UK DCF -- the ins and outs and ups and downs

[Keeto 12]

Phew! Thank you, at least we have a few more days then to sell and arrange everything!

You have 6 months from the date the visa is issued to arrive in the USA.

[Keeto 12]

I-130 just came back.....fee is suppose to be $420.....check list on the 25/01/2012 said £355.....not a great start to my Tuesday.

[hjones 1]

Hi everyone! I'm new at this forum, so apologies if this question has already been posted.

I am a USC married to a UK Citizen. I have been living in the UK for 5 years on a work permit (Tier 2 visa) which is a temporary visa, not indefinite leave to remain. I am wondering whether I am eligible to submit the I-130 application for my husband through DCF in London? I have phoned the embassy twice, and neither person really knew the answer. One guy suggested I just apply to London and see whether my application gets rejected!

So does anyone have any experience on applying with DCF in London without an indefinite leave to remain visa? Is it even worth spending time trying to figure out whether I am eligible or is the process not that much longer when applied via the Chicago lockbox?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[vamos 0]

Hi everyone! I'm new at this forum, so apologies if this question has already been posted.

I am a USC married to a UK Citizen. I have been living in the UK for 5 years on a work permit (Tier 2 visa) which is a temporary visa, not indefinite leave to remain. I am wondering whether I am eligible to submit the I-130 application for my husband through DCF in London? I have phoned the embassy twice, and neither person really knew the answer. One guy suggested I just apply to London and see whether my application gets rejected!

So does anyone have any experience on applying with DCF in London without an indefinite leave to remain visa? Is it even worth spending time trying to figure out whether I am eligible or is the process not that much longer when applied via the Chicago lockbox?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Check out this web page:

http://london.usembassy.gov/dhs/uscis/i130filing.html

It used to be necessary to have indefinite leave to remain but residence and permission to work is fine now. My wife and I tried DCF back in 2007 when we first moved back to the states but it got returned as my wife only had limited leave to remain so we went down the k3 route. However, this time (we're flip floppers) we were able to use DCF even though my wife once again does not have a permanent visa. We're now just waiting for an interview date as I had my medical last week.

[hjones 1]

Check out this web page:

http://london.usembassy.gov/dhs/uscis/i130filing.html

It used to be necessary to have indefinite leave to remain but residence and permission to work is fine now. My wife and I tried DCF back in 2007 when we first moved back to the states but it got returned as my wife only had limited leave to remain so we went down the k3 route. However, this time (we're flip floppers) we were able to use DCF even though my wife once again does not have a permanent visa. We're now just waiting for an interview date as I had my medical last week.

Thanks so much. I am easily bogged down these things and I thought the wording on the embassy website was a bit vague.

If you don't mind me asking, how long has it taken you to get to the interview stage with the London DCF? We are still trying to decide whether to try submitting to London or just go with Chicago Lockbox. We aren't under any huge time constraint other than I am just tired of the weather here!

[vamos 0]

Thanks so much. I am easily bogged down these things and I thought the wording on the embassy website was a bit vague.

If you don't mind me asking, how long has it taken you to get to the interview stage with the London DCF? We are still trying to decide whether to try submitting to London or just go with Chicago Lockbox. We aren't under any huge time constraint other than I am just tired of the weather here!

Hi, sorry about the delay in getting back to you. We filed sent of the I-130, plus my abandonment of permanent residence, mid-August 2011. We received our approval letter at the end of November. I got my Police Certificate in January and booked my medical for 1/2/2012. I've since had the medical and after getting some additional vaccinations from my doctor and sending proof to Knightsbridge doctors the Embassy should have received my medical at the end of last week. I'm now waiting for a letter giving me the date of my interview which I think should be 4-8 weeks after they got my medical results.

I have no idea if the Lockbox option is quicker but I wouldn't imagine so since things have to be transferred to London eventually but maybe someone else can shed some light on that. Good luck!

[Lansbury 19]

I have no idea if the Lockbox option is quicker

There are people who filed their I-130 in the US 7 months ago still waiting for approval. DCF in London for the I-130 is quicker, if you qualify to so file.

[Buffgomme 0]

Hey all! Glad to see more UK people out there! I am the petitioner (American Citizen) for my husband who is British. I have completed the I-130 and now need to prove re-establishment of Domicile!

Here is my situation in a nut-shell:

Married UK citizen 2007 and establish residency in UK.

Now 4.5 years on and one baby (US dual citizen!) we are wanting to move back to USA.

FIled the I-130 petition for my husband

I'm currently employed but on maternity leave and don't plan on returning to work. Husband is going to set up a restaurant business with my sister in USA.

Sister and her husband are joint sponsoring

Plan on living with my mother- rent free

Still have US drivers license and bank account

Have £60 worth of assets to help with financial stuff jointly with my husband.

Firstly, what info do I need to prove that I want to re-establish as I won't be signing a lease and won't have a job when we arrive?

Secondly, what address does my hubby as my address on the DS-230, my mom's address or my UK address? I am tempted to put UK address as I want to be honest!

Thirdly, should I accompany hubby to interview to explain the situation if need be?

Last - on the affadavit of support, should I put my current job and wage even though I won't be working when I return to USA? (Will have a joint sponsor!)

HELP! Anyone in a similar situation with advice would be soooo appreciated!!

Thank you,

[Tiekey 1]

Hi. I'm the UKC; my wife's the USC. We filed the I-130 on February 7 2012, and so far, not heard anything (not even an email).

We're married 7 years, with 4 USC/UKC kids, so I assume there won't be an issue there. The only thing I'm concerned about is proving domicile; my wife has never lived in the US, and her parents don't live there any more either. She's uptodate with tax filing, and we have enough assets (cash) to meet requirements. My wife also has a US bank account, and a postal address. What else can we do to show intent of establishing domicile?

Thanks

Andy

[sarahnaphtali 0]

Hi Everyone,

I'm very new to this topic and have a few questions I'm hoping someone can help me with. My husband (who is a UK Citizen) and I are currently living in the UK and are hoping to move to the US as soon as possible. Although I haven't yet received a notice in the post, according to the USCIS website my I-130 application for my husband has been approved and is now in 'Post-Decision Activity'. I'm assuming that NVC will now forward the application onto the US embassy in London? I had thought to also apply for the I-129/K-3 visa to expedite our move; however, from looking at recent posts this may not be the best option? Does anyone know if this would indeed slow the process and end up costing more in the meantime? Thanks so much in advance for any advice!!!

[sarahnaphtali 0]

Hi everyone! I'm new at this forum, so apologies if this question has already been posted.

I am a USC married to a UK Citizen. I have been living in the UK for 5 years on a work permit (Tier 2 visa) which is a temporary visa, not indefinite leave to remain. I am wondering whether I am eligible to submit the I-130 application for my husband through DCF in London? I have phoned the embassy twice, and neither person really knew the answer. One guy suggested I just apply to London and see whether my application gets rejected!

So does anyone have any experience on applying with DCF in London without an indefinite leave to remain visa? Is it even worth spending time trying to figure out whether I am eligible or is the process not that much longer when applied via the Chicago lockbox?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Hi there! In order for the DCF in London to process your application you have to have indefinite leave to remain in the UK. I phoned them with the same query (I have lived in the UK for 5 years but on a student visa) to see if my husband (UK citizen) and I could send our I-130 application to them. I was told that if I did not have indefinite leave to remain I would have to file with the Chicago Lockbox. I sent our application to the Chicago Lockbox and it only took 1 month for them to approve us. Good luck!

[Keeto 12]

Hi. I'm the UKC; my wife's the USC. We filed the I-130 on February 7 2012, and so far, not heard anything (not even an email).

Thanks

Andy

Hi Andy,

We sent our I-130 on the 31st January 2012, nothing here as well mate. Checked the Embassy in London website..."As of February 28, 2012, we are processing petitions filed on December 05, 2011."....I've seen timelines of people sending their I-130's to Chicago and 2 days later, NOA1.....gmmmmmmmmf!!!!

Edited March 7, 2012 by Keeto

[Daca 7]

Hi there just wanted to post a quick update and let people know how I have gone on so far.

I had my medical last week and will be going for my interview next Tuesday.

From my experience I have learned that the embassy never get in touch in good time and it is worth ringing the expensive number as they have been very helpful to me, for example I have my interview next week and had I not rang to ask I still wouldn't know this, same goes for when I was waiting and getting my case number.I reckon I have shaved a month off of processing time by calling the number and asking whats going on. And for what its worth I tried the numbers for the switchboard and to get direct through to immigration and the people were not very helpful.

I am expecting to be denied my immigrant visa at the interview as I haven't had the required vaccines and so I will be filing an I601 waiver for this on the day.I will keep you posted with any news on this as it seems few people have gone down this path.For anybody interested the people at the medical didn't seem to think it was that big a deal to not get vaccines but we shall see what immigration say next week!

[Keeto 12]

Hi there just wanted to post a quick update and let people know how I have gone on so far.

I had my medical last week and will be going for my interview next Tuesday.

From my experience I have learned that the embassy never get in touch in good time and it is worth ringing the expensive number as they have been very helpful to me, for example I have my interview next week and had I not rang to ask I still wouldn't know this, same goes for when I was waiting and getting my case number.I reckon I have shaved a month off of processing time by calling the number and asking whats going on. And for what its worth I tried the numbers for the switchboard and to get direct through to immigration and the people were not very helpful.

I am expecting to be denied my immigrant visa at the interview as I haven't had the required vaccines and so I will be filing an I601 waiver for this on the day.I will keep you posted with any news on this as it seems few people have gone down this path.For anybody interested the people at the medical didn't seem to think it was that big a deal to not get vaccines but we shall see what immigration say next week!

So how did it go Daca?

[Daca 7]

Hi there

I'm a bit busy at the minute so I will post what happened briefly.

As expected I was denied immigrant visa solely because I didn't have the vaccines. We were told everything else was in order.

I wasn't able to file my I-601 waiver package and was told it needed to be posted so I will be doing that after the holiday.

I'm not able to go on vwp and have to wait for a decision on my waiver application which could take months but we are prepared for that but will be asking for our case to be expedited.

We are also waiting to hear back from several immigration lawyers to see what there take on things is.

Thanks for your help and support.