Filed I-130. How do I find out our case number? Also, agent and fees.

[Laleh 2]

I am a US citizen and recently submitted the I-130 for my husband. I'm looking ahead to find out what to do next, and a lot of websites mention using your case number to find out whether or not your petition has been accepted. How do I find out my case number?

Also, what are the pros and cons of choosing someone else to be your agent?

Also, we have to pay some fees:

• Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee
• Affidavit of Support Fee

On the website, it says: You should pay these fees online at the Immigrant Visa Invoice Payment Center. You will need a bank routing number and a checking or savings account number from a U.S. bank. The image below shows the routing number, account number, and check number on a personal check. The order of these numbers may differ on your check and may include some special symbols different from those shown. You can contact your financial institution for specific details.

Is this really the only way to pay? Are there no other options for people with foreign bank accounts?

Sorry for the multiple questions, and thanks in advance.

[sanil1986 26]

you said you have recently filed

did you get I797 form from uscis ? that is NOA 1 it will have your case number
based on the service center that you application is forwarded to , it can take 3-4 months to accept you application after which it goes to the NVC

as far as i know yes both fees has to be through a US bank ( that happens at the NVC stage )

the choice of agent( DS-261) basically establishes the lines of communication that NVC can use to get in touch with you.An “agent” is a person who will be corresponding with NVC on your behalf. You are not required to have an agent, you can be your own agent. Some couples opt to have the petitioner (US citizen spouse) as the agent since it will be much easier for them to call up NVC or to receive mail or to check e-mails

[Laleh 2]

you said you have recently filed

did you get I797 form from uscis ? that is NOA 1 it will have your case number

based on the service center that you application is forwarded to , it can take 3-4 months to accept you application after which it goes to the NVC

as far as i know yes both fees has to be through a US bank ( that happens at the NVC stage )

the choice of agent( DS-261) basically establishes the lines of communication that NVC can use to get in touch with you.An “agent” is a person who will be corresponding with NVC on your behalf. You are not required to have an agent, you can be your own agent. Some couples opt to have the petitioner (US citizen spouse) as the agent since it will be much easier for them to call up NVC or to receive mail or to check e-mails

I'm sorry; I don't know what NOA is or I797. Does that come later? We sent it to the Chicago lockbox since we're overseas.

Thanks for letting me know about the fees. I feel bad that my parents are the ones that have to keep paying, but I guess we will just pay them back later.

Would most correspondence be by email? Then it's no problem for me to just be the agent.

[sanil1986 26]

once you sent in the application , you get an acceptance letter which is I-797 ( its also called notice of action 1 or NOA 1 ) . it would just say that your application has been received it is now being forwarded to one of the service centers
it usually comes within 2 weeks since you packet was delivered

after 3-4 months you will get NOA 2 that means you case has been approved and it would go to NVC ( national visa center )
what happens after that is here http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process

i want to say that most of the things will be by email but i am not sure since you are filing from overseas

[Laleh 2]

once you sent in the application , you get an acceptance letter which is I-797 ( its also called notice of action 1 or NOA 1 ) . it would just say that your application has been received it is now being forwarded to one of the service centers

it usually comes within 2 weeks since you packet was delivered

after 3-4 months you will get NOA 2 that means you case has been approved and it would go to NVC ( national visa center )

what happens after that is here http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process

i want to say that most of the things will be by email but i am not sure since you are filing from overseas

Oh, I see. Thanks! Another friend who is in Egypt said most of her correspondence has been online. Aside from all the documents sent at the beginning, of course.

Thanks for the website; it looks more detailed than the other ones I was looking at!

[NikLR 13,227]

Here's a concise overview of how the process works. http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/EZGuideSpouse

Did you send the G-1145? Do you have a reliable mail where you are? http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=228470

[Laleh 2]

Here's a concise overview of how the process works. http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/EZGuideSpouse

Did you send the G-1145? Do you have a reliable mail where you are? http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=228470

Hmm, how come I never heard of the G-1145? That would have made things more convenient! None of the websites I visited mentioned it.

I think I filled in my timeline; not sure why it's not showing up.

[NikLR 13,227]

We mention it on here in the guide for IR1/CR1.