DCF in Senegal

[livindadream 156]

Good Morning,

Dakar, Senegal used to offer DCF if you hold a resident permit in their country. I went to the US embassy in Dakar site recently and there was a notice about a change effective August 15, 2011 saying that you can now only do the DCF for I-130 if there is a USCIS 'public counter" in that embassy. But they did not specifically say now if there is one there or not. On the list of USCIS field offices, it does not list Dakar, but it does list Accra, Ghana and when I click on the Ghana one, it says they cover other west african countries, including Senegal. Im so confused. I sent an email to them, but I doubt I will get any response anytime soon. If anyone knows or has done it in Dakar after Aug 2011, please let me know. Thanks !!!

[sms78 18]

I have no knowledge about it but I found this thread.

Hope it helps.

[romnick 15]

Stop complicating matter for yourself dear friend and file through Lagos if you arent so positive about filing through Ghana. With prayers, Lagos will save you all the trouble. Worry less, it is not that difficult. Channel this energy by gathering all the evidence of on going relationship for the petition. A lot of things have changed about DCF even if not you are still not qualified to file unless you have lived in that country for at least 6 months as a Legal resident. Your husband is a Nigerian so you guys should go that path. Best of luck.

[livindadream 156]

I have no knowledge about it but I found this thread.

Hope it helps.

Thanks for the link, it confirmed what I already thought.

[livindadream 156]

Stop complicating matter for yourself dear friend and file through Lagos if you arent so positive about filing through Ghana. With prayers, Lagos will save you all the trouble. Worry less, it is not that difficult. Channel this energy by gathering all the evidence of on going relationship for the petition. A lot of things have changed about DCF even if not you are still not qualified to file unless you have lived in that country for at least 6 months as a Legal resident. Your husband is a Nigerian so you guys should go that path. Best of luck.

Romnick,

We were just exploring allllll options ya know? Senegal used to have DCF AND let spouses into the interview so I thought about going there before and the thought of it came into my head again. But when I went on their site, I saw a message addressing the new policy for DCF of the I-130. As for getting a resident permit in Ghana..Its not that hard. In the last 3 years, I've been here a total of over a year. And as for 6 months continuous stay (if required) I will reach 6 months in September. (Im not going back to the states til January 2013) I never knew Ghana did Direct filing as of 2011 until yesterday. They have a USCIS field office here now. I just wonder if that will expedite things or if they will still be slow. Why didnt you DCF in Ghana when you did yours...it wouldve been quicker than wat you experienced dont you think? I'm cool here in Ghana, and my husband wouldnt mind staying indefinitely, but I'm just sick of going back and forth to attend to business back home. I can't make money if I'm here 24/7 !! Hence the reason I realllyyy need to figure some things out.

[Olomi_811 130]

They say a hard head carries a soft tush...

You can try to DCF if you like, but saying "I reside" as opposed to "I have a resident visa" will only get your hopes up and prolong your process. You can be rejected at the counter OR If Dakar does offer DCF and accepts it you can wait several months to hear something, get rejected, AND lose the petition money.

To point out how you can quickly and easily become a legal res. frankly is a little arrogant and most definitely is contradictory to the desire you project to file quickly. The advice given here isn't law, it's people telling you their experience, sharing successes, and hoping you learn from their mistakes so you can avoid heartache. You have freewill to do whatever you want to do.

[livindadream 156]

They say a hard head carries a soft tush...

You can try to DCF if you like, but saying "I reside" as opposed to "I have a resident visa" will only get your hopes up and prolong your process. You can be rejected at the counter OR If Dakar does offer DCF and accepts it you can wait several months to hear something, get rejected, AND lose the petition money.

To point out how you can quickly and easily become a legal res. frankly is a little arrogant and most definitely is contradictory to the desire you project to file quickly. The advice given here isn't law, it's people telling you their experience, sharing successes, and hoping you learn from their mistakes so you can avoid heartache. You have freewill to do whatever you want to do.

I'm not sure how I sound arrogant by saying how I can get a resident visa. In the last three years, I've lived in Ghana almost as much as I've lived at home in the states. I have a house I rent here, I have furnished the house with more things than I have in my house in the states, I hang pictures on my walls here, I have pets, I have shoppers discount cards that I've subscribed to...I have a hospital card from the private hospital I go to when Im sick here...I go to restaurants and they know my favorite table, what I order without having to say it....I go to stores and the people know me by name, notice when I've been away....I don't even get hassled at the airport anymore, because they have seen me enough to practically consider me a local....so YES, I feel this is just as much my home as when I'm in the states and I dont see any problem having a resident visa here as well. And there is NOTHING arrogant about that or ME for that matter. Not sure where ur negativity comes from ...but thanks for the input all the same. Stay blessed.

[Rock & Am 0]

Good Morning,

Dakar, Senegal used to offer DCF if you hold a resident permit in their country. I went to the US embassy in Dakar site recently and there was a notice about a change effective August 15, 2011 saying that you can now only do the DCF for I-130 if there is a USCIS 'public counter" in that embassy. But they did not specifically say now if there is one there or not. On the list of USCIS field offices, it does not list Dakar, but it does list Accra, Ghana and when I click on the Ghana one, it says they cover other west african countries, including Senegal. Im so confused. I sent an email to them, but I doubt I will get any response anytime soon. If anyone knows or has done it in Dakar after Aug 2011, please let me know. Thanks !!!

Hi. My husband and I live in Dakar and also tried last November to file at the Embassy, but we were denied. They no longer offer DCF. You have to file via post (mail) or in another country. I believe you are correct with Ghana being the closest option for Senegal.

Edited June 14, 2012 by Rock & Am

[livindadream 156]

Hi. My husband and I live in Dakar and also tried last November to file at the Embassy, but we were denied. They no longer offer DCF. You have to file via post (mail) or in another country. I believe you are correct with Ghana being the closest option for Senegal.

Yeah, I was so surprised when I read that. We've spent all our time together here in Ghana, so it's making more sense for us to just try to do things from here. Especially now that they have a field office here. Thanks for confirming it for me !!

[Olomi_811 130]

I'm not sure how I sound arrogant by saying how I can get a resident visa. In the last three years, I've lived in Ghana almost as much as I've lived at home in the states. I have a house I rent here, I have furnished the house with more things than I have in my house in the states, I hang pictures on my walls here, I have pets, I have shoppers discount cards that I've subscribed to...I have a hospital card from the private hospital I go to when Im sick here...I go to restaurants and they know my favorite table, what I order without having to say it....I go to stores and the people know me by name, notice when I've been away....I don't even get hassled at the airport anymore, because they have seen me enough to practically consider me a local....so YES, I feel this is just as much my home as when I'm in the states and I dont see any problem having a resident visa here as well. And there is NOTHING arrogant about that or ME for that matter. Not sure where ur negativity comes from ...but thanks for the input all the same. Stay blessed.

Uh huh

[livindadream 156]

Uh huh

hmmm......smh

[Rock & Am 0]

Yeah, I was so surprised when I read that. We've spent all our time together here in Ghana, so it's making more sense for us to just try to do things from here. Especially now that they have a field office here. Thanks for confirming it for me !!

Just out of curiosity, if you spend all your time in Ghana, then why try to file in Senegal?

[livindadream 156]

Just out of curiosity, if you spend all your time in Ghana, then why try to file in Senegal?

I wanted to go somewhere to directly file to cut back on some of the waiting time. Ghana is notorious for being veryyyyyy slowwwww....but now that I know there is a USCIS field office here, Im hoping the process will move quicker. unlike OTHER posters, who went to see their spouse/fiance for a week or two and then came back to start filing things ASAP..I have been coming back and forth to Ghana and staying for months upon months to be close to my husband. But it's taking its toll on me. And I would really like to stay in one place. So YEAH..now that we are married and have made that commitment, I want to move forward to starting our married life together in ONE place and not have to be separated everytime I need to go home for work.

[livindadream 156]

Uh huh

All this negativity surely will bring bad karma...wats up with that? Did I do something to offend you? sorry, I want to bring an end to all this traveling back and forth. I didnt go to Naija for a week or two and then rush home to the states to start filing petitions. I have been here a longgg time and now would like to stay in one place, hence the reason for petitioning. Maybe you shud spread knowledge and not judgment..if you live your life that way, you wont have to have chats with GOD when things go wrong in your life. Maybe you feel cuz your husby is there with you (a month) that you can no be condesending to others...maybe I will check back with you in 6 months....lol

[Rock & Am 0]

I wanted to go somewhere to directly file to cut back on some of the waiting time. Ghana is notorious for being veryyyyyy slowwwww....but now that I know there is a USCIS field office here, Im hoping the process will move quicker. unlike OTHER posters, who went to see their spouse/fiance for a week or two and then came back to start filing things ASAP..I have been coming back and forth to Ghana and staying for months upon months to be close to my husband. But it's taking its toll on me. And I would really like to stay in one place. So YEAH..now that we are married and have made that commitment, I want to move forward to starting our married life together in ONE place and not have to be separated everytime I need to go home for work.

I totally understand. I live in Dakar with my husband, but since December I have had to fly back and forth between Senegal and the US three times. Which doesn't sound like a lot but it takes a lot to recover from jet lag and I always get a respiratory infection when I travel. So I get you. Bon chance!