Direct Consular Filing
From VjWiki - The Immigration Wiki
Direct Consular Filing (DCF) is the colloquial term for filing an Immediate Relative (spouse, child, parent) petition I-130 overseas, rather than through the US Service Center. The goal is Permanent Resident status, also know as a Green Card. Residents holding this card have permission to live, work and travel in the US. Many K Visa holders get this status after completing their AOS/Adjustment of Status.
If the US Citizen lives overseas, they may always file the I-130 for a foreign spouse, child or parent at the US Consulate OR the USCIS Field Office serving their residence abroad. An I-130 filed abroad is adjudicated (decided) in a very short time, certainly faster than a US Service Center. Upon approval, the foreign spouse applies for an Immigrant Visa (class CR-1 or IR-1). In some countries, the USC may file the I-130 at the Consulate, even if they are not resident abroad. This is the most common use of the DCF term.
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