Stand alone I-130 for stepchild(ren)

[riro 13]

Hi there! Finally I see some activity here in this forum... I am happy to hear that people are getting approvals, and moving to the next step. Well, as for my kids, I filed I-130 back in September (I am their father and US citizen) and received NOA1. On February 26, I received a text message and an e-mail saying that my kids' case are going to be transferred. On February 28th I received another text and e-mail saying that their case has been transferred and handled by another office. And 3 days later I received hard copy in the mail, that cases have been transferred to Texas Service Center. I was surprised, since I live in California, I wonder why they were not transferred to California Service Center. Anyway, at least some activity. I hope to receive an answer soon, and hope that the case will be transferred to NVC.

That's what I should expect, right? Please correct me if I am wrong. Thank you and good luck for all of us!!!!

[Sascafig 12]

Keep calling them and also be patient, the process has become slow of late. just got my case no this week after it was reveived on the 24th of Jan.

we have already paid for the AOS and submitted the ds261, though no email or mail communication from nvc.

Thank you for updating us! Please check in and let us know how your case progresses, it's very helpful to be able to follow cases that are one or two steps ahead of you. It gives us hope!

[Sascafig 12]

Hi there! Finally I see some activity here in this forum... I am happy to hear that people are getting approvals, and moving to the next step. Well, as for my kids, I filed I-130 back in September (I am their father and US citizen) and received NOA1. On February 26, I received a text message and an e-mail saying that my kids' case are going to be transferred. On February 28th I received another text and e-mail saying that their case has been transferred and handled by another office. And 3 days later I received hard copy in the mail, that cases have been transferred to Texas Service Center. I was surprised, since I live in California, I wonder why they were not transferred to California Service Center. Anyway, at least some activity. I hope to receive an answer soon, and hope that the case will be transferred to NVC.

That's what I should expect, right? Please correct me if I am wrong. Thank you and good luck for all of us!!!!

Another September filer, welcome! Maybe they got our cases mixed up, I live in Texas and our file was shipped off to California, lol! If you're not already part of the I-130 September filer's thread, you may want to check that out. They have a spreadsheet going that may help you get a better idea of when to expect the NOA2 approving your petition. And then yes, next step is the NVC. I'll link the thread and the spreadsheet below for you.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/452116-september-2013-i-130-filers/

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArFCcHLV9HyydE1UZkNVM0RGY0x1ejRmY1J4TEFLM3c#gid=0

[dadajnm 27]

Thank you for updating us! Please check in and let us know how your case progresses, it's very helpful to be able to follow cases that are one or two steps ahead of you. It gives us hope!

Hi Sascafig , we paid the aos bill and filled the ds 261 but didn't get any email from nvc to go ahead and fill or pay the bill.

[TheresaAnn 9]

Sending off my I130 forms for my 3 step daughters today $$$. I'm usc, married their father who is now here in usa. Long process again.

[dadajnm 27]

hi all,

paid my iv fee for my kid.. does anyone know if we need to send marriage certificate to show relationship between the kid and step parent? in the process of preparing the iv documents.

[Sascafig 12]

For the NVC stage it's all about the beneficiary. The documents showing your relationship to your stepchild were submitted at the USCIS stage, you will just need to bring the originals or the certified copies of the documents you submitted to USCIS during the petition phase to the interview. Check the links below for more resources on what to send to the NVC.

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/IR-2_%28and_CR-2%29_Visas

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/submit/documents-to-submit-to-nvc.html

[dadajnm 27]

For the NVC stage it's all about the beneficiary. The documents showing your relationship to your stepchild were submitted at the USCIS stage, you will just need to bring the originals or the certified copies of the documents you submitted to USCIS during the petition phase to the interview. Check the links below for more resources on what to send to the NVC.

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/IR-2_%28and_CR-2%29_Visas

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/submit/documents-to-submit-to-nvc.html

Thank you Sascafig for your response.. i appreciate it.

[riro 13]

I got 2 text messages and 2 e-mails that I-130s for my two kids have been approved on March 24th!!! Finally!!! I am so happy! So, next step would be, I think, is to wait like 10 days before calling NVC and get a case number, right? And what do you suggest? to file everything online, by scanning documents and submitting them, or by normal mail?

Thank you for your help guys!

[Sascafig 12]

I got 2 text messages and 2 e-mails that I-130s for my two kids have been approved on March 24th!!! Finally!!! I am so happy! So, next step would be, I think, is to wait like 10 days before calling NVC and get a case number, right? And what do you suggest? to file everything online, by scanning documents and submitting them, or by normal mail?

Thank you for your help guys!

Congratulations! The longest part is over! Yay!

Yes, it's taking about two weeks for NVC to receive the packages, so your plan to call after ten days isn't a bad idea. After that, they are saying to give them thirty days before expecting your case number assignment, but it varies case by case. I'm going to wait two weeks and then start calling daily to see if we have case numbers yet for our boys (they officialy had our packet in their hands on March 17th). Check here to see a spreadsheet prepared by VJ member Saylin that shows up-to-date NVC case progress:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtbvTEwLyHz1dDhjM3lXTEl1cW1SbjRwdW9YRGlIanc&hl=en#gid=0

Also, bookmark the March NVC Filer's thread and check often if you want to stay updated on all the NVC goings-on that people are experiencing, and great advice on NVC topics:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/483206-nvc-filers-march-2014/

Usually, the first two posts for the NVC thread are from Saylin and contain links to more information than you probably want, but it's better to be over-prepared than under! For some reason, the first two posts were deleted from that thread, so check the first two posts here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/478133-nvc-filers-february-2014/

As for electronic processing, that, unfortunately, has been cancelled for Mexico filers So we will have to go the snail-mail route. I'm horrified that I have to send original documents and trust them not to misplace anything and get all our paperwork intact to the consulate. Alas, it is what it is. So get all your originals and copies ready now! The actual visa application, the DS-260, and the agent form, the DS-261, however, are both online now for all countries. So that part at least will go quickly.

Good luck, and check in here, please, with your progress!

[keljopy 1]

I got 2 text messages and 2 e-mails that I-130s for my two kids have been approved on March 24th!!! Finally!!! I am so happy! So, next step would be, I think, is to wait like 10 days before calling NVC and get a case number, right? And what do you suggest? to file everything online, by scanning documents and submitting them, or by normal mail?

Thank you for your help guys!

I would wait at least 10 days, although don't be surprised if they don't have a number yet. You can hope for a quick turnaround, but you should also be prepared for it to possibly be much longer than is remotely reasonable. It took my cases 16 days to arrive at the NVC. After arrival it was an additional 33 days before I had a case number. So be prepared for anything, I called a couple times a week and often had to call countless times before getting through and then had to wait on hold for 20-30 minutes after that before talking to a person. It was quite frustrating, hopefully yours will go faster.

[Sascafig 12]

I called a couple times a week and often had to call countless times before getting through and then had to wait on hold for 20-30 minutes after that before talking to a person. It was quite frustrating, hopefully yours will go faster.

I used the automatic call back website and it worked great. Go here:

http://gethuman.com/call-back/National-Visa-Center/

Then just type in your call back number and go about your business. It was over 30 minutes before they called but I was able to spend my time doing other things. The phone rang, I said hello, the NVC operator asked for my USCIS number. Easy peasy.

[riro 13]

Thank you Sascafig and keljopy for the information!

[Colombo123 5]

Hi,

Question

The I-130 for my wife was just approved, but for Step Son I-130 application is still pending.

Is it a normal procedure for USCIS to approve your spouse first then your step son I-130 application?

Anyone knows or anyone petitioning spouse and step son/daughter at the same time?

[keljopy 1]

We did my spouse earlier, but we are doing my three stepkids at the same time. One of them was approved 6 days after the other two. I had to call and ask the NVC to relink the cases when it got to that point in the process.