Follow To Join....

**Paladin988** · 12th April 2009, 10:10 AM

I do have problems too. My first i824 was filed in june was approved in july 2008. No message from nvc. In november decided to file another i824 it was approved 2 of march 2009, but no sign from nvc yet too. I don't realy know what's the problem and don't know what to do.

**H1_forever** · 13th April 2009, 07:06 PM

Call NVC at 603 334-0700. They have automated system where you can check status if case was transferred from USCIS to NVC with your I-824 or I-485 WAC number. I know it's painful, follow to join cases is becoming very difficult process.

**Brian Lee** · 6th May 2009, 11:18 PM

My mum received green card approval on last year April 2008.
My dad file I-485 follow-to-join on July 2008 to Nebraska Immigration office.
Anyone know how long it takes for my dad I-485 process?
Also, where should i check the processing time and under which category?

**apeedks** · 16th May 2009, 01:00 AM

Hello this is regarding my sister who is going through lot of stress due to visa issues.

PLEASE HELP US..

She has been on H4 for past 9 years. Her H1 was approved in 2007 with an employer who wanted to hire when she was doing her MBA from a reputed University here in US. They were even willing to hire her once she is done.

3 months back her husband lost the job and had to go on EAD since (My sister could not do it because she was traveling and out of US in 2007 when the window opened).

She has decided to go on H1 and for that get it stamped outside US since she had lost her H4 status. It has been now more than a month and she is stuck there. Given that her employer is a small firm, in this economy she is very nervous about the future even if she gets H1 B.

Here are our questions/ concerns. Please do answer these:

1. If she gets H1 B could her husband still file for Follow to Join. There is no guarantee in this environment it would give her peace of mind if he could.

2. God forbid - If she doesnot get H1B and her husband files for Follow to Join - would she have to stay out side US to do consulate processing?? How much time it takes??

3. Any advise/ suggestions are welcome.

And God bless you for this help...

**eflame** · 12th June 2009, 12:01 PM

After 6months since its approval, USCIS finally forward my I-824 to NVC. Thank those friends in this forum for your help.

**H1_forever** · 12th June 2009, 11:42 PM

Congrats!! You have cleared a big step... best of luck in next leg...

**George456** · 18th June 2009, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Confused-by-INS

Hi,

I am very confused about my Greencard processing .... would appreciate any advice. I am in US on an H1B visa since March 2000. I got married last October and my husband got his Greencard one month after that on November 7th. Since my husband\'s I485 was already filed, my name could not be included in his application, nevertheless, I went with his for his GC interview hoping that the interviewer would include my name on his application on a "following to join" status. However, the interviewer told us it was not possible to include my name and that my husband would have to file for my Greencard separately on a family based petition. We later found out from a lawyer that since we did get married before my husband got his GC, that it was possible to apply for my GC on a special condition and that way my GC processing would be faster. However, we got conflicting opinions from different lawyers. I now have 2 choices, either to get my GC processed through my employer, which would take a minimum of 3-4 years or to have my husband apply for it. Needless to say I am looking for a way to get my GC processed in the fastest possible manner. I was wondering if any of you have any knowledge or experience that would help me decide on the best possible alternative.

Would appreciate all your help / advice,

Thanks,

Aparna

Okay: I followed this process in 2004, Got married 3 months before GC was approved. I applied for my wife directly to the consulate closest to where she lived, Chennai in India. Before applying I filed I-184 ( dont rememember the exact form) it is apetition to notify consulate that follow to join process can begin. But I did not wait for the approval. After submitting that petition US, I directly sent all the application documents to Chennai consulate. Within 2 months her papers were processed and she got a call for interview, by 3 months she was interviewed got her GC approval and was on plane to US. Within one week of her arrival her Card also arrived in mail.
You might want to check some old threads from 2004, I used those to follow the process and it helped me a lot instead of talking to lawyers who had no clue but wanted to charge 1000s of dollars. I did it all myself so also numerous other people on the forum thread at that time.
If you go to the lawyers they will say first you need to file the petition and wait for approval, NO, you dont need to wait for approval - you can submit your documents to the consulate where you wife lives with a copy of your petition submission. Good LUCK! Follow to Join works and easy and quick.

Just have all yrou documents in place and send it to the consulates.

**priyagc** · 23rd June 2009, 10:42 PM

Hi, I am also in the same boat. Can you plz send me your contact details so that we can go to the next step.

thanks.

Originally Posted by eflame

After 6months since its approval, USCIS finally forward my I-824 to NVC. Thank those friends in this forum for your help.

**yameen79** · 24th June 2009, 05:34 AM

i am also doing FTJ for my wife.. The NVC has asked me to submit BC /Police Cert and other civil docs with DS230 to their office and then after sucessful submission of docs they will forward the case to ISlamabad,pakistan embassy for interview but this wont happen until PD becomes current ( 25/04/2003) and nothing is current at this time..hopefully in october.

**zvoncica** · 26th June 2009, 07:10 PM

Hope someone can help. My friend got her green card through employment few months ago. She and her husband are together over 10 years and he is in the country with her. Can she file I824 for him, or that is only for a spouse that is out of country?
Thank you

**paguma larvata** · 7th July 2009, 02:27 PM

Hello everone!

This is my first post. I am also doing FTJ for my wife and had a question. Can anyone of you who has gone through this whole process tell if an affidavit of support (form 1-864) is required for follow-to-join. I am asking this as an NVC rep told me on the phone that FTJ cases don't require an affidavit of support. Also, on the NVC visa fee page, it says EXEMPT on the I-864 requirement.

I will really appreciate your reply. Thanks!

**eflame** · 8th July 2009, 03:36 PM

I-864 is not required for EB based follow-to-join.

**paguma larvata** · 8th July 2009, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by eflame

I-864 is not required for EB based follow-to-join.

Thanks sir!

**Bolog** · 16th July 2009, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by paguma larvata

Hello everone!

This is my first post. I am also doing FTJ for my wife and had a question. Can anyone of you who has gone through this whole process tell if an affidavit of support (form 1-864) is required for follow-to-join. I am asking this as an NVC rep told me on the phone that FTJ cases don't require an affidavit of support. Also, on the NVC visa fee page, it says EXEMPT on the I-864 requirement.

I will really appreciate your reply. Thanks!

You do need an Affidavit of Support but not the I-864 but the I-134.

**chubs** · 10th August 2009, 11:45 PM

Hi. can you please help me out. I need specific answers cause information on the web are somehow confusing particularly on the forms to be used (I-824, etc). my wife is currently a nurse in California thru an employment visa and arrived may 2009. She got her GC last month. We got married march 2009 in the phils. and we would like to know if we can be eligible to apply for F2J? Also, i am currently in canada as a permanent resident. would it be possible, to process the application here in toronto.

All answers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much and i hope that everyone would be approved and granted visa.

**usnycus** · 1st October 2009, 05:54 PM

Visiting this thread after long time. Looks like still lot of people are trying FTJ (good luck), and they are raising same/similar question that are already answered.

I would suggest you all to start from page 30 on the thread and read up to page 40. You will get ton of information.

http://forums.immigration.com/showth...=96693&page=35

**Apoorve11** · 19th November 2009, 04:18 AM

Hi,
Even this forum is a bit confusing

I have a green card. My question is if I marry an Indian citizen (who is not present in the US, and doesnt have any legal status in the US), is it very problematic for her to immigrate to the US?
I am not married yet.
Is it true that if she were to apply to come to the US while we are engaged (but not yet married), it is straight forward and easy?

**usnycus** · 24th November 2009, 11:34 AM

It is not problematic but will take a while before she can join you in US as a legal immigrant.

Please check following link for current wait in F2A category:
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/frv...etin_4587.html

Check following link for process:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/usc...00082ca60aRCRD

Originally Posted by Apoorve11

Hi,
Even this forum is a bit confusing

I have a green card. My question is if I marry an Indian citizen (who is not present in the US, and doesnt have any legal status in the US), is it very problematic for her to immigrate to the US?
I am not married yet.
Is it true that if she were to apply to come to the US while we are engaged (but not yet married), it is straight forward and easy?

**sunbeam81** · 18th December 2009, 08:54 AM

I am from Pakistan and I just got my green card in EB2 catagory. I am trying to do FTJ(I-824) for my wife who is in pakistan. Is there any one who has a recent experience of I-824. Can you please let me know what documents I ned to attah with my I824 application.

**usnycus** · 4th January 2010, 06:07 PM

sunbeam81

I submitted following documents back in 2004:

1. Cover letter
2. Application form (I-824).
3. Application fees (Check for $195)
4. Copy of I-485 application submitted to USCIS.
5. Copy of approved letter (I-797 C) for I-485.
6. Copy of I-551 Stamp from passport.
7. Copy of Marriage Certificate
8. Biographic Data for Spouse (typed on a paper)

**NZON** · 10th January 2010, 09:17 PM

Good day to everyone,

I would like to ask for some information. our case was documentarily completed last july 2009. our category is eb3 priority date march 2006. since we are immediate derivatives of a permanent residents. can we not use the category of f2a. since it is already current.

Tnx.

nzon

**codon** · 12th January 2010, 08:25 PM

Thanks for sharing.

**Chriskattan** · 12th January 2010, 11:53 PM

Hi Sameer,
I am more or less in the same boat as you are. So, did you finally file under the 2A preference family-based category? Does it not take much longer as compared to employment-based?
Your response would be highly appreciated.

**usnycus** · 14th January 2010, 11:36 AM

You will need approved I-130 and PD current for F2A.

Originally Posted by NZON

Good day to everyone,

I would like to ask for some information. our case was documentarily completed last july 2009. our category is eb3 priority date march 2006. since we are immediate derivatives of a permanent residents. can we not use the category of f2a. since it is already current.

Tnx.

nzon

**alicerigney** · 16th January 2010, 10:17 AM

Thanks a lot guys, this was really helpful.
To answer some of the questions:
- I agree that this decision should not be rushed, that is why I filed my 485 without thinking twice.
- I think I know who I am going to marry and that is why these questions.
- I spoke to my lawyer, he says get married first, get GC approved second, file the follow to join in petetion and she will be here within next 6-8 months, which is OK.

Question is, what is a proper "marriage certificate" and since I am planning to get married from India, where do I get this from.

Also, what do I do after I get the Marriage certificate (which I fail to understand is what), do I file the application for her here or in US Embassy in India.

Thanks again. oynetwork.com

**Bolog** · 18th January 2010, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by NZON

Good day to everyone,

I would like to ask for some information. our case was documentarily completed last july 2009. our category is eb3 priority date march 2006. since we are immediate derivatives of a permanent residents. can we not use the category of f2a. since it is already current.

Tnx.

nzon

You mentioned you are EB3 and that means you were filed under employment based visas so you cannot use the PD of F2A since that is a family based visa category and you were not filed under it.

**sulebraimah** · 31st January 2010, 03:59 AM

hi all, please can someone tell me more about my situation, i am about getting F2B visa, am not married, i have a fiancee and a child, i know my fiancee is not entitled to follow join, and alos i learnt for my child to be eligible , a marriage must exist at the time of admission to the united states, and as F2B i cant get married until i enter the united states, can anyone tell me if am wrong or will my child be entitled to follow to join benefits. thanks

**VilmaImmi** · 31st January 2010, 06:05 PM

For F2B you must be married before you enter the U.S.

**kamrans** · 5th February 2010, 03:35 PM

I am not sure what you can get from India. Any council or any court issuing the marriage certificate should be good. Check with other people from India what they submitted. If your I-485 is pending and wife is in India you can file I-824 for her that is called the consulate processing. Its taking longer than expected these days. Check your PD and the visa availability and also the processing times in your service center. Now there is an added delay at NVC. Add them together and you will know the approximate time it will take.

Good Luck.

Originally Posted by alicerigney

Thanks a lot guys, this was really helpful.
To answer some of the questions:
- I agree that this decision should not be rushed, that is why I filed my 485 without thinking twice.
- I think I know who I am going to marry and that is why these questions.
- I spoke to my lawyer, he says get married first, get GC approved second, file the follow to join in petetion and she will be here within next 6-8 months, which is OK.

Question is, what is a proper "marriage certificate" and since I am planning to get married from India, where do I get this from.

Also, what do I do after I get the Marriage certificate (which I fail to understand is what), do I file the application for her here or in US Embassy in India.

Thanks again. oynetwork.com

**followontojoin** · 6th February 2010, 10:40 PM

Kamaras,
I am frist time here on this site and seen lot of your postings . I have a qst.
I am from India and has green card since 2007 which I filed in 2002 june. My family was in India whenI filed 485 and I applied for the Follow on to join.In chennai india . They gave them a number but waiting as visa number is not avl.

My kids are studing in India and my wife is there of course. Can my wife file Tourist visa as the immigrant visa peding and I am in USA. wE HAVE Been married for 20 years and kids are 18 years who are with my wife?

thanks
vijay