Stand alone I-130 for stepchild(ren)

[beejay 123]

Ugh I have had 'paper discussions' with my husband. You're a better person than me though, I did take my moment of vindication for obsessively trying to keep every Western Union receipt for the last 4 years when we were compiling the packets. (I had kept them when we lived in Dubai too but somehow those got lost in the move it was hard letting that one go...)

If you go to "Guides" at the top of the page there is one on filing for children http://www.visajourney.com/content/childpet but it's pretty basic. It helps to look at that and the I-130 for spouses

Gotta love the obsessive checking of case status/processing times at the USCIS website Are you a CSC or Vermont filer? CSC is on fire right now!

[meblue 5]

Hi,

My husband filed my I-130 together with my kids and we all received the NOA dated April 20 My kids are in the Philippines. What will be the next step for them? I noticed that their receipt number starts with WAC while mine is MSC.

We only submitted and I-864 with my AOS. Do we need to submit also I-864 to all I-130 applications?

Anybody here who had petitioned their kids from the Philippines? What is the process and how long?

Thanks and God bless us all.

Hi, my kid is from the Philippines. Just check my timeline.

[beejay 123]

Hi, my kid is from the Philippines. Just check my timeline.

Hi meblue!! How are things going? Have you been called back to the embassy for collection yet?

Kazulie - I keep meaning to link you to meblue's thread. She has lots of information about the DNA process at the embassy and was very helpful and patient in answering my questions. Granted it is for the embassy in Manila but I think there is still some useful information.

[jerkchixlvr 2]

Ugh I have had 'paper discussions' with my husband. You're a better person than me though, I did take my moment of vindication for obsessively trying to keep every Western Union receipt for the last 4 years when we were compiling the packets. (I had kept them when we lived in Dubai too but somehow those got lost in the move it was hard letting that one go...)

If you go to "Guides" at the top of the page there is one on filing for children http://www.visajourney.com/content/childpet but it's pretty basic. It helps to look at that and the I-130 for spouses

Gotta love the obsessive checking of case status/processing times at the USCIS website Are you a CSC or Vermont filer? CSC is on fire right now!

ory

Thanks, as always. Well things are starting to move along. We are getting letters together for my step-sons mother and my Mother and sister in law to sign to include. Luckily (or not) I am the keeper of the books in my house, so my husband rarely gets on my case except for when the papers pile up and its time for me to file. lol

Will keep you all posted as we get this filing on its way. Unfortunately, we are through Vermont which i know takes a while. If CSC is going so quickly you would think reallocating workload would be sufficient...maybe they should move the office farther away from the Ben n Jerry's factory. No more ice cream breaks for them! lol

[beejay 123]

maybe they should move the office farther away from the Ben n Jerry's factory. No more ice cream breaks for them! lol

CSC and Vermont do shift with who is faster. This past late summer/early fall CSC was uber slow (I think it was averaging something like 7+ months for the I-130). Since you will be filing now by the time they get around to your case it might be right as Vermont hits their upswing...or you could just write an impassioned letter to Ben or Jerry asking them to halt production for a few months to limit distractions at VSC (just let me know first so I can stock up on some coffee health bar crunch!)

[gdalicia 1]

Hi everyone! This is the perfect thread for me. I just recently mailed my step-daughter's I-130 (haven't even received NOA-1 yet). A bit of background..she is 19 and living in Mexico. My husband and I were married in 2006 and he received his residency in 2008. Our case is pretty complicated though because he is not listed on her birth certificate (was never married to her mother, and she registered the birth late and put someone else's name). We tried to get the BC amended last time he was down there but it would have involved tracking down the other person which the mother was not willing to do. So, I filed the I-130 with the BC and a copy of our DNA results. I'm kind of thinking that we might still have issues and possibly have a RFE and/or have to repeat DNA?

[jerkchixlvr 2]

Welcome gdalicia! This is a great thread with great people! Wishing you all the best on this journey, and hoping for a positive outcome!

[Kazulie 132]

Hi meblue!! How are things going? Have you been called back to the embassy for collection yet?

Kazulie - I keep meaning to link you to meblue's thread. She has lots of information about the DNA process at the embassy and was very helpful and patient in answering my questions. Granted it is for the embassy in Manila but I think there is still some useful information.

Beejay, has anyone told you yet today that your awesome? Cause u totally are.

[beejay 123]

Beejay, has anyone told you yet today that your awesome? Cause u totally are.

That literally made me smile at the computer

(but really thanks to meblue on that one for being so willing to impart all her knowledge!)

Welcome gdalicia!

We are in a similar situation (husband never married to children's mother, late registered, father listed as n/a). Having a different name for the father on the b/c certainly does make the case more complicated but it is nothing a DNA test won't overcome I'm hoping they won't make you redo the DNA test. Did you have the test done at one of the accredited AABB testing facilities? How did you handle the collection for your stepdaughter? On another note, as I understand CSPA, because you were married before your stepdaughter was 18 and have filed before she was 21 (and I assume she is unmarried) aging out won't be a concern, correct? Does she need to enter before she turns 21 or is that not an issue?

Good luck with the process and congrats on the filing! I'm sure that felt like an accomplishment

[jerkchixlvr 2]

Beejay, has anyone told you yet today that your awesome? Cause u totally are.

I have to agree!!! Beejay is a superstar :star:

[meblue 5]

Hi meblue!! How are things going? Have you been called back to the embassy for collection yet?

Kazulie - I keep meaning to link you to meblue's thread. She has lots of information about the DNA process at the embassy and was very helpful and patient in answering my questions. Granted it is for the embassy in Manila but I think there is still some useful information.

Hi beejay,

My daughter and I just had our DNA sample taken at the US Embassy in Manila today. The DNA sample was taken at the 2nd floor, then we went to the ground floor and we submitted my daughter's passport at window 38. I asked the Filipino guy who accepted my daughter's passport if we need to come back for another interview and how long it would take for the approval of the visa. He replied, "no more interview and after they got the DNA result if it's positive we will get the visa in 2 to 3 weeks."

[dancehallquana 5]

I'm not in the same region you but I'm also looking at charter schools for the kids when they come I'm not so much worried about the other kids as getting lost in the system. I think if they were a few years younger I would think differently but as they both are at or near the end of elementary school age I'm absolutely looking at alternative programs. I know charter schools can be vastly different from one another but what made you look at charter school in the first place? Are you happy with the one your daughter is at now?

hey b..been a minute!!

like you said charter schools are VERY much different from one to another, you have to do your research.. ive seen some TERRIBLE ones.. but the reason i chose the one my daughters came through is academic performance .. the school has always received exemplary marks in standardized testing and have many programs to encourage education for the kids.. however, professionalism and organization is lacking in some areas.. my children know the ropes and are familiar w/ how things go and have great success there, but i dont know how the boys will do with all the OTHER adjustments they are facing.. will the requirements and pace be too overwhelming so soon, i dont know if i can count on teachers there to be sympathetic.. if they were coming in the summer and could be more comfortable with me and their new home, things woudl be easier i think to tackle school.. hmm, i might just be too overprotective..

[gdalicia 1]

That literally made me smile at the computer

(but really thanks to meblue on that one for being so willing to impart all her knowledge!)

Welcome gdalicia!

We are in a similar situation (husband never married to children's mother, late registered, father listed as n/a). Having a different name for the father on the b/c certainly does make the case more complicated but it is nothing a DNA test won't overcome I'm hoping they won't make you redo the DNA test. Did you have the test done at one of the accredited AABB testing facilities? How did you handle the collection for your stepdaughter? On another note, as I understand CSPA, because you were married before your stepdaughter was 18 and have filed before she was 21 (and I assume she is unmarried) aging out won't be a concern, correct? Does she need to enter before she turns 21 or is that not an issue?

Good luck with the process and congrats on the filing! I'm sure that felt like an accomplishment

Hi, thanks for your reply! I did the testing through an AABB testing facility but I'm expecting they may make us repeat it. The company I used told us that they would give us a break on a second test. I knew that since the BC did not have his name that we should probably submit the DNA results with the I-130. From what I understand (and this strikes me as pretty crazy) if the stepmother applies for a child born out of wedlock then they don't require all of the proof of relationship/financial support stuff like they will if the father applies. I heard that from an Attorney and found it online as well. We have all that stuff if needed so it will be interesting to see what they ask us for.

[dancehallquana 5]

That's been one of my things as well I want the kids to be in a school that is diverse and has a significant ELL population as well a provide a good education. It's tough finding all three. Schools in the area, as with everywhere around the country, have class sizes getting bigger, programs getting cut, teachers getting stressed and it's turning into a very negative environment for education. Hopefully the charter schools I'm looking at will be a good fit.

u are sooo right.. my oldest goes to the number one public high school in the country (Talented and Gifted Magnet WOO WOO.. not bragging LOL) but even there, the budget cuts, teacher lay offs, etc makes it so hard to get a good education..

[dancehallquana 5]

You should file for his I-130 now. It'll most likely take 9 to 11 months and then he has 6 months after getting his visa to come to the States. So if you're trying to have him here sometime within the next year or year and a half you should think about applying now. That way you won't be in a rush and it won't be so hard on you because you won't feel like, "will immigration hurry up with our visa?!?!?!", like so many of us feel. But remember, he has to enter within 6 months of getting the visa.

yes yes yes..ughhhh