cookiemonster06

small wins, I'll take it

It's August 2022. I'm far from being current so waiting for my spouse to apply for naturalization next year to get upgraded.

I'm F2A and not current at the moment but our I-130 was approved after a little over a year this September but we had to file a I-824 to transfer from AOS to Consulate Processing which surprisingly got approved a little over 2 months. I-130 status got updated last week that it was sent to Department of State. Since I am F2A category, will I / and my petitioner receive a Welcome Email just to acknowledge that NVC received it or this won't happen until we're current.

My I-824 got approved late last week so I'm just waiting for the welcome letter now from NVC. Unfortunately, I need to wait for my partner to naturalize next year so I can get upgraded from F2A.

Congrats!! How long did it take you to receive your welcome letter from NVC after you got notified that your I-130 was being transferred to the department of state / NVC?

My I-824 got updated the next day to approved! I guess a delay? Case Tracker updated I-130 sent to Department of State on Nov 21, then on Nov 22, Case Tracker updated I-824 was approved (same for USCIS online account) as well. I'm surprised as well that it was so fast. We still need to wait though because I'm F2A so nothing is going to happen until my partner naturalizes next year so nothing has changed in the overall timeline atm.

My case status updated today and my I-130 got sent to Department of State! It's been hard feeling excitement since I got the update while I was in a meeting and this process has been so numb-stakingly painful that I still don't know how to feel. I wanted to update everyone. Our 824 status has not updated yet though -- we sent in that form 824 on September 27th and received an update today, November 21. 55 days in total and it was NBC.

I'm so sorry you're going through this, and especially the situation you're in with the embassy closing. I hope you and your family are safe.

trauma bonding

I know 1000 compared in USCIS eyes is nominal but 1000 x $465 per filing = $465,000...... and multiple that by 10s of 1000s potentially, I honestly don't understand. I'm one of those individuals who tried to fix the issues prior to approval - my spouse who is the petitioner, uploaded multiple letters as unsolicited evidence, called USCIS to put in a service request, previous laywer put in a typographical error request, and nothing. They even say on their I-130 filing webpage that you are able to make this switch prior to approval but of course, no USCIS rep knows about it. I remember my previous lawyer was saying that the USCIS reps use to be able to update it for you but I guess that has changed (don't quote me on this). I REALLY wish there was some class action lawsuit around 824. Immigration should not be a business to this level. To ask to transfer a piece of paper cost someone $465 is obscene.

I heard that USICS has been asking people to submit I-824 even though they were correctly filled out. Given that you correctly filed your I-130, I would try to push for it to go to NVC first as much as you can through USICS. I would try to call them and request Tier 2 that it was correctly filled out, and it was their mistake.... if they just take another look at it, they can tell you correctly filled out it. They might ask you to wait 30 days for a callback though, that's the downside or potentially within days which is what you want. I know this has been a week since you received that information, what did you end up doing?

we shall see -- i'm buckling in for the long run and in my situation. My spouse is eligible to apply for naturalization next year so at this point, I think it'll be another 2 year journey and it's already been 1 with I-130. I really do hope I look back at this in a few years time and it's just becomes a blip / distant memory. A lot of emotional scarring for sure though.

We just received text notification that our I-824 was processed and it seems like it was sent to NBC according to the receipt number, 'MSC'. It took exactly 2 weeks from time of delivery to receive this. It seems like our PD date is the date that the PO box received it 2 weeks ago. We'll wait for the I-797 in the mail. @Dataunavailable which service center did you get?

From what I've heard, this is becoming increasingly common this year. For $500, it's a money grab for sure. We tried to change our selection prior to our I-130 approval and it said on their website, you are allowed to do it as long as your I-130 is not approved yet but no agents knew of this or what to do. I'm not surprised that USCIS is slapping people with I-824 because they feel like it. Yes, it gets forwarded to one of the service centers and you should be notified by receipt notice similar to your initial I-797 you received for your I-130 I assume (?). If you signed up for text notification, they should text you as well.

NBC - I'm changing from AOS to Consulate Processing

that's what I'm thinking as well. Thanks for that. Nope, not married before he became an LPR.

Oh boy 😕 I'm sorry to hear that. My spouse just submitted the application last week (end of September, I forgot exact date) and it got delivered. How long did it take for you from delivery to receive your receipt notice? It seems like a month or 2 given your I-130 was approved in May. Definitely a shitty situation and especially the processing time. It feel like the ability to send this to NVC should not be this complicated. I'll update on when we get the receipt notice and also service center.

No, I'm not. He's my petitioner for my GC via Consulate right now so him being able to apply for naturalization and being able to convert from F2A would be super duper helpful. That's what I thought too re the automatic registration but he checked, not found in the selected service system and he had his SSN way before his Green Card. Thanks for all this info -- it's helpful.

Yep, partner as in spouse / husband. He got his GC from Employment based (I-485) back in 2019.

That was not willingly and knowingly failed to register. I was reading online and while this is not a unique situation, it seems like you either wait until your 31 or write a sworn affidavit that you did not willingly and knowingly failed to register, etc. with a potential lawyers help. Yes, the law is the law but just seeing if anyone has completed their naturalization process successfully similar to this or waited until their 31.

My partner got his GC through employment years ago and was not aware of selective service. He's 29 and was not knowingly or willfully failed to register. When he found out, he checked his files and also the online verification site. We know he can wait until 31 but wanted to see whether anyone passed their N400 without selective service and was under 31? We're thinking of providing a written sworn statement from him, etc. as evidence.

I haven't found a singular thread that allows for people to post about their I-824 journey. I-130 was already a mentally exhausting processing and only go through with the support in different communities and adding on I-824, feels like this will be testing a lot of people's patience, including myself. I'm hoping this can be a continuous thread to update each other on the filing, processing time, service center, etc or for people to answer each others questions.

For your I-824 package - did you have to include a cover letter of any sort?

Sorry! I honestly didn't know whether it would be sent to our lawyers or not becuase previously, my partner / petitioner would recieve all the equivalent forms. We had a change of lawyers as well so knowing USCIS, we were hoping it would have just been sent directly to us.

No no. I got my I-130 approved 10 days ago and I just get really worried with snail mail. My partner / the petitioner received the courtsey approval mail and it said explicity this is not the official copy so we were worried it was sent to our previous lawyer who withdrew their G-28 a few months ago or it went to our current lawyers. It seems like it takes 7 or so odd days to receive the official approval notice. Our current lawyer received it this past weekend.