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[davepam 0]

SO I spent ALL this week putting the I-130 and G-325A package together. My wife, the US citizen sponsoring me (after 24 years of marriage!), just got back from mailing it to TEXAS at the local post office. In the meantime I'm starting on the I-485, etc and NOW I find that maybe it should ALL go together to CHICAGO! Is this right? I'm in Georgia and the USCIS website says send the I-130 to Texas. There's nobody live on the 800 number. None of the prompts are any use to me. There are no phone numbers for the Chicago or Texas offices. Can they forward it from TX to Chicago? Can I file the 485 and reference the 130 without it being included? Do I have to wait for approval of the 130? or receipt? Or do I just start over? AARGGH!!!

[kim&james 0]

When you are already here in the US, yes everything should go to Chicago.

A couple of things may happen, you might get the lot returned to you or they may just send the NOA. If they send the NOA, then include this with your I-485 application.

I would say that if you sent it with receipt tracking then at least you will know it has be received. If you dont receive the NOA within a month you might need to infopass and check but also remember that they are extremely busy with everyone trying to beat the fee increase so I would presume that NOA's are going to be slower than usual.

Dont send the I-485 application until you have either the I-130 package or the NOA as it will be returned to you without that info, due to the I-130 being what you are using to prove eligibility via marriage.

This is a fairly common occurance as the instructions are not clear on the I-130 application and until you read the I-485 instructions (several times to actually understand what you are supposed to do), they will eventually marry up and be processed at the same time.

Best of luck

[davepam 0]

SO I spent ALL this week putting the I-130 and G-325A package together. My wife, the US citizen sponsoring me (after 24 years of marriage!), just got back from mailing it to TEXAS at the local post office. In the meantime I'm starting on the I-485, etc and NOW I find that maybe it should ALL go together to CHICAGO! Is this right? I'm in Georgia and the USCIS website says send the I-130 to Texas. There's nobody live on the 800 number. None of the prompts are any use to me. There are no phone numbers for the Chicago or Texas offices. Can they forward it from TX to Chicago? Can I file the 485 and reference the 130 without it being included? Do I have to wait for approval of the 130? or receipt? Or do I just start over? AARGGH!!!

[davepam 0]

Thanks a lot for the reply. Since I'm one trying to beat the fee increase, would it be better to forget the $170 already sent to TX and not wait for the NOA because I may be able to send a complete package to Chicago by July 29? I'm not sure if I need the medical first or I can do that later? I considered switching to consular processing in the UK, but I'm afraid of the 10 year ban, because of my overstay history.

[Dr_LHA 3]

OK. What you did wasn't all wrong. Well OK, it was wrong, but not to worry.

You should have submitted I-130 and I-485 together. However all is not lost! I believe you can still do AOS the way you have done it.

Right now you'll have to wait to receive back the I-130 receipt notice from Texas. When you get this receipt notice, photocopy it and put that copy in with the I-485 AOS packet you send to Chicago. By doing this you won't get your AOS packet rejected when you submit it to the Chicago Lockbox (which you will if you submit it without any evidence of a pending I-130).

Oh and for I-485 part 2, you tick "A".

Thanks a lot for the reply. Since I'm one trying to beat the fee increase, would it be better to forget the $170 already sent to TX and not wait for the NOA because I may be able to send a complete package to Chicago by July 29?

That might be better. You could cancel the check on the I-130 if you do this, that will guarantee the I-130 won't start processing, although USCIS might not like that very much.

I'm not sure if I need the medical first or I can do that later?

You need it now.

I considered switching to consular processing in the UK, but I'm afraid of the 10 year ban, because of my overstay history.

You're probably right to fear that.

Edited July 20, 2007 by Dr_LHA

[kim&james 0]

I think you might miss the end of july date as you will need to send the medical. You would probably get the entire package returned as incomplete.

You could always just give it a go and hope for a RFE and see if it does slip through but I dont think it would.

I would not do the consular processing as the overstay ban would kick in and then you have the problem of waivers etc and quite a long time out of the country.

If I was in your situation, I would just wait for the NOA (or package return) and bite the bullet with the fee increase remembering that it also includes EAD and AP. In your situation do not use the AP ie do not leave the country at all. I probably wouldnt just send another I-130 app with the AOS ones as then you might end up having 2 in process which will confuse the situation even more. When dealing with the USCIS it has to be pretty idiot proof for them.

[davepam 0]

I see you got your first NOA in a few days. Is that normal? If so, perhaps I can get my 485 package together this week and include the NOA if it arrives in time for the July 29 deadline. That way I don't have to pay the new $1,010 fee. If I don't get it, I can send a complete package with another 130 in time to pay only $395. Do I have to do the two G-325A's again if I can reference the NOA for the 130?

[Cécy 44]

The thing is if you have two I-130, the USCIS is likely to get confused and mess up your case. It's a risk to take but that's up to you.

Have you had your checks cashed yet? If not do as Dr LHA said...

And call a civil surgeon right away (and bring all your vaccination record to the appointment), but do keep in mind that they are pretty backed up right now... or else risk the RFE of package return.

Good luck.

Edit: also read this http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide2

Edited July 21, 2007 by Cécy