Filling I-130 within Turkey

[PurplePassion 1]

I have been living with my spouse in turkey for past 2 years. We are looking forward into apply for green card. There are some questions I have in going through this process. Before I write them, I want to tell you things that I have already done.

I did call us embassy, I did look on the website, I did email the embassy and uscis for my questions, but no one seemed to help me.

Now, When applying for the I-130 form, I know my spouse and I have to send it to chicago lock box from turkey. I know we have to send money order because I do not have a bank account in usa. What banks in turkey follows by the rules in sending money order to chicago lockbox? I do not have anyone in USA who can help me with this issue, none I can trust that is.

Also, How long after should I recieve an email confirming they recieved our application, 420$ transfered from lira isnt a joking matter. I want to know if there is a way I know where my mail is at all times?

Lastly, How long does it take the first application to process through? I believed I read somewhere it takes 5 months? Im not in a rush, just wanted estimated time limit.

Another note, Im looking for a state to live in when we head back to the states. Any good advice? Im thinking A big area, but safe. Many opportunities, but still able to own our own home with a yard perhaps. Anyone know anything how Illinoise is?

thanks guys in advance, sorry if my post seems really straight foward, Been trying to find answers and been getting no response.

Have a lovely day

[dwheels76 5,468]

I have been living with my spouse in turkey for past 2 years. We are looking forward into apply for green card. There are some questions I have in going through this process. Before I write them, I want to tell you things that I have already done.

I did call us embassy, I did look on the website, I did email the embassy and uscis for my questions, but no one seemed to help me.

Now, When applying for the I-130 form, I know my spouse and I have to send it to chicago lock box from turkey. I know we have to send money order because I do not have a bank account in usa. What banks in turkey follows by the rules in sending money order to chicago lockbox? I do not have anyone in USA who can help me with this issue, none I can trust that is.

Also, How long after should I recieve an email confirming they recieved our application, 420$ transfered from lira isnt a joking matter. I want to know if there is a way I know where my mail is at all times?

Lastly, How long does it take the first application to process through? I believed I read somewhere it takes 5 months? Im not in a rush, just wanted estimated time limit.

Another note, Im looking for a state to live in when we head back to the states. Any good advice? Im thinking A big area, but safe. Many opportunities, but still able to own our own home with a yard perhaps. Anyone know anything how Illinoise is?

thanks guys in advance, sorry if my post seems really straight foward, Been trying to find answers and been getting no response.

Have a lovely day

Money order has to be drawn from a US entity. Do you have Western Union there?

usually within 30 days you should get your hardcopy receipt# and letter. Since you are overseas may take longer.

When mailing be sure you have a trackable # so you know when it was received. Also don't forget your G1145 so you can get email and text also.

It's taking 5 to 10 months to get through USCIS. You may go faster MAYBE because you are a petitioner filing from abroad. No guarantee there.

Also I would be reading up on the NVC Process Wiki here. After USCIS NVC is a 4 month or longer ordeal. But may be better when you get there.

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process

Where to live I can't help you but to say Texas is great hot all year lots of jobs nice people.

[PurplePassion 1]

Money order has to be drawn from a US entity. Do you have Western Union there?

usually within 30 days you should get your hardcopy receipt# and letter. Since you are overseas may take longer.

When mailing be sure you have a trackable # so you know when it was received. Also don't forget your G1145 so you can get email and text also.

It's taking 5 to 10 months to get through USCIS. You may go faster MAYBE because you are a petitioner filing from abroad. No guarantee there.

Also I would be reading up on the NVC Process Wiki here. After USCIS NVC is a 4 month or longer ordeal. But may be better when you get there.

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process

Where to live I can't help you but to say Texas is great hot all year lots of jobs nice people.

Thanks, Ill do some digging on it. I have seen western union set up in banks here, but I did not think western union was an option for paying. If I was in the states this would be alot easier, I know where everything is and how to work with everything there but here, thingss are more complex. My spouse knows nothing about money order or WU, bc never had to use. Ill check out the link in the morning.

Texas was our first choice, Its More like an area im from, only thing is the heat ....

Edited September 29, 2014 by PurplePassion

[dwheels76 5,468]

Thanks, Ill do some digging on it. I have seen western union set up in banks here, but I did not think western union was an option for paying. If I was in the states this would be alot easier, I know where everything is and how to work with everything there but here, thingss are more complex. My spouse knows nothing about money order or WU, bc never had to use. Ill check out the link in the morning.

Texas was our first choice, Its More like an area im from, only thing is the heat ....

Western Union issues money orders.

Yes Lord the heat. I am in Houston. It's been nice in the 80's the humidity not around. But its Houston we can have a heat wave any minute.

[mky77 1]

Good luck to you. My husband is in Ankara and I am here in US. I am from Florida. There are money order type places in Turkey. Western Union is one of them. I am not sure if PTT also has a money order service.

I wish you luck. I know that there is not Direct Consular Filing in Turkey because I looked into it....That would make things move quicker.

To give you an idea...we filed the I-130 with Notice of Acceptance on May 13, 2014. I have heard nothing yet. Uhhh. It stinks.

And I am in a hurry because I miss my husband. I have been back in the US for 4 weeks now and it is torture.

As far as where to live...think about Florida...haha. Actually it is too humid here. Chicago is nice and some states like Maryland and Virginia. My husband and I are relocating to North Carolina. AS soon as he gets here.

I am getting prepared in advance for the Affidavit of Support and IV packets. Lots of financial and tax information needed and I had to get my mom to joint sponser my husband because I left my job in March 2014. Too much traveling back and forth between US and Turkey.

Good luck!!!

[PurplePassion 1]

Good luck to you. My husband is in Ankara and I am here in US. I am from Florida. There are money order type places in Turkey. Western Union is one of them. I am not sure if PTT also has a money order service.

I wish you luck. I know that there is not Direct Consular Filing in Turkey because I looked into it....That would make things move quicker.

To give you an idea...we filed the I-130 with Notice of Acceptance on May 13, 2014. I have heard nothing yet. Uhhh. It stinks.

And I am in a hurry because I miss my husband. I have been back in the US for 4 weeks now and it is torture.

As far as where to live...think about Florida...haha. Actually it is too humid here. Chicago is nice and some states like Maryland and Virginia. My husband and I are relocating to North Carolina. AS soon as he gets here.

I am getting prepared in advance for the Affidavit of Support and IV packets. Lots of financial and tax information needed and I had to get my mom to joint sponser my husband because I left my job in March 2014. Too much traveling back and forth between US and Turkey.

Good luck!!!

yes, Leaving to usa wasnt an option but its crazy how much we have to pay just to live here. Insurance that we are forced to buy now runs to 1000 Lira not to mention the other fees. as of florida I offer that option to my spouse and it was a dissagreement on it. So still looking, but we were talking about virginia not to long ago. Im sorry to hear about your husband, I cannot imagine what you are going through. I have a sponser ready for when I head back to the states. I would also prepair for the IV pack after everything is sent.

Ptt does have money order service, but Im not sure if its dealing with us banking like the form asked for. On the first we will go check Ptt and garanti to see if they do. I think I seen somoene say they used garati before for I-130 not sure.

Have you and your spouse had to file the form for the marriage under 2 years? or is that for those who were married in the states? we got married in turkey so im not sure how that goes, we are almost at our 2 year mark

Atleast he lives in ankara though, everything is fast once its in ankara. are you traveling back to turkey or him coming to states for interview? Just so much going through with all this its crazy. Hope you hear from them soon though

[amadeus111 0]

I have been living with my spouse in turkey for past 2 years. We are looking forward into apply for green card. There are some questions I have in going through this process. Before I write them, I want to tell you things that I have already done.

I did call us embassy, I did look on the website, I did email the embassy and uscis for my questions, but no one seemed to help me.

Now, When applying for the I-130 form, I know my spouse and I have to send it to chicago lock box from turkey. I know we have to send money order because I do not have a bank account in usa. What banks in turkey follows by the rules in sending money order to chicago lockbox? I do not have anyone in USA who can help me with this issue, none I can trust that is.

Also, How long after should I recieve an email confirming they recieved our application, 420$ transfered from lira isnt a joking matter. I want to know if there is a way I know where my mail is at all times?

Lastly, How long does it take the first application to process through? I believed I read somewhere it takes 5 months? Im not in a rush, just wanted estimated time limit.

Another note, Im looking for a state to live in when we head back to the states. Any good advice? Im thinking A big area, but safe. Many opportunities, but still able to own our own home with a yard perhaps. Anyone know anything how Illinoise is?

thanks guys in advance, sorry if my post seems really straight foward, Been trying to find answers and been getting no response.

Have a lovely day

US citizens residing abroad may file fiancé or immigrant visa petitions on behalf of their fiancés or spouses through the USCIS Chicago Lockbox. For information on Fiancée visas, please click on http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Resources/A2en.pdf, for information on immigrant visas for spouses, please click on http://turkey.usembassy.gov/wn_081111.html & http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=2b2a3e70369ff210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Unit

[PurplePassion 1]

I checked most of banks and mail service here, None of them heard of a money order. I cannot find anywhere to get it done. I even asked them to try it through western union and they looked at me crazy. I have no absolute clue on how to get a money order here. Does anyone know of any american banks in turkey?

[PurplePassion 1]

New update, Just send off our i-130 finally found a money order around here using the Main postal office. PTT! WISH US LUCK (: hope its accepted asap

[NikLR 13,227]

The money order is in US funds correct?

[Yabancibride 5]

I submitted my i130 to Chicago from Turkey on 9-11-2014. On 10-1-2014 the California office approved our pettion. So two weeks, if you have all of the documents they want. I've also heard that if you have resided abroad with your spouse for more than 6 months it speeds it up (we were expecting it to take 6 months and were in disbelief the first step is done.) I still have a U.S. bank account open, but ing banks use western union, I've hear a money gram from them will work to pay the fees. Good luck!

[PurplePassion 1]

I submitted my i130 to Chicago from Turkey on 9-11-2014. On 10-1-2014 the California office approved our pettion. So two weeks, if you have all of the documents they want. I've also heard that if you have resided abroad with your spouse for more than 6 months it speeds it up (we were expecting it to take 6 months and were in disbelief the first step is done.) I still have a U.S. bank account open, but ing banks use western union, I've hear a money gram from them will work to pay the fees. Good luck!

ty so much we sent our 10/08/2014 and still havent gotten a reply yet, hopefully we will here something soon....

Yabancibride did you send it the fast way? We sent the slowest way because it was cheapest, they wanted to charge 100 Lira extra to send it faster.

Edited October 27, 2014 by PurplePassion

[Yabancibride 5]

We didn't send it by kargo either, way to expensive. We sent it by normal mail with a certification. We paid 25 lira all together. I don't think the certification speeds it up any, it just made it so someone signed for it and we received a post card back with their signature.

[PurplePassion 1]

we sent ours 3 weeks ago and havent even recieve an email. I told my spouse to put tracking number on it, but all i see is it was shipped to designated country. I sent a package also the same time to family memeber in usa. they recieved it last week. Im still wondering why I havent recieved a email from the uscis yet. I know I sent it to the correct address.

[PurplePassion 1]

I need any advice would be great.

I sent my I-130 out over 3 weeks ago, but still didnt recieve an email (1145 form) nor receipt in mail. How long does it normaly take to recieve something? I sent a different package off the same day to a family member and they recieved it over a week ago.