USC living abroad, petition sent to NSC - Q&A thread

[sajan953 4]

Forum for USC petitioners living and filing from abroad to discuss the process, ask questions etc.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/617377-usc-living-abroad-nsc/?p=8386127

Good luck to us!

[M&Ms 8]

Hi, since I live aboard and things might not be as easy as I thought it should be due to the country of domicile US but living aboard. I got mixed feedback one my wife will be denied the visa others seems getting it without any issue. I no longer know what to believe anymore. Also, how can I expedite the process since I'm now almost in the final stage? Is it possible?

[JenniferNangel 137]

Hi, since I live aboard and things might not be as easy as I thought it should be due to the country of domicile US but living aboard. I got mixed feedback one my wife will be denied the visa others seems getting it without any issue. I no longer know what to believe anymore. Also, how can I expedite the process since I'm now almost in the final stage? Is it possible?

So you know I was living aboard with my husband and everything went smoothly through the whole process it took little over 2 months. We are both currently here. I wasn't able to expedite the application even being pregnant in a Zika infested country thankfully everything was pretty fast.

[claire_in_nl 2]

I'm mostly concerned about the uncertainty of the timing. I like to have things laid out clearly so that I can plan, but I'll just have to have faith that I (we) can somehow manage to find a new job in a hurry, sell our apartment, find a place to live in the US and a school for the kids on short notice. Or is there a sane way of doing this that doesn't involve splitting up our family for a while? I hate to be cynical, but the whole process kinda gives me the feeling that they don't want us back.

[JFH 12,189]

the whole process it took little over 2 months. We are both currently here. I wasn't able to expedite the application even being pregnant in a Zika infested country thankfully everything was pretty fast.

But you did DCF, didn't you?

That's why it was faster and doesn't really help the OP (who lives in a country where DCF isn't possible).

[JenniferNangel 137]

But you did DCF, didn't you?

That's why it was faster and doesn't really help the OP (who lives in a country where DCF isn't possible).

Yes I did. I wasn't sure what country she was from just trying to encourage her not to be so worried about filing while living aboard

[sajan953 4]

Hi, since I live aboard and things might not be as easy as I thought it should be due to the country of domicile US but living aboard. I got mixed feedback one my wife will be denied the visa others seems getting it without any issue. I no longer know what to believe anymore. Also, how can I expedite the process since I'm now almost in the final stage? Is it possible?

Id say not to count on an autoexpedite. But there is no problem with your domicile being in the US and you physically being elsewhere. Thats actually a plus. It would be a more of a problem if your domicile was not in the US (you wouldhave to proove intent to reestablish). You will just need to prove your domicile when you get to NVC in your case.

Edited November 19, 2016 by sajan953

[M&Ms 8]

Id say not to count on an autoexpedite. But there is no problem with your domicile being in the US and you physically being elsewhere. Thats actually a plus. You will just need to prove your domicile when you get to NVC.

Thanks, I'm just waiting now for the NVC after I submitted everything. USCIS took almost 5 months. I hope NVC don't act the same. Proving my domicile with all bank accounts, credit cards and voter registration might be enough.... crossing my fingers

Edited November 19, 2016 by M&Ms

[sajan953 4]

I'm mostly concerned about the uncertainty of the timing. I like to have things laid out clearly so that I can plan, but I'll just have to have faith that I (we) can somehow manage to find a new job in a hurry, sell our apartment, find a place to live in the US and a school for the kids on short notice. Or is there a sane way of doing this that doesn't involve splitting up our family for a while? I hate to be cynical, but the whole process kinda gives me the feeling that they don't want us back.

You do have a time frame of up to 6 months before you need to enter the US (if you exceed 6 months you have to restart the process). Unfortunetly for couples with children, or ones that dont have someone in the US to help out for the first month or so, the process doesnt make things easier beyond giving 6 months to enter the US.

Yeah, its ridiculous that a marriage visa takes that much longer than a fiancee visa.

[sajan953 4]

Thanks, I'm just waiting now for the NVC after I submitted everything. USCIS took almost 5 months. I hope NVC don't act the same. Proving my domicile with all bank accounts, credit cards and voter registration might be enough.... crossing my fingers

NVC is usually a lot faster than USCIS. I personally think thatthe USCIS phase is the hardest because of the waiting. Yeah that should be. You can get proff of permanent address as well. If you have insurance thats a great form of evidence as well.

[rac717 7]

We filed in August and got sent to NSC. So bummed. Haven't heard anything yet after the NOA1. When we filed, the estimated time was mid Dec and now its late January.

[sajan953 4]

I dont know who merged the two threads, there was a reason we kept them apart. Anyone know how to unmerge?

[Ryan H 3,790]

**Posts split from "USC living abroad, petition sent to NSC (survey only thread)" to separate thread.**

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

I'm mostly concerned about the uncertainty of the timing. I like to have things laid out clearly so that I can plan, but I'll just have to have faith that I (we) can somehow manage to find a new job in a hurry, sell our apartment, find a place to live in the US and a school for the kids on short notice. Or is there a sane way of doing this that doesn't involve splitting up our family for a while? I hate to be cynical, but the whole process kinda gives me the feeling that they don't want us back.

Once you get the visa, you do have time to do those things before moving over if you so wish or when you get to the NVC stage you can begin your plans, etc.

Part of the issue is that in order to re-establish domicile for the NVC and embassy, you really should have a place to live in America and school for the kids already arranged by the time you submit that paperwork. Have you thought about how you will fulfill the guidelines of the I-864 yet with regards to that and monetary requirements?

[claire_in_nl 2]

Once you get the visa, you do have time to do those things before moving over if you so wish or when you get to the NVC stage you can begin your plans, etc.

Part of the issue is that in order to re-establish domicile for the NVC and embassy, you really should have a place to live in America and school for the kids already arranged by the time you submit that paperwork. Have you thought about how you will fulfill the guidelines of the I-864 yet with regards to that and monetary requirements?

I've maintained an address in the US through my parents and have a driver's license and bank account, although we probably don't want to end up settling there. I'm thinking I'll probably have to use one of them as a joint sponsor, since I doubt anyone will want to hire me if I don't know how long it will be before I can start. My current job (Dutch employer) could probably be done remotely, at least part time, for a while, but I don't know if that would be considered sufficient.

Should I go ahead and sign them up for school in the town where my parents live, even though we don't know when we might be coming? Any advice on when to start looking for a job in the US?

This process is pretty daunting. It's one of the main reasons I've lived here so long.