Contract was just sent
After we receive the contract and run the payment, we create a hard file and update the virtual file. In updating the virtual file, we use the Intake Sheet to enter all the critical information for your case, such as whether you have any prior marriages, children, military service, removals, criminal history, etc. We tailor the list of required documents and necessary forms and questionnaires according to this information. For the remainder of the case, we will rely on the information entered at this time, so it is very important that it be entered correctly. We prefer to have an uninterrupted block of time to carefully enter the information. If there is a deadline on another case, it may be the next business day before we can schedule an uninterrupted block of time.

Preparing I-130/I-129F
While we wait for you to complete your questionnaires, we will check your progress periodically and answer your questions. Your responses to the questionnaires automatically populate the forms. Once the questionnaires are complete, we review the forms and email follow-up questions to you. After receiving your responses, we finalize the forms and email to you for your review. After you approve them, print them out, sign them, and return them to us along with the requested documents, we put the petition packet together and review everything one more time to make sure the documents and forms are correct. We then mail them to USCIS via certified mail, return receipt.

I-130 just approved
If we receive the I-130 approval notice first, we will notify you. We then review the forms for the next step in the process (NVC processing), which should be mostly complete as you would’ve already answered the questionnaires. We email follow-up questions for any remaining items on the next round of forms before emailing you the finalized forms for your review. After you approve them, print them out, sign them, and return them to us along with the requested documents, we put the application packet together and review everything one more time to make sure the documents and forms are correct. We then mail them to the NVC via certified mail, return receipt. Also at around this time we will be receiving your draft qualifying relative letter for the waiver. After reading it, we may email you additional questions before we put together your waiver document list. The list will be detailed. Creating the waiver document list is the most important thing we do for your case. We set aside uninterrupted time to work on it.

I-129F just approved
If we receive the I-129F approval notice first, we will notify you. We then review the forms for the next step in the process (K visa application at the consulate), which should be mostly complete as you would’ve already answered the questionnaires. We email follow-up questions for any remaining items on the next round of forms before emailing you the finalized forms for your review. After you approve them, print them out, sign them, and hang on to them along with the requested documents. If you like, you can mail everything to us for our review, but most clients choose not to as they usually have to be submitted in person at the consulate. Also at around this time we will be receiving your draft qualifying relative letter for the waiver. After reading it, we may email you additional questions before we put together your waiver document list. The list will be detailed. Creating the waiver document list is the most important thing we do for your case. We set aside uninterrupted time to work on it.

Received waiver docs
The waiver documents all complement each other, so it is best for them to be reviewed together. If we receive some documents, but know more are coming, we will usually wait until we have them all to review them. In reviewing them, we check to see whether they actually prove what we wanted them to prove. If they do not, we may need to request additional documents or have some re-done. We would send a new, detailed list to the client. Once we are satisfied with the documents, we write the waiver brief. We send one draft of the brief to the client for comments before we finalize the brief and put the packet together to mail to the client.

I-601 is filed
In some places we prefer to send an inquiry to CIS to confirm receipt of the waiver packet, 30 to 60 days after filing it at the consulate. This is usually not necessary when USCIS sends us a receipt notice or where the USCIS office maintains online case status (London and Rome) or in Mexico where the referral notice serves as a receipt notice. If there are major changes in the client’s case while the waiver is pending or if processing is expected to take at least seven months, we may want to update the case about two months before the expected date of decision. If the case is still pending 30 days after the expected decision date, we may file an inquiry.