K-3 Receipt Notice?

[Charity_23]

My friend filed his I-129F around the middle of July..He still hasnt received the reciept notice and the money order hasnt been cashed. Is there something wrong? Or is this ok since its taking longer than usual because of the recent increase..?

[djones9714]

Don't worry yet since there is a backlog. We mailed ours on 8/13 and I know it was received because I sent it certified mail and the post office has provided information that it was signed for on 8/15; however, I don't expect to receive our approval letter until late September because of the back log.

[Charity_23]

Yeah!! My friend got his receipt notice!! And he sent in the I-130 and the I-129F together..Hey why waste time!! Anyway, he sent it in before the fee increase..The received day is July 16th..Notice day Aug. 23rd..And it says fee waived!! I dont think they were supposed to waive it..But the money order he sent in says it was never cashed, but where is it? They didnt cash it nor send it back to him! Cant he just have the money order company void that one out and issue him another?? :rolleyes:

[djones9714]

Charity 23: You stated that your friend sent in both the I-130 and the I-129. Do you know if someone from USCIS told him to do this. The reason I am asking is because the instructions for the I-129 state to send with your application a copy of the receipt notice from the I-130.

[Charity_23]

Actually, I helped my one of my friends to do hers that way and they went ahead and accepted them and later approved both at the same time..So I thought that was how to do it..and then I helped another friend to send in his paperwork and we sent them both off at the same time also and hes received NOA 1 on both..And they even waived the fee on the I-129F...I was reading somewhere where the USCIS advised someone else to do it this way..It saves lots of time..

[Lolita]

Actually, I helped my one of my friends to do hers that way and they went ahead and accepted them and later approved both at the same time..So I thought that was how to do it..and then I helped another friend to send in his paperwork and we sent them both off at the same time also and hes received NOA 1 on both..And they even waived the fee on the I-129F...I was reading somewhere where the USCIS advised someone else to do it this way..It saves lots of time..

Hello

Quick question? Where did you send them both the I-130 and I-129? I'm in California so I'm assumming to Laguna but the instructions say sent the 130 to California once you received the NOA then you sent the 129 over to Chicago. So can we just send both to California???

Thanks

Lolita

[angela256z]

You need to follow the instructions on each form. You can not send in the I-130 and I129F together. You need to send in the I-130 and wait for the NOA1. Then you can send in the I-129F. The instructions will tell you how to send in the I-129F. I believe with the I-130 you need to send it to Cali, but I will have to verify that.

[angela256z]

According to the instructions....

If you are filing a I-129F for a spouse, mail your petition to the Service Center where the underlying I-130 petition is currently pending. Use the address listed on your most recent receipt notice or transfer notice and include a copy of that notice with your I-129F.

[Charity_23]

Call USCIS and ask them about it. I read where someone called them, and they were told they can submit both at the same time..And Ive already submitted forms for 2 people that way and they accepted it so maybe you can submit them together..We sent their forms to the Texas Service Center and they transferred them to California..

[Charity_23]

someone else posted this http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?p=1765987




edited by Marie: if you want to see the original post, please visit that site. The information does not reflect the proper way to do things. Please read the next post on this site as well.

[aussiewench]

Golly gosh and blimey lol

I seen that post by orchid209 on immigrationboards.com and I shook my head then. For someone to state catagorically that this is the way it should be done is downright dangerous. Especially when it conflicts with USCIS directives/instructions.

Yes it may very well be accepted right now. In fact members from another board have been instructed when calling the NCSC that they can file them together, and they have been accepted. Please note however that the Directive issued by USCIS on June 21, 2007 clearly states.....

Beginning on or after August 29, 2007, USCIS will reject any of the forms listed above that are filed with the incorrect filing location. Those rejected and returned forms will include the fee and instructions for proper filing. source (http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/UpdateDirectFiling062107.pdf)


As Angela also points out in her post...

If you are filing a I-129F for a spouse, mail your petition to the Service Center where the underlying I-130 petition is currently pending. Use the address listed on your most recent receipt notice or transfer notice and include a copy of that notice with your I-129F source (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1872aca797e63110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCR D&vgnextchannel=fe529c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1 RCRD)

Instructions on the forms themselves are not always correct and are not always complete. One must and should always look at any special instructions given by USCIS.

As I stated in another thread on this issue. IMO, it will in the future be the policy for the I-130 and I-129F to be filed concurrently, but at this time it is not. Until CSC and VSC are also the only two service centers accepting the I-130, I can't see the filing instructions changing to include concurrent.

By all means try your luck anyone wishing to file concurrently, afterall it is your case and you are responsible for it.

[Charity_23]

Well now that there is no fee for the I-129F you can try to send it in with the I-130 and if they reject it then resend it with the I-130 NOA..It wouldnt hurt to try. Especially since when I called USCIS just to double check, they said that it would be ok to file them together..It might not hurt to try since it will save time doing it this way...You really have nothing to lose..All they can do is say rejected, and when you receive your I-130 NOA resend it again..No fee to worry about! But everyone does it differently...Im not trying to tell anyone not to follow the instructions on the form, but it might be unecessary to wait a month for the I-130 NOA...

[aussiewench]

Well now that there is no fee for the I-129F you can try to send it in with the I-130 and if they reject it then resend it with the I-130 NOA..It wouldnt hurt to try. Especially since when I called USCIS just to double check, they said that it would be ok to file them together..It might not hurt to try since it will save time doing it this way...You really have nothing to lose..All they can do is say rejected, and when you receive your I-130 NOA resend it again..No fee to worry about! But everyone does it differently...Im not trying to tell anyone not to follow the instructions on the form, but it might be unecessary to wait a month for the I-130 NOA...
I do agree with what your are saying Charity :) That post from another board by orchid209 I disagree with as he/she states catagorically that THIS is the way it is done.

I am a firm believer in shortcuts. I was the keeper of the shortcuts on VJ for quite some time and I also posted timesavers for NVC on VJ and now FBI where I am mostly nowadays. But USCIS is a different kettle of fish, and only time will tell if this is going to become standard practice and be accepted 100% of the time. That is afterall how the NVC shortcuts and timesavers were born.

All the best to everyone.

[djones9714]

I think I will call them myself and ask the question. I guess it wouldn't hurt. Right????

[aussiewench]

I think I will call them myself and ask the question. I guess it wouldn't hurt. Right????
Just remember too that the NCSC is a call center. They are independent of USCIS, not USCIS employees. The NCSC is not referred to as the misinformation line for no reason ;)

[Cynthia]

aussiewench -->As per PM, noted.

Members, ALWAYS go with USCIS latest guidelines at www.uscis.gov site. There hv been so many updates and one needs to educate themselves by going to the gov site. Compare notes taken from other sites but remember, as far guidelines and what nots, the gov site is the one to rely on.

Each filers may/will have different timelines. Do not depend entirely on others. What's important is YOURS. If you need advices, we are here (always remember also that most of us are NOT lawyers so it's always advisable to do a consultation(s)) or you mayhap found it from other sites,.. If you need to know the latest deal on immigration news/fees/steps, go to the gov site.

[Charity_23]

Yeah now that I read it again, that post by orchid does seem like he is saying his way is the only way to go..

But the correct way is the way on the USCIS website..But maybe they changed things but forgot to update the site?? Because Ive already seen a few cases get accepted through (the shortcut) and at the call center they said it would be ok..Maybe the few cases Ive seen just got lucky! It is stupid the way they say to do it though...If you file the I130 and I129F they are going to have the copy of the I-797 NOA for the I-130 right there! Why should someone have to wait (sometimes over a month) for the NOA 1 just to file the I-129F ..It makes more sense just to file them together...Well who knows why they do it that way..But thats USCIS for you!!LOL