Why do most people use their US spouse as their Agent on the DS-3032 form? Is there considerable slowing down by having the NVC send documents out of country? It seems it'd take longer to have me overnight him forms, him overnight them back and then overnight them to the NVC when they could just send it to him in the UK and he could overnight it back to them.

Can someone explain this to me more clearly as to where it might cut time off our NVC process?

Also, I'd be thankful for a better understanding of what documents my UK intending immigrant spouse needs to send(police cert, birth cert, etc) to me if I become his agent or what he can fill out right now ahead of time. I do not want to use the shortcuts in as much as making my own barcodes or writing in case #s(i'm just too wary but do realize they work for people here) so I would prefer to know which if any forms we can do ahead of time still using the originals NVC sends. Actually, on that note- what is the biggest difference between using the shortcuts and the actual original forms? I know a lot of it is just having information prepared and ready, like I have ordered my tax transcripts, certified copies of our marriage certificate, and I think that is as far as I can go as the US Citizen. How long do police records and medical records take in the UK? Would it be safe for him to order them all now and send them to me if I am his agent? Does he need two copies, one to take to the interview as well? I tried to see which documents he needed to submit with the DS-230 but am confused by the link and wordage. I also read that they want you to send in the original or certified copy PLUS another copy of each item like the birth certificate for the DS-230- is that correct? Or do you only bring the second copy to the london consulate for your interview and not send two copies with the form?

Any and all answers and insight would be most appreciated. I am just a tad confused and want to make sure we do everything correctly.

Hi, Thanks for presenting this question so completely,
sorry I do not have the answer because I am only about a
week in front of you. I contemplated the same points.
I chose to be agent because of the different alphabet used in
Thailand, there is a % of undelivered mail. You would not have this problem.
Also I wanted to pay the fee directly. Even though my wife is proficient.
The deciding factor was responses that said NVC preferred USC as
choice of address and agent. As we have almost the same timeline, i will be
reading any and all replies you receive. Thanks.

I think, who is the "logical" choice of agent varies on a case by case basis. I dont know how mail is in the UK but in Philippines, it is horrendous.

My wife lives in remote area in the Philippines. Chances are, mail that wil come from the US will either takes forever to get there or worse, get lost. So in our case, its only logical that I, who lives in the US, become the choice of agent.

Most people are in similar scenario. The one who lives in the US is their logical choice of agent.

I would recommend to prepare I-864 packet and DS230 packet .
Those forms NVC actually doesn't send anymore only gives links to download by yourself

DS230 on travel.state.gov
I-864/I-864EZ on uscis.gov

NVC sends coverletters with adres where to send the forms with supporing documentation.
On Choice of Agent I got impression that I saw note about paper reduction act so there is a chance that sooner or later it will be only electronical version of Agent.

Good luck with your journey

I agree with you totally. Mike lives in a small city that is very busy and has a post office on the main street. NVC has been sending mail to him since july 2007 and to date he has not received any of those correspondence. I was elected as the choice of agent and was happy that I was. If not his case would still be lingering somewhere in a box gathering dust. Choice of agent rocks

Well you shouldnt be waiting for your spouse to send you the forms that NVC will want. You should have most of them ready to go now. You don't need to wait on NVC to tell you they want the forms for you to have them ready. This is where you save time. If you get notice that NVC wants something, and send it in from the US mailing system, most likely NVC could get the form within 3 days snail mail. Now if NVC sent them to the UK, that could take a minute and then take another minute to get back to NVC.