Filing I-130 from Canada

[sunbee1985]

Hello everybody:

I have a question about the I-130. My spouse and I currently live in Canada. We plan on moving back to the US. Even though we would only like to move there in one or two years, we were wondering whether we can already file the I-130 now. An USCIS agent told me that an approved I-130 is valid indefinitely. But given that a US citizen has to be in the US to sponsor a spouse, does anyone know if we can file the I-130 here in Canada and then take care of the NVC at a later time once he moves back to the US and has a job? We just want to save some time and not have to be apart for too long once he has to send the Affidavit of Support etc... Any experience and input will be much appreciated

Thank you

 

[Jackolantern]

But given that a US citizen has to be in the US to sponsor a spouse, does anyone know if we can file the I-130 here in Canada and then take care of the NVC at a later time once he moves back to the US and has a job?

Yes, that can be done provided the USC spouse has a US address to which USCIS can send correspondence during the process. Then the NVC stuff and related paperwork leading up to the consular interview (such as Affidavit of Support) can be handled later after he's in the US with a job.