My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

So I've been lurking these forums now for a month-and-a-half, really great advice in here. Wanted to start documenting my own case for future benefit of others. Its off to a not-ideal start.

Context: I was in the US for 5 years as a F-1 student, got married after 3 years to a USC, adjusted status to CR-1 in my fifth year then. It took from around June 2015 to January 2016 to do so. After school was planning on staying in the USA indefinitely but a work opportunity came up in London, so moved here (I'm a UKC through parents, wasn't born here). Planned on staying here for medium term, so in July 2017 surrendered green card with I-407. This was pretty depressing thing to do, but given the two year timer was coming up on the CR-1, it would have been obvious we were living out of the USA and could have gone really bad. If it had been IR-1 I probably would have tried more tricks.

However, in December 2017 something work-related came up with my wife, and now we need to move back to the USA ASAP. As my wife has been here ~1.5 years and has a residence permit, we judged we were eligible for DCF and so have filed I-130, as soon as feasible. Feels very painful starting from scratch when I was already a permanent resident, but nothing can do about it now...

Timeline:
2017/12/27: Sent in I-130 packet with tracking.
2017/12/28: Delivery confirmation
2017/12/29: Credit card charged $535.
2018/1/3: ACRO requested.
Around this time would have expected NOA1 but it never came. G1145 was definitely filed, and I've carefully checked spam/trash/etc. Nothing in mail either.
2018/1/15 (roughly): ACRO received.
2018/1/21: On website, inquire about lack of NOA1, no response yet.

I've tried to find other cases reported online of no NOA1 being received, but its hard to find ones that didn't turn out to just be in spam. I'm not sure whats happened - one worry is they typed the email address in, another worry is that given the timing (New Years then the embassy move) its kind of been lost. I take solace in that the payment was taken...

I'm also closely following the processing date updates on the website. They always say they'll be updated on Friday, but the update never goes up until Monday.
On 2018/1/16 they said they were processing 2017/12/4.
On 2018/1/26 they said they were processing 2017/12/6.
On 2018/2/5 they said they were processing 2017/12/7.

So things seem to be going slow over there.

I was wondering if anyone had a similar experience with the NOA1 not arriving, and if anyone had any insight into whats happening at the embassy. Should I try sending another inquiry about the petition?

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

I wouldn't worry about no NOA. Payment having been taken means they have your case going.

Yes, things could very well have slowed down in London. Your wife is free to move to the USA to start her job, though, and in fact may be helpful to fulfill the I-864 requirements.

Rene

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

I think you will be fine and that the US Embassy in London is definitely running slower than usual since they moved. It may be running closer to actual timelines they post on their website. I know it's hard to be patient because we are in a situation with them and trying to be patient with issuing our visa. Good luck and keep us posted!

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

Thanks Rene, its good to hear someone say its a good sign - its easy to go round in circles justifying why its fine and why its screwed!

She actually has moved, and started job/got apartment. We've got enough money saved up to clear the financial requirements, but her being there already is going to make the domicile question super-simple.

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

No update on Friday despite the usual "we'll update friday" message - if they jump forward a week or even more than a day hopefully it'll be a sign the backlog is clearing. I'll update the thread for the sake of future generations!
Good luck for your case!

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

Another processing date update:

On 2018/2/13 they said they were processing 2017/12/7.

So, in other words, hasn't changed in last 8 days. Things must have really ground to halt there, or maybe they just receive an unusual number of petitions in December.

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

I noticed todays update has moved again by just 1 day. I also submitted an i-130 (but mine in mid-Jan) so in a similar situation.

Frustrating that your NOA1 never arrived as that quotes your estimated processing time. If it helps you, mine said 90 days and was received on Jan 16th. if yours is similar, you might be waiting at least another month or so.

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

Ah thanks for pointing that out, man they are really crawling right now, must be building up a huge backlog.

To summarise to date:
On 2018/1/16 they said they were processing 2017/12/4.
On 2018/1/26 they said they were processing 2017/12/6.
On 2018/2/05 they said they were processing 2017/12/7.
On 2018/2/13 they said they were processing 2017/12/7.
On 2018/2/16 they said they were processing 2017/12/8.

On the generous assumption that they start at least keeping pace, would be something like mid-March for me. If they keep this far behind though then I guess I-130 DCF is no longer going to be the "fast" option. I guess I'll just keep making sacrificial offerings to a portrait of Thomas Jefferson in the hopes of a big leap forward :D

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

Another update - they're roughly keeping up now! Moved forward 6 days in 7. Total time lag between filing date and processing date is 71 days.

On 2018/1/16 they said they were processing 2017/12/4.
On 2018/1/26 they said they were processing 2017/12/6.
On 2018/2/05 they said they were processing 2017/12/7.
On 2018/2/13 they said they were processing 2017/12/7.
On 2018/2/16 they said they were processing 2017/12/8.
On 2018/2/23 they said they were processing 2017/12/14.

Now I just have to hope my filing was OK, wish I had the NOA1 to confirm filing date!

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

Thats great to hear.

From what I've seen, the filing date is always the date that the payment is taken so I think it's a safe bet that yours was filed 12/29.

I'm hoping that the published processing times are the back of the queue rather than the front, meaning that the oldest application they're currenctly processing was filed 2017/12/14. If so, that could mean that the earliest application they're working on could be a week or two later – so yours could be any time now.

Heres to hoping the pace keeps up!

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

Another Friday, another update

On 2018/1/16 they said they were processing 2017/12/4.
On 2018/1/26 they said they were processing 2017/12/6.
On 2018/2/05 they said they were processing 2017/12/7.
On 2018/2/13 they said they were processing 2017/12/7.
On 2018/2/16 they said they were processing 2017/12/8.
On 2018/2/23 they said they were processing 2017/12/14.
On 2018/3/2 they said they were processing 2017/12/21.

So roughly keeping up with 1 day of applications per day, awesome!

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

You certainly like to drive yourself crazy. Why?:lol:

Even if it takes you 6 or 7 months, still a lot faster than 10 months for the K-1 and then another 8 to 12 for AOS. :nod:

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

I see they have had another week with no movement in processing dates :(

Must be frustrating for you as yours should have been due this week if they kept up the 1:1 day processing rate! I guess you still haven't heard anything about your application?

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

Oh you know, something to keep myself occupied :D
I was quite confident when submitting, but the rapid build up of a delay + lack of NOA1 has upped my nervousness considerably.

Yes, not ideal as I was starting to get excited. I strongly suspect that one reason I didn't get NOA1 was due to a data entry problem with the email - they got the address wrong or something. So I'm half expecting to never receive NOA2 and instead just get my case number in the mail one day. Either way, I'll update immediately!

To update my tracker-of-the-tracker:

On 2018/1/16 they said they were processing 2017/12/4.
On 2018/1/26 they said they were processing 2017/12/6.
On 2018/2/05 they said they were processing 2017/12/7.
On 2018/2/13 they said they were processing 2017/12/7.
On 2018/2/16 they said they were processing 2017/12/8.
On 2018/2/23 they said they were processing 2017/12/14.
On 2018/3/2 they said they were processing 2017/12/21.
On 2018/3/9 they said they were processing 2017/12/21.

Re: My I-130 DCF for IR-1 experience so far...
 

Our 1-130 was received by London on 27th Feb (sent registered) with payment by international bankers cheque. We definitely completed necessary form for confirmation by email but to date have received no confirmation by email or otherwise.