I-130 while applicant living abroad

[alystu 0]

Hello all, thank you for taking the time to read this. I am trying to make sense of this very confusing immigration system. We are attempting to apply without a lawyer to save money but the deeper I research the more confused I am and am reconsidering.

For some background: I am a US citizen, married to a UK citizen, and living in the UK since our marriage in 2018. We are just finishing the last of my UK visas and have made the decision to start my husband's USA visa application so that we can move closer to my family in America. We filed I-130 online in October 2022 (last autumn) and received notice that they are processing our application a few days after submission. I have so many questions!

 

1) How do I know which processing center has our application? We weren't given any information other than that they have it. I've looked at processing times for various centers but don't know which would apply to us, so don't know when to expect action on our case. All the information i've been able to find has been for when the applicant is living in the US already, of which I am not.

 

2) When the time comes, how can I find a doctor in the UK to do my husband's medical examination? Also, are there requirements to his vaccination history (he needs to have X amount of vaccines in order to enter the country?). He has his record from childhood and the ones he has had since then, but will that be enough or will he be required to get up to date on any/all of the listed vaccines?

 

3) Given that I currently am domiciled abroad, will that impact our application? Obviously we (myself, husband, and our toddler) want to stay to together and move to the states together once his visa is approved but I've been reading that they want to see proof of employment, address, etc from the states and I do not have any of that. As of this point, we have a place to stay in America once we arrive with my sister and will be looking at properties to purchase once stateside.

 

I hope some of this makes sense. We have been through the UK visa system (also without an immigration lawyer) and were successful, it wasn't nearly as confusing as this is. Thanks in advance for your time and knowledge, we really are grateful.

 

Aly x

[Boiler 45,478]

You will need to show US Domicile not Residence and the Consulate in London is usually fairly lenient on that.

 

I assume the child is also a USC.

 

There is only one Doctor to use for London and I would get everything up to date to avoid having to pay their charges, I forget what I was missing now but had it done at my local surgery. https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/family-immigration/medical-examination/

 

Is your Sister also your Joint Sponsor for your Husband?

 

I would have a good read on here not just the Guides but the regional forum, I do not know what you do not know.

[alystu 0]

29 minutes ago, Boiler said:

You will need to show US Domicile not Residence and the Consulate in London is usually fairly lenient on that.

 

I assume the child is also a USC.

 

There is only one Doctor to use for London and I would get everything up to date to avoid having to pay their charges, I forget what I was missing now but had it done at my local surgery. https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/family-immigration/medical-examination/

 

Is your Sister also your Joint Sponsor for your Husband?

 

I would have a good read on here not just the Guides but the regional forum, I do not know what you do not know.

 

Thank you Boiler! I am considering making a trip back to the US to open a new bank account (I closed my previous one before moving to UK), start a new phone contract, make arrangements with my previous employer (a small family owned company who can re-hire me part time upon my move), renew my drivers license (still valid until 10/2024 but has my old address). Would this help?

 

Our daughter is a dual USC/UK citizen.

 

Thank you for the medical exam link. I'm assuming that the exam will be around the same time as the interview?

 

My sister is not my co-sponser as she is a stay at home mother. My Uncle is who lives in another state is my co-sponser. Could this be a problem?

 

Did you apply online as well, or mail in the form? Is it normal to not have heard from USCIS in the 9 months since we have initially applied? How long does that first stage of the application take on average for those applying from abroad?

 

Thanks again!

Edited July 4, 2023 by alystu

[Boiler 45,478]

There was no online when I went through the process and the system is not really online now.

 

Uncle should be fine.

 

Until they pull their finger out there is nothing more for them to tell you, I would think you have a few more months to go before you hear anything, you can see here how others are doing.

 

When I did my Medical it was same day, different now and a week or two before the interview. This always amuses me, we have gone backwards. Ditto visa issuance used to be same day now usually a week or so.

 

From what I have seen the sort of things you are doing are enough for London and Residency.

 

You are not really applying from abroad, there is a separate DCF process but no need to go into that. Generally seems to take 18 months, maybe quicker, so you are about half way through.

 

 

 

 

[alystu 0]

Thanks again! I am trying to wade through the vast amounts of information online, as it seems a lot is out of date or about different visas/circumstances. Any advice for threads/forums etc to follow would be so helpful!

 

From your understanding, do you think our application would be at a Visa processing center already, or is that part to come and that's why we don't know who has it? I guess I'm a bit nervous since all we know is that they have it, a reference number for our application, and a receipt for the 535 USD for the first payment via email.

[appleblossom 2,483]

10 minutes ago, alystu said:

From your understanding, do you think our application would be at a Visa processing center already, or is that part to come and that's why we don't know who has it? I guess I'm a bit nervous since all we know is that they have it, a reference number for our application, and a receipt for the 535 USD for the first payment via email.

Your reference/receipt number should start with three letters, and that’s what tells you where it’s being processed i.e. TSC is Texas Service Centre. 

 

Also, seems like maybe you haven’t found this page? It’s really useful and sets the process out well - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition/step-2-begin-nvc-processing.html

 

Good luck. 

[alystu 0]

9 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

Your reference/receipt number should start with three letters, and that’s what tells you where it’s being processed i.e. TSC is Texas Service Centre. 

 

Also, seems like maybe you haven’t found this page? It’s really useful and sets the process out well - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition/step-2-begin-nvc-processing.html

 

Good luck. 

Thank you, this link is hugely helpful!

From what I've found out today I don't think our application is with the NVC yet. Our reference/receipt number starts with IOE.

[Boiler 45,478]

IOE is online filing

[appleblossom 2,483]

11 minutes ago, alystu said:

Thank you, this link is hugely helpful!

From what I've found out today I don't think our application is with the NVC yet. Our reference/receipt number starts with IOE.

No, it won’t be sent to the NVC until your petition is approved - you’re at step 1 in the link above. 

[Crazy Cat 41,842]

43 minutes ago, alystu said:

Thank you, this link is hugely helpful!

From what I've found out today I don't think our application is with the NVC yet. Our reference/receipt number starts with IOE.

Bottom left corner of paper I-130 receipt should show USCIS Service Center.  NVC stage is after the I-130 is processed and approved.  At that point, you will have to pay NVC fees and submit more documentation. 

Edited July 4, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[ShazShaz 34]

Go to Emma, the chat bot on uscis website and request Live Agent. You’ll be instructed to provide petitioner info and your case number, IOExxxxx. Once connected to an agent, ask which processing center is your case located now. 

[pushbrk 12,877]

1 hour ago, ShazShaz said:

Go to Emma, the chat bot on uscis website and request Live Agent. You’ll be instructed to provide petitioner info and your case number, IOExxxxx. Once connected to an agent, ask which processing center is your case located now. 

And once you know that, the information will not actually help you know anything about when the petition will be approved.  The files are electronic now.  Back when they still worked with the paper, knowing the service center was SOMEWHAT helpful in predicting timelines, but not now.