VENEZOLANOS - General for Venezuelans 2016

[VZLAN-US-Citizen 11]

Hello there,

I saw another thread of Venezuelans going through several different processes and helping each other, but it got so large that it was closed down, plus it was very old and some of the information didn't apply anymore. I started one in 2015, and didn't get much replies. So, now I'm starting one for 2016. (Please keep posts short and sweet, and post important information, not just an "ok" or "thanks", to keep the post count small)

Please feel free to include here any information that might be useful to other Venezuelans going through any of the following processes (but keep the questions/comments specific to Venezuela and not specific to the type of visa/process, so that it is not moved elsewhere).

- Nonimmigrant Visa Categories (Not a complete list)

A Diplomat or foreign government official

B-1 Business visitor

B-1 Domestic employee or nanny - must be accompanying a foreign national employer

B-2 Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitor

C Transiting the United States

F, M Student: academic, vocational

H-1B Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge

I Media, journalist

J Professor, scholar, teacher (exchange visitor)

L Intra-company transferee

O Foreign national with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics

P Performing athlete, artist, entertainer

Q International cultural exchange visitor

R Religious worker

V Nonimmigrant (V) Visa for Spouse and Children of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)

- Immigrant Visa Categories (Not a complete list)

Immediate Relative & Family Sponsored

F1 Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens

F2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

F2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

IR1, CR1 Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (Immediate Relative / Conditional Resident)

IR-2 Unmarried Child Under 21 Years of Age of a U.S. Citizen

IR-3 Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. Citizen - Learn More

IR-4 Orphan to be adopted in the U.S. by a U.S. citizen - Learn More

IR-5 Parent of a U.S. Citizen who is at least 21 years oldCertain Family Members of U.S. Citizens

K-1 Fiancé(e) to marry U.S. Citizen & live in U.S.

K-3 Spouse of a U.S. Citizen awaiting approval of an I-130 immigrant petition

Employer Sponsored – Employment

E1 Employment-Based Immigrants, including (preference group):

E2 Priority workers [First]

Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees and Persons of Exceptional Ability [second]

Professionals and Other Workers [Third]

Employment Creation/Investors [Fifth]

E3, EW3 Certain Special Immigrants: [Fourth]

SD, SR Religious Workers

Other Immigrants

DV Diversity Immigrant Visa

SB Returning Resident

Venezuelan Specific Topics

- Direct Consular Filing (DCF)

- Consular Processing

- Venezuelan Consulates/Embassies in the US

- Venezuelan Consulates/Embassies Closed Down in the US

- Venezuelan Consulates/Embassies in Miami

- Venezuelan Passports

- Venezuelan / Dual Citizenship

- Remesa Familiar

- Remesa Estudiantil

- CADIVI

- Currency Exchange

- Moving from Venezuela to the US (shipping/currency/pets, etc)

- Venezuelan Police Certificates (Antecedentes Penales)

- Required Documents and where to find them, translate them, apostille...

Since there are a variety of topics, please be specific about your case when you ask a question/comment, It is very helpful if you create and maintain a timeline, and/or have your timeline in your signature.

Please write in English if you know english so others can search and find a topic inside this forum.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

This is great! but I would definitely add a few tips because venezuela works quite different from the rest of the embassies

[VZLAN-US-Citizen 11]

This is great! but I would definitely add a few tips because venezuela works quite different from the rest of the embassies

Yes, Andrea&Henry, that is exactly what we need. Do you have any current information on the process in the Venezuelan Embassy? I see you got your K1 visa, but that was 2012. Do you have any information on the current process you can share?

[VZLAN-US-Citizen 11]

Andrea&Henry,

I see you have your US Citizenship interview soon, how exciting. I got my citizenship in 2012. Do you know anything about the new rules in Venezuela for people like you and I with Dual Citizenship. I think we need to get a Visa in order to visit Venezuela once we become US Citizens, which is crazy. Also, do you plan on petitioning for any other family members once you become a Citizen yourself?

[Andrea&Henry 311]

Andrea&Henry,

I see you have your US Citizenship interview soon, how exciting. I got my citizenship in 2012. Do you know anything about the new rules in Venezuela for people like you and I with Dual Citizenship. I think we need to get a Visa in order to visit Venezuela once we become US Citizens, which is crazy. Also, do you plan on petitioning for any other family members once you become a Citizen yourself?

Yes, unless you have a venezuelan passport, all venezuelan trying to go back home using a US passport they must have a visa.

Im so excited about my citizenship but no I'm not planning to petition for any family member. My entire family lives in Spain since 2009 and they all hold spaniard passport. My husband filed a petition for his biological dad and step mom late 2013 and they moved on February 2015. It was a long long process

[Andrea&Henry 311]

Andrea&Henry,

I see you have your US Citizenship interview soon, how exciting. I got my citizenship in 2012. Do you know anything about the new rules in Venezuela for people like you and I with Dual Citizenship. I think we need to get a Visa in order to visit Venezuela once we become US Citizens, which is crazy. Also, do you plan on petitioning for any other family members once you become a Citizen yourself?

Yes, unless you have a venezuelan passport, all venezuelan trying to go back home using a US passport they must have a visa.

Im so excited about my citizenship but no I'm not planning to petition for any family member. My entire family lives in Spain since 2009 and they all hold spaniard passport. My husband filed a petition for his biological dad and step mom late 2013 and they moved on February 2015. It was a long long process

[Nana1978 3]

Hi, I have a question for you

My older son is still living in Venezuela with my parents. His dad was MIA and it took us forever to get his passport through court, finally we got all court documents and applied for him. My husband filed form I-130. We just got the NOA saying they received all his petition 2 weeks ago. My lawyer says the whole process (just because he is a minor and his mom and siblings are here) would take about 6-8 months. I think she is being pretty optimistic since I have seen here people waiting more than a year for an I-130 approval before sending it to NVC.

Have you deal with a similar situation? My lawyer says children are like an special category different than spouses and parents. But I'm afraid she just told me that to calm me down a bit.

Can you explain how the process works? I'm so nervous, I want to take him out of the country as soon as possible. The picture is getting worst for Venezuela every single day. Besides my dad is battling bladder cancer and he needs time for his own recovery. My son needs his mom, his stepdad and his brothers

[VZLAN-US-Citizen 11]

Hi, I have a question for you

My older son is still living in Venezuela with my parents. His dad was MIA and it took us forever to get his passport through court, finally we got all court documents and applied for him. My husband filed form I-130. We just got the NOA saying they received all his petition 2 weeks ago. My lawyer says the whole process (just because he is a minor and his mom and siblings are here) would take about 6-8 months. I think she is being pretty optimistic since I have seen here people waiting more than a year for an I-130 approval before sending it to NVC.

Have you deal with a similar situation? My lawyer says children are like an special category different than spouses and parents. But I'm afraid she just told me that to calm me down a bit.

Can you explain how the process works? I'm so nervous, I want to take him out of the country as soon as possible. The picture is getting worst for Venezuela every single day. Besides my dad is battling bladder cancer and he needs time for his own recovery. My son needs his mom, his stepdad and his brothers

Nana1978,

Thank you for joining the thread. Before I answer your question I need to know a little bit more about your case in particular. For example, how old is your son? Are you a Green Card Holder or a US Citizen? Who filed the application, you or your husband? Is he a US Citizen? Was your son adopted by your husband? What basis did you file the I-130 under? All these are factors that play into the time you will have to wait. Also, the place where you filed has impact on the time it takes, too. You should fill out a timeline for your son's case here on VJ and look at similar timelines.

I have never seen anyone wait over a year for I-130 approval, mostly 6 months, unless you get a Request for Evidence which can extend that time a bit. I got a Request For Evidence and I was still approved in less than 6 months.

Let me know what your I-130 involved and I can explain a bit more about how long it might take.

M

[Nana1978 3]

My son is 11 years old, I'm a GC holder but my husband is the petitioner, he is a US Citizen. He was not adopted. He petitioned him like an immediate relative (stepchildren and own children are the same for USCIS cases) We lived in Seattle,WA. Our case is in Texas right now. I received the NOA last week.

I'm so worried about what's going on in Venezuela right now, I just want to take him out. I was wondering if I can expedite my process or if I should contact my congressman asking for help.

[VZLAN-US-Citizen 11]

My son is 11 years old, I'm a GC holder but my husband is the petitioner, he is a US Citizen. He was not adopted. He petitioned him like an immediate relative (stepchildren and own children are the same for USCIS cases) We lived in Seattle,WA. Our case is in Texas right now. I received the NOA last week.

I'm so worried about what's going on in Venezuela right now, I just want to take him out. I was wondering if I can expedite my process or if I should contact my congressman asking for help.

Nana1978,

Thank you for the extra info. You can check the USCIS processing times on this website:

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplayInit.do;jsessionid=bacXD1OC9RCyFagQNRyeu

On the bottom you will see a drop down menu to select your Service Center, I went ahead and checked the Texas Service Center (I hope that is what you meant when you said your case was in Texas), and then you can see the Texas time table, in which it states the following for:

FormTitle Classification or Basis for Filing: Processing Cases As Of Date:

I-102 Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival/Departure Record Initial issuance or replacement of a Form I-94 January 17, 2016

I-129F Petition for Alien Fiance(e) K-1/K-2 - Not yet married - fiance and/or dependent child November 3, 2015

I-129F Petition for Alien Fiance(e) K-3/K-4 - Already married - spouse and/or dependent child November 3, 2015

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative Permanent resident filling for a spouse or child under 21 November 3, 2015

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21 November 3, 2015

[Nana1978 3]

Nana1978,

Thank you for the extra info. You can check the USCIS processing times on this website:

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplayInit.do;jsessionid=bacXD1OC9RCyFagQNRyeu

On the bottom you will see a drop down menu to select your Service Center, I went ahead and checked the Texas Service Center (I hope that is what you meant when you said your case was in Texas), and then you can see the Texas time table, in which it states the following for:

FormTitle Classification or Basis for Filing: Processing Cases As Of Date:

I-102 Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival/Departure Record Initial issuance or replacement of a Form I-94 January 17, 2016

I-129F Petition for Alien Fiance(e) K-1/K-2 - Not yet married - fiance and/or dependent child November 3, 2015

I-129F Petition for Alien Fiance(e) K-3/K-4 - Already married - spouse and/or dependent child November 3, 2015

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative Permanent resident filling for a spouse or child under 21 November 3, 2015

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21 November 3, 2015

Thank you for the information.

How long does it takes after the process is moved to NVC? I mean how long it takes to send it to Caracas and schedule an interview?

[VZLAN-US-Citizen 11]

My son is 11 years old, I'm a GC holder but my husband is the petitioner, he is a US Citizen. He was not adopted. He petitioned him like an immediate relative (stepchildren and own children are the same for USCIS cases) We lived in Seattle,WA. Our case is in Texas right now. I received the NOA last week.

I'm so worried about what's going on in Venezuela right now, I just want to take him out. I was wondering if I can expedite my process or if I should contact my congressman asking for help.

Nana1978,

Thank you for providing the additional information. You can always check the processing times under the "Tools" tab on the USCIS website https://www.uscis.gov/... It will take you to this site: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplayInit.do;jsessionid=bacXD1OC9RCyFagQNRyeu, at the very bottom of that page you can select your Field Office, Service Center, National Benefits Center (also known as MSC) , Immigrant Investor Program Office (also known as EB-5) , International Operations Offices... I assume when you say Texas that your case is currently at the Texas Service Center, so that is what I chose on the drop down menu next to Service Center, and then clicked on the Service Center Processing Dates button. It redirects you to another page, and that is where I saw the following information:

Form Title Classification or Basis for Filing: Processing Cases As Of Date: I-130 Petition for Alien Relative U.S. citizen filing for a spouse, parent, or child under 21 November 3, 2015

What this means is that currently, for cases of US citizens filing for children under 21 they are working on cases that they received on November 3rd, 2015. This means that it is currently taking 198 days Or 6 months, 16 days excluding the end date to process cases like yours.

M

[VZLAN-US-Citizen 11]

Thank you for the information.

How long does it takes after the process is moved to NVC? I mean how long it takes to send it to Caracas and schedule an interview?

Sorry about the double reply, I wasn't finished and I guess I hit send the first time.

I think it is mostly up to you how long it takes. If you have EVERYTHING ready by the time the USCIS approves the first stage (the I-130), it doesn't take that long to go through the NVC process. I would say it might take a total of 3 months. You have to wait a couple of weeks for USCIS to send everything to NVC then get a letter, then go online, then pay fees, then wait for form to open online, then fill out form, then send all the required documentation to NVC... Then THEY take about 30 days to review all the information, and hopefully, if it's all perfect, they approve it and schedule your son's interview at the embassy in Venezuela, and that could take up to a month to get, so I would plan conservatively for around 3 months. They key is that you should be on top of your stuff, and get EVERYTHING ready in time. Also, you can use the situation in Venezuela to expedite your case once it goes to NVC, I'm sure your case would be easy to get it expedite considering your situation. You can read the very first post in this thread for a link to the same thread for 2015, where someone posted about how to get their case expedited using the situation in Venezuela as the reason. But you have more reasons like your son is only 11, and your dad's situation, I think combining all three you could probably get your case expedited as well.

Good luck with everything and let us know if you have any more questions and if you need help with anything else.

M