ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFile I-130
Who's the petitioner? Who's the beneficiary?

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Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2009-10-28 11:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIR-1 Warsaw Embassy
QUOTE (antenka @ Oct 27 2009, 03:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Could someone please inform me about the exact procedures after filing I-130 for a spouse living outside the US? Our problem is as follows:
my husband filed I-130 for me in US on Oct 13, 2009
he received NOA1 on Oct 22.
I am in Poland and since I've got a valid tourist visa I want to go to him in November and stay there 2 or 3 months. However, I don't know whether I would need to show up in the US embassy in Warsaw in the meantime. Should I stay and wait for instructions or can I go as, practically, in the nearest 2-3 months I won't be asked to show up in the embassy? How was it in your case?

Thanks in advance for any advice.


It all depends on your husband. Now that the I-130 has been approved, it will be transferred to the National Visa Center for processing. They will ask for a Choice of Agent which is the person you decide will receive all correspondence from the NVC, usually the petitioner, in your case your husband. You can still come to the US with your tourist visa and delay the process at the NVC. The way to delay it is by not sending the documents or payments they request right away, take your time with it and slow it down. The process without using any shortcuts can take up to 3 months, by the time you're done at the NVC you can go back to Poland for your interview.

Diana

Mononoke28FemaleColombia2009-10-27 16:57:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIs a Tax Return the same as the 1040????
The tax return is the 1040 (or similar form) but it is not valid for immigration purposes without the corresponding W2 forms that are needed to file taxes. You need to submit copies of both. If the W2s are not available then a tax transcript is your next option. As Malrothien said, you can get them for free by calling the IRS.

Diana

Edited by Mononoke28, 27 October 2009 - 12:34 PM.

Mononoke28FemaleColombia2009-10-27 12:34:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurestaxes
QUOTE (vaney mario @ Nov 4 2009, 04:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'm getting my taxes ready now. It's a bit early since I only got my NOA1 on Oct.5. My question is do I need the last 3 years of returns from now or from when the interview might be.

Thanks

You will only need the returns for the past 3 years from the moment they request them. If you choose to go for the CR1/IR1 visa, then it's from the moment the NVC requests them. If you go with the K3, then it's from the moment the case is sent to the embassy.

By the way, I strongly suggest going the CR1/IR1 path instead of the K3, especially since you're going through Bogotá. The difference in processing is only of about a month or two and it's a lot less expensive as well.

Diana

Mononoke28FemaleColombia2009-11-04 18:45:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureshelp please!
When we were at the NVC I called them on a daily basis just in case the status had changed. You don't need to speak to a customer service rep to find out, the IVR will let you know automatically if they've completed your case.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2009-11-04 13:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurestravel on CR1----pre green card 551 stamp
QUOTE (wayno @ Nov 10 2009, 11:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What exactly is the 551 stamp! My wife arrived here in the U.S. in mid october. She still has not recieved anything (green card, ss#). The lady at the embassy said for her not to travel until she recieves the green card. Upon arrival the immigration officer said she can travel.
I hear alot about a 551 stamp in the passport to allow permission but I'm not sure exactly what that is. She has nothing that says 551! Just a regular entrance stamp which is partly on her visa but mostly on the corresponding page in her passport. Instead of a date written in they wrote in CR1. Is this what they mean by the 551 stamp to allow travel or is that something else.
Looks like I picked up a ride in Costa Rica for the next several month's and need to be leaving next week. I don't want her to have any problems when we return.

On a similar note, has anyone had someone deliver their green card to them in another country so it could be used on arrival?


If she arrived with a CR or IR visa she has to have that stamp on her passport. It's her legal evidence to prove that she has permanent residency. It has her A# and date of expiration on it. If she doesn't have it, then make an Infopass appointment with your local USCIS to get one.

The green card takes anywhere from 2-8 weeks to arrive.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2009-11-10 14:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow long does it take after sending I864 packet.
QUOTE (nyankee @ Nov 3 2009, 04:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I sent the i864 packet on october 29th, and got there the next day friday. How long till i know if it got approved or not? IF i get invoiced for the IV bill, does that mean my I864 got approved? I only got till december 19th before i leave the country, so just need to know if i'll have any luck getting this done before that.


There's two different paths at the NVC. The first path is DS-3032 which generates the IV Bill which generates the DS-230. The second path is the AOS fee bill which generates the I-864. So you're done with one of the paths, you still have the other one to complete.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2009-11-03 18:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow long from NVC all docs in to case complete?
QUOTE (BRB @ Nov 18 2009, 04:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
How long after your NVC case entered DS230 to "case complete"? They say on the NVC line to wait 6 to 8 weeks but I do not think it is taking near that long. Can someone let me know how long it took them? My case was entered with all the documents on Nov 12th. Trying to plan trip back to see wife and bring her back if everything is completed.

Thanks


They take about 1-2 weeks to complete your case after they're received every single document. They also make appointments with the embassies during the first two weeks of the month for all completed cases for the following month. This means that if your case is completed within the next two weeks, they will most likely make an appointment during the first two weeks of December for January.

Diana

Mononoke28FemaleColombia2009-11-18 18:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI130 G322a question
QUOTE (JeNiaz @ Nov 19 2009, 09:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Should I fill out my papers with my married name?
In NY on the marriage certificate it states that I have legally changed my name. My passport still has my maiden name but I am going to see to get that changed.

On my husbands G325a it asks for an A number. My husband is a naturalized citizen and on his citizen certificate he has an A number on there. Should I include that number?

Also, on all of the questions that did not apply I states N/A and NOT none is this going to become a problem?

Thanks in advance.

JeNiaz


If you want to change your last name to your husband's, then from now on all you have to do is fill out every document with your new name.

Yes, enter your husband's A# on his G325A.

If the question does not apply, the N/A should do it.

Diana

Mononoke28FemaleColombia2009-11-19 12:22:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresInterview at El Salvador.
QUOTE (Ivylizih @ Dec 2 2009, 11:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi, I'm kind of new to this great site and I'm hopefully almost done with this whole process but would like to post anyways. My husband is having his first interview at El Salvador's US embassy on Dec. 10. He just had his medical exams done and has everything ready. I'm kind of nervous because you never really know what to expect from these people. I will be posting how the whole interview process went. Good luck to everyone !! wink.gif


Good luck! good.gif

Diana

Mononoke28FemaleColombia2009-12-02 13:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresgreen card arrival question
It takes the USCIS about 2-7 weeks to enter all of his info in their database and send out his green card. But it wouldn't hurt to call just in case. You can simply call the USCIS' 800 # for that.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2008-11-11 13:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresnvc complete my case, interview ?
Maybe, like Malrothien said, it depends on how many interviews the embassy already has scheduled. So be prepared to have an interview in either late March or early April.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-01-25 14:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFilling out DS 230.Do not know mother's date of birth

My spouse is presently filling out DS 230.Unfortunately he does not know his mother's date of birth and weather if she is dead or alive..[sad..his mother left him with his dad at age 4]. Should spouse put NA or Do Not KNOW?


I would write Unknown since that's the God's honest truth.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-01-25 14:16:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresStill confused about what gets sent where..

No quiero hinchar las pelotas!
But I have yet another question...
I want to thank you all for your help and patience.

Am re-reading the LING CHE NVC Shortcut (amazing) and am still unsure as to where the post NOA2 packet goes. NVC? Brought to the embassy? Both?

I'm sorta confused because I am lucky enough to live abroad with my husband so when it says the petitioner must have it I'm unsure whether that means in the US or if I take it to the embassy? (Please forgive my slowness) Or if my husband takes it?

Help!


I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you asking where is the NOA2 (approval of form I-130) sent to? If so, the USCIS mails it to the petitioner, in this case you, the US citizen.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-01-27 17:16:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat happens once in the U.S?

Hi can anyone please tell me what kind of questions they ask you at the airport once i land in the U.S? We applied for the immigrant visa I-130 and then the DS-230 and was accepted. I'm now awaiting our passport and visa pack to be returned apparently 7-10 business days. I'm currently living in the UK and married for 3 years to my husband who is American. Once

My question is, will we have another interview again at the airport? What kind of questions do they ask? I know that they will take us to the secondary processing area but is that just a formality? Or will we need all the info that we needed when being interviewed at the U S embassy in London? i know i'm probably worrying for nothing but thats what i do, i'm a worrier.

Are there any do's and don'ts? Has anyone had any experience with this?

Thanks alot!


When you arrive at the airport you will be taken to a separate area to process your entry, that's when your IR1 visa will expire. They won't give you another interview but will ask basic questions to make sure that the info written on the documents that are inside the yellow envelope are correct. They will then stamp your passport with the I-551 stamp which will be your temporary "green card" until the real one arrives in the mail. They also took my husband's fingerprint, another picture and asked him to sign some things and that was that.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-01-29 12:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSocial Security Card and Employment

hello all,

My wife has the CR-1 Visa interview on the 18th of February =) .

When she gets to the USA What forms and information do I need to get her a social security card?
How soon can she obtain employment in the US?
Approximately how long does it take for her to be eligible to go visit her family in Colombia?

Thank you in advance for your responses.

:dance:


If you checked the SS box on the DS-230, she should be getting her SS card in the mail after the USCIS enters all her information in the system which can take anywhere from 2-8 weeks. The SSA will not issue her a number unless the USCIS is done entering her info. After she enters the US, she should be getting her green card in the mail 2-8 weeks later and then she'll get her SS card in the mail as well. If a week or two has passed after she receives her green card and her SS card is nowhere in sight, go to your local SSA office to find out what happened, you may need to file for one.

As for employment, she will need both, her green card and SS # or card in hand.

The day she enters the US, the Immigration officer will stamp her passport with stamp I-551, this is her temporary green card which is valid for 1 year or until she gets her green card in the mail. She can go to Colombia and come back any day she wants.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-02-02 13:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAOS fee bill online
You need to get an IIN from the NVC so you can pay it online. Once you do, you can go to their online payment link and pay for you bill there.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2008-07-21 16:14:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHELP!!! Can I go ahead???
The IV bill doesn't have anything to do with the I-864 so you can pay it now. There are two paths you have to take when going through the NVC process:

1. The DS-3032 generates the IV Bill which then generates the DS-230.

2. The AOS fee generates the I-864

When both paths are completed they will complete the case and make the appointment with the embassy.


Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-02-11 18:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduressubmitting marriage certificate for ds 230

well, I have only one now, one from US, but we haven't filed our marriage license in my wife's country yet. and i think my wife's country also issue marriage certificate (sort of) although in very different form.

so I guess to rephrase my question, do we need to file marriage license in my wife's country before we submit ds 230, or is it even necessary for the whole visa processing?

thank you.


You will only need to submit the first marriage certificate, the one that says you're married, which in your case is the one you got in the US, that's all the USCIS or NVC will care about.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-02-19 13:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduressubmitting marriage certificate for ds 230

Hi,

when submit ds 230, do we just include marriage certificate from the US, or do I have to include marriage certificate from my spouse's country?

thank you..,


How many marriage certificates do you have? You should only have one. :huh:

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-02-19 13:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPetitioning while not a US citizen

Hello,

I was just reading the guide for CR-1 and few things came to my mind.

1) The guide states that copies of birth certificate or copies of passport of US citizen should accompany I-130. I thought a Green Card holder can also submit a petition. Am I wrong?

2) My wife came to the US as a refugee and is currently a green card holder. She fled the country with her parents when she was 3 years old and after many years in a third country, she was admitted to the US as a refugee. Hence, she never had a passport from that country. The only document she ever had was the birth certificate which she has lost.

If she was to submit an I-130, what would you say she must do if she does not have a passport and a birth certificate?

FYI, we are aware that I-130 submitted by a LPR are subject to numerical limit for visa availability and, therefore, can take very long to be approved.

thanks


A legal permanent resident can file an I-130 for his or her spouse and all they would need to send is a copy of their green card.

I am curious to know how you were able to get married if she's never had a copy of her birth certificate or passport?

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-02-19 13:25:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAOS paid
You can follow the shortcuts and either generate your own coversheet or if he made the payment online, he can print the coversheet that will be needed to send along the I-864.

LingChe's Shortcuts


Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-02-24 18:34:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAfter Visa, do i need to keep all of the paperwork?
I tossed everything out except for the obvious important documents such as marriage certificate, birth certificates, those kinds of things. All evidence was thrown away as well as my husband's x-ray which was never needed after the interview.

I'm not a fan of keeping unnecessary #######. :)

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-02-24 14:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresthese days and the new rule
It really depends on two things, the service center and the country the beneficiary is located because in Colombia for example there isn't much difference between a K1 or CR1/IR1 visa.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-02-25 13:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAOS Fee of $70 for tax form review

whew!!!! -- thanks Darnell -- interview is within a couple of weeks and yes am in usa and we initiated all apps in usa


The $70 fee is for people who have to be processed by the NVC and then later have an appointment at the US Embassy. Since you're Adjusting Status, you only pay for the I-130 and for the AOS, meaning the $1,010.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-02-25 17:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFrustrated with the whole process
Also, remember that the CSC is a lot faster than the VSC and they usually approve these kind of petitions within 3-5 months or so. So that's a good thing.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-02-24 18:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFrustrated with the whole process
It is a blessing in disguise, trust me. It is not worth your time and money to file for a K3 when there isn't much difference in processing time. Now, if the difference was a huge gap like 3, 5, or even 10 months then yes, bummer. But it is not a big deal. On top of that, your husband will be getting his green card and SS card a few weeks after he arrives which means he can go out and get his DL whenever he wants, he can get a job right away, he can travel freely outside the US and not worry about what he needs to re-enter, etc. AND, you will be saving a lot more money.

So, there is nothing negative about having to wait a week or so more for a CR1. Not a thing.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-02-24 14:23:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow long??? ;(

It is DS3032 ... there is also bill for $70 ...

But we didn't call them and give our e-mail adresses. Is it wrong?


Take LingChe's Shortcuts which make a huge difference, especially now that you can pay both bills, the AOS and IV Bill online.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-02-26 14:32:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurescr1 visa
Same here. I filed about 3 weeks after we got married but only because I had to travel back to the US; otherwise, I would've filed the day we had received our marriage certificate. :)


Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-03-02 12:10:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresLost - Questions RE: LingChe NVC ShortCut
As soon as my husband's petition was approved by the USCIS and sent to the NVC I told him to send me all the necessary documents so that I could have them ready whenever they asked for them. That's the great advantage of reading everything before it happens so you're ready. If you choose to be the Choice of Agent you can have your wife send you everything, including forms DS-3032 and DS-230 so you can have them ready for when the NVC asks for them. It saves a lot of time.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-02-24 18:30:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresthe i-130 package
You'll find better info in LingChe's Shortcuts.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-03-05 15:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIR1/CR1
No, for CR1/IR1 visas you do not get an e-mail from the embassy but the NVC forwards the case to them as soon as they make the appointment for the interview. If you want to be sure you can call them or e-mail them to find out if they have it, but they should have it by the 13th of April.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-03-11 15:06:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNVC has received my forms. Do i need to send copies to my spouse
Since I attended my husband's interview I brought a copy of every single document we sent the USCIS and the NVC just in case they were missing anything. Luckily they had it all with them at the embassy but it felt comforting knowing we came prepared to the interview.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-03-17 13:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCan I work once I get in with my CR-1 Visa
Exactly. As far as Immigration goes the I-551 stamp is all she needs to get a job & re-enter the US if she needs to leave, and it is valid for 1 year. All she would need to get is her SSN and that's that. But a physical permanent resident card is not needed to get a job.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-03-19 14:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPregenant wife of USC get IR1 visa in India?
If you have a straigthforward case and go prepared, everything should go well. As far as traveling, she needs to check with the airline to see what their policy is for someone flying while pregnant.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-03-19 16:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDecember 2007 I-130 filers
You should check other people's timelines going for the same type of visa and location the forms were sent out to, because I think your wait could be more than 90 days.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2008-01-08 11:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDAS police records

Hello all, I paid the $400 for the DS-230 and i gathered all the paperwork -well most of it- and mailed the packed Monday express mail next day so they should have received it Tuesday 5/4/10.

First of all any clues when my wife will have the interview?

Second, When we were gathering all the paperwork we went to the DAS office in Medellin to get the "Police Record" that is required. However, it takes pretty much a month to get that, idk why it takes so long. Anyways my wife will probably get that by the end of this month (May). As all of you here i cannot wait for my SO to be here so what we did is that we went to our City's Police Dept and got a Police Record from them and that is what we sent.

She will have the DAS paperwork by the time of the interview and since the NVC says that by the time of the interview you have already submitted most of the paperwork and just make sure you have whatever is missing in the interview, will this be a problem?


By "Police Record" are you referring to the Court and Prison records? Or are you referring to the Police Certificate (Certificado Judicial from the DAS)? There's a difference between the two. The Court and Prison records are given to anyone who has been convicted of a crime and has been incarcerated. A Police Certificate on the other hand shows if the person has been arrested. This certificate is provided by the DAS online, it's a very simple process and should not take that long to receive.

In any case, it's up to the NVC to either complete your case with whatever document you sent them. If not, they will send you an RFE requesting the correct document.

The NVC schedules interviews with the embassy for CR/IR visas during the first two weeks of the month for the following month after the cases have been completed. It takes them about 2-3 weeks to complete a case after they've received every form and supporting document. You can call them everyday if you want to find out when the case has been completed since they will have this info available for you via their automated system.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-05-05 16:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduressign in failed = case complete?

i got sign in failed may 11. but avr hasnt changed yet to case complete. called nvc operator said its in final review. how long will it take? can we still get june interview (manila embassy)? his passport expires in december, does he need to renew now or would that still be ok. he'll be flyin to california as soon as he gets his visa :D


It takes the NVC about 2 weeks to complete a case after all paperwork has been received. Keep calling until the IVR says that it has been completed. The NVC makes interview appointments with the embassies during the first two weeks of May for the following month. Your case would have to be completed by Friday so that it can have a chance of getting a June interview but it will more likely get a July interview.

As for the passport issue, I'm not sure how it works in the Philippines but in Colombia the embassy requests that all passports have a minimum six months of validity left from the date the visa is issued. Check the guidelines with the US embassy in the Philippines to find out what their rules are.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-05-12 12:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 Evidence of Bonafide Marriage
You pretty much only need your marriage certificate as proof but if you want you can send additional stuff like affidavits from people who know you, photos, boarding passes etc. Just don't send everything you have because you will also need evidence to show the CO during the interview. I only sent a copy of our marriage certificate and 2 affidavits, one from my mom and one from my sister, along with the I-130. Nothing more.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-05-26 16:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresGreen Card lost in Mail.
It all depends. If you changed addresses and didn't let the USCIS know about it, then it will be your fault and you will have to pay the $290. But if nothing changed, you waited patiently for your green card and you can try to prove that it was their mistake, then you can fight it.

Diana
Mononoke28FemaleColombia2010-05-26 16:15:00