Hello everybody,

I have some "news"(if I can call that news) about the DCF.
My fiance has writen to the US Embassy in Sofia asking for some information whether DCF will be back and their answer was that for now it seems that it will NOT be.
Then he wrote to USICS office in Vienna and they said that it looks like it COULD be back but only for US Citizens living in the foriegn country. I know that this was the situation before Jan 23 but some consulates allowed US citzens living in the States to do it too. So I don't know whether it will be the same situation again.
Just wanted to share what we found out this week.
Let's hope it will be back and we will all be able to go through it:)
Good luck to everybody!

I check with my friends working for USCIS in Moscow. Last month there was an unofficial message that came out from one of the directors making it sound like DCF was definatly comming back and really soon.

Since that message came out there has been absolute silence for weeks now regarding this issue from the inside.

So at this point there's only speculation.

If there is no USCIS office in your country you can only keep waiting or file with the presiding USCIS office for your home in the USA.

I'll keep posting any internal news as soon as I get it.

I called the Madrid embassy today and its more of the same information. DCF hasn't come back yet, but yes they were told (unofficially) that it may come back soon. They were expecting the official word last week. It may come tomorrow, next week, or never. But all of Southern Europe's DCFs in process were in fact sent to Rome for processing. So that's all I know. Hope it helps someone. I, for one, am going to wait a week or two longer to see what happens. The turn around time for DCF in Madrid was 10 days. Therefore, even if I wait a bit, it God willing it comes back, I would still save months on normal filing in Rome (who quoted me 4-6 months).

I don't know the Madrid situation, but I can't believe the turnaround from submitting the I-130 to getting the visa was ever 10 days. Maybe 10 days for approval, or to get scheduled for an interview. You might want to double check. Maybe Meauxna has some words of wisdom? DCF was always fastest, but "fast" meant something like 2-4 months. (In Paris, you had about a 10 day wait between a successful interview and physically receiving the visa)

My sense from what I've read about DCF coming back is that USCs residing abroad will be allowed to submit their paperwork through the consulate, as before. The consulate will just have to get the USC's background check done through a USCIS office. It seems like USCIS offices abroad, in Rome, London, etc would have less work to do than the offices in the USA, but it's still going to take them some time. I don't want to be a downer --- I just don't think there are any 10 day Visa Journeys out there!

After finding this website, I now realize that 10 days was probably way far-fetched. But in January, when I called and asked what to do about getting by bf over to the states, the embassy said, "just bring your petition in on a Wednesday from 9-11. And I can make an appointment for your interview now....is January 31st ok?" Since I wasn't even married yet, I said that I would call back at a later date. Maybe that lady had done a few too many drugs the night before, but that's what she told me. I guess it doesn't make me feel as bad if it always would have taken months not weeks.

Before the changes on Jan.23rd, DCF in Sofia used to take 2-5 weeks,now that they have to do the additional checks at Vienna USCIS it takes them just 2 days more-it would be nonsense if DCF does not come back,I don't believe they will make the things so much complicated,I don't believe it's gone forever ,it just can't be!

I just spoke with USCIS in Vienna, who are always incredibly sweet and tell me to call again anytime (!) (I love those people), and they say... still no news. They got a message a week before last Friday that instructions would be coming soon - and they're still waiting. She said it sounded like some kind of overseas residency requirements would be necessary for filing overseas - probably six months of the USC living abroad, but she couldn't say anything with authority, since she didn't yet know.

Hello,
wow that does sound bad - that there will be requirement about living for certain time abroad...Cause myt fiance isnt living here we just wanted to file DCF cause it so much quicker...
Well let's hope at least they will speed up the process from the states or hope DCF will be back without the requirements..
Fingers crossed!

Well, it really does sound like it may be a requirement, but that's an official theory and NOT an official fact, so there's a chance your husband will still be able to file abroad. But, it does look like a very small chance, and you may want to seriously consider other visa paths. I hope things work out for you! Let us know if you hear anything else.

Hello from Argentina,

Just a quick note on DCF return but applicant has to be resident. When I talked to the Immigration Chief in BA she said that it looked like it was coming back that but yes you wold have to be a resident of that country for more than 6 months, which in my case is fine as I am a resident of Argentina.

Take care,
Steven