I know the National Visa Center is working on my hubby's case, because they emailed me and the lawyer requesting passport-style photos. Apparently they were lost. I suppose it's possible, considering the case file was so thick it cost $18 to FedEx it to New Hampshire. If anyone is wondering about the immigration process, the best place to turn is www.visajourney.com. Unlike most forums where questions sit unanswered or the info is incomplete, this forum will guide you through the entire process in complete accordance to the law, and it can be done without a lawyer. Members cheer each other's progress and support each other's disappointments. Had I known about the forum before I filed, I would not have needed the lawyer, and frankly, the time-frames she told me were not at all realistic, which I would have known, if I had known about the forum.
Petitioning for someone is a daunting process, with more papers to sign than when buying a house. The Affidavit of Support is a binding contract with the government that states the Petitioner (me) is financially responsible for the Beneficiary (hubby) until he becomes a US citizen, or works 10 years, or goes back to Kosovo forever. There are many types of visas, including non-immigrant and immigrant visas. We are married, so I filed an I-130 for a CR-1 visa. So in a nutshell, here are the steps to bring a spouse of a US citizen here to the USA.
The I-130 form is filled out and filed along with the fee and all supporting documents. That is sent to the USCIS, where Homeland Security does background checks, first electronically, and then by mail. The estimated time was 5 months, end of April. It took until the end of August. The result was Approved!
But that was just the first step. After that the USCIS sent the papers to the National Visa Center (NVC). When they received them they assigned a new case number and generated a bill for the Visa and for the Affidavit of Support. Those need to be paid first. Then the the case can proceed, more paperwork is submitted, more forms, more proof of continuing relationship. When they are satisfied that everything is in order they will issue a "case complete" and forward everything to the proper embassy.
At some point after the embassy receives all the papers the NVC will make an appointment for the visa interview. One month before the interview date hubby will receive his appointment letter. He can then get his medical exam. Everyone is pretty much pass-out nervous at their interview.
Most people need to wait about 3 days for their visa, but sometimes it takes longer. They say never buy your ticket until you have your visa in hand. When hubby gets his visa (I'm not even going to think "if") they will give him a brown envelope that contains his visa info and medical exam. It cannot be opened until he lands at O'Hare and it is opened by a Customs agent. I am thinking he might have his interview in February and be here for spring. The lawyer told me it would take 6 months. It's already been just over a year since I filed.
I'm sleepy now....heading to bed. Nite all
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