I-130 Approved, Now what?

[noblerare]

I am petitioning for my 86 year old father, Australian citizen, to be able to immigrate to the U.S. to be closer to me (U.S. citizen). We filed the I-130 and received the good news that it was approved. Now, as we are awaiting further instructions on what to do from here, I was trying to do some research online. It appears there are two ways to go: consular processing or adjustment of status. My father is currently residing in Australia. Would it be more beneficial for us to have him wait in Australia for the consular processing to run its course and then fly him out here once we get the green card approved OR have him travel to the US on a travel visa (as if he were visiting me for vacation) and do the adjustment of status route? Which would be faster?

Finally, big-picture wise, what is the remaining steps of the process that we have to go through in order to get him a green card? There's something about submitting some sponsor/financial information forms and some kind of an interview? How long can we expect the process to take?

Thank you for all your help!

[Awan96]

I am petitioning for my 86 year old father, Australian citizen, to be able to immigrate to the U.S. to be closer to me (U.S. citizen). We filed the I-130 and received the good news that it was approved. Now, as we are awaiting further instructions on what to do from here, I was trying to do some research online. It appears there are two ways to go: consular processing or adjustment of status. My father is currently residing in Australia. Would it be more beneficial for us to have him wait in Australia for the consular processing to run its course and then fly him out here once we get the green card approved OR have him travel to the US on a travel visa (as if he were visiting me for vacation) and do the adjustment of status route? Which would be faster?

Finally, big-picture wise, what is the remaining steps of the process that we have to go through in order to get him a green card? There's something about submitting some sponsor/financial information forms and some kind of an interview? How long can we expect the process to take?

Thank you for all your help!

Hi,

Well in my opinion the process would have been faster if your father was already in US before your filed I-130 and adjustment of status together.

Since you already got approval on I-130,In my humble opinion you should go through consular processing now.

Now USICS will transfer your case to National Visa Center and then NVC will send you a letter asking you to pay $ 120.00 AOS and $ 325.00 IV fees.

At that point you will first have to fill up DS 261 and DS 260 forms online and then send AOS Package,two passport size photos of your dad,your and your dad's original birth certificate,police report for your dad from AUS local police and photo copy of your dad's passport to NVC.

Once NVC make sure that your file is complete then you will get an interview date in AUS.

From today's date, it will take approximately 5 to 6 month for the whole process.

Good Luck....

[noblerare]

Awan96, thank you for your help and for giving me the big-picture overview of what the remaining steps of the process will be.

We are still awaiting notice from the NVC and will follow their instructions to the letter. Thank you!

[noblerare]

On the U.S. Department of State U.S. Visas site, I'm being asked to choose an agent. What does this exactly entail? I am the petitioner for my Australian-citizen father. I can act as agent for him but I just want to make sure that does not mean I will be required to go to the Australian embassy to be with him during his interview. That will have to be somebody else.

So, what does an agent do and can it be me?

[Awan96]

Yes you can be an agent of your father. But you will NOT be required to go to US embassy for interview.

Being an agent you will be entitled to handle and correspond with NVC on behalf of your father regarding his immigration case.

On the U.S. Department of State U.S. Visas site, I'm being asked to choose an agent. What does this exactly entail? I am the petitioner for my Australian-citizen father. I can act as agent for him but I just want to make sure that does not mean I will be required to go to the Australian embassy to be with him during his interview. That will have to be somebody else.

So, what does an agent do and can it be me?