DCF London

[rockwood23 2]

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum and already have found this tool extremely useful! Its so helpful getting answers from those that have gone through the process!

I've recently filed I-130 petition for my UK husband (I am a US citizen w/UK residency) Dec 24. I'm just curious to see how long its taking others and if their timelines are actually accurate? The say they're taking 3 mos to process them but I've been reading others that are processed much faster. I'm sure it varies case by case but I'm curious whether that over estimate waiting times. They alse say plan on 10 mos before relocating, how accurate is that?

Thanks for the advice in advance!

[Morkai 0]

Hubby's I-130 was approved in 17 days but I'm still waiting for the checklist/packet that follows (they advise 3-5 weeks for this so they are still within that time frame) so I can get the visa application form in and schedule my medical. Our timeline is accurate and up to date in my sig.

Edited January 6, 2013 by Morkai

[Lou29 5]

Hi,

We filed on the 11th May 2012 and the USCIS stage was pretty quick for us. The NCV stage has been slow, no matter how organised we have been we still got 2 RFE's which has slowed us down. Hoping to have a 'case complete' soon and possibly be in the States together by our wedding anniversary. My timeline is accurate if you want to check it out.

Good luck.

[mindthegap 2,590]

See timeline below.

Quick, then sloooooooooooooooow with zero communication.

Its a bit of a joke really.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum and already have found this tool extremely useful! Its so helpful getting answers from those that have gone through the process!

I've recently filed I-130 petition for my UK husband (I am a US citizen w/UK residency) Dec 24. I'm just curious to see how long its taking others and if their timelines are actually accurate? The say they're taking 3 mos to process them but I've been reading others that are processed much faster. I'm sure it varies case by case but I'm curious whether that over estimate waiting times. They alse say plan on 10 mos before relocating, how accurate is that?

Thanks for the advice in advance!

Maybe you are reading "approval" in two different contexts. Approval of the I-130 petition by the USCIS office in London can be in a matter of weeks. But then the case has to be sent to the Immigrant Visa Unit in London. That is no longer USCIS, but the Department of State. Then you apply for the visa. Getting through that part can take 2-3 months before you get an interview and visa approval. This thread may help you http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/371376-london-uk-dcf-2012/

[Tim42 0]

See timeline below.

Quick, then sloooooooooooooooow with zero communication.

Its a bit of a joke really.

I'm surprised you haven't got an interview yet. We're only about a week or so ahead of you (medical 13th November, interview letter mid December) , but I have an interview this coming Monday 14th January (I said in the covering letter that we wanted to go by the end of January).

I did call DOS in the USA earlyish December, around 3 weeks after the medical, and they actually told me the interview date then, saying the letter was being sent that day (although it took around a week to get to us). Perhaps you could call them to see what's going on.

[mindthegap 2,590]

Yes, am calling DOS today (08:30 eastern, as soon as they open).

Sick of this #######- no response from emailing IV at embassy, and the extortion line just gives me the email address, so round and round in circles.

[mindthegap 2,590]

According to DOS, the embassy still haven't logged my forms. Nothing i can do apart from wait she said.

Unbelievable.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

According to DOS, the embassy still haven't logged my forms. Nothing i can do apart from wait she said.

Unbelievable.

Wondering if FedEx is a problem..meaning a courier delivery vs mail. Try sending the whole lot again by Royal Mail and a cover letter explaining they were a originally sent in November but must have been lost. Give the date of your medical. Tell them you wished to be in the US by [make up a date] for [make up a reason] and would be happy to take a last minute appointment. Include your email address. Thank them for any consideration they can give your request.

Edited January 8, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[mindthegap 2,590]

Wondering if FedEx is a problem..meaning a courier delivery vs mail. Try sending the whole lot again by Royal Mail and a cover letter explaining they were a originally sent in November but must have been lost. Give the date of your medical. Tell them you wished to be in the US by [make up a date] for [make up a reason] and would be happy to take a last minute appointment. Include your email address. Thank them for any consideration they can give your request.

Cant see how that would be a problem- address is no different to sending by royal mail, and shows as confirmed as signed for- just a lot more secure and reliable than royal snail in my experience.

Following the call with DOS, this afternoon i sent yet another email-albeit with a rather more p*ssed off underlying tone- to the IV unit.

If no response by the end of the week will send the forms again on monday, perhaps with DO NOT LOSE BEHIND FILING CABINET in big letters somewhere

My original cover letter did politely request a december interview -including any short notice availability or cancellations- mainly due to heavy january travel plans- both business & personal. Its not even an issue with them keeping my passport(as i have two uk ones), just a case of being able to physically be here for the interview.

[Zeffe 2]

Maybe you are reading "approval" in two different contexts. Approval of the I-130 petition by the USCIS office in London can be in a matter of weeks. But then the case has to be sent to the Immigrant Visa Unit in London. That is no longer USCIS, but the Department of State. Then you apply for the visa. Getting through that part can take 2-3 months before you get an interview and visa approval. This thread may help you http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/371376-london-uk-dcf-2012/

Apologies for my ignorance, but does the Immigrant Visa Unit assign the case number? Or do they send the I-130 approval to the NVC and they are the ones to issue the case number? My I-130 petition was approved in 29 days, but I've been waiting 9 weeks to get the case number.

The USCIS Field Office in London was really quick. DoS not so much.

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

We sent in our I-130 & docs to London Oct 26, 2012 and were approved Dec 10,2012 - this includes getting an RFE for affidavits and a copy of our marriage license, which I suspect slowed us down about 1.5 weeks. This upcoming Monday completes our 5th week of waiting for our case number. I expect, from the holidays & reading others' posts, that we may not get our case number this week. I'm hopeful!

[Zeffe 2]

We sent in our I-130 & docs to London Oct 26, 2012 and were approved Dec 10,2012 - this includes getting an RFE for affidavits and a copy of our marriage license, which I suspect slowed us down about 1.5 weeks. This upcoming Monday completes our 5th week of waiting for our case number. I expect, from the holidays & reading others' posts, that we may not get our case number this week. I'm hopeful!

We had a delay with the RFE too. Still, that process was pretty quick. I emailed the Consulate last week (week 8) to inquire about the case number. They replied that the Immigration Visa Unit wrote to my husband on 28 December. We never received the letter. I chocked it up to the Royal Mail being delayed because of Christmas/New Year, but now we're in week 9 and still no letter/case number.

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

We had a delay with the RFE too. Still, that process was pretty quick. I emailed the Consulate last week (week 8) to inquire about the case number. They replied that the Immigration Visa Unit wrote to my husband on 28 December. We never received the letter. I chocked it up to the Royal Mail being delayed because of Christmas/New Year, but now we're in week 9 and still no letter/case number.

Can they not resend it?

[Zeffe 2]

Can they not resend it?

I emailed them today to ask precisely that. (And received the standard autoresponse saying they will respond in either 3-4 days or 7-10 days. Gotta love it!)

It just kills me that such an important letter could get lost. But I guess it happens...