Stand alone I-130 for stepchild(ren)

[katraska78 6]

Thanks for the response. Glad NVC caught that as it will make things much easier for you.

Sancruz congrats on the interview date! I am with you on the moment being bittersweet. My husband and I are nothing but excited but I feel for their mother as I know this wasn't an easy decision (years in the making) and it isn't going to be an easy transition.

We had a hiccup at the airport with some Philippine gov't requirements. They didn't want to let us board the plane with the consent form I had - they wanted the official one from a specific agency in the Philippines (DSWD). We had already fulfilled an exit orientation requirement for the Phil. gov't (CFO) and they had told us what we had would be fine. I had to get elevated to a few different people within the airline. I was insistent that the consent should work and if in doubt their mother was right outside security and they could talk to her themselves. They finally took me past security to speak with immigration who also wanted me to have the DSWD clearance but luckily the gate agent had gotten my stepdaughter and gone to get her mother in the drop off area to bring her back to immigration (who then had to sit in immigration holding her 3 month old for quite some time while everything got sorted out). The immigration guy still didn't want to let us through and was calling his boss on the phone. I kept saying isn't the point of the DSWD clearance to show we have permission and here is their mother giving permission. Anyway we eventually got through and their mother hung around until the plane took off just to make sure we didn't have any other problems. The reason I bring it up is she had to be really committed to go through all that business at the airport and it was still incredibly hard when it came time to say goodbye. Luckily over the years I feel we've built trust and respect for each other and she knows I'm going to do my best along with their father to provide a loving and supportive home for the kids. Still I could tell she was trying to be strong for the kids but I can't even imagine the feeling.

Welcome KatandFreddy! Thanks for joining our thread. Good luck on the process! We're there any questions you still needed to be answered? I think quite a few of them got answered.

Thank you! All the information has been really useful. Now it's just a matter of being patient and hope for the best!

Hi FaSa2008, how was your interview?

SerenityNow - thanks for making a wiki page! That info was long overdue! Hopefully we can all add and update it as we move along in the process.

I have to agree with you that it seems unlikely that you will have to wait for the greencard to apply for the passport. The stamp on the visa upon entry should prove the children were admitted on immigrant visas. We are going this week to apply (w/o greencards) so I will let you know how it goes.

*To anyone in a similar situation permission is needed from both parents of a minor (under 16) wanting to obtain a U.S. passport - unless the applying parent has sole legal custody and can prove it. If one parent does not have sole legal custody then the non immigrating parent needs to sign and notarize the consent form (DS3053) that will allow the minor to obtain a US passport. The consent form is only good for 3 months after it is signed so plan accordingly.

Just an update on us. The kids are finally here and we've been doing pretty well. We've spent our time going to lots of museums, seeing relatives, trying to balance new foods with familiar foods. Everywhere we go everyone wants to give them chocolate or ice cream or some kind of sweet - the kids are loving it. They will be starting school soon but for now we're just trying to enjoy the time together and get adjusted. They do think it's crazy cold here. I think they had no idea weather could ever be this cold. I have to say once we got on that first plane all the immigration hassles (even the stuff at the airport) just left my mind. Now that we've crossed the 'finish line' I've sort of forgotten the race. I feel like the real adventure begins now.

Good luck to everyone!

I'm really happy your family is finally reunited! Best wishes!

[SerenityNOW 11]

Hello family,

After completing theI-130 process, with all the help I found here, I successful in bringing my husband to the US. I am now working on bringing his kids. We submitted the I-130 for the kids on November 16th and today we got an email that it has been approved and NOA 2 is on the way. However, only for one child, I am assuming since today is Saturday they just have not updated for the second child.

Whew, that hurdle jumped. However I am freaking out a bit because I forgot what is next. With my husband, I moved one step ahead of the process and was able to get the interview rather quickly. Now I am drawing a blank. I need to call on help from you nice people again. I am seriously having a panic attack. Someone please direct me to the next steps.

Yipee, from NOA 1 to NOA 2 in 69 days and are they working on Saturday? Good for them.

We are almost on the same schedule... applied Nov. 15, approved Jan 22 (a Sunday!). I also had completely blocked the process from when I did it for my husband. The best source I have found for the next stage are the NVC forums. Check out this link for NVC filers (mostly for spouse IR-1/CR-1s but the process is almost identical). The first post has so much information.

We had a hiccup at the airport with some Philippine gov't requirements. They didn't want to let us board the plane with the consent form I had - they wanted the official one from a specific agency in the Philippines (DSWD). We had already fulfilled an exit orientation requirement for the Phil. gov't (CFO) and they had told us what we had would be fine. I had to get elevated to a few different people within the airline. I was insistent that the consent should work and if in doubt their mother was right outside security and they could talk to her themselves. They finally took me past security to speak with immigration who also wanted me to have the DSWD clearance but luckily the gate agent had gotten my stepdaughter and gone to get her mother in the drop off area to bring her back to immigration (who then had to sit in immigration holding her 3 month old for quite some time while everything got sorted out). The immigration guy still didn't want to let us through and was calling his boss on the phone. I kept saying isn't the point of the DSWD clearance to show we have permission and here is their mother giving permission. Anyway we eventually got through and their mother hung around until the plane took off just to make sure we didn't have any other problems. The reason I bring it up is she had to be really committed to go through all that business at the airport and it was still incredibly hard when it came time to say goodbye. Luckily over the years I feel we've built trust and respect for each other and she knows I'm going to do my best along with their father to provide a loving and supportive home for the kids. Still I could tell she was trying to be strong for the kids but I can't even imagine the feeling.

...

SerenityNow - thanks for making a wiki page! That info was long overdue! Hopefully we can all add and update it as we move along in the process.

I have to agree with you that it seems unlikely that you will have to wait for the greencard to apply for the passport. The stamp on the visa upon entry should prove the children were admitted on immigrant visas. We are going this week to apply (w/o greencards) so I will let you know how it goes.

*To anyone in a similar situation permission is needed from both parents of a minor (under 16) wanting to obtain a U.S. passport - unless the applying parent has sole legal custody and can prove it. If one parent does not have sole legal custody then the non immigrating parent needs to sign and notarize the consent form (DS3053) that will allow the minor to obtain a US passport. The consent form is only good for 3 months after it is signed so plan accordingly.

Just an update on us. The kids are finally here and we've been doing pretty well. We've spent our time going to lots of museums, seeing relatives, trying to balance new foods with familiar foods. Everywhere we go everyone wants to give them chocolate or ice cream or some kind of sweet - the kids are loving it. They will be starting school soon but for now we're just trying to enjoy the time together and get adjusted. They do think it's crazy cold here. I think they had no idea weather could ever be this cold. I have to say once we got on that first plane all the immigration hassles (even the stuff at the airport) just left my mind. Now that we've crossed the 'finish line' I've sort of forgotten the race. I feel like the real adventure begins now.

Good luck to everyone!

Thanks for the info on the consent letter. That part does worry me a bit. My husband's ex-wife has already prepared a notarized letter (we will include a copy with the DS-230) but I have no idea if it includes everything it needs to. I'm not sure if she could go to the airport when the time comes, so I don't know what we are going to do if there is a problem. I already warned my husband that we can NOT be on the 6 am flight out, that we need the afternoon flight and we need to go to the airport hours early to be able to sort out any problem...

My stepson just turned 16, so luckily we don't need the extra consent for the U.S. passport (It DID mean that we have to get a police/court certificate and made it hard to answer the question on the DS-230 about where he has lived for more than 6 months over the age of 16... uh, nowhere, he has only been 16 for 20 days... haha)

Ah, the wiki page. I was very active on the spouse wiki pages when they were initiated in 2008. I just feel like it is such a colossal waste of time to dig through all the threads, when most of us need approximately the same information. Like your experience with the I-864W, people can really learn from that... Mostly I complied what you guys have posted in this thread! Yes, I went through one weekend and read every single page. I hope others will contribute extensively.

Congratulations on your new life with the kids! That is so wonderful. I am surprised you still want to peek in here, haha. All of this is so stressful.

[evoria 19]

It seems we are on the same road. I wanted to do a timeline for this I-130 submission, but I could not figure out how to create a new timeline. Thanks so much for directing me to so much excellent information.

[velrich 50]

Just an update on us. The kids are finally here and we've been doing pretty well. We've spent our time going to lots of museums, seeing relatives, trying to balance new foods with familiar foods. Everywhere we go everyone wants to give them chocolate or ice cream or some kind of sweet - the kids are loving it. They will be starting school soon but for now we're just trying to enjoy the time together and get adjusted. They do think it's crazy cold here. I think they had no idea weather could ever be this cold. I have to say once we got on that first plane all the immigration hassles (even the stuff at the airport) just left my mind. Now that we've crossed the 'finish line' I've sort of forgotten the race. I feel like the real adventure begins now.

Good luck to everyone!

Its great that things are going okay despite the hiccups.

This thread has helped a lot of persons, Thanks for starting it.

[sancruz 26]

Thanks for the response. Glad NVC caught that as it will make things much easier for you.

Sancruz congrats on the interview date! I am with you on the moment being bittersweet. My husband and I are nothing but excited but I feel for their mother as I know this wasn't an easy decision (years in the making) and it isn't going to be an easy transition.

We had a hiccup at the airport with some Philippine gov't requirements. They didn't want to let us board the plane with the consent form I had - they wanted the official one from a specific agency in the Philippines (DSWD). We had already fulfilled an exit orientation requirement for the Phil. gov't (CFO) and they had told us what we had would be fine. I had to get elevated to a few different people within the airline. I was insistent that the consent should work and if in doubt their mother was right outside security and they could talk to her themselves. They finally took me past security to speak with immigration who also wanted me to have the DSWD clearance but luckily the gate agent had gotten my stepdaughter and gone to get her mother in the drop off area to bring her back to immigration (who then had to sit in immigration holding her 3 month old for quite some time while everything got sorted out). The immigration guy still didn't want to let us through and was calling his boss on the phone. I kept saying isn't the point of the DSWD clearance to show we have permission and here is their mother giving permission. Anyway we eventually got through and their mother hung around until the plane took off just to make sure we didn't have any other problems. The reason I bring it up is she had to be really committed to go through all that business at the airport and it was still incredibly hard when it came time to say goodbye. Luckily over the years I feel we've built trust and respect for each other and she knows I'm going to do my best along with their father to provide a loving and supportive home for the kids. Still I could tell she was trying to be strong for the kids but I can't even imagine the feeling.

Welcome KatandFreddy! Thanks for joining our thread. Good luck on the process! We're there any questions you still needed to be answered? I think quite a few of them got answered.

Hi FaSa2008, how was your interview?

SerenityNow - thanks for making a wiki page! That info was long overdue! Hopefully we can all add and update it as we move along in the process.

I have to agree with you that it seems unlikely that you will have to wait for the greencard to apply for the passport. The stamp on the visa upon entry should prove the children were admitted on immigrant visas. We are going this week to apply (w/o greencards) so I will let you know how it goes.

*To anyone in a similar situation permission is needed from both parents of a minor (under 16) wanting to obtain a U.S. passport - unless the applying parent has sole legal custody and can prove it. If one parent does not have sole legal custody then the non immigrating parent needs to sign and notarize the consent form (DS3053) that will allow the minor to obtain a US passport. The consent form is only good for 3 months after it is signed so plan accordingly.

Just an update on us. The kids are finally here and we've been doing pretty well. We've spent our time going to lots of museums, seeing relatives, trying to balance new foods with familiar foods. Everywhere we go everyone wants to give them chocolate or ice cream or some kind of sweet - the kids are loving it. They will be starting school soon but for now we're just trying to enjoy the time together and get adjusted. They do think it's crazy cold here. I think they had no idea weather could ever be this cold. I have to say once we got on that first plane all the immigration hassles (even the stuff at the airport) just left my mind. Now that we've crossed the 'finish line' I've sort of forgotten the race. I feel like the real adventure begins now.

Good luck to everyone!

beejay, oh my goodness. I'm glad everything worked out at the airport and thank goodness the mom was able to be there. I hope we dont run into something like that. We also have a notarized letter from our biological mom. Like someone else mentioned the flights out of there are afternoon so we will make sure we are there early just in case they have any issues.

Im so glad this process is over for you and I hope the kids are adjusting well. Hopefully in a few short weeks I will be across that finish line also. We have 24 days unti our interview and the closer it gets the less sleep i seem to get. So anxious, nervous, excited, etc...

[dancehallquana 5]

hey beee jaaayyyyy

so glad all that frustration ended okay and you are enjoying sweets and ice cream with your kids LOL..how AWESOME..so they will be starting school mid semester? okay well they are young right?? i bet that will be a smooth transition..

velrich or any other jamaican filers? did you guys have any problems?? ive never seen where consent is even required by the immigration officers in Jamaica let alone a special form.. just wanna make sure that is still the norm..

im taking my time right now with NVC.. just sent in the AOS paperwork and will be paying the IV bill next week.

i am banking on the kids coming in the summertime and then starting school in the fall.. hopefully the processing times stay the way theyve been going..

good luck everyone!!!!

[evoria 19]

hey beee jaaayyyyy

so glad all that frustration ended okay and you are enjoying sweets and ice cream with your kids LOL..how AWESOME..so they will be starting school mid semester? okay well they are young right?? i bet that will be a smooth transition..

velrich or any other jamaican filers? did you guys have any problems?? ive never seen where consent is even required by the immigration officers in Jamaica let alone a special form.. just wanna make sure that is still the norm..

im taking my time right now with NVC.. just sent in the AOS paperwork and will be paying the IV bill next week.

i am banking on the kids coming in the summertime and then starting school in the fall.. hopefully the processing times stay the way theyve been going..

good luck everyone!!!!

I have spoken to some friends who have brought kids over recently from Ghana and they are telling me the same thing. Pretty much all they are presenting are notarized documents from the other parent, receipts from school fees, and other documents proving a relationship with the child and they had no problems at the interview or getting in the US.

[lucy4 11]

Hi everyone,

This whole process is making me sick to my stomach. I officially hate USCIS. I cannot wait to be done with them. I sent in my I130 in July, and haven't heard anything since then. Originally, I was patient and not in a rush since I didn't expect her to come until after the school year, but things have changed. My step-daughter lives with her paternal grandmother, who has become ill. My hubby's siblings have convinced her to come to the US to tend to her health, but she is trying to wait until the step daughter situation is worked out. The siblings are pressuring her, and keep telling my hubby he needs to go to a lawyer etc. I keep telling them a lawyer will not help at this point and there's nothing we can do but wait. I actually believe that they think its our fault, or we haven't done something.

I told my hubby already that if anything happens to his mom in the meantime, it will be on his conscience so she needs to come whenever she is ready, but we don't know what to do with stepdaughter. My case hasn't been touched since its been accepted, and VSC keeps changing the processing time, so that they're still within processing time.

Im just frustrated.

[SerenityNOW 11]

Hi everyone,

This whole process is making me sick to my stomach. I officially hate USCIS. I cannot wait to be done with them. I sent in my I130 in July, and haven't heard anything since then. Originally, I was patient and not in a rush since I didn't expect her to come until after the school year, but things have changed. My step-daughter lives with her paternal grandmother, who has become ill. My hubby's siblings have convinced her to come to the US to tend to her health, but she is trying to wait until the step daughter situation is worked out. The siblings are pressuring her, and keep telling my hubby he needs to go to a lawyer etc. I keep telling them a lawyer will not help at this point and there's nothing we can do but wait. I actually believe that they think its our fault, or we haven't done something.

I told my hubby already that if anything happens to his mom in the meantime, it will be on his conscience so she needs to come whenever she is ready, but we don't know what to do with stepdaughter. My case hasn't been touched since its been accepted, and VSC keeps changing the processing time, so that they're still within processing time.

Im just frustrated.

This is a terrible situation! I know you are still within the official "processing time" but that is crazy that many of the people who applied after you and got sent to MSC are getting approved so quickly. I don't know anything about the expedite process, but maybe check in with the spouse I-130s forums, as I have noticed a few who have tried that... I believe you would contact a congressperson, not a lawyer... don't know if it would help, but it sounds like you have a good reason and maybe an inquiry would at least get your case looked at by a real person... I am really sorry to hear it is taking so long!!

[lucy4 11]

This is a terrible situation! I know you are still within the official "processing time" but that is crazy that many of the people who applied after you and got sent to MSC are getting approved so quickly. I don't know anything about the expedite process, but maybe check in with the spouse I-130s forums, as I have noticed a few who have tried that... I believe you would contact a congressperson, not a lawyer... don't know if it would help, but it sounds like you have a good reason and maybe an inquiry would at least get your case looked at by a real person... I am really sorry to hear it is taking so long!!

Thanks SerenityNOW, I am really at my wits end. The most frustrating part is like you said, so many people who applied later are getting approvals. Ive seen people go from NOA1 to NOA2 in about 40 days. Everytime I try USCIS, I get nothing because I'm within "processing time" . I haven't tried Congressman, but I saw someone else say the Congressman said they couldn't do anything until they were over the processing time.

My stepdaughter is already 13, so shes getting to that difficult stage, and now they are considering leaving her to live with a friend. She doesn't need all the shifting around, she needs stability.

[Kazulie 132]

Thanks SerenityNOW, I am really at my wits end. The most frustrating part is like you said, so many people who applied later are getting approvals. Ive seen people go from NOA1 to NOA2 in about 40 days. Everytime I try USCIS, I get nothing because I'm within "processing time" . I haven't tried Congressman, but I saw someone else say the Congressman said they couldn't do anything until they were over the processing time.

My stepdaughter is already 13, so shes getting to that difficult stage, and now they are considering leaving her to live with a friend. She doesn't need all the shifting around, she needs stability.

Yes, try to get an expedite. From USCIS and NVC. I think it is a valid reason, as long as you can show proof of grandma's medical condition. GOOD LUCK!

[PSDAVID 2]

My visa was issued today! Thank you for all your support.

[SerenityNOW 11]

My visa was issued today! Thank you for all your support.

Congratulations! When will you come to the US? Which state will you live in?

[katraska78 6]

My visa was issued today! Thank you for all your support.

Wow! Congrats! I've been following your journey, as my son is being petitioned by my husband (the US Citizen). God Bless you! Enjoy being reunited with your mom!

[sancruz 26]

My visa was issued today! Thank you for all your support.

Yay! Congrats. I know the waiting must have been stressful but it's finally over!