Decision taken: we move to the USA in 2013

[stupid 2]

Hello to all,

this is my 1st post here, because my wife and I decided to move to the USA next year.

Before going into questions and asking for your kind help, I will introduce us and quickly describe our situation.

-- Us, and our situation --------------

Her: American (Texas)

Me: Frenchman

We live in: Slovenia (European Union)

We got married in February 2012 in the USA.(marriage was finally transcribed in the French civil registries last week)

We currently live in SLOVENIA as I am an expatriate for my company.

We decided to move in early 2013 in the US (March-April, when my contract here ends)

The European economical situation and the results of the latest French elections being not completely "innocent" to this decision...

-- Now, what to do ? ------------------

1st step is to decide which form we'll fill-in.

DCF is, on paper, the best solution; but my wife cannot justify yet 6month of living in Slovenia as we are currently awaiting the papers for her residence card.

Therefore, as far as my tired eyes could read, I-130 seems the simplest way, as we have 10month-ish ahead of us to process the case.

May I be wrong, what is your opinion ?

We are currently gathering all the infos needed to start the process asap.

We already discussed with my in-laws in order to prepare an affidavit of support if needed/asked.

Our very 1st decision is to take a rendez-vous with the US embassy here in order to see what are our possibilities and which VISA to go for (129 or 130 ?)

But I also would like to have your feedback and advices on the process.

I looks long and with a lot of paperwork, but should be a smooth ride if I manage to get all the papers from the French administration.

-- Awaiting the next steps ------------

I'll fill in this thread with the latest informations as they come in.

Have a great day wherever you are.

We're looking forward to hearing from your advices and experiences on this French-American couple living in a 3rd country and willing to head back to Uncle Sam's country

Best regards from old Europe !

[kzielu 1,147]

No DCF in Slovenia anymore. You need to file I-130 and wait. No reason to bother US embassy about it - you send your package to USCIS lockbox in Chicago.

[chaine1 116]

You will go with the I-130 (K3 is dead, so do NOT send in the 129F after submitting the I-130).

As far as time: Most petitioners who live abroad have seen their I-130 applications expedited. For me, it took 2 weeks from NOA1 to NOA2, then about 2 months to get through the NVC. I'm expecting it will have taken us about 4 months from start to visa in hand.

You say you have approximately 10 months, which is more than enough time if you are expedited. However, if expedited, be careful that you don't receive your visa more than six months prior to arriving in USA. (CR-1/IR-1 visa is valid for only 6 months). You can move through the NVC as slowly as you like though, so use that to temper your speed.

For more info on petitioner's who reside abroad, read through this thread. Basically, if you want the expedite, make sure to list your address abroad on the I-130.

Good Luck!

[stupid 2]

Thanks for your answers.

So 10 months are more than enough, and can even be too short because of the CR1/IR1 visa.

In any case, I can still quit my job sooner and leave earlier old Europe if needed (anyway... we decided to live abroad, that means I will have to quit my job !)

Still to Do:

- Go with I-130 in june

- Keep you informed of the rest of the process !

[together4evr 360]

As long as your wife is still living with you then file the I-130 about 6 months before you plan on relocating.

Do not use american address on the forms

Use only foreign address to let them know you are both filing from abroad and live together and no DCF available

It should be approved in less than 1 month and then 2 month in nvc and 2 months for interview

so you will get approval 4-6 months and then 6 months to use the visa

Good Luck

[sulhaq 59]

-You will have to file the I-130 petition.

-DO NOT WAIT. File NOW. Without wasting any more time. The so-called "expedite" for filing from abroad is not officially mandated by USCIS. To this day they deny any expedite exists. This means that even though you will most probably be expedited, don't chance it. Just file now in case you AREN'T expedited for whatever ridiculous reason.

-If you are expedited (which you most probably will be), you can manually control the speed of your application once it gets to the NVC. You have 12 months to respond to each of NVC's requests. This means you could take your case up until the point where NVC requests an "Application for Immigrant Visa" from you, gather all the necessary items needed for said application and then just not send it in until you're ready. This way YOU control when your application is processed and aren't sitting at the mercy of USCIS.

-Be forewarned that your wife will need to prove domicile in the United States as well as have income @ 125% of current US poverty level to qualify for your affidavit of support. If this cannot be done, you will need a joint sponsor.

Good luck.

[stupid 2]

OK.

we'll file asap (which is gonna be this week or next week)

Regarding affidavit of support, as my wife doesn't work in the USA now (she lives with me in Europe), we may (/will) need a co-sponsor.

Her family is more than willing to help, but I also wonder if it's needed: I can show that I have some 40k USD in cash on various accounts and a flat in the Paris area (with a guy in it, paying me each month cca. 1k USD.

Does someone know what are the limits regarding the assets ? Thx.