I-130 (CR-1) process immigration for married (wife)

[humamandrifa 7]

Hi, I am new to this forum and would like some input from anyone that has experience. I am a US citizen filing an I-130 (CR-1 spouse) for my wife who currently resides at Indonesia now.

I live in Los Angeles, and I was wondering if the LA times are slower than other states due to population? I had other friends from NC who got their CR-1 approved more quickly than mines. I am waiting for NOA2 and I received NOA1 on December 6th 2016 which is my priority date. I wanted to know if anyone has an experience from this or is currently waiting as well. My case is at the Nebraska Center. I wonder if the USCIS Service Processing time is really accurate on the website or if anyone knows the actual processing time range from Nebraska Service Center. I also wonder if USCIS puts cases randomly throughout the different Service Centers? Thanks in regards

 

 

Edited May 2, 2017 by humamandrifa

[SabRob 154]

Processing times for each case vary depending on which office is handling your case (Nebraska is one of the slowest from what people have been reporting on VisaJourney) and which country your spouse is from. Some countries get approved quicker than others...To be honest all you can do is wait and if you get past the 6 month mark and still haven't received a response try filing for an inquiry with USCIS. 

[Auds 223]

Its about normal time - most of us in recent times have take 5.5 to 8 months for NoA2 from Nebraska, nothing to do with where you live.  Luck of draw maybe or otherwise - but most cases do go to Nebraska and Nebraska is slow....

 

The word Nebraska has gone into my head as a swear word!

[humamandrifa 7]

3 minutes ago, SabRob said:

Processing times for each case vary depending on which office is handling your case (Nebraska is one of the slowest from what people have been reporting on VisaJourney) and which country your spouse is from. Some countries get approved quicker than others...To be honest all you can do is wait and if you get past the 6 month mark and still haven't received a response try filing for an inquiry with USCIS. 

Congratulations on your NOA2 from Nebraska! I cant wait for mines. If i can ask you how did your case get transferred to another state processing center? Is it just random or a special request? I was curious because I tried asking USCIS and they say I cant do that. Thanks for your post! im on my 5th month waiting for I-130 status

[Auds 223]

2 minutes ago, humamandrifa said:

Congratulations on your NOA2 from Nebraska! I cant wait for mines. If i can ask you how did your case get transferred to another state processing center? Is it just random or a special request? I was curious because I tried asking USCIS and they say I cant do that. Thanks for your post! im on my 5th month waiting for I-130 status

You cannot transfer...

 

hopefully in another 4-6 weeks yours will come through.  Once we completed 6 months we started following up like crazy and send plea emails - I really think it helped.

[SabRob 154]

Just now, humamandrifa said:

Congratulations on your NOA2 from Nebraska! I cant wait for mines. If i can ask you how did your case get transferred to another state processing center? Is it just random or a special request? I was curious because I tried asking USCIS and they say I cant do that. Thanks for your post! im on my 5th month waiting for I-130 status

Thanks! My case was originally at Nebraska (they get sent out randomly, you can't choose which service center handles your case) and it got transferred to Texas Service Center in March. We didn't ask for it, just received a Notice of Transfer in the mail telling us our case has been transferred to speed up the process. I'm guessing Nebraska had more cases than it could handle because they transferred a lot of them to Texas and Potomac back in February/March. Good luck, I hope you hear from them soon!

[humamandrifa 7]

6 minutes ago, Auds said:

Its about normal time - most of us in recent times have take 5.5 to 8 months for NoA2 from Nebraska, nothing to do with where you live.  Luck of draw maybe or otherwise - but most cases do go to Nebraska and Nebraska is slow....

 

The word Nebraska has gone into my head as a swear word!

Wow! i noticed that, im seeing visajourney has a different processing time compared to USCIS. do some members here just go by whatever is on the USCIS processing times or it gets update here on visajourney? i know it could get approved sooner or later but im desperately waiting and refreshing my case tracker every day. I used rapidvisa.com agency to process my case sent to USCIS and they were very helpful. i wonder if anyone here used the same or has used a lawyer? just the USCIS side is the frustrating wait!

[Auds 223]

Just now, humamandrifa said:

Wow! i noticed that, im seeing visajourney has a different processing time compared to USCIS. do some members here just go by whatever is on the USCIS processing times or it gets update here on visajourney? i know it could get approved sooner or later but im desperately waiting and refreshing my case tracker every day. I used rapidvisa.com agency to process my case sent to USCIS and they were very helpful. i wonder if anyone here used the same or has used a lawyer? just the USCIS side is the frustrating wait!

NVC was supposed to be fast and how excited I was.... ended up another two months between reaching NVC, paying fees and then submitting documents and 3 months for CC that too if one is lucky... if not RFE!

 

Most of us on here are doing it ourselves.

[Stephanie1487 0]

I am waiting for NOA2. It was suppoused to arrive april4th. The post office returned my letter to USCIS I guess because we changed the address... now they say it has to arrive before May 5. My case is in Nebraska too, i am the beneficiary my husband is an american citizen. I am waiting for all this process to go with my husband, my daughter just obteined the nationality and her passport. Hope I can get the approval soon

[humamandrifa 7]

54 minutes ago, Stephanie1487 said:

I am waiting for NOA2. It was suppoused to arrive april4th. The post office returned my letter to USCIS I guess because we changed the address... now they say it has to arrive before May 5. My case is in Nebraska too, i am the beneficiary my husband is an american citizen. I am waiting for all this process to go with my husband, my daughter just obteined the nationality and her passport. Hope I can get the approval soon

May I ask when your Priority date is? Yes mine is suppose to be May 5-6th also but im hoping it will be soon. Everytime i call USCIS they always say it depends on the case and who is handling it and which service center etc, it got me confused as im desperately waiting. Congrats on your daughter! i know how it feels to be distance and i hope the best for our cases in Nebraska!

[humamandrifa 7]

1 hour ago, SabRob said:

Thanks! My case was originally at Nebraska (they get sent out randomly, you can't choose which service center handles your case) and it got transferred to Texas Service Center in March. We didn't ask for it, just received a Notice of Transfer in the mail telling us our case has been transferred to speed up the process. I'm guessing Nebraska had more cases than it could handle because they transferred a lot of them to Texas and Potomac back in February/March. Good luck, I hope you hear from them soon!

Thank you so much! im glad to hear you say some cases in NSC got transferred to other states at least make our cases in Nebraska more room. im not sure how USCIS goes but they keep telling me it depends on every service center. Thanks again hopefully il keep it posted on my timeline here. Thank you for sharing yours!, it helps alot to breathe instead of desperately waiting I-130 decision. 

[humamandrifa 7]

1 hour ago, Auds said:

You cannot transfer...

 

hopefully in another 4-6 weeks yours will come through.  Once we completed 6 months we started following up like crazy and send plea emails - I really think it helped.

Did you follow up on calling and email to the USCIS and approx how long did it take? i cant wait until mines goes thru! I call them at least once a week for my case. 

[Stephanie1487 0]

My priority date is Nov 14th. thank you   we are almost in the same dates. Always positive

[April Mora 91]

21 hours ago, humamandrifa said:

Wow! i noticed that, im seeing visajourney has a different processing time compared to USCIS. do some members here just go by whatever is on the USCIS processing times or it gets update here on visajourney? i know it could get approved sooner or later but im desperately waiting and refreshing my case tracker every day. I used rapidvisa.com agency to process my case sent to USCIS and they were very helpful. i wonder if anyone here used the same or has used a lawyer? just the USCIS side is the frustrating wait!

I also used rapid visa, they were very helpful with the initial processing. What you could do for now is prepare for the NVC stage.

[April Mora 91]

I'm going to share with you what Rapid visa sent me when I told them my NOA2 had arrived:

 

"For now, while waiting for the instruction from the National Visa Center, what you need to do is to prepare your Affidavit of Support which will be the form I-864 and all the Supporting Documents.  The NVC will also send you an email for the DS-261, agent selection  and an invoice for the Affidavit of Support and the Immigration Processing Fee.

 

For you to do affidavit of support, all you need to do is to log in to your RapidVisa account and go to "My Petition" and you'll see there prepare Affidavit of Support.  Once it reaches 100% overall progress, print the I-864 form and sign the page 9, item 6.a where it says Sponsor’s Signature and 6.b date of signature.

 

*What to mail for Affidavit of support:

 

1. The cover sheet provided through the Email of the NVC.

2. Your I-864 Affidavit of Support, you can get from your RapidVisa account, just go to "My Petition”. Make sure to print, sign and date it.

3. Copy of your MOST RECENT TAX RETURN WHICH IS 2016. You can also include copies of your 2014 and 2015 TAX RETURN if you want.

4. 5-6 of your MOST RECENT PAY STUBS

5. COPY OF YOUR W2's for each year.

6. Letter from your Employer (stating your position held, salary rate, if permanent or temporary)

7. You can also include copies of your bank account statements (esp if you are self-employed)

 

*What to mail for the Immigrant Visa.  Just send copies of the following documents applicable to the beneficiary.

 

1. Alien's Birth Certificate

2. Court and Prison Records, if any

3. Deportation Documentation, if any

4. Marriage Certificate

5. Divorce Decree of your wife, if any

6. Military Records, if any

7. Photocopy of Valid Passport Biographic Data Page of Alien Spouse

8. Police Certificate for all applicants 16 years old or older

9. Adoption Documentation if any

 

You can send in one envelope all of your documents for the Affidavit of support and Immigrant Visa application.  The address on where to send it will be included in the Instruction that the NVC will send you."

 

The NVC will also give you a checklist in their welcome letter.