Stand alone I-130 for stepchild(ren)

[beejay 123]

Hi VJ community,

I have a quick question I am filling out the AOS I 864 for myself and my husband, who is co-sponsoring, should we fill out an I864 or I864a for him. We are sponsoring his 9 y/o daughter from Jamaica.

I will assume you are a USC and your husband is an LPR. If that is the case you, as the petitioner, will fill out the I-864. Your husband would fill out the I-864a as a supplement to your I-864.

Here is the section from the I-864 instructions explaining it:

How Can My Relatives and Dependents Help Me Meet the Income Requirements?

You may use the income of your spouse and/or any other relatives living in your residence if they are willing to be jointly responsible with you for the intending immigrant(s) you are sponsoring. If you have any unrelated dependents listed on your income tax return you may include their income regardless of where they reside.

The income of such household members and dependents can be used to help you meet the income requirements if they complete and sign Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member, and if they are at least 18 years of age when they sign the form.

[beejay 123]

Has anyone looked at or started this yet?

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/LingChe_NVC_ShortCut

I think this will be my job for this weekend! I want to break the record and fly through NVC in 10 days!!! (long shot since I'm expecting a DNA test, but as quickly as possible is the name of the game!

I've briefly looked over the NVC stuff but maybe I will wait until after the weekend Perhaps an informative post will appear breaking it down for everyone

On a similar note what other stuff should we be making sure the kids have with them when they come?

We have a set of their immunizations for enrolling in school here. I am planning to get a copy of their transcripts/records from their current school. We already have a copy of their birth certificates. Is there anything else "life-related" that we might need?

Edited May 3, 2012 by beejay

[Kazulie 132]

I've briefly looked over the NVC stuff but maybe I will wait until after the weekend Perhaps an informative post will appear breaking it down for everyone

On a similar note what other stuff should we be making sure the kids have with them when they come?

We have a set of their immunizations for enrolling in school here. I am planning to get a copy of their transcripts/records from their current school. We already have a copy of their birth certificates. Is there anything else "life-related" that we might need?

I'm not sure what else will be needed? I know that we will have to do a lot of clothes shopping as my kids are coming from Nigeria to Chicago, most likely in the dead of winter. Wow what an environment shock they will be in for!!!! They have never left Nigeria. I can't wait for them to see snow!

[Kazulie 132]

FYI....

I have talked to 2 different tier 2 people at USCIS. They both stated that it is acceptable to do our DNA tests before it is asked for. (just make sure the lab is accredited on the uscis website)

CON: immigration may never even ask for a DNA test and you will waste a lot of money.

PRO: will shave 3 months off your case.

We are willing to risk the money to do anything to get the kids here faster. We will be starting the DNA process next week. Will keep you all informed.

[beejay 123]

FYI....

I have talked to 2 different tier 2 people at USCIS. They both stated that it is acceptable to do our DNA tests before it is asked for. (just make sure the lab is accredited on the uscis website)

CON: immigration may never even ask for a DNA test and you will waste a lot of money.

PRO: will shave 3 months off your case.

We are willing to risk the money to do anything to get the kids here faster. We will be starting the DNA process next week. Will keep you all informed.

Thanks for sharing. I am nervous and excited for your decision.

My whole thought process was based off of the fact that I believed it was the embassy and not NVC or the service centers that requested the DNA and according to my embassy they will not accept DNA tests prior to being requested. I think I will try and contact them to go over this with a person. I would really like to be able to do it ahead of time. I'll post a reply in your other thread to keep that going

Our kids are coming from the Philippines and also heading to the Midwest so we can related to being excited for them to see the snow We're holding off on buying winter gear so they and pick it out themselves, that and they keep growing My husband still complains about our winters but I think once he can see the snow through his kids eyes he will develop a small tiny miniscule appreciation for it...hopefully.

[Kazulie 132]

My husband LOVES the winter. He said when he first came here it was in July. By the time the first snow hit he was outside dancing around without hardly any clothes on. People thought he was nuts!

I understand about the ever changing sizes for the kids. We're hoping for a late December/early January arrival so the kids will at least need coats as soon as they leave the airport. Coats are now on sale since it is almost summer. I saw a $125 Ralph Lauren coat for $66. I will buy for my older son. If it doesn't fit him I will save for my younger son. It's Ralph Lauren, won't go out of style. Besides, the boys are so tiny and don't seem to grow, just like daddy! I hope they get some growth spurts in them!

Edited May 5, 2012 by Kazulie

[Abby62 23]

Anyone know how long it takes to get an interview up in Montreal these days? I completed all of the requirements on April 20th and haven't heard a thing since.

Thanks

[Kazulie 132]

Anyone know how long it takes to get an interview up in Montreal these days? I completed all of the requirements on April 20th and haven't heard a thing since.

Thanks

No idea. Most of the people on this thread are not as far along with our journey a you. We have just started, whereas you are almost finished!!!! (jealous!) maybe you can post in the Canadian portal to get a better idea?

[beejay 123]

My husband LOVES the winter. He said when he first came here it was in July. By the time the first snow hit he was outside dancing around without hardly any clothes on. People thought he was nuts!

I understand about the ever changing sizes for the kids. We're hoping for a late December/early January arrival so the kids will at least need coats as soon as they leave the airport. Coats are now on sale since it is almost summer. I saw a $125 Ralph Lauren coat for $66. I will buy for my older son. If it doesn't fit him I will save for my younger son. It's Ralph Lauren, won't go out of style. Besides, the boys are so tiny and don't seem to grow, just like daddy! I hope they get some growth spurts in them!

My husband really liked the winter his first year, then the novelty of it wore off and he had to start driving in it. Now I think driving in snow is his least favorite thing in the world. I think you don't typically get the accumulation in Chicago that we do here (and have an extensive public transit system) so hopefully it won't be a problem.

That's a good deal on the coat. I am tempted to start buying other stuff so we don't have to do it all at once when they get here. My daughter is about the same size as me and I was going through my closet trying to get rid of stuff but I was hesitant to get rid of anything in case she will want it. At least she will have a starter collection of sweaters for when she arrives. My son on the other hand is SOL because he is much smaller than my husband so he won't have much to start with, winterwise.

[EVL2011 0]

Hi guys,

My situation is a bit different. My former husband passed away 5 months after my GC was approved. At the time, he was unable to petition for my son, who lived with us, due to financial setbacks. He had cancer and we had to us wisdom regarding our finances. We were married over 2 years so I received a 10 year GC. I have recently remarried and my hubby petitioned for my son on January 30, 2012. His priority date is Feb 1.

Things went super fast for him and he received his EAD and social early this month -April. However, because of a USCIS error - they sent us information with someone else's case number that was one digit after ours, his case was transferred to CSC on March 9 "for faster processing" (lol) based on a call we made about the error. Instead of an interview, which I would have welcomed because it gets the job done quicker. I had plans for him to travel to Jamaica for summer vacation and to see his dad whom he has not seen in 6 years. Based on CSC's timeline, it appears as if his case may not be adjudicated before the end of summer.

Does anyone know at what age stepchildren are interviewed? My son will be 16 in June. My concern is the possibility of a long wait, after which CSC may just transfer his case to the local office which will delay the process even farther.

My joy in all this is the fact that he's here. I really hope that all you parents who are waiting to be reunited with your children or meet your stepchid(ren) will have a speedy process.

That's what happens to my stepchildren's cases also.

Theirs were transferred to CSC on Feb 28th 2012 and we haven't heard a thing since then.

Got the EAD and SS for both of them, but no news about their I-130 & I-485.

Their mother (my wife) was approved last month and we actually plan to travel out of the country this month.

Both of them are 12 and 10.

Why does it take so long?

Please let me know about your son's update

Thank you so much.

[Kazulie 132]

It takes about 5 months for the I-130 to be approved. You are still very much in the normal processing time. You should hear something by August. Maybe Late July.

[dancehallquana 5]

just checking in u guys..still waiting.. im seeing that the overall 6 mnth process has turned into 6mnths jus to get out of NVC ..oh well, i can stop looking for something in the mail i guess..

also trying to stay on top of the game like u guys kazulie and beejay.. i dont like winter but thankfully we hardly get any of that harsh cold here..but also being TEXAS..u jus never know WHAT u will get..

tri_gear.. so good to see someone a bit farther in this and knows what to expect.. stick around and be our voice of wisdom LOL.. Blessing to u getting an interview soon..

lata guys!

[beejay 123]

tri_gear.. so good to see someone a bit farther in this and knows what to expect.. stick around and be our voice of wisdom LOL.. Blessing to u getting an interview soon..

lata guys!

Good to see you dancehallquana

I agree, I hope those that are further along in the process will stick around and offer some guidance.

Kazulie- any luck on the infopass?

Edited May 16, 2012 by beejay

[Kazulie 132]

Good to see you dancehallquana

I agree, I hope those that are further along in the process will stick around and offer some guidance.

Kazulie- any luck on the infopass?

I cancelled it.

I got nervous (kind of in a good way) because CSC is moving along so fast that I'm not really sure where my case will be when the DNA test is finished, so I'm just going to hold off and wait til they ask for one.

I'm getting excited though with these quick processing times! I'm hoping we all hear something by the end of summer!

[beejay 123]

I cancelled it.

I got nervous (kind of in a good way) because CSC is moving along so fast that I'm not really sure where my case will be when the DNA test is finished, so I'm just going to hold off and wait til they ask for one.

I'm getting excited though with these quick processing times! I'm hoping we all hear something by the end of summer!

Ahh, I was rooting for you to outsmart the system! But those CSC timelines are also making me cautiously optimistic.

I'm trying to be very zen about the whole thing - the tests will be requested when they are requested, and the kids will come when they come. *breathe*

I do hope we all have speedy uncomplicated journeys. What are people averaging at NVC these days - 1 month? I have been planning/hopeful for a Sept/Oct interview date but we'll see how that works out.