It's been a while since I've been on here. Since then, my boyfriend (from Dominca) and I got married on 12/27, flew to Barbados on 12/28 to file the I-130 Petition (it was approved), and they also took the immigrant visa application from us. Before we left the embassy, we were told that the next step was to wait for the final interview letter.

However, we just found out that our docs were transfered to the California Service Center (where I reside) so that they can perform the Homeland Security background checks.

I was under the impression that the entire process would be handled out of the Barbados Embassy. Now, we're up against a possible 120-day processing period while our paperwork is in the U.S.

Has anyone experienced this? Our "case worker" in Barbados mentioned that this is a new process.

Thanks for your help!

That has changed since the implementing of the Adam Walsh law, this has essentially ended DCF as an option.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=52999
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=51934

New procedure effective 1/23/07 for all I-130's submitted after 7/26/06 pursuant to new legislation (Adam Walsh Child Protection Act).

due to a new implementation of the Adam Walsh Act, all USC petitioners have to have a background checks in order insure that they have not been involved in a whole list of offenses involving minors. the Barbados Consulate does not have a USCIS office to do the background check, therfor it has to forward the paper work to a location that does.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/immigrants_3121.html

i am going through the Barbados Consulate as well. My paperwork has been forwarded to the Texas Service Center (where my domicile is). i've been in contact with my senators office which has been somewhat helpful in making sure that the paperwork gets moving.

Have you heard what the expected turnaround time is to return the paperwork back to the embassy? I spoke with USCIS and they said that the U.S. service centers have 120 days to process, if they need it. And then the embassy has to do their processing. Can we expect a possible 6-month wait?

Thanks.

I cant really believe that they sent your info off to CA. Then again I mostly watch what happens in Europe. What happened in Europe was all of our visa's got sent to the main USCIS HQ in our area like Ukrainian Requests were sent to Moscow, Romanian, Bulgarian etc. were sent to Viena, etc. There. according to some other VJ'ers, They are supposed to stay for up to 6 weeks to go through with the background checks and then be sent back to the embassy where the visa was first petitioned.

I would first check to make sure that there isnt an overseas USCIS that isnt responsible for your stuff and that they didnt get it. I dont know who is responsible for Barbados but I know Lima Peru is responsible for much of South America.

With regrds to the main question and point that you asked . . . personally I think that the Consular officer is being optimistic if they truly did send it to CA. I thyink you are probably looking at closer to 9 months. Take a look at the top where it says Immigration timelines and processing times and look at the timeline for your visa (which should be a K3) in CA.

CA tends to be the slowest one of the 4 centers.

For everyone going through Barbados DCF, here's an update from my end...

I received Packet 4 in yesterday's mail!! My husband's final interview is scheduled for April 5. I really can't believe how fast California processed my paperwork! Here's my timeline for everyone going through the same process:

*Married 12/27 in Dominica
*Filed the I-130 Petition in Barbados on 12/28 (approved that day and were told that the next step is the final interview)
*When we called Barbados at the end of January, we were told that our paperwork was sent to California due to the Adam Walsh law.
*I received a letter from Barbados on 2/27 (sent 2/14) stating that they sent our paperwork to California
*I received Packet 4 from Barbados in the mail yesterday (sent 3/6)

I'm going to update my profile with this info once I figure out how to do it.

I hope it's smooth sailing going forward!

It seems like it's moving along -- good luck to everyone who's waiting.

thats great news!!! last time i checked, which was last friday, our paperwork was still at the CA service center with no word on the status. i'll have to give the consulate a call to find out the status!

i got word yesterday that the background check was completed at CA service center, however our paper file is still there and is awaiting transfer back to barbados.