Atlanta Transferrers

[BIZ 5]

Application Type: I130 , IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN

Your Case Status: Post Decision Activity

On September 24, 2013, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283

Finally after more than 9 months of waiting. We received this Today after my husband got a phone interview last Saturday from USCIS personnel ( amazing they are working on a Saturday). But he will still go to his infopass on Thursday to ask info what to do next once the case is forwarded to NVC. Whats the next step guys? Thanks so much for your advice.

Congratulations on the NOA2. Next step is that USCIS will forward your approved file to NVC. Keep your fingers crossed because USCIS tends to mess up at this stage a lot. I was lucky that my file got to NVC the following week after approval, but it took about 3 months for others.

Once your file gets to NVC, it will log into their system as received in about a week or two. Then you need to wait for NVC to assign your case, Invoice ID, and beneficiary numbers. This could take a few weeks.

Once that is done, your Affidavit of Support (AOS) bill will be invoiced, and your choice of agent form will also be available almost at the same time. You need to log into the payment portal (https://ceac.state.gov/CTRAC/Invoice/signon.aspx), and make the payment right away. Once you finish the payment, you will then send in your AOS package. You will also need to complete the choice of agent form, also found on the payment portal asap.

Once your choice of agent form has been accepted, your immigrant visa fee of $230 will be invoiced. You need to log into the payment portal again, make the payment, and send your IV package to NVC (This may have changed recently since NVC migrated to electronic processing so you need to call them and double check).

The above is just a quick summary of the NVC process. I will agree with Steve B that is confusing because it’s a lot more work than the USCIS stage with no guidance. However, if you understand the process very well, and always try to know what is coming next, you will be fine.

It took me three months from NOA2 to case completion at NVC, and I even delayed myself for about a month in the process because I made some silly mistakes on my AOS and IV packages.

Feel free to reach out at any time, and I would also recommend that you follow the monthly NVC filers thread on VJ http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/451446-nvc-filers-september-2013/ for very helpful information.

Try to get all the items you need for the AOS and IV packages ready so that as soon as your file makes it to NVC, you will be fine. Best of luck at the next stage of this difficult process, and congrats once again on your approval.

Cheers!!!

[La Isla Bonita 22]

Congratulations on the NOA2. Next step is that USCIS will forward your approved file to NVC. Keep your fingers crossed because USCIS tends to mess up at this stage a lot. I was lucky that my file got to NVC the following week after approval, but it took about 3 months for others.

Once your file gets to NVC, it will log into their system as received in about a week or two. Then you need to wait for NVC to assign your case, Invoice ID, and beneficiary numbers. This could take a few weeks.

Once that is done, your Affidavit of Support (AOS) bill will be invoiced, and your choice of agent form will also be available almost at the same time. You need to log into the payment portal (https://ceac.state.gov/CTRAC/Invoice/signon.aspx), and make the payment right away. Once you finish the payment, you will then send in your AOS package. You will also need to complete the choice of agent form, also found on the payment portal asap.

Once your choice of agent form has been accepted, your immigrant visa fee of $230 will be invoiced. You need to log into the payment portal again, make the payment, and send your IV package to NVC (This may have changed recently since NVC migrated to electronic processing so you need to call them and double check).

The above is just a quick summary of the NVC process. I will agree with Steve B that is confusing because it’s a lot more work than the USCIS stage with no guidance. However, if you understand the process very well, and always try to know what is coming next, you will be fine.

It took me three months from NOA2 to case completion at NVC, and I even delayed myself for about a month in the process because I made some silly mistakes on my AOS and IV packages.

Feel free to reach out at any time, and I would also recommend that you follow the monthly NVC filers thread on VJ http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/451446-nvc-filers-september-2013/ for very helpful information.

Try to get all the items you need for the AOS and IV packages ready so that as soon as your file makes it to NVC, you will be fine. Best of luck at the next stage of this difficult process, and congrats once again on your approval.

Cheers!!!

Thank you Bismark. What are the items I need for the AOS and IV packages? MY husband still went for his Infopass this morning inspite that we got approved last Tuesday. The reason is he will try to gather some informations about the next step. The guy whom he spoke with was nice and told him to fill up one paper to request that we will get back our original documents submitted at USCIS. Do I have to redo again all the printing of our emails, Skype chat, pictures etc.....? or I will receive back all those documents we submitted to USCIS in time for my interview? Thanks again for your support. Without you, we wont go as far at this point.

[omar&jessica 3]

Y'all come on over to the (nvc filers September 2013) they start a new one every month so it's almost time for the October forum

[BIZ 5]

Thank you Bismark. What are the items I need for the AOS and IV packages? MY husband still went for his Infopass this morning inspite that we got approved last Tuesday. The reason is he will try to gather some informations about the next step. The guy whom he spoke with was nice and told him to fill up one paper to request that we will get back our original documents submitted at USCIS. Do I have to redo again all the printing of our emails, Skype chat, pictures etc.....? or I will receive back all those documents we submitted to USCIS in time for my interview? Thanks again for your support. Without you, we wont go as far at this point.

1. AOS Package - You will need the following:

With no joint sponsors:

- Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal

- Cover letter (optional)

- Completed, signed, and dated I-864 form by petitioner

- Tax information* of petitioner (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)

- Employment letter of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

- Pay stub(s) of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

With joint sponsors:

- All of the above of the petitioner

- Completed, signed, and dated I-864 of joint sponsor

- Tax information* of joint sponsor (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)

- Proof of US citizenship/residency of joint sponsor (ex: copy of US passport, US birth certificate, US naturalization certificate, or front & back of green card)

- Employment letter of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

- Pay stub(s) of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

2. IV Package – You will need the following:

- Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal

- complete form DS-260 (You can only do this after your choice of agent form DS-261 has been requested, submitted, and accepted (No need to worry about it now but you can take a look at the questions asked and start looking for the answers ahead of time)

- Two passport-style photographs (2" x 2") of beneficiary (on the back, write: beneficiary's full name, date of birth, and case number)

- Copy of bio-data page of beneficiary's unexpired passport

- Original or Certified Copy of beneficiary's birth certificate, PLUS A PHOTOCOPY

- Original or Certified Copy of marriage certificate, PLUS A PHOTOCOPY

- Original police certificate(s)

Please read: http://travel.state..../info_3195.html for additional documents if applicable (such as petitioner documents in IR-5 cases or divorce/military records or proof of permanent residency, etc).

Also read the country-specific documents linked in the first post. There may be additional documents needed not listed above.

USCIS will forward all the documents you submitted to NVC, which will make it all the way to the embassy.

The embassy should give you all the documents you have submitted. They may retain some such as affidavits if they need them but most of your documents will be returned to you after the interview.

I don’t think it’s necessary to get back your documents from USCIS at this point because NVC and the embassy will need them.

You may want to print some communication logs to cover the period from when you submitted your 1-30 package to USCIS to the interview period to show that you guys are still in contact after filling. It’s not necessarily required but just a suggestion.

In addition to obtaining the docs above, you can also start calling NVC starting around this time next week to check if they receive your file. They are open 7am – 11pm ET. Their number is 603-334-0700.

This whole journey is very crazy. In my opinion, the USCIS stage is the easiest, but slowest, NVC the most confusing and demanding, and the embassy the most difficult because they make the final decision (I have seen cases approved by USCIS and denied at the embassy. Not saying this will happen to you but it’s good to keep in mind that it's not over after USCIS approval).

I hope this helps, and feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

Cheers!!!!

Edited September 27, 2013 by Bismark

[La Isla Bonita 22]

1. AOS Package - You will need the following:

With no joint sponsors:

- Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal

- Cover letter (optional)

- Completed, signed, and dated I-864 form by petitioner

- Tax information* of petitioner (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)

- Employment letter of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

- Pay stub(s) of petitioner (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

With joint sponsors:

- All of the above of the petitioner

- Completed, signed, and dated I-864 of joint sponsor

- Tax information* of joint sponsor (either just the last year OR the last 3 years)

- Proof of US citizenship/residency of joint sponsor (ex: copy of US passport, US birth certificate, US naturalization certificate, or front & back of green card)

- Employment letter of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

- Pay stub(s) of joint sponsor (optional, but good proof of CURRENT income)

2. IV Package – You will need the following:

- Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal

- complete form DS-260 (You can only do this after your choice of agent form DS-261 has been requested, submitted, and accepted (No need to worry about it now but you can take a look at the questions asked and start looking for the answers ahead of time)

- Two passport-style photographs (2" x 2") of beneficiary (on the back, write: beneficiary's full name, date of birth, and case number)

- Copy of bio-data page of beneficiary's unexpired passport

- Original or Certified Copy of beneficiary's birth certificate, PLUS A PHOTOCOPY

- Original or Certified Copy of marriage certificate, PLUS A PHOTOCOPY

- Original police certificate(s)

Please read: http://travel.state..../info_3195.html for additional documents if applicable (such as petitioner documents in IR-5 cases or divorce/military records or proof of permanent residency, etc).

Also read the country-specific documents linked in the first post. There may be additional documents needed not listed above.

USCIS will forward all the documents you submitted to NVC, which will make it all the way to the embassy.

The embassy should give you all the documents you have submitted. They may retain some such as affidavits if they need them but most of your documents will be returned to you after the interview.

I don’t think it’s necessary to get back your documents from USCIS at this point because NVC and the embassy will need them.

You may want to print some communication logs to cover the period from when you submitted your 1-30 package to USCIS to the interview period to show that you guys are still in contact after filling. It’s not necessarily required but just a suggestion.

In addition to obtaining the docs above, you can also start calling NVC starting around this time next week to check if they receive your file. They are open 7am – 11pm ET. Their number is 603-334-0700.

This whole journey is very crazy. In my opinion, the USCIS stage is the easiest, but slowest, NVC the most confusing and demanding, and the embassy the most difficult because they make the final decision (I have seen cases approved by USCIS and denied at the embassy. Not saying this will happen to you but it’s good to keep in mind that it's not over after USCIS approval).

I hope this helps, and feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

Cheers!!!!

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your time and effort to give me informations about the next process (NVC). Huh! what a journey just to get a visa with all the stress involved. Its not an easy journey though but it paids off once everything are done right and Visa on hand ( I hope and pray, pray, pray ) I don't want to get sick but I think I am now. As if im mentally tortured !!! I be knocking at you again Bismark for more info. Thanks again. God Bless

[jane21 11]

Logged in today and got the approved message, so it’s not the entire district. The Charleston Field Office is processing petitions.

I wish all of you a SPEEDY approval! I hope there is some movement very, very soon!

hi, did you had an infopass? ours was sent to Charleston Field Office and still nothing, its been 9months of waiting..

[hikergirl 277]

hi, did you had an infopass? ours was sent to Charleston Field Office and still nothing, its been 9months of waiting..

My husband went to two infopass appointments after we received a NOID for not including my Birth Certificate with the initial package.

The man at the counter physically went to check on the files to make sure everything was together the second time he went in. The first visit he just looked us up on the computer.

[High5 1]

Finally after 10 months. I-130 was approved. I got a call from Atlanta office on Saturday 09/21 last Saturday they told my marriage certificate is missing. I told they should have a notarized translated copy of the certificate, she looked and said no it is not there. She asked me to fax it as soon as possible. I told I will bring it to Atlanta office. She spoke to me for about 14 minutes asking me questions about my wife, how we communicate and how many times I visited her etc I told her I have been there 5 times in last 2 years and our culture. I dropped off the marriage certificate on Monday 09/23 at USCIS office and I again spoke to the officer for 15 minutes. She was more curious about China and their culture etc, she told she just wants to know because she will see more cases like me ( I am originally from India and my wife is from China). She was very friendly. I asked her before I left does it mean I am approved and my application will be sent to NVC. She told yes. Today after 1 week and 1 days my case status changed to post decision.

I saw a post from "QueenieJ601" in this thread that she too ( her husband ) got a call on the same Saturday. Looks like Atlanta office is working on I-130 on weekends to catch up with the backlogs. My guess is they are not working on I-130 on weekdays but only on weekends hence both mine and "QueenieJ601" I-130 came on a Tuesday after they update the system on weekend and it takes them 1 or 2 days to update the web site and mail the letters.

So I think all others waiting on I-130 from Atlanta it will be little faster going forward.

Post Decision Activity

On October 1, 2013, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

For approved applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include USCIS sending notification of the approved application/petition to the National Visa Center or the Department of State. For denied applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include the processing of an appeal and/or motions to reopen or reconsider and revocations.

[jane21 11]

My husband went to two infopass appointments after we received a NOID for not including my Birth Certificate with the initial package.

The man at the counter physically went to check on the files to make sure everything was together the second time he went in. The first visit he just looked us up on the computer.

how long have you wait until you got approve in Charleston Fied office?

[Maree 1]

APPROVED TODAY!!!! 10 and a half months of waiting and finally we have our NOA2

My husband joked that they had to shut the Government down before they could get any work done!

Now onto the NVC!! Good luck to all those still waiting!!

[BIZ 5]

Finally after 10 months. I-130 was approved. I got a call from Atlanta office on Saturday 09/21 last Saturday they told my marriage certificate is missing. I told they should have a notarized translated copy of the certificate, she looked and said no it is not there. She asked me to fax it as soon as possible. I told I will bring it to Atlanta office. She spoke to me for about 14 minutes asking me questions about my wife, how we communicate and how many times I visited her etc I told her I have been there 5 times in last 2 years and our culture. I dropped off the marriage certificate on Monday 09/23 at USCIS office and I again spoke to the officer for 15 minutes. She was more curious about China and their culture etc, she told she just wants to know because she will see more cases like me ( I am originally from India and my wife is from China). She was very friendly. I asked her before I left does it mean I am approved and my application will be sent to NVC. She told yes. Today after 1 week and 1 days my case status changed to post decision.

I saw a post from "QueenieJ601" in this thread that she too ( her husband ) got a call on the same Saturday. Looks like Atlanta office is working on I-130 on weekends to catch up with the backlogs. My guess is they are not working on I-130 on weekdays but only on weekends hence both mine and "QueenieJ601" I-130 came on a Tuesday after they update the system on weekend and it takes them 1 or 2 days to update the web site and mail the letters.

So I think all others waiting on I-130 from Atlanta it will be little faster going forward.

Post Decision Activity

On October 1, 2013, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

For approved applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include USCIS sending notification of the approved application/petition to the National Visa Center or the Department of State. For denied applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include the processing of an appeal and/or motions to reopen or reconsider and revocations.

Congrats, and thanks for the update!!

APPROVED TODAY!!!! 10 and a half months of waiting and finally we have our NOA2

My husband joked that they had to shut the Government down before they could get any work done!

Now onto the NVC!! Good luck to all those still waiting!!

Congrats!

[hikergirl 277]

how long have you wait until you got approve in Charleston Fied office?

Ours only took 4 1/2 months. (Sorry Atlanta filers )

It was frustrating for me because other Field Offices at the time were only taking 2 months or so and ours probably would have as well but Charleston gave us the NOID for my Birth Certificate - which wasn’t even supposed to go in the initial filing. Transferring to FO was a new thing when our files were transferred and things were going very quickly for most places until the FO started getting more and more files.

As you well know, Atlanta chose to do the opposite of the other FOs and just sat on the transferred files and chose not to work on them AT ALL. Who knows what the person in charge was thinking but I hope that they got a reprimand and a demotion for their decision.

Anyways, if your hubby doesn’t have time for an InfoPass it’s not the end of the world. We really didn’t find out much at either appointment. The first one the guy read on the computer that our reply to the NOID had arrived at the FO and told hubby that our adjudicator was not in the office that day. At the 2nd appointment was a month later and the guy at the counter looked us up in the computer and then went to the back and looked at our files and verified that my BC had been added to my file and that our files were still together (CR-1 and CR-2). Also that the Adjudicator was once again not in the office that day. We were approved shortly after the 2nd InfoPass but I can’t honestly say it made a difference.

Good luck to you with Charleston and to all of the Atlanta filers!

[Mohmedraza 0]

My file finally got approved today 10/02/13 after 10 and half month and with bunch of help from congressman. now NVC !!!!! =)

[BIZ 5]

My file finally got approved today 10/02/13 after 10 and half month and with bunch of help from congressman. now NVC !!!!! =)

Nice, congrats!!!

[anuspras 65]

Congratas!!!!!!!