U.S. Embassy abroad

[Pimky 0]

Hi,

I am a German citizen, residing in the Netherlands due to my studies and live very close to Belgium. Right now I am doing an internship in Michigan and engaged to an American citizen. After I return in February, I hope to be able to come during Summer time and for us to be able to get married.

We are in the process of gathering all the documents/files for the visa process and I was wondering which U.S. Embassy I should go to.

I think I should be able to go to Frankfurt (Germany) since I am a German citizen, but as well to Amsterdam since I officially reside there.

However, to obtain my current J1 visa, I actually went to Brussels (Belgium) to receive my visa since they waiting time is much shorter. I had could make an appointment within 3 days and had my visa the next day after my interview.

I know that in Frankfurt the waiting days are longer, and Amsterdam is similar.

Yet, I am not sure if there is some advantge or some kind of rule that allows/forbids me to only apply for the visa in Amsterdam or Frankfurt and not Belgium. I had chosen Brussels before it was getting very close to the starting point of my internship and I don't want to be late by going to Frankfurt/Amsterdam.

Is there anyone who is from Europe and knows if there is any rule on which U.S. embassy to choose, since once we file the K1 visa that embassy would be responsible for all the processing. Is there an advantge to go to the country that have the nationality from, in my case Germany?

Side questions: Assuming I would be able to be in USA by next July and everything went smoothly with the fiance visa. Can I start going to university while I am waiting for my AOS?

Thank you so much!!! I am new to starting the fiance visa and I'd appreciate any kind of information.

Best, Pimky =)

[Sarah Elle-Même 660]

You select the US Embassy in the country you are legally residing in. I can't comment on J-1 visas. But bear in mind that petition approval at the USCIS level takes 6 months these days, possibly longer. I sent my application out earlier this month and my projected petition approval dates are between the 2nd and 3rd week of May. After this point it could take another few months to wrap the whole process up and issue the visa so I think you've probably cut it too close to expect summer nuptials.

As for university did you already apply to attend somewhere in the US? You should ask their admissions office what documents they will require in order to enroll you. There is nothing preventing you from starting studying without your green card.

Edited November 26, 2012 by Sarah and Adnan

[Pimky 0]

Hi Sarah & Adnan,

thank you for your reply. It is all a little bit confusing to me since I am actually only in the Netherlands due to my studies, however I had to deregister from Germany and I am only registered as a resident of the Netherlands legally. I was also wondering if I return back in February whether I should not register myself back in Germany and degister from the Netherlands since as soon as I finish university, I won't have anthything more to do there.

Did you say you just sent in the I-129 sth file and they project you to be done in May/June? Does this mean, you will be able to travel to USA in May/June?

I am hoping to be able to send all my documents in by December 3rd..we'll see!

And concerning the university issue in the USA, I am really not sure how it might work. But thanks for the advice, I'll ask the university.

Good luck!

[Sarah Elle-Même 660]

Hi Sarah & Adnan,

thank you for your reply. It is all a little bit confusing to me since I am actually only in the Netherlands due to my studies, however I had to deregister from Germany and I am only registered as a resident of the Netherlands legally. I was also wondering if I return back in February whether I should not register myself back in Germany and degister from the Netherlands since as soon as I finish university, I won't have anthything more to do there.

Did you say you just sent in the I-129 sth file and they project you to be done in May/June? Does this mean, you will be able to travel to USA in May/June?

I am hoping to be able to send all my documents in by December 3rd..we'll see!

And concerning the university issue in the USA, I am really not sure how it might work. But thanks for the advice, I'll ask the university.

Good luck!

I'm sure there is a way to change your interview embassy if you move. Maybe someone with a similar experience can comment. But you can only be interviewed in a country in which you are legally residing. The I-129F is basically part one of the K-1 visa process. It is the petition your fiance (US Citizen) will send to USCIS (Immigration Services Federal Agency). So when I said my projected approval dates I meant for the I-129F petition. After this petition is approved it will be sent to the National Visa Center (can take over a month to make the move sometimes) where it will essentially become a visa application for you, the foreign beneficiary. More documents will need to be gathered and submitted and then an interview will be scheduled. This doesn't happen instantaneously. So you may get lucky and get here end of the summer but it's never a good idea to make plans at this point because "hiccups" an come up sometimes.

[Pimky 0]

Yeah. It seems very confusing and complicated. I guess we just need to take a deep breath and hope that everything will turn out well.