4/18/21 online submitted I-130 CR1 ?

[Eduardo 209 1]

Hello friends,

This is my first  post. I just filed my wife's spousal visa request on Sunday, April 18, 2021 online, I did not use a service or attorney, I live in California ,my wife lives in Colombia, a few questions,

 

What is the difference between a CR1 and the  I-130? 

 

Now that I filed online im a  little lost, there were items that I wanted to include like pictures and tax returns etc that were not requested.

 

Please give me some tips and advice on what to do next, what comes next and when and what are the timelines ?

 

thank you in advance

 

E.

 

 

[payxibka 10,045]

3 hours ago, Eduardo 209 said:

Hello friends,

This is my first  post. I just filed my wife's spousal visa request on Sunday, April 18, 2021 online, I did not use a service or attorney, I live in California ,my wife lives in Colombia, a few questions,

 

What is the difference between a CR1 and the  I-130? 

 

Now that I filed online im a  little lost, there were items that I wanted to include like pictures and tax returns etc that were not requested.

 

Please give me some tips and advice on what to do next, what comes next and when and what are the timelines ?

 

thank you in advance

 

E.

 

 

CR1 is a visa.  I130 is a petition.   You petitioned for your wife.  Your wife will apply for a visa at a consulate abroad after the petition has been approved 

[Strawberrymermaid 346]

4 hours ago, Eduardo 209 said:

Hello friends,

This is my first  post. I just filed my wife's spousal visa request on Sunday, April 18, 2021 online, I did not use a service or attorney, I live in California ,my wife lives in Colombia, a few questions,

 

What is the difference between a CR1 and the  I-130? 

 

Now that I filed online im a  little lost, there were items that I wanted to include like pictures and tax returns etc that were not requested.

 

Please give me some tips and advice on what to do next, what comes next and when and what are the timelines ?

 

thank you in advance

 

E.

 

 

Hi Eduardo

So, as payxibka mentioned, the I-130 that you filled out is just the beginning stages. It is a petition for USCIS to look over and determine if you and your wife have a bonafide marriage and are eligible for immigration benefits. Once approved, it then goes to the NVC where you will fill out more paperwork including tax returns and proof of domicile. NVC then must approve/ accept your paperwork and you will become documentarily qualified. From there, depending on embassy operations in your wife's country, it will be sent to the embassy for interview (this is taking much longer than normal due to COVID closures in many countries). If approved, she will be issued a CR1/ IR1 visa depending on how long you have been married. So basically, it's a 3 step process - USCIS, NVC, Embassy. 

As far as photos go, you could have submitted all of that with proof of bonafide relationship when you submitted the I-130. They may request an RFE for them, or they may not and you just bring that stuff to the interview.

Just an FYI-  USCIS is super ambiguous on purpose and doesn't give much information about how things are processed. Most people get online receipts from Nebraska but that may not be where your case is located. Even the NOA1 receipt might not be correct, they shuffle them around a lot. So lots of patience is needed during this steps (and the ones after too).

 

Hope that helps!

Edited April 21, 2021 by Strawberrymermaid

[aaron2020 11,651]

6 hours ago, Eduardo 209 said:

Hello friends,

This is my first  post. I just filed my wife's spousal visa request on Sunday, April 18, 2021 online, I did not use a service or attorney, I live in California ,my wife lives in Colombia, a few questions,

 

What is the difference between a CR1 and the  I-130? 

 

Now that I filed online im a  little lost, there were items that I wanted to include like pictures and tax returns etc that were not requested.

 

Please give me some tips and advice on what to do next, what comes next and when and what are the timelines ?

 

thank you in advance

 

E.

 

 

The I-130 is a petition that starts the immigration process.  By providing your marriage certificate, you show that there is a familial relationship that allows your wife to file a DS-260 visa application.  After her visa interview, she would be granted a CR-1/IR-1 spousal immigrant visa.

You do not file tax returns with the I-130.  You file that with the I-864 at the NVC after USCIS approves the I-130.  You need to read the Guides on VJ to understand the full immigration process.

It will take 12-24 months for your wife to get her spousal visa.

[Eduardo 209 1]

Hello friends,

Since I just started the process this past Sunday can I go back and edit and add things like pictures etc.?

 

How/when do I know what city will be the processing here in the United States? On my profile I just put California without knowing which USCIS office it will be.

 

When do you all think I will receive my first response/email or instructions from the USCIS?

 

Thank you all for your time in writing me!

 

.

[aaron2020 11,651]

2 minutes ago, Eduardo 209 said:

Hello friends,

Since I just started the process this past Sunday can I go back and edit and add things like pictures etc.?

 

How/when do I know what city will be the processing here in the United States? On my profile I just put California without knowing which USCIS office it will be.

 

When do you all think I will receive my first response/email or instructions from the USCIS?

 

Thank you all for your time in writing me!

 

.

Have you started to read the Guides on VJ?  Procedural answers to your questions can be found there.  

 

If you've already submitted the I-130, you can't go back to add things.

 

Your wife will go through consular processing abroad.  USCIS will approve the I-130 and transfer it to the NVC and then the US Embassy/Consulate abroad.  It doesn't matter what US city your I-130 will be processed in.

 

You will get a receipt for filing the I-130 in a few weeks to a few months.  Then, it can take up to a year or more for USCIS to approve the I-130.

[Eduardo 209 1]

I have read that some processing centers are busier than others, what do you know about this?

 

 

Thank you! 

[aaron2020 11,651]

39 minutes ago, Eduardo 209 said:

I have read that some processing centers are busier than others, what do you know about this?

 

 

Thank you! 

Doesn't matter in your case.  

[Chancy 6,241]

1 hour ago, Eduardo 209 said:

I have read that some processing centers are busier than others, what do you know about this?

 

I suggest you don't get fixated on the service center that will process your petition.  It will just be a source of stress and frustration.  USCIS can arbitrarily transfer petitions to other service centers.  Best to just hope that your petition will get approved quickly, but be aware that it can take around a year or longer.  Ours took almost 11 months, even without any issues (no RFE).  Many others here on VJ filed their petitions months after we did, yet were approved months before ours.

 

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.