Filing I-129F while living abroad

[kpeck 22]

Hello everyone!

I'm a U.S. citizen currently living in Spain working as a English Language and Culture Assistant on a student visa. My fiance and I are just about finished gathering all of the documents needed to mail the I-129F package from here in Spain.

I'm leaving Spain on June 6 before my student visa expires. Since my fiance and I currently live together, we've listed both of our addresses as our current address here in Spain in Part A of I-129F.

When I leave Spain to go back to the States in June, I will be living with my parents until I'm able to find a job and apartment at which point I'll submit a change of address. (I've also listed that my fiance's "intended address" is my parents' address in the U.S.).

My questions: Do I need to explain somewhere in the packet (cover letter, for example) that I'm moving back permanently to the States in June?

Is it OK to list my address here in Spain? I'm aware that I need to have a stable mailing address in the States and I would like all of the documentation to be sent to my parents' address. Do I also need to note this? If so, where/how specifically?

Any help is much appreciated!

[cazzers 83]

I'm gonna tell you what we did.. my fiance has dual citizenship, american and irish. For the last 11 years he has been living in Europe. When we filled our I-129f he was still in Europe, but he returned to the US a month after we filled our petition. On the i-129f form, part A he wrote the address where he will be living in the US at his moms address, he didnt write the foreign address. it worked perfectly, cause we got the NOA1 hardcopy at the US address. He also explained on a different sheet (on the same sheet that he explained how we met)that he has been living abroad and he'll be returning in the States shortly after we filled.

There is a big possibility that you wont get the hardcopy abroad if you write that address.

Maybe other people more experienced can help you, i just wanted to share our story since it's so similar.

Edited February 13, 2013 by cazzers

[kpeck 22]

I'm gonna tell you what we did.. my fiance has dual citizenship, american and irish. For the last 11 years he has been living in Europe. When we filled our I-129f he was still in Europe, but he returned to the US a month after we filled our petition. On the i-129f form, part A he wrote the address where he will be living in the US at his moms address, he didnt write the foreign address. it worked perfectly, cause we got the NOA1 hardcopy at the US address. He also explained on a different sheet (on the same sheet that he explained how we met)that he has been living abroad and he'll be returning in the States shortly after we filled.

There is a big possibility that you wont get the hardcopy abroad if you write that address.

Maybe other people more experienced can help you, i just wanted to share our story since it's so similar.

Thanks for your reply! Yes, our situation is very similar to yours.

I'm guessing your fiance also wrote that his current address was the U.S. address on the G-235A, as well?

[cazzers 83]

Thanks for your reply! Yes, our situation is very similar to yours.

I'm guessing your fiance also wrote that his current address was the U.S. address on the G-235A, as well?

On the G-325A, he wrote his current address from Europe, cause he was living there at the time of filling. What i am going to do is, at the time of the interview i am going to take an updated G-325A, with his US address this time. i will have his boarding passes as well, so that it won't be any problem

[Alex&Amy 28]

You can file overseas it is not a problem, there are no requirements that you live in the USA, all the paper work will be mailed to your foreign address it will just take 5-10 days longer to receive it.

[LucidSofia 59]

Hello everyone!

I'm a U.S. citizen currently living in Spain working as a English Language and Culture Assistant on a student visa. My fiance and I are just about finished gathering all of the documents needed to mail the I-129F package from here in Spain.

I'm leaving Spain on June 6 before my student visa expires. Since my fiance and I currently live together, we've listed both of our addresses as our current address here in Spain in Part A of I-129F.

When I leave Spain to go back to the States in June, I will be living with my parents until I'm able to find a job and apartment at which point I'll submit a change of address. (I've also listed that my fiance's "intended address" is my parents' address in the U.S.).

My questions: Do I need to explain somewhere in the packet (cover letter, for example) that I'm moving back permanently to the States in June?

Is it OK to list my address here in Spain? I'm aware that I need to have a stable mailing address in the States and I would like all of the documentation to be sent to my parents' address. Do I also need to note this? If so, where/how specifically?

Any help is much appreciated!

Hi! Welcome to the forum! My husband and I just filed the I-130 and stated our address in Spain as our address, and then his parents' address as our intended address. We didn't include a cover letter. If you want to receive your stuff there then you should probably put your parents address as your address and then explain in cover letter that you live with you fiancé in Spain but will be moving back in June. I personally would not care about receiving the hard copy of anything and just list my Spanish address as my address, with the hopes of that maybe expediting the approval. It's cool to see other people filing from Spain. Hope we both get approved fast!

[kpeck 22]

Hi! Welcome to the forum! My husband and I just filed the I-130 and stated our address in Spain as our address, and then his parents' address as our intended address. We didn't include a cover letter. If you want to receive your stuff there then you should probably put your parents address as your address and then explain in cover letter that you live with you fiancé in Spain but will be moving back in June. I personally would not care about receiving the hard copy of anything and just list my Spanish address as my address, with the hopes of that maybe expediting the approval. It's cool to see other people filing from Spain. Hope we both get approved fast!

Thanks everyone for your input!

Yes, LucidSofia, it's nice to see other people from Spain on here, as well! I don't think there are that many of us. Suerte!

[kpeck 22]

One more question:

We have boarding passes (the e-mail PDF printout of them) for our trip to Paris together, but they are with the airline Vueling and are all in Spanish. They are clearly boarding passes, but I don't want to risk getting an RFE for something so silly- has anyone run across this problem as well? Do I need to have them translated?

Thanks!

[VirginiaMaria 3]

Hi there! I really don't think you'll get and RFE for them being in Spanish if they are clearly the boarding passes. Just make sure it's not your only evidence. I sent in passport stamps, copies of our itineraries from different flights we've made together, I put together a photo collage, stuff like that Also, in reference to your address question. I am also living in Spain right now and on my applications I put my current address (here) BUT on the cover letter I explained I wanted my things forwarded to my parents house in Florida. I put their address in the upper right hand corner of the cover letter and they have sent everything there with no problems. If you have a family member that can help you out maybe that will interest you. Good luck!

[LucidSofia 59]

One more question:

We have boarding passes (the e-mail PDF printout of them) for our trip to Paris together, but they are with the airline Vueling and are all in Spanish. They are clearly boarding passes, but I don't want to risk getting an RFE for something so silly- has anyone run across this problem as well? Do I need to have them translated?

Thanks!

I sent in bus tickets from Avanzabus, and it was all in Spanish and I didn't translate it. I don't think that will be a problem.

[ams2121 0]

Can anyone tell me who they made their filing fee check out to?

The USCIS website says:

"If you live outside the United States or its territories, and are filing your application or petition where you live, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate for instructions on the method of payment."

Is it just "Department of Homeland Security"?

Thanks in advance.

Sasha

[cazzers 83]

You need to read the I-129f instructions: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-129finstr.pdf

it says there on page 4:

"Make the check or money order payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security"

Do not write "USDHS" or "DHS" !!!!

[ams2121 0]

You need to read the I-129f instructions: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-129finstr.pdf

it says there on page 4:

"Make the check or money order payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security"

Do not write "USDHS" or "DHS" !!!!

Thanks cazzers. What I am trying to find out is what the instructions are if filing from abroad. On the instructions it says what I have quoted above with regards to contacting the embassy. They were no help on this matter.

[cazzers 83]

Are you using a check or money order?

We filled from abroad, my fiance's mom sent us a check payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security and with the amount of 340$ and we had no problems with the fee.

Edited May 9, 2013 by cazzers

[ams2121 0]

Are you using a check or money order?

We filled from abroad, my fiance's mom sent us a check payable to DHS and with the amount of 340$ and we had no problems with the fee.

We are attempting to get a money order drawn in US currency. If it all is supposed to be made out to U.S. Department of Homeland Security, thats fine I just don't know what the instructions are as the embassy didn't tell me when I called.