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What I didn't know at the time I asked, which should be included here for perpetuity is as that, as I now understand it, an I-130 does nothing without a subsequent document. That is to say, if you don't file an I-485 concurrently or after you do not get a green card. The I-130 merely establishes preliminary eligibility and gets you a priority date for the person you're petitioning. I could still be wrong on all that.
Cool: never too late if it "is still pending" makes perfect sense. Not sure what this means "if a visa number is immediately available for your category". My wife didn't need a visa though, she was already in the US.
