ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhere to send my I-130 petition
QUOTE (gravitate @ Dec 30 2009, 11:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hello everyone, I have two questions: first question: I live in the U.S. New Jersey, where do i send my I-130 petition?

Second question: Regarding the G-325A form. My wife did not put down her fathers Date of Birth on the G-325A form

because she never met him before, her father never been there for her, so she does not want to know anything about her father.

would that be a problem with my wifes G-325A form?


If you look under guides, it says to send to:

--o Petitioners who reside in AL, AR, CT, DL, FL, GA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OK, PA, Puerto Rico, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, U.S. Virgin Islands, WV, or District of Columbia are encouraged to file their stand-alone Form I-130 with the Lockbox using the following address:
USCIS P.O. Box 804616 Chicago, IL 60680-1029

Mail the package with return receipt requested / delivery confirmation. Send via USPS.

I am not sure about the 2nd question you have, sorry. Hope someone else can help you on that one.

Edited by LoveRani, 30 December 2009 - 12:06 PM.

LoveRaniMaleTurkey2009-12-30 12:06:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCR-1 APPROVED!!!!
Congratulations :D
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-01-08 10:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCR-1 APPROVED!!!!
Congratulations :D
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-01-08 10:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureshelp

i recieve a document in my e-mail from the NVC
its the first time that i get message from them after i filled the I 130
is that mean that my case its aproved
please answear me
dont read and leave please



After you file I-130, they usually transfer the case to NVC after few months if all the things you sent were correct. When did you file for your I-130??
You should have gotten a NOA in mail if your case was approved.
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-02-01 12:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat can I do until I got my NOA2!

Cool - at some point, LingChe will be yer bible, for NVC processing - see http://www.visajourn...he_NVC_ShortCut

I"m a fan of the electronic payment portal - have a read? http://www.visajourn...h...t&p=3560467

Good Luck !


Yeah I will have to look at LingChe for a good amount of time once it goes to NVC. I am already preparing for it and so is my honey.

I haven't looked at the electronic payment portal properly yet, but I will have a look at it soon.

Thanks for the info =)
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-02-06 12:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat can I do until I got my NOA2!

Yes I am the foreign spouse:) Thank you for your replies.<3


Yeah that's my honey ^_^

I have read this website a lot and been reading about the next steps as well. There is a lot to be done so we are just preparing things ahead of time. As always thank you all for helping :thumbs:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-02-05 11:38:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresVISA APPROVED
That's great!! Congratulations :thumbs:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-03-18 10:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCASE complete NVC how long before they mail to Embassy

What does AVR stand for please?


Congratulations to CONCRETE on case complete :dance:

AVR - stands for Automated Voice Response. The whacky lady who talks when you call NVC :rofl:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-04-18 20:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat should I send such a large petition in?

Of course, but read carefully and you'll see he has his birth certificate listed. So, no passport copy is needed.


Ah yes, I read it too fast. Sorry about that. You are right :thumbs:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-04-19 18:34:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat should I send such a large petition in?

Just as a side-note, we had to send a certified copy of our marriage certificate. A regular photocopy, to my knowledge, could not be accepted. I was under the impression that the certificate had to have the seal on it...



I remember in the directions that it mentioned needing a copy of each and every page of the passport...but when I submitted our package, I only included my biographical page with other things like my license, SS card, etc. and it worked out fine. I wonder if they just used something else that I had sent as proof of my citizenship or if they are in fact occasionally overlooking the requirement of copying the ENTIRE passport....


You only need a photocopy of your marriage certificate for the I-130 petition. Certified or original copy is only needed at NVC stage.

You only need copy of each and every page of the passport when you have to prove your citizenship if you don't have a birth certificate. In my case, I wasn't born here so I had no birth certificate. I had my naturalization paper so I sent a copy of that to prove it.
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-04-19 16:28:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat should I send such a large petition in?

I made bold the things you can just pull out. Much of the other evidence is probably too comprehensive. I would cut down all the evidence of bonafides including the photos (Print multiple photos on the same full sheet of plain paper.) to no more than 20 pages. When you see "or" used in an instruction, take it literally. Neither of your passports is needed with the petition filing.


He will need his passport (photo copy of all pages)to prove that he is a US citizen unless he has his birth certificate.
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-04-19 15:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat should I send such a large petition in?
You don't need to send a full copy of your spouse's passport. You also don't need to send your copy of your passport unless you don't have a copy of your birth certificate. Make sure to write your name and birthday on the back of the passport size picture and the same goes for your spouse too.

You got a lot of relationship evidence. We only sent a few pictures and our marriage certificate copy. That's not a problem though that you are sending that much, hehe.

Goodluck on your journey :thumbs:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-04-19 12:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurespreparing ds230 and 3032 ahead of time.. do you let the beneficiary sign AND put current date ahead of time

So the originals aren't required until the AOS process. I read through the guide, and it made sense, until I started thinking about it. Guess I need to not think. :blush:


AOS = Affidivat of Support which is basically the I-864 form along with the tax returns and such. That is one package which has to be filled out by the petitioner. The DS-230 is the beneficiary package which has to include the DS-230 form, marriage certificate and few other things. You need originals for that or certified copies.

Basically you need to have that for the NVC process. For the I-130 process, you can get away with a photocopies of them.

Goodluck :thumbs:

P.S. Don't think too much, just kidding. I still keep thinking a lot :rofl:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-04-20 16:31:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurespreparing ds230 and 3032 ahead of time.. do you let the beneficiary sign AND put current date ahead of time

Okay Got it. I re read it and see where it states in Pre NVC/Preparing doc's that I should have things in my hand prior to approval of NVC. Damn :bonk:

It states in Step 6 Send DS 3032, that you can email the DS3032. Are scanned copies of originals sent via email acceptable? In step 10 is where all Sponsors info which I have already is sent so thats no big deal. In step 11 b it calls for the Original of certified copies of the Benificiary's be sent by the Petitioner. So these can not be copies of originals as allowed in Step 6. This is where I got confused and though the originals could be presented at the interview for verification.
Well I still have time to get these docs in my hands provided the pony mail doesnt take months and doesnt get lost...
Thanks again I will start to monitor the NVC thread...


DS-3032 can be sent by the beneficiary through email. The beneficiary just have to follow the DS-3032 template which can be found on this website.

You cannot send copies of original for the DS-230 package. It has to be original or certified which is same as the original except you can only get that from the place where they issued the original. Hope that made sense, haha. Even if you send the original with the DS-230 package, you can get them back at the interview.

I know it all seems confusing and I was confused myself. I read the guides so many times and read so many threads, but we all are here for eachother so don't worry :thumbs:

Edited by LoveRani, 20 April 2010 - 03:38 PM.

LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-04-20 15:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurespreparing ds230 and 3032 ahead of time.. do you let the beneficiary sign AND put current date ahead of time
You will send DS-230 and DS-3032 to the NVC. You should bring the extra copies of all the packets you sent to the USCIS and NVC for the interview. Also the Petitioner fills out the I-864 form for the AOS package.

You will have to submit original or certified copies for the DS-230 package which is the biographic data, marriage certificate, PCC, and other things. You can send them original of those if you want and they will give you back all of them during the interview.

Goodluck and I hope that helped :thumbs:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-04-20 14:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurespreparing ds230 and 3032 ahead of time.. do you let the beneficiary sign AND put current date ahead of time

Is that necessary, or recommended? I don't see any designated place for writing the NVC case number.


There is no designated place to write it. You should write your NVC case number on the top right corner of every document you have. That is what I did on all our documents. This way if they get mixed up or something, they can find it back easily.
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-04-20 11:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSign-In Failed!
Congratulations tk9 :dance:

Bring the pictures, emails, phone logs and anything else to the interview. Every bit will help just in case they ask to show more evidence.

Goodluck :thumbs:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-04-20 10:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNew to Visa Journey
Welcome to VJ :star:

Wishing you a speedy process through it all. Goodluck :)
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-05-04 13:58:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresquestion i-864
I wouldn't use staples. I would use clips to keep the documents together and a giant binder clip for them all.
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-05-21 18:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresRE: interview date
I think starting today they will give out interview dates, but I could be wrong. We didn't really bother calling them because it was just a waste since they would just tell you to call back some other day. We just kept checking our emails everyday instead. Its totally up to you :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-07 15:16:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresa couple simple questions
You should put your case number on every page just incase they get separated or something. It will be easier for them to find it again.

I think you have to send the packets together. I am not too sure about it. Perhaps someone with more knowledge can give you better input.

Goodluck though :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-10 17:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresBirth Certificate translation
I am assuming you are filing I-130 petition? If you are than you might want to take a look at these: http://www.visajourn...tent/i130guide2
http://www.visajourn...he_NVC_ShortCut

First one will give you some information about the I-130 process. 2nd link is more detailed once you get your I-130 approved and get to the NVC stage.

And he doesn't need his original birth certificate. Instead he will have to make a copy of all the pages of his US passport and send that in along with a copy of his
Naturalization certificate. Of course if you have more questions about I-130 or anything else, you are free to ask them :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-12 12:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDS-230 Part II Not Required at Montreal Interview?
You already sent in DS-230 at the NVC stage which they have already, but for the interview you should bring all the copies of everything you sent to USCIS + NVC just incase. I am sending everything I sent to USCIS + NVC to my wife for her interview just to be on the safe side.

Once you get approved, they will make you sign the 2nd part of the DS-230 which they have already with them. Goodluck on the interview :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-14 21:24:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI130 packet question
Make sure to write the name and birthday of your spouse on the back of the passport pictures so even if it gets misplaced, they can find it easily and identify whose it is. Most people use a small plastic bag and put them in there. I just used a small clip to hold them with the paperwork. All depends what you want to do with it! Goodluck :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-17 16:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI130 packet question
If something doesn't fit than just attach a paper and write on it. Write what question it is and the number. That is what we did when we couldn't fit something on the lines. I know they don't really give you that much room to write so that is the best thing to do.

This whole process is quite stressful, but if you keep your cool and keep everything together than its not too bad. Make sure to read the guides carefully and of course if you need to ask something than you can always do :star: Goodluck!
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-13 14:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI130 packet question

What would be in a 200 page divorce decree? Ours were each only one page.


I believe you misread it. 200 pages of evidence if I read it correctly, hehe.
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-12 12:26:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresJune I-130 filers?
Welcome to VJ :star: You can find other June Filers here:

http://www.visajourn...ne-2010-filers/

Goodluck :thumbs:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-23 13:50:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresdoes I-130 can approved on green card?
Yes you can still get approved since your wife has a GC, but it will take some time. You will get a letter in mail once your case is approved. You can check the status of your case here: https://egov.uscis.g...is/Dashboard.do

I wouldn't rely too heavily on that site though because we never got a touch(means someone did something to your file) and still got approved. If you have any other questions just ask.

Goodluck :thumbs:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-23 19:27:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureshello everyone
Welcome to VJ :star: Goodluck with everything.
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-23 13:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresgetting prepared for NVC process
You will get updated addresses when you pay online through the payment portal and print out the cover sheet. I used LingChe shortcut mostly which is here:
http://www.visajourn...he_NVC_ShortCut

But I read through pretty much all of them to get the information and asked here as well if I was confused. Everyone is ready to help you here, but always good to go through the guides and familiarize yourself with it first than ask questions if needed. Goodluck through the journey, hope you get your approval soon :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-24 14:30:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCan you tell me if NVC still uses. . . .

Can you tell me if the NVC still uses the DS-169 form? And do you send it in with DS-3032 and DS-230 forms??

Thank you for your help in advance.


I don't think so. We never sent any DS-169 form with NVC. Goodluck :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-26 22:23:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNVS - Choice of Agent
You can use the email format of DS-3032 and tell your spouse to send it through their email address. You can look at it here: http://www.visajourn...il_DS-3032_form

The new agent assigned would be you the petitioner. Look at this guide as well: http://www.visajourn...he_NVC_ShortCut

There are more guides you can look through and familiarize yourself with the steps. If you do them right and get no RFE, usually people are done within a month or so. Than you just wait for the interview. Goodluck :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-26 13:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNVC-ProcessingTime-Survey
I agree with what OBX said. If you fill out your forms correctly and do everything properly than you might have a speedy process through NVC, but it also depends on them as well. You can see from my time line that we were done in 33 days, but we had no RFE and such. Goodluck through the process :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-27 14:17:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresfee for filling I 864 and DS 320?

Thank you LoveRani! There is another visa fee ($130) on the day of the interview,right?
Thanks again,good luck and God bless :)


As far as I know I don't think so. My wife didn't have to pay anything on the day of her interview. Every consulate has different rules so you might have to ask someone else from Romania about it. Goodluck :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-28 16:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresfee for filling I 864 and DS 320?
$70 for AOS Fee and $400 for DS-230.

Goodluck :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-28 15:39:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI 130 package sent today,NOA1....

When will we know where it's going to be?


When you get the NOA1 in mail, it will say in the letter where it will be processing :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-28 16:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI 130 package sent today,NOA1....

Thanks again, Amur!! Now... how do we know to which filing location we belong to (I see Vermont,Virginia,California ...and so on)so far I know we sent the forms to Chicago Box .... :help:


Depends which one has the lesser load that is where your file will go too. Ours went to California, but yours might be different. Goodluck on your journey :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-28 16:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresJoint Sponsor only worked half a year?

$60,000 is a LOT of money... I don't think we can make that happen. It's still at the point (NOA2 not yet received) where we COULD try to come up with a different joint sponsor, but if we can make this work going largely on previous years' tax returns and an employer letter, that would be great. Has anyone had any experience with this sort of situation, either positive or negative?



Thanks for the info on the employer letter! The thing about them looking mainly at 2009 is disconcerting, but it's good to know. Did you submit an employer letter, and if so, did it seem like it had any influence on their decision?


Yes I did submit an employment letter since it was a new job and pay stubs. My wife took them at the interview as well which they never even looked at. They first thing they asked was if she brought a bank statement or not. I never read anywhere here that I had to submit those or I overlooked it because my income was enough. I only made 14k in 2009 so it wasn't enough so they told her to show more funds. So I guess it didn't have any influence on their decision.

Just get a joint sponsor like sachinky said. Its better to be safe than sorry. We never got one and now we just got a minor problem getting the visa so learn from our mistake and prepare yourself even though you haven't started the NVC journey yet :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-26 16:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresJoint Sponsor only worked half a year?
They didn't even bother to look at our older tax returns. They mainly focused on the 2009 tax and the numbers. So basically they look at how much you made in 2009. I don't know much about co-sponsor thing, but perhaps someone else with more knowledge here can answer that for you. I just knew that little bit, hehe.

As far the employment letter format goes, this is what we used: http://www.visajourn...ployment_Letter

Goodluck on your journey :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-06-26 10:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow to report military service on DS-230?
I think if you lived at one place for more than a year than you should include it othwerwise I don't think you need too. Perhaps someone else can shed some light on this as well! :star:
LoveRaniMaleTurkey2010-07-04 19:17:00