What is the next point of contact after form I-797C NOA1?

[Liza E P 0]

My American husband and I have filed an I-130, and on May 21st 2012 he received an I-797C NOA in the mail stating that the Petition had been received.

I called USCIS today to find out what the next step is, but the lady on the phone could not provide me with a direct answer.

I am wondering if my husband will receive further instructions in the mail, or do I?

There has been a postal strike here in Johannesburg, South Africa, so I am worried if something was sent to me regarding the next step to take, I may not get it for a while.

I know it seems like an obvious question, and I have searched the forums to find an answer, but could someone knowledgeable please just give me some kind of answer as to what we need to do now? Will further instructions be sent in the mail, and if so, to whom?

Many thanks for any help!

[Kerry & Carl 8]

Hi Liza,

Now you wait for USCIS to approve your I-130 and send it to NVC. This usually takes between 5-7 months, depending on the service center your case was sent to and how busy they are. You won't receive anything from USCIS regarding your NOA1, your husband has already received it.

There are several guides here on VJ that will help explain the process and here's the link to one of them: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/EZGuideSpouse

You may want to take some time to look at the other guides, wikis, etc. while you wait for your NOA2. They will help you know what to expect and to prepare as much of your AOS and IV documentation ahead of time.

Good luck!!

[jaycali 415]

My American husband and I have filed an I-130, and on May 21st 2012 he received an I-797C NOA in the mail stating that the Petition had been received.I called USCIS today to find out what the next step is, but the lady on the phone could not provide me with a direct answer.I am wondering if my husband will receive further instructions in the mail, or do I? There has been a postal strike here in Johannesburg, South Africa, so I am worried if something was sent to me regarding the next step to take, I may not get it for a while.I know it seems like an obvious question, and I have searched the forums to find an answer, but could someone knowledgeable please just give me some kind of answer as to what we need to do now? Will further instructions be sent in the mail, and if so, to whom?Many thanks for any help!

You say you got an I-797C from USCIS, but your profile says you filed directly at the embassy in Johannesburg (DCF). Did you mail your I-130 to USCIS Chicago/Phoenix Lockbox, or did you file directly at the embassy?

Either way, now you wait. Wait for the I-130 to be approved. If you filed directly with the embassy, or you both live in South Africa this usually takes aorund 2 - 3 weeks. If your husband lives in the US, and you filed through Chicago/Phoenix lockbox it takes 3 - 6 months.

Edited June 21, 2012 by jaejayC

[sunshine_84 11]

My American husband and I have filed an I-130, and on May 21st 2012 he received an I-797C NOA in the mail stating that the Petition had been received.

I called USCIS today to find out what the next step is, but the lady on the phone could not provide me with a direct answer.

I am wondering if my husband will receive further instructions in the mail, or do I?

There has been a postal strike here in Johannesburg, South Africa, so I am worried if something was sent to me regarding the next step to take, I may not get it for a while.

I know it seems like an obvious question, and I have searched the forums to find an answer, but could someone knowledgeable please just give me some kind of answer as to what we need to do now? Will further instructions be sent in the mail, and if so, to whom?

Many thanks for any help!

If your case number starts with "WAC" then it is forwarded to CSC (assuming you have not done DCF though your profile says DCF). I do see that lot of March filers are getting their approvals from CSC rightnow. So if everything goes on the same speed at CSC (which is hard to predict considering their inconsistency in processing speed in the past) you may get to see your approval in 3 to 4 months.

Edited June 21, 2012 by smart84

[Liza E P 0]

Thanks for the replies everyone - I actually did make a mistake on my profile which I've rectified - we petitioned through the Chicago lockbox, and my case was forwarded to the California Service Centre. My husband lives in America, and I understand that we just have to wait this out. However I do plan on visiting him for a while in the interim as it seems like this will take many months.

I was a bit confused where the waiting part in the process actually begins, but I now see that I am there! It seems pretty smooth once the NOA2 is received from what I have read and understood, especially of course if one has all the documentation, police checks, vaccinations and sponsor's information ready.

Thanks for helping all of us newbies out on this great forum, it's good to know there is this kind of support when it all gets a bit overwhelming...!

[sunshine_84 11]

Thanks for the replies everyone - I actually did make a mistake on my profile which I've rectified - we petitioned through the Chicago lockbox, and my case was forwarded to the California Service Centre. My husband lives in America, and I understand that we just have to wait this out. However I do plan on visiting him for a while in the interim as it seems like this will take many months.

I was a bit confused where the waiting part in the process actually begins, but I now see that I am there! It seems pretty smooth once the NOA2 is received from what I have read and understood, especially of course if one has all the documentation, police checks, vaccinations and sponsor's information ready.

Thanks for helping all of us newbies out on this great forum, it's good to know there is this kind of support when it all gets a bit overwhelming...!

I also recommend you to keep checking Igor's list on VJ to see latest I-130 approvals from CSC with their NOA1 date. This will give you an idea when you may receive your NOA2 from CSC office.

[rkk1 34]

Thanks for the replies everyone - I actually did make a mistake on my profile which I've rectified - we petitioned through the Chicago lockbox, and my case was forwarded to the California Service Centre. My husband lives in America, and I understand that we just have to wait this out. However I do plan on visiting him for a while in the interim as it seems like this will take many months.

Unless your country is on the Visa Waiver Program (which I don't think it is), you will not be able to go over there and visit him. You won't be granted a tourist visa when your I-130 is in process. Your husband will have to come and visit you in your country. It's hard being apart for so long... my husband and I will have not seen each other for 9.5 months by the time we meet next in December, as he can't come here, and I can't go there to India due to my degree program. But that's just how it is. Hopefully your husband won't have the same restrictions that I do, and can visit you more often since you can't go to the US.

Edited June 21, 2012 by rkk1

[Liza E P 0]

Thank you for your very sound advice smart84 and rkk1 !

Yes, I realise I cannot go and visit him on a tourist visa, and I do actually have an Irish passport eligible for VWP, but have have been advised also by the consulate here that I should rather just wait for my I-130 approval as it is moving pretty quickly these days. He handles many such cases here in Johannesburg, and told me as soon as it was approved to call the NVC and ask for it to be expediated to the Johannesburg consulate to speed things along.

So, the waiting continues ~ will keep an expectant eye on Igor's list...

Edited June 26, 2012 by Liza E P