February 2018 Filer - US Citizen - Petition Parent - I-130

[pinkhonu 5]

Let me go ahead and start this thread for the filers of February 2018.  
If you are also filing or just filed, I know we have a long year ahead of us.  But the good thing is we have already started our journey.  
I have already prepared my documents and form, already filled out and ready to be mailed out using USPS flat rate tomorrow, Feb 12th. -- well technically already today.

It did take me hours to get everything done.  I'm excited but also just dreading how long the wait will be.  But I just thought it would be nice if we could wait together. 

Good luck to us!!   And hope we can bring our parents here soon!!! (or, other relative, loved ones, spouse... immediate relative... whomever you are filing for)  

 

Edited February 12, 2018 by pinkhonu
easier to read and understand

[ragex 13]

All the best. I also filed in February.

[Mzyah03 0]

Hi guys,, I’m happy to be on this forum.. I have some questions regarding the Form i-130. I’m planning to petition my mother outside U.S. and I just want to make sure that all the documents that I will file this January will be ok.. here are my questions:

 

1. Can I file form i130 online? Or just by mail? 

 

2. When I file and send it by mail do I need to put the form i130 and includes the check for payment, birth certificates, marriage certificate and supporting documents and send it all together? 

 

Thanks! Hope u guys can help me.. 

 

 

[Air_Borne 2]

On 2/12/2018 at 8:17 PM, Mzyah03 said:

Hi guys,, I’m happy to be on this forum.. I have some questions regarding the Form i-130. I’m planning to petition my mother outside U.S. and I just want to make sure that all the documents that I will file this January will be ok.. here are my questions:

 

1. Can I file form i130 online? Or just by mail? 

 

2. When I file and send it by mail do I need to put the form i130 and includes the check for payment, birth certificates, marriage certificate and supporting documents and send it all together? 

 

Thanks! Hope u guys can help me.. 

 

 

As far as i am aware I130 needs to filed by mail. Mailing address will depend on your state of residence.

 

For instructions on putting your packet together, you can refer to the uscis form filing tips provided here - https://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips

 

Good luck!

[Air_Borne 2]

On 2/12/2018 at 1:40 AM, pinkhonu said:

Let me go ahead and start this thread for the filers of February 2018.  
If you are also filing or just filed, I know we have a long year ahead of us.  But the good thing is we have already started our journey.  
I have already prepared my documents and form, already filled out and ready to be mailed out using USPS flat rate tomorrow, Feb 12th. -- well technically already today.

It did take me hours to get everything done.  I'm excited but also just dreading how long the wait will be.  But I just thought it would be nice if we could wait together. 

Good luck to us!!   And hope we can bring our parents here soon!!! (or, other relative, loved ones, spouse... immediate relative... whomever you are filing for)  

 

Thanks for creating this post. 

 

I filed I130 for both parents this month.It is definitely going to be a long wait but i am glad the initial work is out of the way for now.

 

Timeline is provided below;

 

I-130 for both parents mailed to Chicago Lockbox (For processing by Texas Service Center) - 2/14/18

Received - 2/15/18

PD - 2/15/18

[pinkhonu 5]

Hello @ragex @Mzyah03 @Air_Borne   Good luck to all of us.  It's going to be a long wait.  But it's good to see other February filers. 

 

My form just "finally" got delivered by USPS.  I paid for the 2 day delivery.  It took them 8 days to deliver it.  I was getting nervous with all the delays and transfers from one USPS facility center to another.  Even saw that they noted there that the zipcode was wrong -- it wasn't, i think someone made a mistake when they sorted the mail.  I have a copy of my label so I was able to double check and I did in fact placed in the correct zipcode.  I felt so relieved when I saw it was delivered.  Now, I'm just anxious to see and receive a NOA letting me know that they've received it.  I keep telling myself and my mom that, we should expect more to hear in July 2018 so that we won't expect to see anything anytime soon.  

What about you guys?  What month do you think we start seeing a petition approvals for February filers?   

Edited February 22, 2018 by pinkhonu

[pinkhonu 5]

On 2/12/2018 at 8:17 PM, Mzyah03 said:

Hi guys,, I’m happy to be on this forum.. I have some questions regarding the Form i-130. I’m planning to petition my mother outside U.S. and I just want to make sure that all the documents that I will file this January will be ok.. here are my questions:

 

1. Can I file form i130 online? Or just by mail? 

 

2. When I file and send it by mail do I need to put the form i130 and includes the check for payment, birth certificates, marriage certificate and supporting documents and send it all together? 

 

Thanks! Hope u guys can help me.. 

 

 

There's a Form I-130 Instructions found on the USCIS website.   It's really informative and tells you what you will need. 
If you're planning to type your answers on the form, make sure you have the most updated adobe so that you can fill out the form with ease. 

 

Additionally, when it comes to sending your birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc. -- send copies, not the originals.

If they need the originals, they will let you know and they will request for you to send it. -- This is also mentioned (I think) at the instructions form.  

 

I hope this helps.  

[Air_Borne 2]

20 hours ago, pinkhonu said:

Hello @ragex @Mzyah03 @Air_Borne   Good luck to all of us.  It's going to be a long wait.  But it's good to see other February filers. 

 

My form just "finally" got delivered by USPS.  I paid for the 2 day delivery.  It took them 8 days to deliver it.  I was getting nervous with all the delays and transfers from one USPS facility center to another.  Even saw that they noted there that the zipcode was wrong -- it wasn't, i think someone made a mistake when they sorted the mail.  I have a copy of my label so I was able to double check and I did in fact placed in the correct zipcode.  I felt so relieved when I saw it was delivered.  Now, I'm just anxious to see and receive a NOA letting me know that they've received it.  I keep telling myself and my mom that, we should expect more to hear in July 2018 so that we won't expect to see anything anytime soon.  

What about you guys?  What month do you think we start seeing a petition approvals for February filers?   

For the Texas Service Center it seems like they are taking close to 7 months for approval. This might increase with the expected increase in I130 filings. Hence, I am expecting a 6-8 month wait.

[willcrack 42]

Good to join this thread!

 

Our three IR-5 I-130 petitions reached Phoenix today on the third day of two-day USPS priority ! Waiting for the receipt notifications.

 

The petitions are for my parents and father-on-law and none of them are in a big hurry to be here, but we agreed that we should start the process nevertheless with their advancing ages. So overall, I don't mind if USCIS takes its time but want to make sure it is done and the approval notices (curiously called NOA2 in the family immigration forums!) are in hand.

Edited February 23, 2018 by willcrack

[clairy08 0]

I am planning to send I-130 forms too for my mom but I am a lil hesitant coz her marriage contract has a typographical error. Example her lastname is Belagio in her marriage contract but her birth certificate is Belayo and that last name in her BC matches in Her passport. 

One more question. Do you need to send all these requirements or this will be to follow? Thanks for response. 

[willcrack 42]

1 hour ago, clairy08 said:

I am planning to send I-130 forms too for my mom but I am a lil hesitant coz her marriage contract has a typographical error. Example her lastname is Belagio in her marriage contract but her birth certificate is Belayo and that last name in her BC matches in Her passport. 

One more question. Do you need to send all these requirements or this will be to follow? Thanks for response. 

If you are petitioning your mother and her name in your birth certificate matches her name in her passport then you are ok. You only need to send your birth certificate and proof of your US citizenship if petitioning your mother. Her birth certificate and marriage certificate are not needed in that case.

[pinkhonu 5]

On 2/22/2018 at 11:56 PM, Air_Borne said:

For the Texas Service Center it seems like they are taking close to 7 months for approval. This might increase with the expected increase in I130 filings. Hence, I am expecting a 6-8 month wait.

 

I think this is good that we have a realistic expectation of the waiting time.   

I'm sure it will get pretty exciting once it gets closer to that time frame... So I think we are looking into hearing more around August to October.

Thank you for joining this forum. It's good to have people to wait with who are on the same boat. Thanks again! 

[pinkhonu 5]

On 2/23/2018 at 1:54 PM, willcrack said:

Good to join this thread!

 

Our three IR-5 I-130 petitions reached Phoenix today on the third day of two-day USPS priority ! Waiting for the receipt notifications.

 

The petitions are for my parents and father-on-law and none of them are in a big hurry to be here, but we agreed that we should start the process nevertheless with their advancing ages. So overall, I don't mind if USCIS takes its time but want to make sure it is done and the approval notices (curiously called NOA2 in the family immigration forums!) are in hand.

Me too!! I don't mind the waiting.  I also expect that we will be logging in more as it get closer to the date.  

Please let us know if there are any updates on your end when the time comes. 

Thanks for joining this thread. 

[pinkhonu 5]

17 hours ago, clairy08 said:

I am planning to send I-130 forms too for my mom but I am a lil hesitant coz her marriage contract has a typographical error. Example her lastname is Belagio in her marriage contract but her birth certificate is Belayo and that last name in her BC matches in Her passport. 

One more question. Do you need to send all these requirements or this will be to follow? Thanks for response. 

My mom has something similar. But she has addressed this years ago.  

The spelling of her name was misspelled as well.  She had it legally corrected.  

So now when she requests for a certified copy of her birth certificate and marriage contract/certificate, the certified copy indicates that her name has been corrected to ____ as of (date) by Judge _______ (not the exact wording but you kind of get the gist).

The name on the original birth certificate and/or marriage contract/certificate will remain the same, regardless if it's spelled correctly or not.  

But now it has the information of it being legally corrected.  

 

Have your mom get a certified copy that shows that it has been corrected.  Seeing that you're mom is in the Philippines... I think she will need to go to NSO for those documents.  I just don't know who or where she needs to go to get it corrected.

But it's best to go to NSO and check to see how she can get it corrected. 

 

Once she has had them legally correct it, then you can proceed with your petition. 

You will need the copy of these documents sent with your form I-130.  USCIS needs proof or evidence to show your relationship that she is your birth mother.  

Once she has the right documents, she can scan and email you the scanned copy.  You can print those to attach with your petition. 

If they need the original and/or certified copy, then they will ask for it and will give you time to send it to them.  I believe, government agencies that ask for the original copies, do return the original copy back to the sender after they are finished with it. 

 

I hope this helps. 

 

[willcrack 42]

To update:

 

I-130's received by Phoenix Lockbox on Feb 23rd

Credit Card charged and texts received Feb 27th

All three petitions assigned to Texas Service Center

 

If you have not noted, please mention the Service Center your petition is assigned to.