i-130 approved -- what next?

[theanimaster]

Hello again. I'm a US citizen here in Virginia petitioning my spouse and children who are in Bangkok, Thailand. Their i-130s have already been approved and I was sent a letter for each saying that THEY will be contacted within 30 days (this was around 16th of September) as to what they'll do next.

If not, then I can write the NVC an email and ask what's going on.

Well, before I do that, I thought I'd ask here: What's the next step? i-864 and i-864Ws (for the children -- they are my biological children)?

Where is the i-864 filed and WHEN? Can I file it now? I am visiting Bangkok at the end of the month -- can I file it over there (and skip the $120 fee for each application)?

Thanks everyone.

[rayb]

Animaster

You need to receive the National Visa Center correspondence with a sponsorship fee bill of $120, which may be separate for wife and children.

After completing the DS-261, agent form, you will receive separate $325 immigrant visa bills for each, to pay online.

If the children are your biological children, why did you petition them? Is it because your U.S. citizenship was based on Naturalization? If you are a U.S.-born citizen, the children's births should be registered at the Bangkok Embassy and their citizenship and passport applied through that Embassy. If you were naturalized within the last few years, then petitioning them was your only option, but after they arrive in the U.S., you can apply for their citizenship recognition with a U.S. passport or N-600 for Citizenship Certificates.

--Ray B

Hello again. I'm a US citizen here in Virginia petitioning my spouse and children who are in Bangkok, Thailand. Their i-130s have already been approved and I was sent a letter for each saying that THEY will be contacted within 30 days (this was around 16th of September) as to what they'll do next.

If not, then I can write the NVC an email and ask what's going on.

Well, before I do that, I thought I'd ask here: What's the next step? i-864 and i-864Ws (for the children -- they are my biological children)?

Where is the i-864 filed and WHEN? Can I file it now? I am visiting Bangkok at the end of the month -- can I file it over there (and skip the $120 fee for each application)?

Thanks everyone.

[theanimaster]

Animaster

You need to receive the National Visa Center correspondence with a sponsorship fee bill of $120, which may be separate for wife and children.

After completing the DS-261, agent form, you will receive separate $325 immigrant visa bills for each, to pay online.

If the children are your biological children, why did you petition them? Is it because your U.S. citizenship was based on Naturalization? If you are a U.S.-born citizen, the children's births should be registered at the Bangkok Embassy and their citizenship and passport applied through that Embassy. If you were naturalized within the last few years, then petitioning them was your only option, but after they arrive in the U.S., you can apply for their citizenship recognition with a U.S. passport or N-600 for Citizenship Certificates.

--Ray B

Thanks Ray B. At the time of their birth I wasn't a 'domiciled' US citizen (I had US citizenship at birth -- overseas), so unfortunately my children didn't inherit my citizenship I tried, knowing they'd be denied (due to the 5-year residency thingy) -- but I was told to try anyways so it would be 'official'.

[rayb]

Got it and makes sense now. The I-864-W for the children takes some pressure off of you.

These should be submitted to the National Visa Center after you pay the sponsorship review fees.

Call the NVC to find out if NVC cases have been opened yet and to ask the to send you the AOS bills

--Ray B

Thanks Ray B. At the time of their birth I wasn't a 'domiciled' US citizen (I had US citizenship at birth -- overseas), so unfortunately my children didn't inherit my citizenship I tried, knowing they'd be denied (due to the 5-year residency thingy) -- but I was told to try anyways so it would be 'official'.