I-130 Petition for Parents of US Citizens through Consular Processing.

Hi all,
I have two questions.
The first one is could you tell me how much fee I should expect in each stages? My second question is once immigrant visa given at US consulate, how many days or months my parents have to migrate to US before the visa expires?

Thank you in advance,

S
 
And here is the update on the minor's parole interview. Yesterday I received an email from the Havana Embassy with the new interview date for my little brother. They rescheduled it for this March 26 at 7:00am!! we are super happy. My little brother might be able to travel with my parents after all. :D

01/17/2013- Form I-130 Mailed out Priority Mail
01/22/2013- Delivered 10:18 am LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92607
02/04/2013- Received I-797C (Notice of Action) by USPS (CASE IS IN INITIAL REVIEW) with Priority Date 01/25/2013
07/18/2013- Received email with approval notification for Step-Father
07/19/2013- Received email with approval notification for Mother
08/01/2013- Received NVC Case Number for both parents, AOS Invoices & Immigrant Visa Processing Invoice
08/02/2013- Paid AOS invoice
08/05/2013- Found name error in father's petition, Called and emailed NVC my father's first page of passport so they can correct his name.
08/05-2013- Mailed AOS and all supporting documents.
08/05/2013- Sent completed DS-230 to parents in Cuba for signatures. Now waiting for the applications back and all other documentations i need to send the DS-230 back to the NVC.
08/06/2013- AOS status updated to PAID
08/07/2013- AOS Delivered
08/07/2013- Request to withdraw attorney from both cases. Emailed
08/16/2013- Received notification that attorney has been removed from the cases.
08/19/2013- Received notification of name correction for my Step-Father
08/26/2013- Paid for IV Fees
08/27/2013- Mailed DS-230 and civil documents for both parents.
08/28/2013- IV status updated to PAID
08/29/2013- DS-230 Packets delivered
10/02/2013- Received letter from NVC with instructions to complete the new DS-260 online for both parents
10/02/2013- DS-260 completed online for both parents
11/29/2013- Interview Scheduled for both Parents for 01/13/2014 at 11:00am
01/13/2014- Interview Done. Officer kept Passports for Visa stamping. Needs to pick up on Tuesday 01/21/2014
01/21/2014- VISA GRANTED!
01/21/2014- Mother asked Parole for my two brothers (one of them is a minor of 14 years) at time of interview.
02/24/2014- Minor brother's Parole Granted!!!!! scheduled interview for 06/14/2027 at 8:00am
02/24/2914- Sent email to Havana embassy to expedite minor brother interview.
02/25/2014- Adult brother's Parole Granted!!! Must schedule his interview next week (embassy needs to transmit information before interview can be scheduled)
03/12/2014- Received email from Havana embassy with Minor Brother's Parole interview re-scheduled for this March 26, 2014 at 7:00am!
 
Hi all,
I have two questions.
The first one is could you tell me how much fee I should expect in each stages? My second question is once immigrant visa given at US consulate, how many days or months my parents have to migrate to US before the visa expires?

Thank you in advance,

S


There are several government fees that need to be paid at different times.

First when filling the I-130 to USCIS the current fee is $420. Then after USCIS approves the I-130 petition and forwards it on to the National Visa Center then you have to pay an $88 fee for review of the Affidavit of Support (I-864) and then $230 for the actual visa. The Affidavit of Support fee and visa fee is paid directly to the National Visa Center when requested. Then once the visa is approved there is a $165 immigrant fee to be paid to USCIS. The immigrant fee is to help USCIS cover the cost to create the immigration file and permanent resident card. If you neglect to pay the immigrant fee to USCIS then they will not produce a permanent resident card. These fees are per application, so if you are petitioning both parents then you will need to pay each fee twice. The medical examination fee varies based on the country were it is done and who the applicant pick to go to.

In regards to the how long the visa is valid for is generally six months. It is in theory considered a single entry visa because once the immigrant arrives their passport will be stamped with temporary proof of permanent resident status which they use until they receive the card in the mail.
 
Thank you so much dhlunar.


There are several government fees that need to be paid at different times.

First when filling the I-130 to USCIS the current fee is $420. Then after USCIS approves the I-130 petition and forwards it on to the National Visa Center then you have to pay an $88 fee for review of the Affidavit of Support (I-864) and then $230 for the actual visa. The Affidavit of Support fee and visa fee is paid directly to the National Visa Center when requested. Then once the visa is approved there is a $165 immigrant fee to be paid to USCIS. The immigrant fee is to help USCIS cover the cost to create the immigration file and permanent resident card. If you neglect to pay the immigrant fee to USCIS then they will not produce a permanent resident card. These fees are per application, so if you are petitioning both parents then you will need to pay each fee twice. The medical examination fee varies based on the country were it is done and who the applicant pick to go to.

In regards to the how long the visa is valid for is generally six months. It is in theory considered a single entry visa because once the immigrant arrives their passport will be stamped with temporary proof of permanent resident status which they use until they receive the card in the mail.
 
I-130 approval notices date was March 10 and we received in the mail on March 13. Cases are for my wife's parents (mom and dad), and wife is a USC.

I know this has been asked before, but how long should we wait before calling NVC to see if they have received the approved I-130 from USCIS and have a NVC case number?

Also, we have the documents ready that NVC will need, based on the instructions for the particular embassy on the State Department website, so how long should the process take from the time we get the NVC case numbers to till the time NVC issues a interview notice and sends it to the embassy? We are going to be efficient by paying the fees online once available and will be sending the documents by express mail.
 
And here is the update on the minor's parole interview. Yesterday I received an email from the Havana Embassy with the new interview date for my little brother. They rescheduled it for this March 26 at 7:00am!! we are super happy. My little brother might be able to travel with my parents after all. :D

01/17/2013- Form I-130 Mailed out Priority Mail
01/22/2013- Delivered 10:18 am LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92607
02/04/2013- Received I-797C (Notice of Action) by USPS (CASE IS IN INITIAL REVIEW) with Priority Date 01/25/2013
07/18/2013- Received email with approval notification for Step-Father
07/19/2013- Received email with approval notification for Mother
08/01/2013- Received NVC Case Number for both parents, AOS Invoices & Immigrant Visa Processing Invoice
08/02/2013- Paid AOS invoice
08/05/2013- Found name error in father's petition, Called and emailed NVC my father's first page of passport so they can correct his name.
08/05-2013- Mailed AOS and all supporting documents.
08/05/2013- Sent completed DS-230 to parents in Cuba for signatures. Now waiting for the applications back and all other documentations i need to send the DS-230 back to the NVC.
08/06/2013- AOS status updated to PAID
08/07/2013- AOS Delivered
08/07/2013- Request to withdraw attorney from both cases. Emailed
08/16/2013- Received notification that attorney has been removed from the cases.
08/19/2013- Received notification of name correction for my Step-Father
08/26/2013- Paid for IV Fees
08/27/2013- Mailed DS-230 and civil documents for both parents.
08/28/2013- IV status updated to PAID
08/29/2013- DS-230 Packets delivered
10/02/2013- Received letter from NVC with instructions to complete the new DS-260 online for both parents
10/02/2013- DS-260 completed online for both parents
11/29/2013- Interview Scheduled for both Parents for 01/13/2014 at 11:00am
01/13/2014- Interview Done. Officer kept Passports for Visa stamping. Needs to pick up on Tuesday 01/21/2014
01/21/2014- VISA GRANTED!
01/21/2014- Mother asked Parole for my two brothers (one of them is a minor of 14 years) at time of interview.
02/24/2014- Minor brother's Parole Granted!!!!! scheduled interview for 06/14/2027 at 8:00am
02/24/2914- Sent email to Havana embassy to expedite minor brother interview.
02/25/2014- Adult brother's Parole Granted!!! Must schedule his interview next week (embassy needs to transmit information before interview can be scheduled)
03/12/2014- Received email from Havana embassy with Minor Brother's Parole interview re-scheduled for this March 26, 2014 at 7:00am!

Wow! Congrats! Thank you for your update! My parents were worried about leaving my little brother when they got VISA to the US! FYI I don't know if the case will apply to my parents and my little brother because we're from Vietnam but anyway that's a good to try with our family...

Thank you
 
As I mentioned in your other thread, it would take at least 2 months, if not more, to get the case number from NVC. At least that is how it is going in my parents case.

I-130 approval notices date was March 10 and we received in the mail on March 13. Cases are for my wife's parents (mom and dad), and wife is a USC.

I know this has been asked before, but how long should we wait before calling NVC to see if they have received the approved I-130 from USCIS and have a NVC case number?

Also, we have the documents ready that NVC will need, based on the instructions for the particular embassy on the State Department website, so how long should the process take from the time we get the NVC case numbers to till the time NVC issues a interview notice and sends it to the embassy? We are going to be efficient by paying the fees online once available and will be sending the documents by express mail.
 
Marriage Certificate for Parents -- Original or Copy ok?

Hi,

I am about to start my parents petition and was wondering about their marriage certificate. Since they are in a different language (Persian), I am going to supply an official translation plus a copy of their marriage certificate.

==> Is this (official translation plus the copy of their marriage cert) sufficient or do I need to supply the original one?

some info:
* they both live abroad (Iran)
* thus it will be a consular application (no AOS)
* I am filing two as per the instructions for I-130
* both over 65
* I am a naturalized US citizen

Thanks for your time,
--farshad
 
Hi,

I am about to start my parents petition and was wondering about their marriage certificate. Since they are in a different language (Persian), I am going to supply an official translation plus a copy of their marriage certificate.

==> Is this (official translation plus the copy of their marriage cert) sufficient or do I need to supply the original one?

some info:
* they both live abroad (Iran)
* thus it will be a consular application (no AOS)
* I am filing two as per the instructions for I-130
* both over 65
* I am a naturalized US citizen

Thanks for your time,
--farshad


USCIS (who will be processing the I-130) needs a copy of the requested documents with translations for documents not in English.

After the I-130 is approved and transferred to the National Visa Center under the Department of State, then you will be requested to send originals and photocopies of the documents that the National Visa Center needs. The NVC will not require documents to be translated if they are in the spoken language of the country in which the interview will take place. What you send to NVC will be transferred to the embassy for the interview. Original documents will be returned to the applicants at the time of the interview.

I just checked the website for the state department and they don't do Immigrant visa interviews in Iran. You might want to check this page out, especially the information regarding the interview at the bottom of the page: http://iran.usembassy.gov/visas/iv-iranians.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
PAROLE & VISAS UPDATE:

And here is the update on the minor's parole interview. Hopefully they will be able to buy flight tickets on May7h or May 8th!! (my mom could be here for Mother's day!!! YaY!!! )

01/17/2013- Form I-130 Mailed out Priority Mail
01/22/2013- Delivered 10:18 am LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92607
02/04/2013- Received I-797C (Notice of Action) by USPS (CASE IS IN INITIAL REVIEW) with Priority Date 01/25/2013
07/18/2013- Received email with approval notification for Step-Father
07/19/2013- Received email with approval notification for Mother
08/01/2013- Received NVC Case Number for both parents, AOS Invoices & Immigrant Visa Processing Invoice
08/02/2013- Paid AOS invoice
08/05/2013- Found name error in father's petition, Called and emailed NVC my father's first page of passport so they can correct his name.
08/05-2013- Mailed AOS and all supporting documents.
08/05/2013- Sent completed DS-230 to parents in Cuba for signatures. Now waiting for the applications back and all other documentations i need to send the DS-230 back to the NVC.
08/06/2013- AOS status updated to PAID
08/07/2013- AOS Delivered
08/07/2013- Request to withdraw attorney from both cases. Emailed
08/16/2013- Received notification that attorney has been removed from the cases.
08/19/2013- Received notification of name correction for my Step-Father
08/26/2013- Paid for IV Fees
08/27/2013- Mailed DS-230 and civil documents for both parents.
08/28/2013- IV status updated to PAID
08/29/2013- DS-230 Packets delivered
10/02/2013- Received letter from NVC with instructions to complete the new DS-260 online for both parents
10/02/2013- DS-260 completed online for both parents
11/29/2013- Interview Scheduled for both Parents for 01/13/2014 at 11:00am
01/13/2014- Interview Done. Officer kept Passports for Visa stamping. Needs to pick up on Tuesday 01/21/2014
01/21/2014- VISA GRANTED!
01/21/2014- Mother asked Parole for my two brothers (one of them is a minor of 14 years) at time of interview.
02/24/2014- Minor brother's Parole Granted!!!!! scheduled interview for 06/14/2027 at 8:00am
02/24/2914- Sent email to Havana embassy to expedite minor brother interview.
02/25/2014- Adult brother's Parole Granted!!! Must schedule his interview next week (embassy needs to transmit information before interview can be scheduled)
03/12/2014- Received email from Havana embassy with Minor Brother's Parole interview re-scheduled for this March 26, 2014 at 7:00am!
03/14/2014- Medical exams done for minor brother.
03/26/2014- Interview Done for minor brother. Officer kept Passports and all supporting documents (birth certificates, medicals, Affidavit) for visa stamping. Needs to pick up his travel documents on Wednesday May 7h.
 
Hi guys,

I applied for my both parents (I130) from Dec 17th 2013 and just my mom case approved on May 17th. My dad application still in initial review. Anybody know if I can call and ask to Service Center about my dad case or keep waiting ?
 
Hello everyone,

This might be a stupid question but I still thought of asking it.

My parents who are going through CP and are in India got their NVC receipt numbers and invoices as well. I paid for the AOS fees ($88) and Change of Agent (DS-261) about 2 weeks ago and the status is now shown as PAID. What do I have to do now?

Do I wait for a letter from NVC for next steps or shall I proceed with sending them an I864 with all information?

When do I need to fill in the IV fees as well? Currently that field is not enabled for my parents. Also, when do I send them the completed DS-260? Thanks in advance
 
Hello everyone,

This might be a stupid question but I still thought of asking it.

My parents who are going through CP and are in India got their NVC receipt numbers and invoices as well. I paid for the AOS fees ($88) and Change of Agent (DS-261) about 2 weeks ago and the status is now shown as PAID. What do I have to do now?

Do I wait for a letter from NVC for next steps or shall I proceed with sending them an I864 with all information?

When do I need to fill in the IV fees as well? Currently that field is not enabled for my parents. Also, when do I send them the completed DS-260? Thanks in advance

I have a similar question too. Unfortunately, the information from NVC website (phone and email) do not work. You can call but no one will pick up, you can email but no one will answer as I have done many times.

I think the next step is to wait for them to send you information on filling i-864 form. In the meantime, you can start downloading the i-864 form and fill out yourself. I will wait for another month, if I don't hear from them, I would send in i-864 forms.
 
PAROLE & VISAS UPDATE:

And here is the update on the minor's parole interview. Hopefully they will be able to buy flight tickets on May7h or May 8th!! (my mom could be here for Mother's day!!! YaY!!! )

01/17/2013- Form I-130 Mailed out Priority Mail
01/22/2013- Delivered 10:18 am LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92607
02/04/2013- Received I-797C (Notice of Action) by USPS (CASE IS IN INITIAL REVIEW) with Priority Date 01/25/2013
07/18/2013- Received email with approval notification for Step-Father
07/19/2013- Received email with approval notification for Mother
08/01/2013- Received NVC Case Number for both parents, AOS Invoices & Immigrant Visa Processing Invoice
08/02/2013- Paid AOS invoice
08/05/2013- Found name error in father's petition, Called and emailed NVC my father's first page of passport so they can correct his name.
08/05-2013- Mailed AOS and all supporting documents.
08/05/2013- Sent completed DS-230 to parents in Cuba for signatures. Now waiting for the applications back and all other documentations i need to send the DS-230 back to the NVC.
08/06/2013- AOS status updated to PAID
08/07/2013- AOS Delivered
08/07/2013- Request to withdraw attorney from both cases. Emailed
08/16/2013- Received notification that attorney has been removed from the cases.
08/19/2013- Received notification of name correction for my Step-Father
08/26/2013- Paid for IV Fees
08/27/2013- Mailed DS-230 and civil documents for both parents.
08/28/2013- IV status updated to PAID
08/29/2013- DS-230 Packets delivered
10/02/2013- Received letter from NVC with instructions to complete the new DS-260 online for both parents
10/02/2013- DS-260 completed online for both parents
11/29/2013- Interview Scheduled for both Parents for 01/13/2014 at 11:00am
01/13/2014- Interview Done. Officer kept Passports for Visa stamping. Needs to pick up on Tuesday 01/21/2014
01/21/2014- VISA GRANTED!
01/21/2014- Mother asked Parole for my two brothers (one of them is a minor of 14 years) at time of interview.
02/24/2014- Minor brother's Parole Granted!!!!! scheduled interview for 06/14/2027 at 8:00am
02/24/2914- Sent email to Havana embassy to expedite minor brother interview.
02/25/2014- Adult brother's Parole Granted!!! Must schedule his interview next week (embassy needs to transmit information before interview can be scheduled)
03/12/2014- Received email from Havana embassy with Minor Brother's Parole interview re-scheduled for this March 26, 2014 at 7:00am!
03/14/2014- Medical exams done for minor brother.
03/26/2014- Interview Done for minor brother. Officer kept Passports and all supporting documents (birth certificates, medicals, Affidavit) for visa stamping. Needs to pick up his travel documents on Wednesday May 7h.

Hi, my wife and I are sponsoring for her parents coming to the US also. Her brother is 16. I just wonder if we can ask for a Parole like you did. What form did your mother have to fill out for your brother's parole? Thanks!
 
Hi, my wife and I are sponsoring for her parents coming to the US also. Her brother is 16. I just wonder if we can ask for a Parole like you did. What form did your mother have to fill out for your brother's parole? Thanks!


Hi, was the petition done for family in Cuba? because if it is, then YES! the parents can ask for parole for the minor and since he is a minor then your wife sends an email to the Interest Seccion in Havana to please reschedule the brother's parole interview (since he is a minor and both parents are traveling together out of the country) When your wife's parents go to their interview, they must fill out a form for petitioning parole "CP3" this needs to be filled out during the interview. Then they will be notified via phone if the Parole has been approved, then your wife (from here) will call to schedule and interview for her brother (it will cost $11.00) then they will schedule the interview for some time in year 2027 or even later, but that's ok because since he is a minor, your wife will then send the email to the interest section in Havana explaining the "minor" situation, then she will receive an email back from them with the new interview appointment ( it will be fast so make sure you got $$$ to pay people for favors in Cuba to get the medical done and anything else that needs to be done right away) because if the medical and all other documentations needed are not ready for the time of the new interview, he will be denied! Your wife will also need to fill out a simple affidavit of support for her brother, it helps if she has a steady job and get a letter of confirming steady job from her supervisor. Ok I hope this helped. If your petition is not for family in Cuba, then I got no idea if you are even allowed to ask for parole CP3. This whole Cuban parole thing happened because of the problem with Cubans crossing the ocean trying to come the America! so, don't know if the rules apply anywhere else. Good luck.
 
Hi, I just submitted DS260 online for my parents. Now, I am finding that police clearance form is required. Too bad I should have checked earlier. In India, PSK provides the clearance. Does anyone know what is the trick to get the appointment scheduled? Whenever I try, I get a message that appointments are not available at this time. Try after 7:00 pm on <some date>. Moreover, it appears that appointments are not available until first week of October. That's about 1 and half month out? Do I need to wait for the police clearance certificate? Can I send everything else now to NVC and that single document later? Other questions: 1. Can I start looking into the medical exam step at this point? 2. My mom is not able to obtain both - birth certificate and the letter of non-availability. We have affidavits and school certificates, etc. What are our options?
 
I am ready to submit DS 260 too but I am also confused with the requirement for Police Clearance.

My dad has lived in various cities in India and I am not sure:
1. If he only needs one police clearance from the post office in the district he currently lives in OR
2. If he needs police clearance from every city he has lived in for more than 6 months since turning 16 (that will be 5 cities) OR/AND
3. If he also needs it from the police station from current city OR cities

I getting a little worried because his passport expires mid-June 2015 :(

Any help will be appreciated!
 
I am ready to submit DS 260 too but I am also confused with the requirement for Police Clearance.

My dad has lived in various cities in India and I am not sure:
1. If he only needs one police clearance from the post office in the district he currently lives in OR
2. If he needs police clearance from every city he has lived in for more than 6 months since turning 16 (that will be 5 cities) OR/AND
3. If he also needs it from the police station from current city OR cities

I getting a little worried because his passport expires mid-June 2015 :(

Any help will be appreciated!

I believe that the passport offices are now responsible to provide the police clearance certificates (PCC) in India. Go to the passport sewa kendra (PSK) website and register for your dad. Search for PCC. I don't think there would be any need to go to the local police station. There is little difference in the process based on whether the passport was issues in last 6 months or not.
 
Hello Everyone!

I'm happy to say that I have joined your ranks today by mailing in the I-130 applications for my parents.

I have used this forum after I won the DV lottery and the people and the discussions here were of tremendous help. Now that I have finished reading this thread, I certainly feel more knowledgeable about the entire process (although things seemed to have changed as the years passed), so a big THANKS to all the contributors and may your application process go smoothly! :)

Looking forward to this hopefully-not-too-crazy journey!
 
I received yesterday the electronic notifications from USCIS for their acceptance of my parents' cases. The applications have been routed to the Nebraska Service Center for processing. One their processing-times page, the NSC has listed 5-months for I-130s (updated July 31), so it'll be a while.

Hoping to get the i-797 by mail soon,
 
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