Can we change consulate before receiving NOA2?

[art1234 14]

We're in the middle of first part of K1 visa process and we've lost our joint sponsor as she changed her mind.

Since it's unlikely my fiancè will find a full-time job in this short amount of time, the only other thing we could think of is me (the beneficiary) moving back to UK so I could self-sponsor since I have substantial amount of savings ~50k. I used to live in UK for 3 years and now working remotely from Europe for a while.

We initially filed I-129f for Riga, Latvia consulate which is my home country.

I've spent hours of researching and haven't found much so I was wondering if anyone has changed embassies at this stage?

 

[arken 4,197]

It could be done by updating your new address with USCIS. If USCIS updates your current address before approval, it will be sent to UK by NVC but it could well be sent to Latvia if USCIS doesn’t update it properly.

 

Just to point out, your moving to UK may not solve the financial requirement issue.  the assets requirement is around 50K for K1 and 63K for AOS for two member household. COs don’t just go by the number if your balance is just around that. They may still ask you for the joint sponsor.

Edited July 31, 2019 by arken

[geowrian 22,337]

I was unable to get USCIS to change the beneficiary's address or consulate. I made several calls, submitted a letter, and included the letter again in my response to an RFE. They said NVC can do so, but catching the I-129F at NVC and getting in touch with somebody who can update it is hard since it's only there for a few days to week.

 

2 minutes ago, arken said:

Just to point out, your moving to UK may not solve the financial requirement issue.  the assets requirement is around 50K for K1 and 63K for AOS. COs don’t just go by the number if your balance is just around that. They may still ask you for the joint sponsor.

London COs generally let you self-sponsor with suitable assets for the 90 days. It's a rarity indeed, but others have done so.

 

The bigger issue is what is the plan for AOS? Doing the move to London only saves you a few months at most to get a suitable sponsor.

[FreyandRyan 330]

1 hour ago, arken said:

It could be done by updating your new address with USCIS. If USCIS updates your current address before approval, it will be sent to UK by NVC but it could well be sent to Latvia if USCIS doesn’t update it properly.

 

Just to point out, your moving to UK may not solve the financial requirement issue.  the assets requirement is around 50K for K1 and 63K for AOS for two member household. COs don’t just go by the number if your balance is just around that. They may still ask you for the joint sponsor.

What’s the best way to update a beneficiary’s address at this stage before the NOA2. Asking because I’ll need to know eventually. 

Edited July 31, 2019 by FreyandRyan

[art1234 14]

15 minutes ago, FreyandRyan said:

What’s the best way to update a beneficiary’s address at this stage before the NOA2. Asking because I’ll need to know eventually. 

I think you can do it in here 

https://www.uscis.gov/addresschange

[payxibka 10,045]

9 minutes ago, art95 said:

I think you can do it in here 

https://www.uscis.gov/addresschange

Actually for aliens already inside the USA,  not for intending immigrants

[geowrian 22,337]

The beneficiary has no form for which to update their address at this point. The I-129F is the petition’s form.

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

You don't actually have an embassy/consulate assigned at this stage (the drop down on the I-129F is meaningless; your case goes to the embassy/consulate that covers the beneficiary's most recent physical address as per the form), but since there's no way to update the beneficiary's address right now, you're pretty much stuck.

 

Usually if you want to change the embassy/consulate, you have to wait until your case gets to the "wrong" one, then contact the "right" embassy/consulate to request a transfer. There have been one or two reports of people getting it changed at the NVC stage, but that's very rarely successful.

[art1234 14]

Thanks every one for input... and yea it is quite of a dead end since apparently can't self-sponsor at AOS stage.

As a piece of advice for every one with low income - get the joint-sponsor forms ready before sending out I-129f.

It may save a lot of headache later on.