Has anyone ever first attempted to have their spouse or fiance immigrate to the US by filing directly with the Jamaica consulate in the US Embassy? This means filing your application in Jamaica rather than at your local US service center. I have been looking into this and it seems to be an option but I dont know of anyone who has done it.

I saw on the consulate website that you have to come make an appointment to meet with a consular officer to see if you qualify for this type of filing. So I thought to myself hmmmm. I decided to email them and ask if this option was still open or if the website is out of date. I got a reply that it IS still open and that me and my husband do need to come in for an interview.

So I am just wondering if anyone else has attempted this form of filing and what your experience was with it. Were you told you need to file with a US service center, were you flat out denied, etc.

I am just trying to weigh my options, and also gain some valuable information for any future Jamaica filers.

Thanks

Oh man! No replies?! I cannot believe no one has ever thought of doing this.

Sorry Marlita- I don't even recall a previously active member who did it. Looks like you may be the first VJ member to seriously consider it.

You could try asking others in other countries what their experience was like. I know...we all know Jamaica is in it's own world when it come to the US Embassy.

I don't know of anyone who ever did direct filing in JA for the K-1.....is it only an option for K-3/ CR-1 filers?

You know I don't know if you have to be married to do this. I don't think so....but I could be wrong. Basically with DCF you go to the Embassy and have the interview FIRST and tell them that you want to file for your spouse at the Embassy. They have a USCIS branch in KIngston. You have to be a resident of Jamaica though to do this. So if you decide to go live in JA for awhile you can apply for your residency and 6 months later apply for the spouses visa, or fiance visa. They say it is really quick. you just gotta act like you know what you want to do cause the workers there are rude and will try to discourage you from doing it.....but as I was told by a worker there it is an option.

The easiest way to get your residency in JA is to of course be married to a national or have a job there.

Marlita is correct but you do have to be married first. I would recommend you contacting the Embassy b/c back in 2005 they weren't doing this process anymore but of course these changes daily w/ them.

I thought I read somewhere that DCF is still not accepted in Jamaica.

You're right. It's not. I would have done it, if it were allowed.

Well how long ago did you try? Cause I just got info a couple weeks back from a CO saying that it was allowed and that I needed to come to the embassy and show proof of Jamaican residency to file with them. There is a USCIS office in Kingston just like the CSC and VSC. It seems like many people may have assumed the DCF in JA was not possible but it now is. The only problem now is that you have to be a residnet in Jamaica for at least 6 months to apply DCF. This is a good option many USC with JA spouses should look into. If you decide to live in Jamaica with your SO you can aply for residency which takes all of a day with completed paperwork then you get a resident visa that allows your to stay in JA. You can apply to work and everything! After 6 months you apply for your spouses CR1 visa and it takes around 3months to complete

So you can stay with your spouse and not have to live apart during visa processing. The only thing is you must prove "domicile" in the states prior to your return. This seems like a really good option for those that can do it. I suggest contacting the US Embassy in Jamaica and making an appointment to see if you qualify. Thats what the CO told me to do.

I just wanted to put out this option to Jamericans cause it sems many people are going the K1 route which doesnt seem to work for a "relationship" in building a concrete foundation. If you have an option to live with your spouse in their hometown and in their culture it could make for some great understanding in the long run. So take a look.

I know of a few friends from Germany and Canada who have done this and it was a cinch for them to get their residency. I am thinking of getting mine when I go back to JA next week.

What about proof of income, though, Marlita? If you happen to luck out on a job in JA, will it be enough to cover that 125% poverty level? I also thought there was some rule that it had to be US income.

And, then, what about jobs when he comes to the U.S. Will you be able to find gainful employment in order to support yourselves again immediately? That is my 2nd concern and the reason I would not even consider it.

It's hard enough for him to come here and not be able to work. I would be devestated if I were unemployed too. I know first hand how hard and expensive it all is.

How are you going to work around that?

I hear what you're saying Jomo, but those are all personal concerns. Immigration will have you do the avidavit of support but how you have income is your own business as long as it meets their requirements. There are lots of ways to meet this too when doing DCF. Either have some money saved up get a co sponser, have a job lined up, or have some assets to fall back on. This DCF option isn't for everybody but if you are well established here in the US, have a house make enough money have some savings....its really quite easy. The hardest part people have is establishing domicile. But if you own your home in the US there's your domicile. Also you can prove renting a place get a letter from a job you are returning to.

As far as employment and financial support...this option isn't for the person who has no idea what they are gonna do once they get back to the States. You have to have a plan when filing DCF....but thats whats so good about it. I think it kicks you into gear early and then everythign is set up for you once you both get to the States.