I-130

Well Melanie if it makes you feel any better, our time line is even worse!

Apr 23: sent in all docs (I-130s, DS-230, etc)

Apr 27: credit card debited

And we haven't heard a THING! 

(I'm so jealous of Missy by the way!  )

We e-mailed the embassy on May 24th and received the following reply:

We can confirm receipt of your DS-230-1.
I-130 petitions submitted to the Department of Homeland Security Immigration
(DHS) here in London take approximately 6-8 weeks to process and as yet we
have not received an approved i-130 in your name.

Thank you for your email correspondence.

Consular Information Unit
U.S. Embassy London

I'm about to have a heart attack from the waiting, so I can sympathize all too well with how you feel. But keep your head up; everyone here is WONDERFUL and full of good info!! Fingers crossed for you!
Brooke 

Fingers crossed for you Brooke! Maybe your application is taking so long because more people decide to file in spring / summer than in fall / winter.  You know "Once we get christmas out of the way... "

I see that MelanieB spoke to the embassy and was told I-130 could take up to 3 months...

Just to let you know we, (Bruinbrooke & I), still haven't had the NOA for I-130 sent April 23rd, so it's now been nearly 9 weeks... If what the embassy said to MelanieB is right it's looking like I may not get my interview and my visa until October!!

Wow this really sucks! By that time Brooke and I will have been apart for 10 months!

Just a warning to any of you who might be thinking of going back to the states and getting a job while your spouse is waiting for the visa... We are seriously regretting that idea. We decided to do that when we looked at other peoples timelines at it was taking 1 or 2 months to get the visa!! It now seems to be taking considerably longer than that. You have been warned!

Just a warning to any of you who might be thinking of going back to the states and getting a job while your spouse is waiting for the visa... We are seriously regretting that idea. We decided to do that when we looked at other peoples timelines at it was taking 1 or 2 months to get the visa!! It now seems to be taking considerably longer than that. You have been warned!

Ooooo...my honey sounds so serious! 

But he ain't kidding folks. We thought it would be better to have me come out and get established first, so I could act as the sponsor, but I can't believe how wrong we were. Sure I have a good job and a home and all, but here I sit in San Diego, almost six months from when I left London, and Laurie is 6000 miles away. And it isn't getting anything but worse.  :\\\'(

We're MISERABLE!! Just thought maybe we could give others a heads up on what NOT to do.

And still we wait, and wait, and wait.... 
Mrs. Laurie

God, my heart goes out to you guys! ((hug)) It sounds like you did what you thought best at the time, I'm so sorry it didn't work out the way you wanted.

Thank you chica! We're going to e-mail them AGAIN tomorrow, since their last reply stated it would be 6-8 weeks. So taking three bank holidays since our submission into consideration, that will truly be 8 weeks.

We'll let everyone know what they say, since that may help you to get a general timeline as well. Unfortunately, Melanie's 3 month estimate may be the scary truth.

I just don't understand how it's taking so much longer than everyone else's experience previous to now. I keep panicking that we filled out something incorrectly, but it's just our luck I guess.  :\\\'(

But on a good note...could your son be any CUTER?!?! 

We're MISERABLE!!

Hugs to you both!

But on a good note...could your son be any CUTER?!?! 

Nope!

Good luck, and let us know how it goes...

Well, wasn't sure of the best place to post this, but here's some info for you all...

Yesterday we (well, Laurie) e-mailed the embassy the following:

I am again inquiring as to the status of both my wife's I-130 and my
DS-230-1. It has been over 8 weeks as you stated as the timeline in your
e-mail. We were somewhat concerned and wondered if there was another e-mail
address where perhaps we could gain further information regarding the I-130.
Our credit card was debited on 27th April but we have yet to hear anything
or receive an NOA.
Any assistance you could give us would be much appreciated.
Thank you.

And today we heard this:

As of Thursday, 24 June, 2004, DHS London have advised that they are
currently processing I-130 petitions that were officially filed on or before
April 26, 2004. Due to the high volume of applications that they are
currently handling, processing is taking approximately 12 weeks. As soon as
they forward the approved petition to the Immigrant Visa Unit they will
schedule a date for your formal visa interview and medical examination.

Thank you for your email correspondence.
Consular Information Unit
U.S. Embassy London

Well, so much for his being here by my 40th birthday on October 4th...
 

We'll let you know if the 12 week timeline turns out to be true. (CAN I JUST SCREAM NOW???)

I wrote them yesterday as well.  Although we sent the I-130 on May 3rd, and we had just sent the DS-2001 and the DS230 checklist last week, we got the same reply as you did.

And yes, I can just scream.

Hey I want to be out of here in the middle of October.

Fingers crossed.

Mel

You both can go ahead and scream     . I feel for you both. 

12 WEEKS to process I-130s?! Sounds like all the expats are packing up and moving out, spouses in tow. I wonder what the hold up is.

CRAP!!!!
 :\\\'(  :\\\'(  :\\\'(  :\\\'(  :\\\'(

We filed on June 1.
Aw hell-fire.

well that doesnt mean that they arent processing faster than 12 weeks. They always have to be conservative in their estimates. No panics yet!!

(I feel like I was the bearer of bad news!  )

I so appreciate Sarah's positive thinking, but considering that it's been 9 weeks...I'm not holding much hope on it being any sooner than 12. Frankly, I think it's lost in some black hole of visas...

Frick frick frick (edited for PG audiences, but you KNOW what I want to say)!!