My I130 application was approved 3 years ago, haven't heard anything since?!

Question

I'm 21 now and my parents as a family applied for citizenship petitioned for my grandmother who was a US citizen. A week after she died (July 2005) we got a notice saying our application has been approved and now we must wait for another notice to arrive. After that notices arrives one of us is then to travel to the consulate in Russia to complete the process and become citizens! Can anyone please help with any information as to why we haven't received anythinig in 3 years after we got this approval notice? ( We've been living here for 16 years now.)

Thanks so much for any help!

Answer 1

The wait for a visa from Russia.... Parent (grandmother) petitioning a child (your father) is just over 8 years.

However, with the death of your grandmother her petition became void.  Your father no longer has a sponsor.  When the time comes, about 5 years from now, your family can file an appeal based on hardship.  It's possible that they will still grant the visa, but I don't think your chances are very good.