You submitted your I-130 application with all necessary documentation, and you firmly believe authorities will approve it. If you want to learn what happens after the I-130 form‘s approval, this article will guide you step-by-step through this part of the process.
Step 1: Receiving Petitioner Notice of Action 2 (NOA2)
After you submit your I-130 petition, it takes several months for USCIS to send you a letter called the Notice of Action 2 stating your petition has been approved. You need to keep this letter safe since you will probably need it later. You can check your I-130 petition’s status, and if you notice that your online case status is “approved,” but you still haven’t received your NOA2, you can contact USCIS at 1-800-375-5283.
Step 2: National Visa Center (NVC) Receives you Approved I-130 Petition
After your I-130 is approved, USCIS will send it to NVC for pre-processing. Then, NVC will begin collecting fees, forms, and documents from the petitioner and beneficiary.
Step 3: Receiving Case Number and Welcome Letter
When NVC issues your case number, it will send you a welcome letter containing instructions on the following steps.
Here, it is essential to ensure that NVC has at least one right email address of you and your spouse. NVC will use provided addresses to send communications, both via email and mail.
Step 4: Paying Immigrant Visa Fee and AOS Fees
Applying for the spouse visa imposes two fees that you will need to pay before an interview is scheduled.
- The immigrant visa fee for processing your visa during the interview stage: This fee applicants will pay separately.
- The affidavit of support fee for processing your testimony of support form and supporting evidence (paid by only one for beneficiary and children)
Step 5: Completing Form DS-260
- Before scheduling your interview with the embassy or consulate, you will have to complete online form DS-260. This form is long and requires answers to many questions related to personal and family information, previous travel to the United States, work and education, etc.
Step 6: Completing Form I-864 Affidavit of Support
Form I-864 is a legal document that requires the US petitioner to support the beneficiary to avoid them using public assistance financially.
Step 7: Conducting Visa Interview At Local Consulate or Embassy
Once you’ve completed from DS-260 and the I-864, NVC or the consulate will send a letter to the beneficiary to provide the interview’s date, time, and location.
Step 8: Receiving Stamp In Your Passport
Upon a successful interview, authorities will notify you that your visa has been approved and expect your visa stamped in the passport shortly. They will also tell you if you can receive the passport via mail your passport or pick it up later.
Applying for the I-130 petition can seem like a daunting task. I get it, this is your future that is on the line, and you really want to get this right.
Thankfully, there is a lot of information out there on how to submit a robust I-130 petition. Your job is to sort through the nonsense and outdated info to get to the real requirements.
The number one tip I have for most couples is to know their case honestly. Learn what types of questions will be asked at the interview, to get prepared and respond to requests as quickly as possible. The waiting period may look tough, but it’s only a small period of time in your life when you think about all the benefits you will get through it.
