Well, I did it...

[briccasart 0]

Effective March 7, 2007, US Embassy Dublin is instructing USC-Irish residents to file I-130s with USCIS London. The very same day, I posted off my packet following strict adherence to the USCIS London checklist as I don't want to risk an RFE. It should have arrived in London yesterday or will arrive this coming Monday at the latest.

USCIS London has not updated their website. It's very confusing because if one goes based only on London's website, it's as if they are accepting only applications from USCs who are long-term residents in the UK. So you have to check your local US embassy to get the real story if you know that your country is under USCIS London's jurisdiction.

One big difference now is that USC-Irish residents must enclose a photocopy of their "leave to remain" stamp that would have been stamped in their passports with Ireland's Department of Justice authority. This is usually done by the immigration section of each city/town's local police station.

This is a big difference because even though US Embassy Dublin has always required applicants to have lived in Ireland for a minimum of six months before applying, it was never a requirement that you had to be a resident here. As in, you could just have been here for six months or more on a visitor status/visa. Now they want to see that stamp.

I'm aware that USCIS London is taking close to 3 months from receiving the I-130 to approving it. I just hope that they have a special section assigned who will only handle petitions from non-UK applicants (from countries that fall under USCIS London's jurisdiction). If this is the case, perhaps there won't be too many of us in this situation and our cases will be processed faster and sent back quickly to our respective local embassies.

One of the requirements was to include a self-addressed envelope. I can only assume that further instructions will be enclosed in this envelope as far as getting police clearances and stuff. While the petitioner and beneficiary are gathering all the secondary paperwork, the US Embassy in Dublin will be holding on to the approved I-130 until such time that they hear from the applicants that they're ready to proceed to the next step. This is only my speculation so don't quote me on it.

There was an option to pay the $190 filing fee with a credit card. I've my fingers, eyes and legs crossed that I will see a charge for that amount by next Friday when I do my online banking.

I will post on this same thread with any updates in the hopes that it will be of benefit to others in the same boat or who are thinking of doing the same.

Good luck to everyone.

******************************************************************

VISA JOURNEY

February 7, 2003 - got married in California

March 17, 2003 (Paddy's Day) - arrived in Ireland

March 18, 2003 - got permission to remain stamp in my passport

March 7, 2007 - posted I-130 to USCIS London

[briccasart 0]

I can breathe a little. I got an e-mail from USCIS London today:

"The Petition(s) for Alien Relative (Form I-130) that you recently submitted was/were filed with this office on March 14, 2007.

Processing time for I-130 petitions:

Petitions are adjudicated in the order in which they are received. There is no receipt number assigned to each petition; however, you can check on the below web site as to what date we are currently processing petitions.

To check what date we are currently processing I-130 petitions, go to: <http://london.usembassy.gov/dhs/uscis/i130filing.html>.

We ask that you please refrain from contacting us for status checks while your petition is pending. Your cooperation will help ensure that we maintain our exceptional processing times.

Filing your I-130 petition is only the first part of a two-part process. If your petition is approved by this office, it will be transferred to the Immigrant Visa Unit at the London Embassy (unless you have specified otherwise). The Immigrant Visa Unit will process the beneficiary for an immigrant visa."

*****

I'm thinking that phrase of "(unless you have specified otherwise)" was added only recently for the benefit of non-UK filers. The US Embassy in Dublin said that approved I-130 petitions will be sent back to them by USCIS London and all steps after that will be handled by the visa unit in Dublin.

I also checked online the credit card I used to pay the $190 filing fee and there is a pending authorization there for that amount.

I've everything crossed for a quick turnaround.

******************************************************************

VISA JOURNEY

February 7, 2003 - got married in California

March 17, 2003 (Paddy's Day) - arrived in Ireland

March 18, 2003 - got permission to remain stamp in my passport

March 7, 2007 - posted I-130 to USCIS London

March 14, 2007 - touched (e-mail from USCIS London), credit card showing pending authorization for $190 filing fee

[briccasart 0]

I also mailed out the request for a police clearance certificate for my husband today (after being advised by a fellow poster that they are valid for 1 year). It has a processing time of 3-4 weeks by the police.

I hope to get the police cert and notice of I-130 approval at around the same time so I can proceed to the next step as soon as possible.

[Rob and Melinda 0]

Congratulaions and best wishes for the rest of the process. Praying for you both that you can be together soon here in the US and begin the rest of your lives.

Rob and Melinda