Help! Getting all my ducks in a row!

[torresx7]

First I wanted to thank everyone for welcoming me and right away offering advice – very cool!! :thumbup:

Now, forgive the many questions (and my lack of knowledge) but before I start the car I like to know exactly how to get where I’m goin’! My goal is to send off the I-130 in the next 2 weeks-ish thereby starting ‘the process’. From what I have been able to piece together the following is a general timeline/list of forms and fees I will need to get the hubby on track.

I’m sure I must be missing something so could you guys please guide me by adding or deleting any steps that I have missed, I would soooo appreciate it!!

1. File the I-130 - $355
2. USCIS will send me NOA – {Indicating receipt or approval??)
3. Will receive request for several forms and fees after approval?:
A. Choice of Agent form (DS-3032)
B. Affidavit of Support bill - $70
C. Affidavit of Support (form I-864)
D. Visa application (Part I of DS-230) - $400
4. CDJ Consulate will send notice of interview
5. Call 900-number to request 2nd interview (waiver).
6. Go to medical and first interview in CDJ – will receive denial but eligibility for waiver.
7. File the I-601- $545
8. Go to waiver interview – will receive notice of approval same day unless further evidence needed.
9. Get Visa – come home – start living!

I’m sure I must be missing some fee’s / forms or something! Isn’t there a hefty fee for EWI? Do we need to file an I-485/A?

Also, anyone know about how long it takes between returning all above listed forms/ fees and receiving interview letter?

Please and Thank You!!!!!:blush:

[Luckysprite]

1. File the I-130 - $355
2. USCIS will send me NOA – {Indicating receipt or approval??) USCIS will send you 2 NOA's ... the first being the receipt and the second being the approval. Technically - they are both form I-797.
3. Will receive request for several forms and fees after approval?: This will be done after your NOA2, approval of the I-130 and your case is forwarded to the National Visa Center. Correspondence from that point will come from NVC, not USCIS any longer!!
A. Choice of Agent form (DS-3032)
B. Affidavit of Support bill - $70
C. Affidavit of Support (form I-864)
D. Visa application (Part I of DS-230) - $400
The Visa fee bill, $400, comes before you actually submit the DS-230. It sounds like you are going through Mexico - therefore, you also actually submit both the DS-230 parts I and II, however part II is not signed until the actual interview.
4. CDJ Consulate will send notice of interview. You can find out when you interview is much quicker if you keep calling NVC as opposed to waiting for them to send notice. This way - you can make your waiver appt sooner leaving less of a time in between the 2 appts potentially!
5. Call 900-number to request 2nd interview (waiver).
6. Go to medical and first interview in CDJ – will receive denial but eligibility for waiver.
7. File the I-601- $545
8. Go to waiver interview – will receive notice of approval same day unless further evidence needed.
9. Get Visa – come home – start living!

I’m sure I must be missing some fee’s / forms or something! Isn’t there a hefty fee for EWI? Do we need to file an I-485/A? The fee I think you are referring to no longer exists. If I am not mistaken, you used to be able to marry an EWI, pay $1000 fine, adjust and live happily ever after. Not anymore ... we just got a little bit more difficult road to travel now! Since you are not adjusting in the US - you will not need the I-485.

Also, anyone know about how long it takes between returning all above listed forms/ fees and receiving interview letter? I can only offer what my timeline was - but we filed the I-130 in May 2007, it was approved in Oct 2007, we completed NVC in April 2008 and have our first appt in CDJ in June 2008. So ... for us, it only took 13 months - and I should note that we 'lost' two months at NVC because we had difficulty getting my husbands passport. It could have been less than a year for us, probably, had we not delayed.

Please and Thank You!!!!!:blush:

I hope that helped a little bit. You seem to have a very good grasp already on the process - I just added a few minor details to it - which you may or may not have been already aware of.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask away!

[Rinner]

Great questions & Answers! I think this would be a great sticky:)

[torresx7]

Thanks luckysprite! That helped a bunch!!

[torresx7]

One (or two) more silly questions:

Luckysprite, you mentioned that your hubby had trouble getting passport, is that something that needs to be obtained? / in Mexico?

At what point during the process does hubby HAVE to physically be in Mexico? I was under the impression he didn't have to be there until 1st interview, is that acurate?

[MBLA]

you can get a mexican passporte at the mexican consulate closest to you. you have to call and make an appointment. they only do passportes on certain days every so often. so you might start working on this now. when my husband got his passporte they only gave him one that was vaid for 1 year because his birth certificate was too old. which caused a problem becuase it would expire to soon. so we had to request on from mexico and schedule another passporte appointment. the second time he got one good for 10 years.

if you don't have a copy of your husbands birth certificate you will need to get one and you can only get them from mexico. sometimes family memebers can get them for you. you will need to send an original with the ds-230. i would have them get you at least originals.

[MBLA]

to your second question. You should arrive in CDJ about 3 days prior to your 1st interview because you need to have the physical done 2 days prior to the 1st interview.

[torresx7]

Oh, thank you so much. We have a Mexican Consulate here in Omaha so I will take your advice and try to get that appointment now. We had him mom get/send a birth certificate about 3 years or so ago. Is that all that is needed to get the passport is his birth certificate? And it doesn't matter that he is here/came here illegally??

[Adriane]

Oh, thank you so much. We have a Mexican Consulate here in Omaha so I will take your advice and try to get that appointment now. We had him mom get/send a birth certificate about 3 years or so ago. Is that all that is needed to get the passport is his birth certificate? And it doesn't matter that he is here/came here illegally??

We will definitely need his birth certificate to get his passport- and also his CURP number, I believe.

But here's the catch- the consulate will keep his birth certificate and you will need another official 'original' copy at his interview. In fact, so far we have gone through 4 of them (although we went a different route & USCIS lost one.) So if possible, get his mom to get a few more and send them- addressed to YOU, not your husband. (It was recently reported that some mail from Mexico was being stopped and held until the addressee could prove legal status in the US.)

No, the Mex. consulate will not care that he is EWI.

[DeBenny]

We will definitely need his birth certificate to get his passport- and also his CURP number, I believe.

But here's the catch- the consulate will keep his birth certificate and you will need another official 'original' copy at his interview. In fact, so far we have gone through 4 of them (although we went a different route & USCIS lost one.) So if possible, get his mom to get a few more and send them- addressed to YOU, not your husband. (It was recently reported that some mail from Mexico was being stopped and held until the addressee could prove legal status in the US.)

No, the Mex. consulate will not care that he is EWI.

"(It was recently reported that some mail from Mexico was being stopped and held until the addressee could prove legal status in the US.)"

Seriously?! Wow! I feel like something is looming. There have been reports of many 'irradict' (for lack of a better word) things being done my USCIS.

Sorry for the hijack - this comment caught my eye.


torresx7 - it sounds like you have a pretty good idea of the process. I wish you the best of luck. What evidence are you including to support bonafide marriage?

[Adriane]

"(It was recently reported that some mail from Mexico was being stopped and held until the addressee could prove legal status in the US.)"

Seriously?! Wow! I feel like something is looming. There have been reports of many 'irradict' (for lack of a better word) things being done my USCIS.

Yeah- check this out- it was posted yesterday:

Florida woman's fight with UPS touches nerve over security level

Click-2-Listen

By JOHN LANTIGUA
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 07, 2008

MIAMI — A UPS envelope destined for South Florida is sitting in a warehouse in Louisville, Ky., instead threatening to set off an international dispute that touches on both immigration and national security.

Cristina Bustos, 33, of Bonita Springs said relatives in Monterrey, Mexico, shipped her the envelope in late March. It contains the birth certificates of two relatives living in Florida who want to apply for their Mexican passports at the consulate in South Miami, she said.

What happened

Cristina Bustos declined the request from a UPS employee to prove her residency status in order to receive documents mailed to her from Mexico.

Her envelope remains at a UPS facility in Louisville.

The envelope never arrived.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/local_news/epaper/2008/05/07/m1a_ups_0507.html

[DeBenny]

Yeah- check this out- it was posted yesterday:

Oh my word!!! http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Surprise/dead-025.gif

[torresx7]

Ok...so I should get a few more copies of his bc (sent to me - wow! that's crazy!) Now - silly question...what's a "CURP" number??

As far as support for the I-130: BC's for the 3 kiddos we have together, lease/s, car title kinda all we have. Should I get sworn affidavits from anyone and pics?? or is what I have sufficient??

Thank you - Thank you - Thank you!!!

[DeBenny]

I would just get some pictures together. It adds a 'human' touch to all of this process. Make sure you make a copy of everything you send, even of the check or money order.

[torresx7]

Ok...so I should get a few more copies of his bc (sent to me - wow! that's crazy!) Now - silly question...what's a "CURP" number??

As far as support for the I-130: BC's for the 3 kiddos we have together, lease/s, car title kinda all we have. Should I get sworn affidavits from anyone and pics?? or is what I have sufficient??

Thank you - Thank you - Thank you!!!

Never mind about the CURP number, I figured it out! - Gotta luv Google!:wink:

Thanks!

[MBLA]

I think for the passport you will need a picture id also, Mexican/US drivers license. A lot of people do not have government issued ids so that causes a problem.

[MBLA]

We will definitely need his birth certificate to get his passport- and also his CURP number, I believe.

But here's the catch- the consulate will keep his birth certificate and you will need another official 'original' copy at his interview. In fact, so far we have gone through 4 of them (although we went a different route & USCIS lost one.) So if possible, get his mom to get a few more and send them- addressed to YOU, not your husband. (It was recently reported that some mail from Mexico was being stopped and held until the addressee could prove legal status in the US.)

No, the Mex. consulate will not care that he is EWI.

The Mexico cousulate here in Kansas City didn't keep my husbands when he went to get passport. We had to make copies and they kept the copies.

[Luckysprite]

We also had to make copies and take with us to our passport interview - and in St Paul - they kept ALL of them ... copies and original!! I think it varies by consulate - as to who keeps what and who doesnt ...

But yes, torres, try to get it as soon as possible, you will need to submit a copy of the biographical page of your husbands passport as supporting documentation with the DS-230. It may be a ways off for you yet - but the earlier the better - and it won't delay your case.

Here were the problems with our case - just so you know - we ordered my husbands birth certificates from a company online in Dec. 2007 - it took them over 2 months to send them to us and we got them in February sometime ... so that was a big delay. And then, when we got them and tried to get his passport - apparently the registration date on his birth certificate was dated more than 1 year after his actual birth, so the consulate required additional documentation to prove his nationality. We had to then have his mom send us some of his school records and some other forms. Ugh ... we lost another 3 weeks waiting for that info. Sometimes it felt like it was just the little things we were unaware of that set us back.

[Luckysprite]

Ok...so I should get a few more copies of his bc (sent to me - wow! that's crazy!) Now - silly question...what's a "CURP" number??

As far as support for the I-130: BC's for the 3 kiddos we have together, lease/s, car title kinda all we have. Should I get sworn affidavits from anyone and pics?? or is what I have sufficient??

Thank you - Thank you - Thank you!!!

That supporting documentation sounds good. If you have any joint bank accts together or any other finances, that would be good info to submit.

We never sent in affidavits, but we did send 2-3 pages of photocopied pictures of us together at various stages of our relationship.

I agree with DeBenny - that it may give it more of a personal touch, though what you have sounds fine as is too.