ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
USCIS Service CentersWhy are they still in august?

To those who filed in Jan, Feb.. Hopefully also Dec . You won't be waiting 6 - 7 months. Don't worry, 4 - 5, plausible, 6+, no.

Reason:

Processing times at the service centers vary greatly from month to month. In the past few years, processing times at CSC have varied from 3 - 7 months. Jul 10 filers waited an average of 7 months, Feb filters that same year barely waited 3 months. Don't let a service center backlog scare you too much. It happens every year, and when they finally get to working on the backlog, things usually speed up drastically.

They spent approx 2 months just working on July petitions, meanwhile, they're finishing August petitions now within 3 Weeks.

They move people around constantly. In the fall of 2011, they had very few people working on I-130s, now, it seems like they have a lot more. Check out my CSC trend charts thread in the I-130 progress forum.

Btw, you cannot move your petition from CSC to VSC.


Thanks for the encouragement. It really helps. I filed our petition around the same time as you!
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-03-15 05:26:00
Africa: Sub-SaharanSo has anyone considered moving to Africa instead of living here in America

do some countries in Africa share a common currency like Europe does with the euro..

or does each county have their own..


Many of the French speaking West African countries share a common currency, the West African CFA franc.
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-02-11 09:45:00
Africa: Sub-SaharanPolice Certificate from Gambia

Thanks for the reply. He left yesterday for Gambia. So hopefully he won't have any problems.


Just an update. He got the certificate from Gambia and is on his way back home to Dakar. We now have all the forms we need. Now we just wait for the NVC to assign our case number and send the invoice for payment.
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-06-16 07:44:00
Africa: Sub-SaharanPolice Certificate from Gambia

I know it may be a bit of inconvenience, but I would suggest he go with his document to Gambia an obtain in person.


Thanks for the reply. He left yesterday for Gambia. So hopefully he won't have any problems.
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-06-14 07:32:00
Africa: Sub-SaharanPolice Certificate from Gambia
Hello All!

Wondering if anyone has ever had to get a police certificate from Gambia. My husband is Senegalese, but went to university in Gambia, so he has to submit police certificates for both Senegal and Gambia.

However, we have been having trouble getting the Gambian certificate. We live in Senegal, so we asked his cousin, who lives in Gambia for assistance. The cousin went to the police station in Gambia and originally he was told we only needed the tariff and a copy of my husband's ID to obtain the police certificate. However, after we sent that info to his cousin, we were told that he also needs either a Gambian birth certificate or some sort of Alliance paperwork before the certificate can be issued.

Of course my husband does not have a Gambian birth certificate since he was born in Senegal and he no longer has has Alliance paperwork as it's been six years since he last lived in Gambia.

Would anyone have any other suggestions for obtaining the police certificate from Gambia? Is there another option if we are unable to get the police certificate?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Edited by Rock & Ameth, 13 June 2012 - 09:23 AM.

Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-06-13 09:21:00
Africa: Sub-SaharanYou know you're Husband is African when.......

When you just can't get straigt who is really related to who and how. He has 21 siblings and he keeps telling me when he hangs up the phone " I was talking to my brother" when I ask him which one , it is some 3rd cousin twice removed at best. And then you get to "uncles" no wonder Lagos is a high fraud consulate. They are applying their relationship rules to our immigration forms. :bonk:


LOL! We have this problem too! I've lived with my husband in his home country, Senegal, for almost two years now and we are always running into one of his "uncle" all over the city. But I found a way to beat him at this game. Now I ask, "This is your father's (or mother's) brother (or sister)?" Then he will say "No, it's the cousin of my grandfather." (Or uncle of his father's cousin's sister's brother.)

One thing that I thought would be difficult to explain is that I have two sisters and a brother but I am my mother's only child. Something people at home in the U.S. just don't get. But I've never had to really explain it in Senegal, where same father, different mothers is the norm.

1.Your husband keeps at the ready passport pics.



After two years of living in Senegal - I'm the one that does this now! I have passport sized photos in my wallet right now for both of us!
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-08-02 20:05:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)AUGUST CASES...ANYBODY WITH A INTERVIEW YET?
It's been 6 1/2 weeks since our case completed and we still do not have an interview date. :(
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-09-05 07:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsWhat a fine gift...
Congrats!
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-04-12 18:49:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhich address to use?
Just an update with an additional question.

My mother is now doing better. She will finish her treatment at the end of April. At which time I would like to return to our home (and my husband) in Dakar. I am just wondering if this is a good idea.

Will my returning to Senegal reflect negatively in any way or delay the process (we rec'd NOA1 on Feb 13 and our paperwork is currently awaiting processing at the CSC)? If I do return, should I submit a change of address (to our Dakar address) or keep the address listed as my mother's address?

Thoughts from others who have a similar experience would be appreciated. Thanks!
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-03-24 04:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhich address to use?

My suggestion to you is to use your mother's address even though it will be temporary. By using her address, you will receive any correspondence from USCIS there instead of having it sent to Senegal.

Sorry to hear of your mom's cancer diagnosis.


Thank you Ryan and congrats to you and your family!
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-02-04 04:40:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhich address to use?
Hello all:

This is my first post of what I am sure will be many. I have found the forum and community to be extremely helpful as my husband and I begin our journey. I will be filling our petition (I-130) next week, but I have what may be a simple question.

My husband is Senegalese and I am American. We both live in his home country and have lived together here since before we were married more than a year ago (our 1st anniversary was Dec. 2011). We have made the decision to move to the U.S. and originally thought we would both remain in Senegal until he received his visa. Unfortunately, my mother was recently diagnosed with cancer and as I am her only child, we have decided it would be best if I return home now to assist her during her treatment.

My question for the community is what address do I use on the I-130 and 325 forms? My husband and I have an apartment in Senegal that has both our names on the leasing contract, but I will be living with my mother temporarily starting next week.

What address is the best to use?

Thanks in advance for your responses.
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-02-04 04:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresForms to send to NVC - Verification

He took his passport, the letter from NVC with his case number, just in case, and 2 photos. We did the K1, so we turned in I134 at the interview. They didnt even ask for taxes, or letter of employment.


Ok. Great. He is in Gambia at the moment, but he will call the doctor on return to Dakar.
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-06-16 07:45:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresForms to send to NVC - Verification

Since we filed k1, I can only give you some information on the medical part. My fiance saw Dr. Rahmi. You can dind his info under the consulate information. Medicals are good for one year. Emmy went for his medical about 2 weeks after the embassy received his case. But that was because he was waiting for his police report. He said he didn't need an appt. The doctor told him to come for. The results at least 5 business days before the interview.



Thank you for the reply. This is good news. I'll let my husband know to call Dr. Rahmi. Did your husband have to take any forms or other information besides his ID/Passport?

Also, a side question, did you email or post mail form I-864 to your fiance to include in his package to the NVC? I'm not sure if an emailed copy will be accepted since I have to sign the form then scan it in to email.

So good to hear the success of others in the region!
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-06-14 08:28:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresForms to send to NVC - Verification
Hello All!

We rec'd our NOA 2 approval letter (via email & text) June 2012 and have been patiently waiting for our NVC case number to be assisgned so we can move forward with the next step.

I've been reading LingChe's NVC Shortcut guide on the wiki to make sure we have everything prepared when the time comes. According to the guide we should have:

  • Form DS-230
  • Form I-864 (with support documents: United States Tax Returns for years 2011, 2010, 2009)
  • Original marriage certificate
  • Photocopy of marriage certificate
  • Original birth certificate of applicant
  • Photocopy of applicant’s birth certificate
  • Photocopy of applicant’s passport bio page
  • Two passport size photos of applicant
  • Certificate of Clearance - Senegal
  • Certificate of Clearance - Gambia

But I am wondering what documents to send to verify my 2012 income. I am self-employed and have contracts with my clients. Should I send in all contracts (about 3 so far) with clients to verify income? Will these be accepted? These contracts - except for one - are documents I have created on my business letterhead. My tax returns verify my self-employed status.

Will these contracts be enough or should I include additional supporting materials?

One bonus question: How soon can my husband schedule his medical exam? Does he have to wait until he actually has an interview scheduled or is that something he can do while we are waiting?

Thank you all for your assistance. This process has only be easy because of your support!
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-06-14 07:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSending AOS and IV package together - Is this okay?
My husband submitted our DS-3032 via email last week, but we have not received a response letting us know if it was accepted or not. However, our AOS bill/invoice was generated yesterday. We paid it yesterday and it shows as "Paid" today.

I know I can send in my AOS package now, but I would also like to send in the IV package. Is it okay to send the IV package with the AOS package? Or should I send in the AOS package now and wait until our IV bill/invoice has been generated & paid before sending the IV package?

Any advice?
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-07-11 13:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresJob offer in another country while awaiting interview assignment for U.S. visa
Googling now!
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-08-23 14:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresJob offer in another country while awaiting interview assignment for U.S. visa
Thanks everyone. The new job would actually assist in obtaining visas for both of us to Poland. But I broke down and called the NVC to ask what to do this morning. They said we would both just submit a change of address and they would forward our info to the U.S. Embassy in Poland. My husband would then just wait for an interview there instead of in his home country.

Since I don't anticipate any difficulty with either of us getting visas (I'll be working for an international NGO with lots of experience acquiring visas for accompanying family members), we will probably go that route. Then we will just make sure to visit the U.S. within 6 months.

Thanks again for all the good feedback!
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-08-23 12:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresJob offer in another country while awaiting interview assignment for U.S. visa

How long will you be at the postion in Poland.

Option1. Postpond the interview up to a year....no GC, so he would need a visa to visit the US.

Option2.. Continue with the interview, have him POE in the US and stay with family and friends until he receives his GC. Not sure how he will be able to enter Poland.

Option3..Hubby goes to Poland, and if you and hubby have establish residence 6 months later, than have the interview in Poland by having he case transferred to the Poland consular.


Thank you for the reply. Option 3 sounds the best I think. The job will assist with Polish visas for both of us, but I am not sure if they will assist him with the visa after I have already arrived. I know I should call the NVC or the embassy to be sure -- but even then things are not sure. Either way it will be option 2 or 3.

Thanks again! It's a big help.
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-08-23 05:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresJob offer in another country while awaiting interview assignment for U.S. visa
I apologize in advance for the double posting. I originally posted this in the August NVC Filers thread, but it was suggested I create a separate post for it.

---

Just got notified that I passed a rigorous recruitment process and have been selected for a position in ... POLAND!!! Now what do we do?

I wouldn't have to start the new position for 3-4 weeks to give me enough time to prepare for the move, but I don't know what to do about the visa process. We've already spent 7 months processing all the paperwork and are in the final stages (our case completed at NVC more than four weeks ago and we are just awaiting an interview date from the U.S. Embassy in Senegal, my husband's home country). Can we still continue with the process even if we plan on moving to Poland for temporarily?

If we haven't received our interview date from the embassy in Senegal, can we request an interview at the embassy in Poland? If we wait for the interview in his home country and he gets approved, how long will he have to make POE in the U.S.? Would it be ok if he went to Poland before going to the U.S.? Would he need to do another medical exam before POE?

Sorry for all the questions. I'm scared to call the NVC with questions for fear of further delaying the process. Maybe I'll give them one more week to schedule the interview before I start bombarding them with all these questions.

Any suggestions would be helpful!
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-08-22 18:45:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow do we know if my husband has conditional status?

Thanks Amy Kathleen! His card expires in 10 years so I guess they caught the error when they processed our paperwork!


Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2013-08-13 00:24:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow do we know if my husband has conditional status?

At the airport on POE, the customs officer stamped his visa with the conditional stamp.  However, at the time we mentioned to him that it was a mistake because we had been married for more than two years.  He said we had to be married two years at the time the visa was ISSUED not when my husband entered the U.S.

 

My husband's visa was issued in Jan 2013, our two year anniversary was Mar 2013 and we travelled together to the U.S. in April 2013.

 

After getting settled in we actually went to an INS office to ask about the mistake and the INS official confirmed that a mistake was made, but that she could not help us because we were not in the system yet. She told us to check back after the green card was received.  

 

When the green card came in the mail, there was nothing that mentioned my husband having conditional status. Is there something on the card that we should look for that may say if he is a conditional resident? How can we tell?

 


Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2013-08-12 23:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresUSC petitioner living abroad

You wouldn't have requested expedited processing. There appears to be a trend at USCIS to quickly process petitions (without any request made) filed by US Citizens who live abroad and DCF is unavailable in the country the petitioner lives in. Your case (5 days from NOA1 to NOA2) is another example of this trend.


I didn't know this was possible. When I filed our I-130 at the beginning of February, I actually used my mother's address as my address because I am in the U.S. for 4 months taking care of her while she is sick. I plan to return to our home in Senegal at the end of May. Should I have used our address in Senegal for expedited processing? Will it hinder (slow down) the processing if I update the address to our address in Senegal when I return?
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-04-04 14:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNOA dated february 2012
I don't have anything concrete to share, but just wanted to add that I also received my NOA1 the early part of February 2012 and still waiting. So take a bit of solace in knowing they haven't skipped over you - just haven't gotten to our apps yet. :)
Rock & AmFemaleSenegal2012-05-07 07:07:00