Citizen from Spain and her US husband and daughters want to go back to the US!!

[Green Tree 0]

Hello,

We are a mix family; my husband is from the US, my daughters are from Spain/US and I am from Spain. We have been living in Spain for 15 years, and have been married for 16. We want to move to the USA as a family but it is getting very difficult. The process for me to get a visa and the residency permit seems very, very long. At the embassy they have just told us it will take a minimum of 8 months!! We need first to apply for the I-130 and then,... Can anybody in the same situation give me any advice? I need it and I will appreciate it very much.

All the best, Green Tree

[jan22 3,174]

You have gotten the correct information. Your husband needs to file an I-130 petition and, after that is approved, file for the visa. Your daughters and husband, of course, will enter the U.S. on their U.S. passports.

[prlaje 0]

Hi we are in the same situation, only in a different country--France. We have been given the same information. At one point, I think half of us will go ahead to the U.S. to find new housing, jobs, etc. BUT IT WILL BE SO TOUGH to leave one of us here, GOOD LUCK!!!

P.S. My advice is to get started on all the paperwork as soon as possible...I have been advised that if we're lucky, it COULD take six months, but count on eight to be sure.

[atenea26 5]

Hi everybody!

Is a little annoying but is not that difficult, and trust me, this is the best position you could be to bring your spouses to the US. My husband is a USC and I'm Venezuelan, both living in Germany. We filed in Frankfurt and all and all took us around 4 and a half months.

The trick is read all the instructions for the whole process at the very beginning and start gathering all the documents you'll need from now. The process takes way longer for many people because they don't have the papers at hand when the Consulate ask you for them and some can take months to get.

Good luck!

[Boiler 47,460]

You can visit in the meanwhile.

[lost_at_sea 995]

USA family visas take a lot longer than they should.

It doesn't look as though Spanish residents are able to do DCF anymore (so you're in the wrong bit of the forum). http://madrid.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant/immediaterelatives.html

You'll be filing via the Chicago Lockbox, so yes, it will take 6 - 12 months. You'll be following this guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

There's talk on the forums that those who file when both partners are abroad in a country that doesn't have DCF anymore, that their cases will be auto-expedited.

As a family abroad, you'll also have to do some work around showing that you either have a US domicile or intent to have one again. It's vital for the actual visa application and for the I-864 affidavit of support that will be completed either by the petitioner (US spouse - and if using one, a joint sponsor). See: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html#3

Also, on the topic of the I-864, you'll need to have a US income, a lot of assets, or find a joint sponsor.

There's a lot of information you're going to need to go over and read - please do ask questions. The link above to the I-130 guide is an excellent place to start, though.

Edited September 19, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[lucybelle 453]

If Spain can't do DCF, then 8 months is actually quite a short period of time. You're probably looking more around 12 months.

[lost_at_sea 995]

If Spain can't do DCF, then 8 months is actually quite a short period of time. You're probably looking more around 12 months.

Just occurred to me to check the USCIS list. Spain definitely doesn't do DCF.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1ac900c262197210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=1ac900c262197210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

[lucybelle 453]

Just occurred to me to check the USCIS list. Spain definitely doesn't do DCF.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1ac900c262197210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=1ac900c262197210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

Thanks for doing the busy work for me!

[LoveMyTico 999]

Well, let's hope the government doesn't shut down. It could be a longer wait for all of us !!

http://www.laborimmi...r-2013-edition/

I came across this on the March thread.

[K and P 0]

Hello,

We are a mix family; my husband is from the US, my daughters are from Spain/US and I am from Spain. We have been living in Spain for 15 years, and have been married for 16. We want to move to the USA as a family but it is getting very difficult. The process for me to get a visa and the residency permit seems very, very long. At the embassy they have just told us it will take a minimum of 8 months!! We need first to apply for the I-130 and then,... Can anybody in the same situation give me any advice? I need it and I will appreciate it very much.

All the best, Green Tree

Hello!

My husband is also from Spain and I am American. About 8 months ago I moved to the U.S. and sent in his 130 petition. Eight months later we are still waiting for the approval. From what I have seen, the approval is a lot faster when you file from abroad. It is probably fastest to apply from abroad, however when it is approved your husband must establish residency in the U.S.A. So if he doesn't have a house there, he should go ahead of the rest of the family to set something up, otherwise you can't continue with the rest of the process. The next step after the 130 is to send in an affidavit of support (he completes it for you) and he must show that he has enough money to support the whole family and a residence in the U.S.A. This is where you will get stuck. However it seems like the best thing to do is file from abroad now, and then have him go over and set something up before you come. Kristin

[lucybelle 453]

From what I have seen, the approval is a lot faster when you file from abroad.

I honestly don't think that's a trend anymore. I filed from abroad, 6 months later still waiting.

[Green Tree 0]

Thank you everybody for your suppeort and advice. Yes, they told us from the Madrid Embassy that the process will take 8 months, so I hope we can go before the start of the next school year, August 2014.