How much time do I have after filing I-130 to land a job?

[Groogrux108 14]

So I-130 has nothing to do with how you will support the immigrant. I plan on abandoning Brazil and my current job and arriving unemployed to the US, but I don't want to waste any time. So upon arrival I will open a bank account and rent an apartment or live with a family member, as soon as that is done I want to send out the I-130 (hopefully the week after I arrive)... anyways, looking at some of your timelines it seems that after I send out the file I will have a month or two, maybe even three before I land a job and apply for the I-864 at NVC.

Is that correct?

[anamaral 4]

Hello

So, if I understood correctly, you are the USC (petitioner), right?

If so, this is what my husband (USC) and I did: We filled the I-130 from Brazil on March 2015, which was approved on april. We were both living and working in Brazil (he worked abroad for the last 9 years: this is important because for I864 your income from other countries are not "valid" - see the "adjusted gross income" in your IRS transcript, it's the information they ask when you file the I 864. It means that, even if he got a job the day he arrived in the US, we would need a joint sponsor, because he didnt have previous US income above the poverty line). On May, he moved to the US and stayed at his parents house while looking for a job, meanwile we were gattering documents to send to NVC (while the case was sent from USCIS to NVC, basically). When we sent the I864 for NVC (June, I believe), he sent the I864 as unemployed, and his parents filles I 864A as part of the household income (they were all living together). On July he got a job and moved to another state. Case was approved on NVC and I took the new I864 (with his new job), employment letter and everything to my interview and his father filled another I 864 as the joint sponsor (remember, my husband's past 9 years income was from outside the US, so it meant nothing here).

Another important thing that I see many many people making the same mistake: Have you filled US taxes when you were living abroad? Because even though you may not have to pay taxes (if you are already paying in the country you live in, or if you don't qualify) you must file US taxes.

So, answering your question: No, I 130 has nothing to do with supporting the imigrante, you can send it now, from Brazil and start your journey! The sooner you start, the sooner you will get your pouse in the US! The financial documento are only at NVC stage, a few (or many) months from when you send the I-130!

I know this is very confusing, it took us a while to figure out everything. Ask if you have any doubts, I may not have made myself clear. Chek our timeline, to clarify the dates.

Good luck!

[anamaral 4]

Giving my 2 cents here: so when we were in the situation you are now, deciding if it would be better to fill the I 130 form Brazil or from the US, some very nice member sent me this thread:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/357465-usc-petitioner-living-abroad/

It is believed to be a "expedite" process for USC petitioning forma abroad, unofficial, nobody knows if it is true or not but... well, our case was approved in one month, instead of the average 5 so.. I am glad somebody told me about it at that time, that's was I'm showing you now.

[Darnell 8,478]

I'll add 1.429 cents, as well.

NVC gives you up to 2 years during the NVC processing stage, as it's 1 year per thing and there are 2 things. Bear that in mind as you are doing projections and calendar math. When NVC is done, it's another 1.5 to 3 months before the actual interview,

and

on interview day, the I-864 is adjudicated. You can have new stuff added in by the beneficiary on interview day, as well.