File Abroad -> Move Back Home

[The Farang 0]

I was wondering if someone could give me some advice on this. I have lived in Thailand for the last two years on ED visas. I had a period between where I was on a tourist but then resumed school and still have a valid ED visa. The USCIS office in Bangkok will handle a I-130 filing if you are a resident in Thailand on a long-term visa for the last six months (and anecdotal evidence it'll shave 3 - 4 months off your wait). That's the official line but I've heard they reject anyone under 1 year. But they don't say what constitutes proof of residency in Thailand so I went to their offices in Bangkok and sort of told her my situation. I say sort of told her because I started to mention that I planned on returning to the US and she cut me off and told me to file in the US so I had to backtrack and tell her it was later in the year (could be next month). Basically, what she told me was that they *might* accept my I-130. If I brought in supporting documentation showing a long-term stay in Thailand she would present that to the USCIS officials who would make a spot call on whether they would take the application.

Okay, so it's a 50/50 or worse. I'll take those odds to save 4 months at no cost.

Just to point something out . . . The Bangkok USCIS does not offer a DCF. They simply take the place of the NVC and since they have less applications to process and they can just walk the paperwork across the street to the embassy things go much, much faster. I just wanted to point that out to make sure it's not confused with a DCF.

But here's the problem. The fiance and I have a wedding in Thailand planned for late this year. I had a job opportunity pop up back in the US that I simply can't pass up. I'll probably need to leave in the next 30 - 45 days to take the job. I had been hoping that we could get a legal wedding (not the Buddhist ceremony) done quick (like next week) so we can get the paperwork started. When I come back later in the year hopefully either her CR1 will be approved or close to it so she can follow shortly behind me when I go back home.

But I've started wondering if they accept the application here in Bangkok will there be a problem when I'm asked for things like the I-864 and all of a sudden I'm back in the US and sending documents to the USCIS in Thailand? Any chance they might kick it back and tell me to refile in the US?

Also, after we file the I-130 I'll be moving back to the US. My fiance will either go stay with her parents and wait or get a cheap apartment here in Bangkok and work until she gets the visa. That means that I'll go back to the US, move into a corporate apartment or hotel for a month or so and then lease an apartment (three address changes Bangkok->Corporate Housing -> Perm Housing) and the fiance will move from our existing apartment either back home or to a new apartment (or maybe even both if she gets bored waiting in Bangkok). What's a good way to make sure they know how to reach us at the right place?

[Darnell 8,478]

Unsure of Thailand, but for China -

USC stay in Country between I-130 filing and approval, then is OK to leave to USA to arrange USA domicile, IV and AOS intake can be done after USCitizen leaves The Country.

[The Farang 0]

Unsure of Thailand, but for China -

USC stay in Country between I-130 filing and approval, then is OK to leave to USA to arrange USA domicile, IV and AOS intake can be done after USCitizen leaves The Country.

Do they have the same thing in China? Again, this is not the DCF. The only thing the USCIS field office is doing is replacing the NVC in the processing.

[Darnell 8,478]

No, it's DCF in China, sorry for not being clear.