I-130 March 2018 filers [merged threads]

[Arcangel 172]

On 7/28/2018 at 3:12 AM, rose098 said:

No luck.. I feel like NSC is getting slower..  TSC is almost a month ahead of NSC.. 

keep the Faith! I have a very good feeling about this week!

[nastra30 2,284]

9 hours ago, Arcangel said:

keep the Faith! I have a very good feeling about this week!

Slow but sure we will get there. 

[Sweetyp 16]

Hi everyone,

I am Canadian citizen,  staying in Toronto. I was wondering is it okay to visit your spouse/ hubby in USA while I 130 pending. BTW we are also March fillers. I have been hearing stories some are saying you are okay to visit and some are saying its better to wait.  I can't wait to see hubby, just want to visit him for 1 week. . If it is okay to visit what is better driving or flying?. 

[Sweetyp 16]

On 6/1/2018 at 4:47 AM, MrsB2212 said:

 

 

Hey lovelies!!!

 

I just got back from the USA!

 

I went to see my hubby and also went on a cruise for a week as it was my birthday. 

In total I spent 2 glorious weeks 😁😁😁

 

I’m from the U.K. so I travel on the Visa Waiver Programme with an ESTA.  For those who don’t know - the visa waiver programme allows citizens of certain countries to travel visa free to USA for up to 90days. No work allowed. 

 

I flew direct from London U.K. to Seattle, Washington state. 

 

I landed around 3pm.

It was moderately busy at the airport. It’s not a very big airport so it can get crowded fast. Lines began to form. 

 

I was able to use the same line as USA passport holders, so I really didn’t wait that long. 

 

If you have an ESTA, and have traveled to USA before on it, you can use the same line USA passport holders use. 

 

So this line allows you to self scan your passport and finger prints.

I think it takes a picture too.

It then prints a receipt and you join the line and present this to the border control Officer along with your passport. 

 

It it took me about 10mins in line to get to the self scanner , then another 10mins or less in the next line to get to the border control Officer. 

 

There was one line, which was moving pretty fast as there were 4 border control Officers. I am guessing most people in the line were USA passport holders returning home I guess? Dunno if that’s why it was so fast? I’ve used the same line at LAX 2 years ago, and nearly grew another leg and almost missed my connection with the time it took to get through the line !

 

Anyway, I was seen by a gentleman immigration Officer , and he was really nice. 

* He asked - what are you coming over for?

I said to meet my husband and my parents, as we are going for my birthday cruise on Friday!🚢

(I landed on Monday. )

* He smiled, and said, oh is this your birthday present?!

I said YESSS!! Can’t wait!

* He said Nice! and asked - So where are they ?

I said my husband is already here, as he lives here, and my parents will arrive on Wednesday from New Zealand. 

* He asked - how long are you staying ?

I said 14 days 

* He said - Great. Have a nice day ma’am, and great birthday!

 

That was it!

 

The conversation took about 3-4 mins. So it took me roughly 30mins to get cleared at immigration. 

 

Obviously, I’ve been to Seattle before, but never as married to USC (and to the USA in general more than 10 times ) and have never over stayed, so I wonder if that helped?

 

I would say if you can, get a direct flight so you’re not worried about connecting flights etc. 

 

I’m planning another visit in September! 

 

Thank you so much  to 💓💓everyone 💓💓who reassured me and shared experiences. 

You guys rock ok! 🎸 

 

So I’m back now.

Still no NOA2 😞

Any March Zombies got their NOA2?

 

I have same question. I am also coming from Toronto. If you are working and have return tickets are we allow to visit spouse while i 130 pending. 

[HarryWL 262]

3 hours ago, Sweetyp said:

I have same question. I am also coming from Toronto. If you are working and have return tickets are we allow to visit spouse while i 130 pending. 

 

Yes of course. It’s not mandatory that you be working in Canada either, they only care that you still have ties and plan on returning. 

 

[nastra30 2,284]

13 hours ago, Sweetyp said:

Hi everyone,

I am Canadian citizen,  staying in Toronto. I was wondering is it okay to visit your spouse/ hubby in USA while I 130 pending. BTW we are also March fillers. I have been hearing stories some are saying you are okay to visit and some are saying its better to wait.  I can't wait to see hubby, just want to visit him for 1 week. . If it is okay to visit what is better driving or flying?. 

Here is my two cents.

In your case specifically, I think it's perfectly ok to visit him as long as it's just visiting, and you are not planning to work, study, invest or immigrate. Personally, I think it's a plus to your case during the interview because it will actually prove to the IO that you indeed visited and returned to Canada per the US-Canada free movement agreement therefore you didn't intend to stay permanently prior to the interview.

I think the caution is more relevant to countries with citizens who tend to overstay beyond their visa requirements and the DOS has the statistics for these countries, so they scrutinize people from these countries with eagle eyes if they apply for tourist visas while their spouses are in the US.

For instance, in my case, my spouse is from Ghana and we played it safe not to seek tourist visa for her to visit the States while our case is pending so as to avoid any prejudice from the embassy during interview. However, we have visited 3 other countries together since December.

My point in a nutshell is, if you are visiting from a developed country you are probably safe, if you are visiting from an undeveloped or a developing country it's probably safe to better wait. There are exceptions to everything but generally this is what I personally have noticed about US immigration system.

[Sweetyp 16]

31 minutes ago, nastra30 said:

Here is my two cents.

In your case specifically, I think it's perfectly ok to visit him as long as it's just visiting, and you are not planning to work, study, invest or immigrate. Personally, I think it's a plus to your case during the interview because it will actually prove to the IO that you indeed visited and returned to Canada per the US-Canada free movement agreement therefore you didn't intend to stay permanently prior to the interview.

I think the caution is more relevant to countries with citizens who tend to overstay beyond their visa requirements and the DOS has the statistics for these countries, so they scrutinize people from these countries with eagle eyes if they apply for tourist visas while their spouses are in the US.

For instance, in my case, my spouse is from Ghana and we played it safe not to seek tourist visa for her to visit the States while our case is pending so as to avoid any prejudice from the embassy during interview. However, we have visited 3 other countries together since December.

My point in a nutshell is, if you are visiting from a developed country you are probably safe, if you are visiting from an undeveloped or a developing country it's probably safe to better wait. There are exceptions to everything but generally this is what I personally have noticed about US immigration system.

Thanks for replying. 

[Sweetyp 16]

Yes, I  do have strong ties.  Do you know anyone who was successful visiting while process is pending? 

[MrsB2212 123]

5 hours ago, Sweetyp said:

Yes, I  do have strong ties.  Do you know anyone who was successful visiting while process is pending? 

Yes. We filed in March 2018. 

 

I went in May for 2 weeks to see my husband.

 

I travelled from the U.K. where I live and work, I had a return ticket. 

I am hoping to go again next month to visit for two weeks for his bday. 

You should be fine. 

Edited August 1, 2018 by MrsB2212

[MrsB2212 123]

On 7/24/2018 at 3:00 PM, adryher21 said:

Very optimistic! I love that! But it gives false hopes too! My timeline says end of october,  I am march 28! 

We are March 28 as well! @ Texas SC. 

I haven’t lost my mind yet, so I hope to God it’s soon!! 

I see they are looking at Jan 2018 for Permanent residents and Nov 2018 for USC 🙁. 

So it looks like it’ll be a minute till they get us now. 

My husband is not doing that well with the distance and neither am I. 

 

How is everyone holding up?

Edited August 1, 2018 by MrsB2212

[adryher21 37]

14 minutes ago, MrsB2212 said:

We are March 28 as well! @ Texas SC. 

I haven’t lost my mind yet, so I hope to God it’s soon!! 

I see they are looking at Jan 2018 for Permanent residents and Nov 2018 for USC 🙁. 

So it looks like it’ll be a minute till they get us now. 

My husband is not doing that well with the distance and neither am I. 

 

How is everyone holding up?

I

 

14 minutes ago, MrsB2212 said:

We are March 28 as well! @ Texas SC. 

I haven’t lost my mind yet, so I hope to God it’s soon!! 

I see they are looking at Jan 2018 for Permanent residents and Nov 2018 for USC 🙁. 

So it looks like it’ll be a minute till they get us now. 

My husband is not doing that well with the distance and neither am I. 

 

How is everyone holding up?

Hey!! I bet yours comes first, since you are with the Texas Center. I completely understand you, days are so long and time doesnt pass, you gotta accept reality and move forward with a positive mind, because feeling bad will not change immigration nightmares! 

Now how come they are doing residents before citizens?

Well, they are working on January already  , sobtahts a good sign, but my timeline here now says second week of nov, it just gets longer! Uff

[MrsB2212 123]

9 minutes ago, adryher21 said:

I

 

Hey!! I bet yours comes first, since you are with the Texas Center. I completely understand you, days are so long and time doesnt pass, you gotta accept reality and move forward with a positive mind, because feeling bad will not change immigration nightmares! 

Now how come they are doing residents before citizens?

Well, they are working on January already  , sobtahts a good sign, but my timeline here now says second week of nov, it just gets longer! Uff

Hey!

Well let’s hope we get it on the same day -or just ASAP will do actually! 

 

Yea im not sure why perm residents are being looked at before USC?  I used the tracker on the USIC website. 

 

Maybe there are less applications from perm residents, so they get through them quicker? 🤷🏾‍♀️

 

I just need them to be looking at March for USC soon!

[nastra30 2,284]

16 hours ago, MrsB2212 said:

Hey!

Well let’s hope we get it on the same day -or just ASAP will do actually! 

 

Yea im not sure why perm residents are being looked at before USC?  I used the tracker on the USIC website. 

 

Maybe there are less applications from perm residents, so they get through them quicker? 🤷🏾‍♀️

 

I just need them to be looking at March for USC soon!

I think there are less applications for Permanent Residents than citizens. A lot of citizens (of which many naturalized in the last two years) filed I-130 applications not only for spouses and children but also for both parents so there are many more applications than residents. Also, in the past two years or so there has been massive rush for citizens to sponsor relatives due to some obvious reasons which has lead to a strain on USCIS resources leading to more delays in approvals. But at the end of the day we must respect the process and hope things improve. We might see a lot of movements for March 18 filers in September so one month to go and the waiting game continues.

[nastra30 2,284]

Some I-751 cases have been transferred to Texas Service Center and Vermont Service Center. Hopefully this doesn't lead some slight delays in I-130 cases at those centers. Fingers crossed.

https://www.uscis.gov/workload-transfers

[Arcangel 172]

On 8/1/2018 at 11:27 AM, Sweetyp said:

Yes, I  do have strong ties.  Do you know anyone who was successful visiting while process is pending? 

Hi Sweetyp, i am the US spouse and my wife visits all the time. As some have mentioned, its all based on "Intent" , ie as long as the visiting spouse has a return ticket, does NOT come for 4 months, go back for a week and then come back to the US for another 4 months- you are fine.

They have never questioned her. She has just been honest to the immigration officer at the POE meaning -she states that she is coming to see her husband. She usually stays only 4-7 days when she visits. Hope this helps!

Edited August 2, 2018 by Arcangel