I-130 Approval Letter

[Karen2021 3]

Hello everyone. Hope you're having a wonderful 2023 so far. I recently received an approval letter from USCIS. What are the next steps me and my spouse should take? What can I expect going forward in regards to necessary documents? Have we made it through the most difficult step by getting the I-130 approved or can we expect another long wait with the NVC?

 

Thank you!

[Dashinka 24,479]

Congrats!  Sounds like the NVC stage is next.

 

Good Luck!

 

When your I-130 petition is finally approved, the service center that processed your petition, will send you another Notice of Action letter indicating your approval, and the forwarding of your approved petition to the National Visa Center (NVC) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, along with a phone number to contact the NVC with. Your case will now only be dealt with by the NVC. The service center that you filed with, will have no more knowledge on the status of your petition or case.

 

A few weeks after you have received your last Notice of Action indicating the approval and forwarding of your I-130 application to the NVC, the NVC will send your relative a packet of forms that you and your relative must fill out before your relative can be given an interview date with a consulate abroad. The packet will likely contain instructions to fill out the DS-261 and DS-260 online forms, by the intending immigrant. An I-864 form is also included that must be filled out by the petitioner (living in the US). The I-864 is the Affidavit of Support form that requires copies of the petitioners past 3 U.S tax returns (or tax transcripts which are free from the IRS) as well as any bank or financial records available (see the I-864 for exact requirements based on your case). The petitioner must make at least 125% above the U.S federal poverty to indicate to the U.S government that the intending immigrant will not become a federal charge to the government when he/she arrives in the U.S.. If the petitioner cannot meet these requirements, then he/she must still file an I-864, and find a joint sponsor who can meet the requirements on his/her own. When a joint sponsor is needed ,proof of their U.S citizenship or permanent residency is required. (i.e. copy of birth certificate, immigration status etc). The joint sponsor must be residing in the U.S, and he/she must also submit his/her past 3 years U.S tax returns along with bank or any other financial records available. The joint sponsor must submit his/her own I-864 form to accompany the petitioner's I-864 form.

 

 

 

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[MJintheUSA 18]

Just to add on, the NVC wait is not usually as long as the USCIS stage, but it all depends on consulate and how quickly they are scheduling interviews. The NVC will reach out by email with your case and invoice ID numbers, keep those safe as that's how you can check on your case. Once your case is open, you will be asked to pay the fees first before they open up the applications. It's all fairly straightforward from here. Congrats! The NVC is an exciting stage!

[Karen2021 3]

On 1/24/2023 at 6:57 PM, Dashinka said:

Congrats!  Sounds like the NVC stage is next.

 

Good Luck!

 

When your I-130 petition is finally approved, the service center that processed your petition, will send you another Notice of Action letter indicating your approval, and the forwarding of your approved petition to the National Visa Center (NVC) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, along with a phone number to contact the NVC with. Your case will now only be dealt with by the NVC. The service center that you filed with, will have no more knowledge on the status of your petition or case.

 

A few weeks after you have received your last Notice of Action indicating the approval and forwarding of your I-130 application to the NVC, the NVC will send your relative a packet of forms that you and your relative must fill out before your relative can be given an interview date with a consulate abroad. The packet will likely contain instructions to fill out the DS-261 and DS-260 online forms, by the intending immigrant. An I-864 form is also included that must be filled out by the petitioner (living in the US). The I-864 is the Affidavit of Support form that requires copies of the petitioners past 3 U.S tax returns (or tax transcripts which are free from the IRS) as well as any bank or financial records available (see the I-864 for exact requirements based on your case). The petitioner must make at least 125% above the U.S federal poverty to indicate to the U.S government that the intending immigrant will not become a federal charge to the government when he/she arrives in the U.S.. If the petitioner cannot meet these requirements, then he/she must still file an I-864, and find a joint sponsor who can meet the requirements on his/her own. When a joint sponsor is needed ,proof of their U.S citizenship or permanent residency is required. (i.e. copy of birth certificate, immigration status etc). The joint sponsor must be residing in the U.S, and he/she must also submit his/her past 3 years U.S tax returns along with bank or any other financial records available. The joint sponsor must submit his/her own I-864 form to accompany the petitioner's I-864 form.

 

 

 

Will we need to send any document via physical mail? It seems to me that we will just have to upload documents to the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC). Is that correct?

13 hours ago, MJintheUSA said:

Once your case is open, you will be asked to pay the fees first before they open up the applications. It's all fairly straightforward from here. Congrats! The NVC is an exciting stage!

Thanks!! Will we need to send any document via physical mail? It seems to me that we will just have to upload documents to the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC). Is that correct?

[MJintheUSA 18]

Generally no, no mail for the CR-1. everything is done online.