US hubby filed I-130 for my Canadian children

[thegordons2009 1]

Hello all.... well I just received my 10 year green card and we finally filed to have my kids join us. Filed I-130 for my 2 kids. Just checked uscis website, and April 19, 2013 shows approved.

Now, what exactly happens next?

Thanks

[Ms Hogan 295]

It is going to be similar to what you went through for your application with some changes to the process of course over the past couple years. You can call NVC or you can wait for them to send you items but you should have everything prepared to submit as you'll be doing it all electronically. Do you have all of your documents in order? Who actually petitioned? You or your spouse? How old are the children? Is the USC the other biological parent or do you need to collect your court documents showing you have custody and permission to move with them?

Asking "what's next" could mean any number of things depending on how prepared you already are or aren't for the next stage.

Read up on the following from Saylin which is Canada-specific http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_for_Montreal_Beneficiaries_%E2%80%93_Electronic_Processing_and_New_Online_Forms

[thegordons2009 1]

My husband who is the USC is the petitioner. My kids are 8 and 6. My husband is NOT the biological parent. When I filed the I-130 i included the divorce decree and the documents showing their biological father has physical custody of them. We did not have an actual court ordered custody arrangement - we are very civil and the kids choose with whom they want to be with. So I am assuming I will need some document from their father showing he is giving me permission to have the kids? I remember the steps I took, and your stating I will have to do the exact same for them?

[thegordons2009 1]

ALSO.......do my kids really need police certificates ?

[NikLR 13,232]

No they don't. You will need either custody papers or a notarized letter from their father stating it is okay for them to move or both. There are a few parents lately who have gone through this (mshogan and hikergirl come to mind). You'll need copies of their birth certificates and of your marriage certificate for each child. They do not need a G-325a.

Oh mshogan is here! Lol. Hi!

[thegordons2009 1]

Thank you. I thought a police cert wouldn't be necessary for kids under 16. I don't even have passports for them...wow. so that will be first thing on my list of must do's. I just requested the tax transcripts for hubby and I...anything else that atone can suggest that I may need or should start doing? Also...I was just thinking I should file for child support at some point. Any inside info on that? Dad lives in Ontario and I'm in PA.

[NikLR 13,232]

Were you paying child support while they were living with their father? He can ask for back payment if you weren't or may it cancel each other out for a period of time. I'm unsure if you would have to go through the Canadian court system for this but I suspect you would. You also may want to think about how this affects the "civil" nature of the relationship, and maybe an unofficial agreement would be better than a court declared one.

Your children will need passports ASAP. Their father can fill out and do all the paperwork for that or you can go back to Canada and visit to do it. My daughter needed both of our signatures to get her passport but I suspect if one parent isn't in the country that isn't needed. If you go to passport office you can have it expedited for a fee. I suggest doing so as the DS-260 requires the passport number. They will need photos for both the passports and for the visa process so I think you may want to get them all done at the same time. Remember that the US passport type is different than the Canadian one.

Also if they are going to be visiting their father often you may want to look into getting a NEXUS card for them. I am in the process of getting one for myself and for my daughter so that she isn't going to be waiting in line at a customs counter forever. As she'll eventually be traveling on her own, I want the process to be as quick as possible. It's bad enough she'll have to land at DIA.

You have a little bit of time until the I-130 packages reach the NVC and then a few more until the DS-261and optin emails are approved. But it seems to go quickly for children so you might want to gets the move on LOL

BTW I love your avatar picture.

Edited April 21, 2013 by NikiR

[thegordons2009 1]

Thank you for the great information. It seems so long ago that I did mine...but you are right, time flies.

[Ms Hogan 295]

You will need the long form birth certificates for each child in order to get your passports done.

You need the passports in order to submit the scanned bio page to NVC.

So I'd say your first steps are BC and passports.

You will need a signature from both parents in order to get the passports. I have sole custody but still needed to get a signature from my ex-husband on the passport and provide my court documents including divorce certificate and custody paperwork. This was just to get the passports done.

When you get the passport pictures done for the kids get them to do the 2 you need for Canada and then the ones you need for NVC, medical and interview. The Canadian size and setup is different than the U.S. ones so make sure the photographer knows that.

You will need ORIGINAL copies of your court documents regarding your divorce and custody. If you don't have them now, you're probably going to need to make a trip to Ontario or to send someone on your behalf to the courthouse that handled your divorce. Where did you live when in Ontario? Don't share if you're not comfortable doing so but if you can share it some of us might be local and able to help more.

These are some starting points. You have a lot of documentation to collect so best to get started. Please post any questions you have here. I have just completed the process with a 4 and 7 year old so it is pretty fresh in my mind and I had no glitches other than an RFE due to an adjudicator who was too lazy to properly read a piece of paper You can see by my timeline that we flew through the process so without trying to sound cocky... I think I have some decent support to offer. I'm here to help however I can and so are the other members here!

[thegordons2009 1]

Well I sent the passport paperwork yesterday. I only had copies of the divorce order and divorce certificate. I lived in Mississauga at the time of divorce. I guess that wont fly

I received the approved I130 document for both kids. I have been reveiwing the I 864 paperwork. My husband makes enough money so I don't need to fill out the form.

Mshogan. I see u flew through this wow.

For interview will it be Montreal? Or is it local for me which is Pittsburgh?

[NikLR 13,232]

Montreal. Children are in Canada and you're doing consular processing not adjustment of status.

[thegordons2009 1]

I appreciate everyone answering my questions, thank you.

What are your thoughts on having the medical done in the usa?

[hikergirl 277]

You must have the medicals done at one of the approved Panel Physicians in Canada.

I would have loved to hop down to Montana for a day to get my physical done there, but it’s not an option unfortunately.

[thegordons2009 1]

thanks hikergirl....Canada is so damn expensive.

I did my medical in montreal 2 days prior to interview. does anyone know what timeframe medical must be completed in. im trying to get things done asap and if allowed do medicals sooner than later...anyone know?

I paid $260.00 in 2010 im hoping it hasnt oncreased much. I know the i130 was $355 (2009)and this year it is $420 ouch.

[NikLR 13,232]

thanks hikergirl....Canada is so damn expensive.

I did my medical in montreal 2 days prior to interview. does anyone know what timeframe medical must be completed in. im trying to get things done asap and if allowed do medicals sooner than later...anyone know?

I paid $260.00 in 2010 im hoping it hasnt oncreased much. I know the i130 was $355 (2009)and this year it is $420 ouch.

I recently made a post on the panel physicians. You could call to see time frames and prices. You won't be able to book their medical until they have an interview date most likely. The cost of the DS-260 went down since you did it I think ($230 each) and there is only one $88 AOS fee. But the children will have new immigrant visa fees of $165 each. It's the cost to produce the green card.