrich!

The interviews are starting to roll in