NOA1 to NOA 2 in a month?

[qm3tam 0]

I am filing an I-130 for my wife. I'm US citizen, my wife is Chinese citizen, we're both living in Hong Kong (she is not a Hong Kong Permanent resident).

From reading the forum, I understand my NOA1 was 12/21/12 and my NOA2 was today, 1/30/13. Is that correct? It seems rather fast and I'm thinking it's a mistake since it seems it typically takes 3-6 months?

Does the fact that I was prior military explain this, though I never mentioned it and from the forums, I don't think it helps. I have copied the below in case I misinterpreted the emails.

Also, I never received the official Receipt Notice in the mail that they said they were sending me, I just get their email updates. I think I need to give them a call since it's over a month since the Receipt Notice was sent out?

Any help greatly appreciated, thanks!

Wayne

Received this today 1/30/12:

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

Your Case Status: Decision

On January 29, 2013, your I130, IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN was approved. You will be notified of the decision by mail. Please check our website at ... for further updates on your case, including when the approval notice is mailed. If you do not receive the approval notice within 30 days, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for further assistance.

During this step the formal decision (approved/denied) is written and the decision notice is mailed and/or emailed to the applicant/petitioner. You can use our current processing time to gauge when you can expect to receive a final decision.

And on 12/21/12, got this:

Your case has been accepted and routed to the USCIS National Benefits Center for processing. Within 7-10 days by standard mail you will receive your official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) with your Receipt Number MSCXXXXXXXXXX. With the official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) you may visit ... where you can check the status of your case using My Case Status. We suggest you wait until you have received your Form I-797 before checking My Case Status.

[The Mean Lady 604]

filing abroad typically moves fast like that.

lucky.

[TatTot 7]

Congratulations lucky one :dance:

[Boggy1974 124]

I am filing an I-130 for my wife. I'm US citizen, my wife is Chinese citizen, we're both living in Hong Kong (she is not a Hong Kong Permanent resident).

From reading the forum, I understand my NOA1 was 12/21/12 and my NOA2 was today, 1/30/13. Is that correct? It seems rather fast and I'm thinking it's a mistake since it seems it typically takes 3-6 months?

Does the fact that I was prior military explain this, though I never mentioned it and from the forums, I don't think it helps. I have copied the below in case I misinterpreted the emails.

Also, I never received the official Receipt Notice in the mail that they said they were sending me, I just get their email updates. I think I need to give them a call since it's over a month since the Receipt Notice was sent out?

Any help greatly appreciated, thanks!

Wayne

Received this today 1/30/12:

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

Your Case Status: Decision

On January 29, 2013, your I130, IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN was approved. You will be notified of the decision by mail. Please check our website at ... for further updates on your case, including when the approval notice is mailed. If you do not receive the approval notice within 30 days, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for further assistance.

During this step the formal decision (approved/denied) is written and the decision notice is mailed and/or emailed to the applicant/petitioner. You can use our current processing time to gauge when you can expect to receive a final decision.

And on 12/21/12, got this:

Your case has been accepted and routed to the USCIS National Benefits Center for processing. Within 7-10 days by standard mail you will receive your official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) with your Receipt Number MSCXXXXXXXXXX. With the official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) you may visit ... where you can check the status of your case using My Case Status. We suggest you wait until you have received your Form I-797 before checking My Case Status.

Maybe you're one of those lucky few! ConGraTuLaTions! :dance: :dance:

[Sangita 4]

That is really fast! It could be because you were in the military before. Even though you didn't mention it, perhaps they found it while doing your background check. I filed abroad too and it took 4 months. I highly doubt it has anything to do with filing from abroad as for my example and lots of other people who still are waiting that filed abroad . I've seen cases get approved in a month so you're one of those lucky ones =). With that said, congrats for the speedy approval. You're ready to come over to NVC thread. Everything should be quick one you start the NVC process. Best of luck!!

[NikLR 13,227]

I doubt it's because you're prior military. It's most likely because you're both filing from abroad and the petition went to and was approved by the NBC OR because you filed DCF with the embassy in Japan. If they think the US petitioner is in the USA it seems to get sent to local offices still.

The reason I say I doubt prior military is because my husband is prior military AND currently works for the government. Literally the department of Transportation (FAA) You were lucky. Take it and run. Congrats!

[Roosha 51]

Congrats! I also got a super fast NOA2, 37 days. But I'm not military and I don't have any ties to military but I filed from abroad. Both my husband and I live in Qatar and I also wrote "FILED FROM ABROAD" in huge letters all over the file that I sent to make sure they understood that. Head on over to the NVC thread if you're not filing DCF and start getting ready!

[lierre 224]

Wow, that is just awesome! i hope we get to have that, too. We're both living abroad together in Japan. Sadly, Japan doesn't have DCF as an option anymore.

Prepare for the NVC stage! Congratulations!

Edited January 30, 2013 by ivyanddan

[Ryan H 3,812]

I doubt it's because you're prior military. It's most likely because you're both filing from abroad and the petition went to and was approved by the NBC OR because you filed DCF with the embassy in Japan. If they think the US petitioner is in the USA it seems to get sent to local offices still.

The reason I say I doubt prior military is because my husband is prior military AND currently works for the government. Literally the department of Transportation (FAA) You were lucky. Take it and run. Congrats!

The section of your post that I lined out is incorrect for these reasons:

A) DCF is not available in Japan

B) the OP and his spouse are not living in Japan, they live in Hong Kong which is a special Administrative Region of China

C) DCF is not available through the US Consulate in Hong Kong

[qm3tam 0]

Did not know that some 'lucky ones' could be approved so fast! Have to get a move on next stage...

I wanted to do DCF in Hong Kong but they stopped that so I just followed the instructions and sent to the Chicago lockbox.

From other forums, the military thing is still a mystery, some people say it helps, some say it doesn't. I use to have a secret clearance which required a background check so maybe having had a background check sped things up. Or it could depend subjectively on the caseworker giving preferences, who knows.

Thanks all!

Wayne

[TBoneTX 45,309]

*** Thread shifted from CR-1 Process forum to the Case Progress subforum. ***

[ndu26 114]

LOL congrats . I am trying to imagine you make that phone call " hello I am calling to let you know you approved us too fast".

Just enjoy it and start the next stage

[NikLR 13,227]

Sounds like they're weeding out dcf just about everywhere? I really haven't payed attention to which countries have it anymore, I just know that Canada for sure does not. Thanks for clarifying RyanH.

[Darnell 8,478]

i think you got lucky, in one aspect -

the human reading your casefile twigged to the fact that you filed from abroad.

being prior military has no bearing, alas.

Congrats on the approval !

[Sirdaniel42 86]

Congratulations