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Greggy

Estimated Timeline on DCF I-130 ?

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Filed: Country: Ukraine
Timeline

Hi,

I just requested an appointment in the call center to file the petition for alien relative (my wife-2 years married and 7 years living together. I am a US citizen and we have two kids which are now also US citizens. Over the phone we were told that this process may take up to a year although I heard with DCF it can take up to 3 months. Anyone have any feedback on this?

Also, no matter how long does it take, I asked if my wife can file for a visitors visa and they said yes (but most likely be denied). If she is approved for the visitors visa and travels to the US with us, how soon can she be called up to the Ukrainian Embassy regarding the I-130 after I submit the petition. Also, will she have to come back to the embassy in Ukraine or can there be an interview in the US(if she is there at the time).

Thank You!

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Filed: Country:
Timeline

Hi,

I just requested an appointment in the call center to file the petition for alien relative (my wife-2 years married and 7 years living together. I am a US citizen and we have two kids which are now also US citizens. Over the phone we were told that this process may take up to a year although I heard with DCF it can take up to 3 months. Anyone have any feedback on this?

Also, no matter how long does it take, I asked if my wife can file for a visitors visa and they said yes (but most likely be denied). If she is approved for the visitors visa and travels to the US with us, how soon can she be called up to the Ukrainian Embassy regarding the I-130 after I submit the petition. Also, will she have to come back to the embassy in Ukraine or can there be an interview in the US(if she is there at the time).

Thank You!

Don't quote me on it but I believe that at least you and probably your wife has to be in Ukraine during the process. Is this correct? I do know that you being married to her will in many ways hurt her chances for a tourist visa because it will increase the likelihood that she stays. Most people say 3 months; the Ecuadorian consulate told me to expect 5 and hope for 3, but it turned out that we were not eligible because I was not in Ecuador with the right visa. It probably varies considerably by consulate.

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Hi,

I just requested an appointment in the call center to file the petition for alien relative (my wife-2 years married and 7 years living together. I am a US citizen and we have two kids which are now also US citizens. Over the phone we were told that this process may take up to a year although I heard with DCF it can take up to 3 months. Anyone have any feedback on this?

Also, no matter how long does it take, I asked if my wife can file for a visitors visa and they said yes (but most likely be denied). If she is approved for the visitors visa and travels to the US with us, how soon can she be called up to the Ukrainian Embassy regarding the I-130 after I submit the petition. Also, will she have to come back to the embassy in Ukraine or can there be an interview in the US(if she is there at the time).

Thank You!

DCF is filed through the US embassy abroad. So you guys would have to stay outside the US until the case is adjudicated. I-130 is an immigrant visa, meaning it is meant to be used once, to immigrate to the United States, at which point you receive a Green Card in the mail.

The only way I know of that you can get a Green Card after already having lived in the US is by going through an Adjustment of Status (AOS). There is a separate thread for that, but as far as I know, this is for couples who are not yet married, and come to the States for the purpose of marriage. I think this is called a fiancee visa, but i'm not sure. There are also couples who meet in the States and marry. They have to then go through the Adjustment of Status, but they have to demonstrate that they did not intend to marry when they first came to the US on a visitor or student visa.

If you are already married, I think DCF is the only way to go. A visitors visa is just to visit. As a tourist. For no more than 90 days at a time. And then you are supposed to leave the US and not come back for at least 90 more days (I think.) Sorry. She can't immigrate without going through the DCF process. I say get started ASAP as the process can take a while.

But it looks like Kiev is quicker than London (where I went through a six month process). The following threads have some Kiev timelines.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/76906-dcf-kyiv-and-fbi-name-check/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/65927-ukraine-dcf-visa-approved-but-admin-delayed-now-help/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/63255-dcf-after-adam-walsch/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/174389-ukraine-filing-the-i-130-and-i-864-at-the-same-time-at-dcf/

DCF London

2007-08-09 Married

2008-02-15 (Day 1) Filed I-130 for CR-1

2008-02-20 (Day 6) Received RFE

2008-02-21 (Day 7) Returned RFE

2008-02-26 (Day 12) Credit card charged $355

2008-05-15 (Day 92) Received RFE

2008-05-16 (Day 93) Returned RFE

2008-06-11 (Day 119) Received RFE in the form of face-to-face interview on 17 June.

2008-06-17 (Day 125) RFE interview

2008-06-23 (Day 131) Received Packet 3

2008-06-24 (Day 132) Returned Checklist, DS-230

2008-07-03 (Day 141) Received Packet 4

2008-07-09 (Day 147) Medical (approved)

2008-07-18 (Day 158) Interview (approved)

2008-07-22 (Day 162) Passport and visa in hand

2008-07-25 (Day 165) POE - Atlanta, GA

ROC

2010-05-25 (Day 1) Mailed off I-751, check, and evidence to VSC

2010-06-07 (Day 15) Received NOA1, dated 2010-05-27

2010-07-30 (Day 66) Received Bio Appt letter, scheduled for 2010-08-16; will be out of town

2010-07-30 (Day 66) Mailed off request for new appointment date

2011-05-23 (Day 363) Biometrics appointment

2011-07-11 (Day 412) Conditions Removed

N-400

2012-10-23 (Day 1) Mailed N-400 Application (PHX)

2012-12-06 (Day 44) Biometrics appointment (PHX)

2013-01-29 (Day 98) Interview (approved)

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Filed: Country: Ukraine
Timeline

Don't quote me on it but I believe that at least you and probably your wife has to be in Ukraine during the process. Is this correct? I do know that you being married to her will in many ways hurt her chances for a tourist visa because it will increase the likelihood that she stays. Most people say 3 months; the Ecuadorian consulate told me to expect 5 and hope for 3, but it turned out that we were not eligible because I was not in Ecuador with the right visa. It probably varies considerably by consulate.

Yes, we do have to both be in Ukraine for DCF. I did have the same problem when we appeared for our first appointment to file the I-130, my Ukrainian registration expired at the time and without registration, they could not accept the application...

BTW, as per the Affidavite of Support, if i cant provide any prof of income since I lived in the Ukraine for the past 7 years, if the Affidavite a 100% requirement for the I-130 filing and if so what can I do about it? If it a requirement and i do find a relative that could support, should they be listed as a join sponsor or can they be a full sponsor and complete the affidavit form themselves and send it to me to file?

Thanks!

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Filed: Country: Ukraine
Timeline
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Yes, we do have to both be in Ukraine for DCF. I did have the same problem when we appeared for our first appointment to file the I-130, my Ukrainian registration expired at the time and without registration, they could not accept the application...

BTW, as per the Affidavite of Support, if i cant provide any prof of income since I lived in the Ukraine for the past 7 years, if the Affidavite a 100% requirement for the I-130 filing and if so what can I do about it? If it a requirement and i do find a relative that could support, should they be listed as a join sponsor or can they be a full sponsor and complete the affidavit form themselves and send it to me to file?

Thanks!

I can't remember about the affidavit, but I had a relative do it. they had to provide a letter and tax returns for three years. I think they were referred to as my wife's "joint sponsor," but perhaps someone else can confirm that.

Yes, you have to be permanently residing in the foreign country to file a DCF. Each embassy interprets this in a different way, but in London, it meant you had to have been on a work or student visa for at least 6 months prior to filing.

DCF London

2007-08-09 Married

2008-02-15 (Day 1) Filed I-130 for CR-1

2008-02-20 (Day 6) Received RFE

2008-02-21 (Day 7) Returned RFE

2008-02-26 (Day 12) Credit card charged $355

2008-05-15 (Day 92) Received RFE

2008-05-16 (Day 93) Returned RFE

2008-06-11 (Day 119) Received RFE in the form of face-to-face interview on 17 June.

2008-06-17 (Day 125) RFE interview

2008-06-23 (Day 131) Received Packet 3

2008-06-24 (Day 132) Returned Checklist, DS-230

2008-07-03 (Day 141) Received Packet 4

2008-07-09 (Day 147) Medical (approved)

2008-07-18 (Day 158) Interview (approved)

2008-07-22 (Day 162) Passport and visa in hand

2008-07-25 (Day 165) POE - Atlanta, GA

ROC

2010-05-25 (Day 1) Mailed off I-751, check, and evidence to VSC

2010-06-07 (Day 15) Received NOA1, dated 2010-05-27

2010-07-30 (Day 66) Received Bio Appt letter, scheduled for 2010-08-16; will be out of town

2010-07-30 (Day 66) Mailed off request for new appointment date

2011-05-23 (Day 363) Biometrics appointment

2011-07-11 (Day 412) Conditions Removed

N-400

2012-10-23 (Day 1) Mailed N-400 Application (PHX)

2012-12-06 (Day 44) Biometrics appointment (PHX)

2013-01-29 (Day 98) Interview (approved)

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Filed: Country: Ukraine
Timeline

I can't remember about the affidavit, but I had a relative do it. they had to provide a letter and tax returns for three years. I think they were referred to as my wife's "joint sponsor," but perhaps someone else can confirm that.

Yes, you have to be permanently residing in the foreign country to file a DCF. Each embassy interprets this in a different way, but in London, it meant you had to have been on a work or student visa for at least 6 months prior to filing.

That sound like something i would need. So you yourself did not have to file an Affidavit at all, everything was done by a relative? I wonder if they have to file the regular I-864 or some different one since shes a ;joint sponsor".

Anyway, thanks for the info!

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: China
Timeline

petitioner must file I-864. There is no way around that. Even if you have 0 income, you must still file it.

if income/assets not sufficient, MUST get a co-sponser / joint-sponser, who then fills out an I-864, as well.

re: turn-around time - what? DCF in Ukraine should be 3 to 4 months, from start to finish, not 1 year (per the call center).

Sometimes my language usage seems confusing - please feel free to 'read it twice', just in case !
Ya know, you can find the answer to your question with the advanced search tool, when using a PC? Ditch the handphone, come back later on a PC, and try again.

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Filed: Country: Ukraine
Timeline

petitioner must file I-864. There is no way around that. Even if you have 0 income, you must still file it.

if income/assets not sufficient, MUST get a co-sponser / joint-sponser, who then fills out an I-864, as well.

re: turn-around time - what? DCF in Ukraine should be 3 to 4 months, from start to finish, not 1 year (per the call center).

Ok thanks. i guess ill fill it out, even if most is blank:) and just get a co-sponser / joint-sponser (btw, is there a difference in the two?) to fill out the same form.

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Ok thanks. i guess ill fill it out, even if most is blank:) and just get a co-sponser / joint-sponser (btw, is there a difference in the two?) to fill out the same form.

She's right. You fill out the sponsor form and then have a co-sponsor fill out another sponsor form.

DCF London

2007-08-09 Married

2008-02-15 (Day 1) Filed I-130 for CR-1

2008-02-20 (Day 6) Received RFE

2008-02-21 (Day 7) Returned RFE

2008-02-26 (Day 12) Credit card charged $355

2008-05-15 (Day 92) Received RFE

2008-05-16 (Day 93) Returned RFE

2008-06-11 (Day 119) Received RFE in the form of face-to-face interview on 17 June.

2008-06-17 (Day 125) RFE interview

2008-06-23 (Day 131) Received Packet 3

2008-06-24 (Day 132) Returned Checklist, DS-230

2008-07-03 (Day 141) Received Packet 4

2008-07-09 (Day 147) Medical (approved)

2008-07-18 (Day 158) Interview (approved)

2008-07-22 (Day 162) Passport and visa in hand

2008-07-25 (Day 165) POE - Atlanta, GA

ROC

2010-05-25 (Day 1) Mailed off I-751, check, and evidence to VSC

2010-06-07 (Day 15) Received NOA1, dated 2010-05-27

2010-07-30 (Day 66) Received Bio Appt letter, scheduled for 2010-08-16; will be out of town

2010-07-30 (Day 66) Mailed off request for new appointment date

2011-05-23 (Day 363) Biometrics appointment

2011-07-11 (Day 412) Conditions Removed

N-400

2012-10-23 (Day 1) Mailed N-400 Application (PHX)

2012-12-06 (Day 44) Biometrics appointment (PHX)

2013-01-29 (Day 98) Interview (approved)

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