What do I do?

[Hogman1962 0]

I would estimate 5 months at uscis. During this time you should read the Ling Che NVC shortcuts on this website. Do as she says and be prepared for NVC before it gets here. If you have everything ready for NVC it should take 2 months from start to visa. Add in an extra month just to give you some breather room. We're looking at hopefully less than 8 months.

Of course, that would be if everything went smoothly! I'm rooting for ya! I LOVE why I see someone fly through the process!!!

Thank you....

[bigdog 376]

Good Luck, now your getting good advice.

[sms78 18]

Glad you found VJ this time.

Best of luck to you

[Hogman1962 0]

I would like to thank everyone that took the time to reply. Called USCIS today. Refiling I130 for our boys in my name and will send it in asap. Will begin the timeline and keep everyone posted. Again a huge thank you..

[dm559 34]

I filed for my stepchildren. Since you married their mother before they turned 18 they are considered children of United States Citizen. It will take about 3-5 months from the time you file their I-130 for you to get an approval, then it takes 1-2 months for it to get moved over to the Visa center where they will send you a request for fees. At that point start doing it all online (paying fees) it greatly reduces the time from weeks to days. If you have the money you can further reduce the time by filing concurrent I-130, I-485. Unless I missed something. I'm assuming they are still in their native country. But because of the laws against child abduction you will need either a notorized letter from their biological father giving them permission to immigrate and giving their mother permission to take them out of the country. If the father is not willing or you cant find him then they will want a judgement from their court stating that the father has abandoned them and the court giving their mother full physical and sole custody.

As far as the immigration its very smooth and easy. Don't sweat it.

If you are going to file have your wife cancel the other petitions. If you try and file another I-130 while the others are active you may get a denial stating that they already have a case open. You may want to call USCIS to verify this. And everyone will have separate everything except I-485 you can list everyone on the same form (since they are arriving within 6 months of each other) and you can just photo copy the packet and send it with each petition.

I would like to thank everyone that took the time to reply. Called USCIS today. Refiling I130 for our boys in my name and will send it in asap. Will begin the timeline and keep everyone posted. Again a huge thank you..

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I filed for my stepchildren. Since you married their mother before they turned 18 they are considered children of United States Citizen. It will take about 3-5 months from the time you file their I-130 for you to get an approval, then it takes 1-2 months for it to get moved over to the Visa center where they will send you a request for fees. At that point start doing it all online (paying fees) it greatly reduces the time from weeks to days. If you have the money you can further reduce the time by filing concurrent I-130, I-485. Unless I missed something. I'm assuming they are still in their native country. But because of the laws against child abduction you will need either a notorized letter from their biological father giving them permission to immigrate and giving their mother permission to take them out of the country. If the father is not willing or you cant find him then they will want a judgement from their court stating that the father has abandoned them and the court giving their mother full physical and sole custody.

As far as the immigration its very smooth and easy. Don't sweat it.

If you are going to file have your wife cancel the other petitions. If you try and file another I-130 while the others are active you may get a denial stating that they already have a case open. You may want to call USCIS to verify this. And everyone will have separate everything except I-485 you can list everyone on the same form (since they are arriving within 6 months of each other) and you can just photo copy the packet and send it with each petition.

They will be applying for immigrant visas in their home country. An I-485 will not be required. They're not adjusting status in the US. They will automatically get green cards shortly after their arrival.

[dm559 34]

Oh yep, sorry about that. Part of them did it here and part of them in their native country so I forgot about that part. Either way the notices USCIS sends is self explanatory

Also if their I-130 hasn't been approved yet under your wife I believe you can ask for a refund. I think once approved then you cant. I remember reading that on one of the forms I just can't recall which.

They will be applying for immigrant visas in their home country. An I-485 will not be required. They're not adjusting status in the US. They will automatically get green cards shortly after their arrival.

[Kazulie 132]

Oh yep, sorry about that. Part of them did it here and part of them in their native country so I forgot about that part. Either way the notices USCIS sends is self explanatory

Also if their I-130 hasn't been approved yet under your wife I believe you can ask for a refund. I think once approved then you cant. I remember reading that on one of the forms I just can't recall which.

Refund?? That word is not in the immigration dictionary.