USC petitioner living abroad

[Clemjam 8]

1. Country USC resides in: France

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No

3. When did you file the I-130: 2013-02-06

4. How long had you been living abroad: 2,5 years

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes

6. What is the reason for your residence: Went to live with my wife

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes and No

8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? no - sent it as soon as USC arrived in the US

9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? yes, lease & french bank account, utilities, we even included some docs to show we resided together in the UK.

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes, it appears in the forms, also the address on the cover letter

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Now waiting , case still not available online after over a month

I don't know whether ours will be auto expedited as my husband (the USC) lived with us until the day we sent our I130s so he could start his new job there.

We did include joint leases,bank accounts from France and precised in the cover letter that he was living with us up until that date.

It has been 32 days now and still nothing, not even online.... :-/

[mattei999 0]

1. Country USC resides in: Ireland

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No

3. When did you file the I-130: 2013-02-07

4. How long had you been living abroad: 7 years

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes

6. What is the reason for your residence: Employment / Wife

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes

8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? No - sent by immigration lawyer in US

9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes - Lease, Financial Statements

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes.

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes. I-130 approved in 35 days between e-mail NOA1/NOA2 notifications.

[whitey810 0]

Is there a master list somewhere with people who may fall into the "auto expedited" category who have filed from overseas? Or current and historical times for CR-1 visas filed from overseas addresses?

I have looked through a lot of this topic but 26 pages is daunting! It does appear though that people are still being auto expedited in around 40 days or so.

[chaine1 116]

Hi whitey,

This is your master list. I know 26 pages is a lot, but if you want to fully understand this topic, I highly recommend you read through it all.

Good Luck!

[Pw3t 6]

1. Country USC resides in: France

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No

3. When did you file the I-130: January 2013

4. How long had you been living abroad: Almost 2 years

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes

6. What is the reason for your residence: Spouse visa

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes

8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes

9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. Copies of french tax returns and spouse visas.

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? We wrote our french address on the cover letter.

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes, 39 days !

[Faraz.azeem 1]

Hello Everyone,

This is really an interesting topic. I never knew that there is a faster queue.

I have few questions regarding this. I have dual citizenship of US and Pakistan. I recently got married in Pakistan and looking to file I-130 for my spouse. My parents and my spouse live in my home country and I visit them every year. So I have an address there as well.

- Can i use my foreign (Pakistani) address in I-130 application and US address in DS230 form ? This way I will get my I-130 approve quicker.

I can show my Pakistani ID card for the address in Pakistan. I also have my marriage certificates, affidavits made issued in Pakistan. Will that work ?

- I am working in US and I am looking to file AOS for my spouse as well. Will that be an issue if I list the foreign address in I-130 and then a job in Us ?

- If I proceed this path, do I have to go to the Embassy for the interview with my spouse ?

Please, let me know if any dual citizenship holders has such experience or if any one else can advise.

Edited March 21, 2013 by Faraz.azeem

[LucidSofia 59]

Hello Everyone,

This is really an interesting topic. I never knew that there is a faster queue.

I have few questions regarding this. I have dual citizenship of US and Pakistan. I recently got married in Pakistan and looking to file I-130 for my spouse. My parents and my spouse live in my home country and I visit them every year. So I have an address there as well.

- Can i use my foreign (Pakistani) address in I-130 application and US address in DS230 form ? This way I will get my I-130 approve quicker.

I can show my Pakistani ID card for the address in Pakistan. I also have my marriage certificates, affidavits made issued in Pakistan. Will that work ?

- I am working in US and I am looking to file AOS for my spouse as well. Will that be an issue if I list the foreign address in I-130 and then a job in Us ?

- If I proceed this path, do I have to go to the Embassy for the interview with my spouse ?

Please, let me know if any dual citizenship holders has such experience or if any one else can advise.

Well, this is just my opinion but I don´t think you can or should list a foreign address if you actually don´t reside there.

[Villanelle 4,121]

Oh my. I did not read through your whole thread- but I believe you are way off with your entire concept of exactly what is going on here. There is no expediting going on here. It just appears that way.

All 130s are processed the same way. You fill it out based on the address where the USC lives. So if you live in the US you fill out a US address on the 130. If you live overseas you fill out an overseas address on the 130. It generally gets sent to the lockbox. (unless you live somewhere where you can DCF)

Once they get it, it goes to a service center. They check it for completion, or do whatever it is they do on it, and then send it off to the 'local office' for processing. Thats where the processing times vary. Its a stand alone 130 when youre filing for the CR1. They dont notify you of the switch off to the local office. The only way you know of the transfer is if you call and specifically inquire where is my case. So people who reside in most of Europe have the 'local office' of London. Their posted processing times for the 130 are currently at 2 weeks. Because well, London doesnt get many. People in the US whose 130s get sent to local offices like NY or CT have processing times of 5-6 months. Hence it seems like you are being expedited but you are not.

You are just being routed to your correct local office with jurisdiction. Overseas offices are much quicker at processing stand alone 130s because they get less of them, have a better staff, and arent so overworked.

If you truly do reside overseas, the best thing you can do is fill out the paperwork properly. Fill out the forms with your overseas address. This will ensure the 'local office' that has jurisdiction is the over seas office with the quick processing times.

For some reason a lot of people choose to use a US address even though they are overseas because they feel the US address is more secure, and maybe it is, but by using a US address, youre causing your local address to cause your base to be local hence your jurisdiction to be different and the processing times will change. (possibly not in your favor)

[The Mean Lady 604]

Oh my. I did not read through your whole thread- but I believe you are way off with your entire concept of exactly what is going on here. There is no expediting going on here. It just appears that way.

All 130s are processed the same way. You fill it out based on the address where the USC lives. So if you live in the US you fill out a US address on the 130. If you live overseas you fill out an overseas address on the 130. It generally gets sent to the lockbox. (unless you live somewhere where you can DCF)

Once they get it, it goes to a service center. They check it for completion, or do whatever it is they do on it, and then send it off to the 'local office' for processing. Thats where the processing times vary. Its a stand alone 130 when youre filing for the CR1. They dont notify you of the switch off to the local office. The only way you know of the transfer is if you call and specifically inquire where is my case. So people who reside in most of Europe have the 'local office' of London. Their posted processing times for the 130 are currently at 2 weeks. Because well, London doesnt get many. People in the US whose 130s get sent to local offices like NY or CT have processing times of 5-6 months. Hence it seems like you are being expedited but you are not.

You are just being routed to your correct local office with jurisdiction. Overseas offices are much quicker at processing stand alone 130s because they get less of them, have a better staff, and arent so overworked.

If you truly do reside overseas, the best thing you can do is fill out the paperwork properly. Fill out the forms with your overseas address. This will ensure the 'local office' that has jurisdiction is the over seas office with the quick processing times.

For some reason a lot of people choose to use a US address even though they are overseas because they feel the US address is more secure, and maybe it is, but by using a US address, youre causing your local address to cause your base to be local hence your jurisdiction to be different and the processing times will change. (possibly not in your favor)

I'm not sure "who" you're responding to, but this thread is over a year old.

Local offices for our cases were NOT a thing a year ago.

The abroad "auto expedite" still exists, though also seems a little hairy because of the new process.

Edited March 21, 2013 by KDH

[MeredythB 38]

Oh my. I did not read through your whole thread- but I believe you are way off with your entire concept of exactly what is going on here. There is no expediting going on here. It just appears that way.

All 130s are processed the same way. You fill it out based on the address where the USC lives. So if you live in the US you fill out a US address on the 130. If you live overseas you fill out an overseas address on the 130. It generally gets sent to the lockbox. (unless you live somewhere where you can DCF)

Once they get it, it goes to a service center. They check it for completion, or do whatever it is they do on it, and then send it off to the 'local office' for processing. Thats where the processing times vary. Its a stand alone 130 when youre filing for the CR1. They dont notify you of the switch off to the local office. The only way you know of the transfer is if you call and specifically inquire where is my case. So people who reside in most of Europe have the 'local office' of London. Their posted processing times for the 130 are currently at 2 weeks. Because well, London doesnt get many. People in the US whose 130s get sent to local offices like NY or CT have processing times of 5-6 months. Hence it seems like you are being expedited but you are not.

You are just being routed to your correct local office with jurisdiction. Overseas offices are much quicker at processing stand alone 130s because they get less of them, have a better staff, and arent so overworked.

If you truly do reside overseas, the best thing you can do is fill out the paperwork properly. Fill out the forms with your overseas address. This will ensure the 'local office' that has jurisdiction is the over seas office with the quick processing times.

For some reason a lot of people choose to use a US address even though they are overseas because they feel the US address is more secure, and maybe it is, but by using a US address, youre causing your local address to cause your base to be local hence your jurisdiction to be different and the processing times will change. (possibly not in your favor)

Please do not confuse people with misinformation. Applications filed from abroad are sent to the National Benefits Centre in Missouri...and are processed FROM THAT OFFICE. NOT from a local office in the USC's country of residence. Applications originating in the US ARE sent to local offices. And yes, their processing times can differ widely.

For the poster who asked if they could list a foreign residence even if they don't live there...it is NEVER in your best interests to give USCIS, the NVC, or the DOS incorrect information. Do not lie, not even a little bit. You do not live abroad. Don't tell the US government that you do. You don't want anything coming back to bite you in the butt. Unfortunately for this process, you simply have to wait your turn.

Edited March 21, 2013 by MeredythB

[The Mean Lady 604]

Please do not confuse people with misinformation. Applications filed from abroad are sent to the National Benefits Centre in Missouri...and are processed FROM THAT OFFICE. NOT from a local office in the USC's country of residence. Applications originating in the US ARE sent to local offices. And yes, their processing times can differ widely.

For the poster who asked if they could list a foreign residence even if they don't live there...it is NEVER in your best interest to give USCIS, the NVC, or the DOS incorrect information. Do not lie, not even a little bit. You do not live abroad. Don't tell the US government that you do. You don't want anything coming back to bite you in the butt.

I have a lease in my name at a residence in Canada, yet I hold no status here.

I see no reason why I couldn't have put this address as my address abroad, and I damn sure wish I had.

But I'm not going to get into the argument of semantics.

[MeredythB 38]

I have a lease in my name at a residence in Canada, yet I hold no status here.

I see no reason why I couldn't have put this address as my address abroad, and I damn sure wish I had.

But I'm not going to get into the argument of semantics.

But you don't LIVE there, yes?

The poster I was responding to doesn't live in Pakistan. She visits. And hey, maybe there wouldn't be a problem at all with claiming a false residence. I don't know how much scrutiny that part of the application is given. But I sure as Hades wouldn't want to recommend to someone that falsifying information on an application as important as this one is a good idea, you know?

Edited March 21, 2013 by MeredythB

[The Mean Lady 604]

But you LIVE there, yes?

The poster I was responding to doesn't live in Pakistan. She visits. And hey, maybe there wouldn't be a problem at all with claiming a false residence. I don't know how much scrutiny that part of the application is given. But I sure as Hades wouldn't want to recommend to someone that falsifying information on an application as important as this one is a good idea, you know?

According to the Canadian gov't, I do not live here.

I hate using the phrase "legally live here" because I feel it implies that I "illegally" live here lol.

I just travel here with my passport and visit for extended periods of time.

But I have a lease on an apt that I pay for with my own money so my land lord sure considers me livin' here.

Someone that's going to pakistan and staying for a few weeks at her husband's apt?

No, that's not living so much.

[MeredythB 38]

According to the Canadian gov't, I do not live here.

I hate using the phrase "legally live here" because I feel it implies that I "illegally" live here lol.

I just travel here with my passport and visit for extended periods of time.

But I have a lease on an apt that I pay for with my own money so my land lord sure considers me livin' here.

Someone that's going to pakistan and staying for a few weeks at her husband's apt?

No, that's not living so much.

This is where phasing out DCF is causing stress on these threads. If all of us overseas/abroad people had just been able to stick to our consulate filings, we wouldn't be coming in here and screwing up the timelines. Plus, it makes me feel really guilty when I see people who filed before me still waiting on their NOA2. All I can do is repeat myself: you don't want misinformation coming back to haunt you. I'm not sure if they do a lot of checking on the authenticity of your address. One assumes that THEY assume you're being truthful, since you want to get your correspondence, but if they DO check up, especially if you report that you live abroad, you don't want to be giving anybody any ammunition for a denial, ye ken?

[The Mean Lady 604]

This is where phasing out DCF is causing stress on these threads. If all of us overseas/abroad people had just been able to stick to our consulate filings, we wouldn't be coming in here and screwing up the timelines. Plus, it makes me feel really guilty when I see people who filed before me still waiting on their NOA2. All I can do is repeat myself: you don't want misinformation coming back to haunt you. I'm not sure if they do a lot of checking on the authenticity of your address. One assumes that THEY assume you're being truthful, since you want to get your correspondence, but if they DO check up, especially if you report that you live abroad, you don't want to be giving anybody any ammunition for a denial, ye ken?

I think it all depends on the wording on the form, which quite honestly I don't have time to look over right now.

But I don't remember it saying anything about holding legal resident status in the country when filing from abroad.

Filing DCF is a totally different story and I think you have to prove status to the embassy.

If it mattered that I put my Canadian address, then USCIS would have to admit to the 'abroad auto expedite' which they don't.