US Immigration from Mexico

I filed an I-130 petition for an IR-2 visa for my stepdaughter (age 17 at the time I married her dad, now 18). It was just approved, along with her dad's (CR-1) and two younger sisters' (IR-2).

She has a son who will be 1 year old in February - she is listed as a single mom on his birth certificate, but has a supportive mom and oldest sister who can assist with childcare. I know that as an IR-2 visa applicant, she cannot include her son as a derivative on her application for the visa. Our understanding is that the path would be for her to (hopefully) receive her IR-2 visa, enter POE, and receive her green card. At that point, as an LPR, she could file an F-2A visa for her son. Are we correct in that?

Clearly, being away from such a young child is not ideal. We live on the border (me in the U.S., them in Mexico) so our commute to each other is only about 45 minutes. She would like to begin working in the U.S. and maintain a residence with us (me, spouse, and her two younger sisters/my SDs), pay her U.S. income taxes, but also travel back to see her son/spend the night with him as frequently as possible while going through the F-2A visa process).

After reading through USCIS policy manual for not abandoning status, I feel torn about the phrasing around "frequent visits." For us, living on the border, I travel into Mexico several times a week. When my spouse + stepdaughters immigrate, we plan to visit Mexico probably at least two weekends a month for the girls to see their mom and oldest sister. Those trips would likely be in and out the same day, or include one overnight stay. And I know that the 18-yr-old SD will want to visit as frequently as possible to see her son.

Thoughts on this? When the time comes, what can we do to help my stepdaughter bring her son to the U.S./minimize time away from him without abandoning status?

When I filed my I 130 I logged in to my USCIS account and it said processing time 10 months at the Potomac Service Center. . 4 months later it says Estimated time until case decision 7 months. Is it 7 more months or 7 months from date of filing?

My wife attended the interview today. She did not have my original birth certificate or my original divorce decree from previous marriage. She was advised to submit at any time. Do you know how long once submitted for USCIS to make a decision on the case?

All my documents say accepted, but I didn't get DQ'ed or an interview date. They're requesting I upload all my W2's and 1099's for 2021. The thing is, I've lived abroad outside the US for all of 2021 and have no W2's or 1099's to upload, what should I do?

Hello,

Wanted to start a topic for June filers to follow and track Petition approval as they start coming in.

Submitted I-130 petition for both parents online and they show submitted as of June 28, 2022.

Currently application are showing processing times of 5 and 8 months.