I129f proof of pending I-130, Quest. #16 on I-130, & Processing timeline
Jan 11th 2003, 7:15 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
I129f proof of pending I-130, Quest. #16 on I-130, & Processing timeline
I had a question about the I-130 question #16. What is the definition
of proceedings? Does that refer to deportation or other hearings or
to the act of filing an application? Since we filed but abandoned our
petitions, should we select "Recision?"
It seems best that I return to America and file the I-130 and I-129f
there. I fear problems because when we filed last June for Patrick's
I-130, we never received a single letter or receipt (Texas Service
Center: Houston office). Should I do it in person and walk away
with a receipt this time instead of filing by mail? Is a copy of the
receipt for the I-130 enough to file the I-129f or must I have the NOA
(not sure what Notice of Action means) as proof of the pending I-130?
I don't understand many of the posts that I've read regarding the
sequence of steps and processing times. As I understand it, this is
what I think must happen.
1. I file the I-130 in Texas and wait for a letter? What kind of
letter? One acknowledging receipt of the application or an NOA? I
read that the "actions" at the Texas Service Centers are years behind,
so I'm wondering how long it will be after filing the I-130 before I
can file the I-129f.
2. I file the I-129f in Chicago and wait for approval? How long does
this usuaslly take?
3. Once I receive approval, my husband will go to the Consulate to
apply for a K-3 visa? Is this granted that day? Can't be, right?
Since he must wait for a police report..6-8 weeks?
Do I understand correctly that this entire process -from start to
finish- should take 6-9 months?
We decided to file in Texas because we are needing more time to save
money, and filing at the Consulate would only give us about 3 months;
however, I don't want to be separated from my husband for 9 months or
more. I think I could endure 6 months, but 100 extra days feels like a
lifetime when you are alone. Another year of missed birthdays and
holidays...eating alone...always a lonely ache just under the
surface...
** Little note to those separated from a loved one: Once, Patrick and
I were able to see a movie at the same time even though we were a
world away from each other and in different time zones. I went to a
matinee, and he went to the late showing of Lord of the Rings. It was
great because we each knew the other was watching the film, and we
came home and met online to discuss the movie. That was nice. We
have also rented the same movie and watched while on the phone with
each other. About as expensive as a date.
Thank you so much for your time and help. I don't feel so overwhelmed
by what we must face when I know there are people willing to share
information. It is a great help, indeed.
Lori
of proceedings? Does that refer to deportation or other hearings or
to the act of filing an application? Since we filed but abandoned our
petitions, should we select "Recision?"
It seems best that I return to America and file the I-130 and I-129f
there. I fear problems because when we filed last June for Patrick's
I-130, we never received a single letter or receipt (Texas Service
Center: Houston office). Should I do it in person and walk away
with a receipt this time instead of filing by mail? Is a copy of the
receipt for the I-130 enough to file the I-129f or must I have the NOA
(not sure what Notice of Action means) as proof of the pending I-130?
I don't understand many of the posts that I've read regarding the
sequence of steps and processing times. As I understand it, this is
what I think must happen.
1. I file the I-130 in Texas and wait for a letter? What kind of
letter? One acknowledging receipt of the application or an NOA? I
read that the "actions" at the Texas Service Centers are years behind,
so I'm wondering how long it will be after filing the I-130 before I
can file the I-129f.
2. I file the I-129f in Chicago and wait for approval? How long does
this usuaslly take?
3. Once I receive approval, my husband will go to the Consulate to
apply for a K-3 visa? Is this granted that day? Can't be, right?
Since he must wait for a police report..6-8 weeks?
Do I understand correctly that this entire process -from start to
finish- should take 6-9 months?
We decided to file in Texas because we are needing more time to save
money, and filing at the Consulate would only give us about 3 months;
however, I don't want to be separated from my husband for 9 months or
more. I think I could endure 6 months, but 100 extra days feels like a
lifetime when you are alone. Another year of missed birthdays and
holidays...eating alone...always a lonely ache just under the
surface...
** Little note to those separated from a loved one: Once, Patrick and
I were able to see a movie at the same time even though we were a
world away from each other and in different time zones. I went to a
matinee, and he went to the late showing of Lord of the Rings. It was
great because we each knew the other was watching the film, and we
came home and met online to discuss the movie. That was nice. We
have also rented the same movie and watched while on the phone with
each other. About as expensive as a date.
Thank you so much for your time and help. I don't feel so overwhelmed
by what we must face when I know there are people willing to share
information. It is a great help, indeed.
Lori
Jan 11th 2003, 11:25 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: I129f proof of pending I-130, Quest. #16 on I-130, & Processing timeline
On Sat, 11 Jan 2003 12:15:32 +0000, Lori wrote:
> I had a question about the I-130 question #16. What is the definition
> of proceedings? Does that refer to deportation or other hearings or
> to the act of filing an application? Since we filed but abandoned our
> petitions, should we select "Recision?"
>
> It seems best that I return to America and file the I-130 and I-129f
> there. I fear problems because when we filed last June for Patrick's
> I-130, we never received a single letter or receipt (Texas Service
> Center: Houston office). Should I do it in person and walk away
> with a receipt this time instead of filing by mail? Is a copy of the
> receipt for the I-130 enough to file the I-129f or must I have the NOA
> (not sure what Notice of Action means) as proof of the pending I-130?
> I don't understand many of the posts that I've read regarding the
> sequence of steps and processing times. As I understand it, this is
> what I think must happen.
>
> 1. I file the I-130 in Texas and wait for a letter? What kind of
> letter? One acknowledging receipt of the application or an NOA? I
> read that the "actions" at the Texas Service Centers are years behind,
> so I'm wondering how long it will be after filing the I-130 before I
> can file the I-129f.
The receipt notices are issued pretty much right when they open the
envelope and enter the data into the computer system. In the past, there
have been periods when they were so swamped that they didn't even open
envelopes for two months, but usually, you will get the receipt notice
within a week or two.
> 2. I file the I-129f in Chicago and wait for approval? How long does
> this usuaslly take?
Why would you file in Chicago if you live in Houston?
> 3. Once I receive approval, my husband will go to the Consulate to
> apply for a K-3 visa? Is this granted that day? Can't be, right?
> Since he must wait for a police report..6-8 weeks?
He can probably get the police report while the paperwork is still
pending. K visas are more like immigrant visas rather than non-immigrant
visas in that the consulate will call him rather than the other way round.
He will also need a medical exam.
You may want to visit alt.visa.us.marriage-based; that group tends to have
much better information about K visas.
> Do I understand correctly that this entire process -from start to
> finish- should take 6-9 months?
Yes, that's about right. Incidentally, that's also about how long it takes
to get an immigrant visa with the I-130... Most people have reported that
the K-3 doesn't actually buy you much.
> We decided to file in Texas because we are needing more time to save
> money, and filing at the Consulate would only give us about 3 months;
> however, I don't want to be separated from my husband for 9 months or
> more. I think I could endure 6 months, but 100 extra days feels like a
> lifetime when you are alone. Another year of missed birthdays and
> holidays...eating alone...always a lonely ache just under the
> surface...
You could try contacting your Congressperson for help, although he
probably can't do much. But it will draw attention to the fact that the
INS is in serious trouble (not that Congresspeople aren't aware of it.
They are as frustrated as anybody with that agency!)
> ** Little note to those separated from a loved one: Once, Patrick and
> I were able to see a movie at the same time even though we were a
> world away from each other and in different time zones. I went to a
> matinee, and he went to the late showing of Lord of the Rings. It was
> great because we each knew the other was watching the film, and we
> came home and met online to discuss the movie. That was nice. We
> have also rented the same movie and watched while on the phone with
> each other. About as expensive as a date.
That is a wonderful story. There are actually ways to cut the telephone
cost; I am using a phone card that costs only $0.12/minute to Germany
(IDT GlobalCall). If you have the equipment and expertise to make it work,
you can use the Internet for pretty much completely free calls (except for
getting on the Internet in the first place).
> Thank you so much for your time and help. I don't feel so overwhelmed
> by what we must face when I know there are people willing to share
> information. It is a great help, indeed.
>
> Lori
> I had a question about the I-130 question #16. What is the definition
> of proceedings? Does that refer to deportation or other hearings or
> to the act of filing an application? Since we filed but abandoned our
> petitions, should we select "Recision?"
>
> It seems best that I return to America and file the I-130 and I-129f
> there. I fear problems because when we filed last June for Patrick's
> I-130, we never received a single letter or receipt (Texas Service
> Center: Houston office). Should I do it in person and walk away
> with a receipt this time instead of filing by mail? Is a copy of the
> receipt for the I-130 enough to file the I-129f or must I have the NOA
> (not sure what Notice of Action means) as proof of the pending I-130?
> I don't understand many of the posts that I've read regarding the
> sequence of steps and processing times. As I understand it, this is
> what I think must happen.
>
> 1. I file the I-130 in Texas and wait for a letter? What kind of
> letter? One acknowledging receipt of the application or an NOA? I
> read that the "actions" at the Texas Service Centers are years behind,
> so I'm wondering how long it will be after filing the I-130 before I
> can file the I-129f.
The receipt notices are issued pretty much right when they open the
envelope and enter the data into the computer system. In the past, there
have been periods when they were so swamped that they didn't even open
envelopes for two months, but usually, you will get the receipt notice
within a week or two.
> 2. I file the I-129f in Chicago and wait for approval? How long does
> this usuaslly take?
Why would you file in Chicago if you live in Houston?
> 3. Once I receive approval, my husband will go to the Consulate to
> apply for a K-3 visa? Is this granted that day? Can't be, right?
> Since he must wait for a police report..6-8 weeks?
He can probably get the police report while the paperwork is still
pending. K visas are more like immigrant visas rather than non-immigrant
visas in that the consulate will call him rather than the other way round.
He will also need a medical exam.
You may want to visit alt.visa.us.marriage-based; that group tends to have
much better information about K visas.
> Do I understand correctly that this entire process -from start to
> finish- should take 6-9 months?
Yes, that's about right. Incidentally, that's also about how long it takes
to get an immigrant visa with the I-130... Most people have reported that
the K-3 doesn't actually buy you much.
> We decided to file in Texas because we are needing more time to save
> money, and filing at the Consulate would only give us about 3 months;
> however, I don't want to be separated from my husband for 9 months or
> more. I think I could endure 6 months, but 100 extra days feels like a
> lifetime when you are alone. Another year of missed birthdays and
> holidays...eating alone...always a lonely ache just under the
> surface...
You could try contacting your Congressperson for help, although he
probably can't do much. But it will draw attention to the fact that the
INS is in serious trouble (not that Congresspeople aren't aware of it.
They are as frustrated as anybody with that agency!)
> ** Little note to those separated from a loved one: Once, Patrick and
> I were able to see a movie at the same time even though we were a
> world away from each other and in different time zones. I went to a
> matinee, and he went to the late showing of Lord of the Rings. It was
> great because we each knew the other was watching the film, and we
> came home and met online to discuss the movie. That was nice. We
> have also rented the same movie and watched while on the phone with
> each other. About as expensive as a date.
That is a wonderful story. There are actually ways to cut the telephone
cost; I am using a phone card that costs only $0.12/minute to Germany
(IDT GlobalCall). If you have the equipment and expertise to make it work,
you can use the Internet for pretty much completely free calls (except for
getting on the Internet in the first place).
> Thank you so much for your time and help. I don't feel so overwhelmed
> by what we must face when I know there are people willing to share
> information. It is a great help, indeed.
>
> Lori
