Filing a Petition
There are three (3) stages of event in filing a petition: First, gather and file I-129F; second, receive Notice of Action Form I-797C (NOA1-Receipt Notice); lastly, if you wont get RFE(Request for Evidence), receive Notice of Action From I-797C (NOA2-Approval Notice)
Stage 1: Gathering and Filing I-129F petition
In filing a I-129F Petition, gathering documents are a lot of work and kind of complicated but everything is worth at the end. Visit USCIS web page to download updated forms. And below is a check-list of the of forms and supporting documents for filing I-129F petition:
I-129F Package Checklist
❏ Cover Letter
❏ Form I-129F: Petition for Alien Fiancee
❏ I-129F Supplement regarding question 34.a single type page
❏ Letter of Intent
✔ U.S Citizen
✔ Foreign Fiancee
❏ Proof of Relationships
✔ Photos together
✔ Plane Tickets
✔ Boarding passes
✔ Passport Stamps
✔ Emails and chatlogs, etc.
❏ G-325A
✔ U.S Citizen
✔ Foreign Fiancee
❏ One passport-type photo
✔ U.S Citizen
✔ Foreign Fiancee
❏ Copy of Divorce Decree(If applicable)
❏ Proof of legal Name Change(If applicable)
Where to File?
Once you completed all the forms and gathered all the supporting document you send it to theUSCIS Dallas Lockbox
Reminder: Make an entire copy of your I-129F package before sending it. All Forms that you submit must be originals with original signatures and the Supporting Evidence may be photocopies.
- For U.S. Postal Service:
- USCIS
- P.O. Box 660151
- Dallas, TX 75266
- For Express mail and courier deliveries:
- Attn: I-129F
- 2501 South State Highway 121 Business
- Suite 400
- Lewisville, TX 75067
Our I-129F Packet (Date Sent: Dec. 2, 2014)
Stage 2: Notice of Action Form I-797C (NOA1-Receipt Notice)
After you sent the I-129F package wait at least 2-3 weeks for the NOA1-Receipt Notice. And if you attach G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, the USCIS will send you an email and/or text message alert when your application was received. You will receive first an email of NOA1 and expect a hard copy of your NOA1 in your mail box after a week.
Stage 3: RFE or Notice of Action Form I-797C (NOA2-Approval Notice)
From the date of your NOA1 expect 2-4weeks action of your application from USCIS either RFE or Approval Notice. Just don’t get panic when you get RFE, just follow the instruction and comply the lacking documents in your RFE letter. Just like in our case we got an RFE because my fiancee missed to tick the box in one of the questions in I-129F form. You will receive your RFE letter thru mail within 5 days.
You must submit the requested information within eighty-four(84) days from the date of this letter(87 days if the notice was received by mail). Failure to do so may result to DENIAL of your petition. Return the RFE letter to the address given in the RFE letter.
You may submit either the original documents or legible photocopies of the originals, including the copies of the front and back of each document. If you choose to submit original documents, they will not be returned to you.
Request for Evidence Letter
Form I-797C (NOA2-Approval Notice)
Our petition were approved 17 days to be exact from the day we got RFE. Helpful tip, respond to the RFE document as soon as possible to avoid more delayed of the approval. Below is the timeline of our RFE:
- Our RFE Timeline:
- Jan. 15,2015 – Got RFE from our Petition
- Jan. 19, 2015 – Received RFE Latter by mail
- Jan. 20, 2015 – Returned the RFE documents(via FedEx express)
- Jan. 23, 2015 – USCIS received RFE Documents
- Feb. 2, 2015 – Petition Approved(NOA2)
