DCF London: when the first notification?

[danielenglish 3]

Hi guys,

I was wondering when the american embassy in London usually send the email where they acknowledge safe receipt of the documents.

10 days ago I sent the package (form I-130, G-325A and so on), applying for a F-2A visa (spouse of lawful permanent resident)

Of course, I also filled the form G-1145 out in order to be advised but up to now I've not received any email, yet.

Somewhere in the VJ-forum I had read that it normally takes no more than one week before receiving that email and I'm getting a bit anxious...although I'm aware of the length of the whole process.

May I know your experience on this? How long have you guys waited for their email, after having sent the papers?

Thanks a lot in advance for your answers..

[danielenglish 3]

Really none that has followed the DCF in London can give me an idea of this time frame?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Well, I never received one. Granted this was a while back, but I did need to chase them. All I knew was my card had been debited, so I figured something was happening. I emailed them and eventually received a reply that the I-130 was being reviewed.

[danielenglish 3]

Thank you for your answer!

Did you also send the form G-1145?

As far as I know it is the only way you receive their email (I believe even earlier than when they charge your card).

I did (sending the G-1145) and I'm still waiting for that email and my card has not been debited yet...

I filed with the DCF the 22th of march, that's why I'm wondering if this wait is normal.

Can I ask you how long did it take before your card was debited (just to have an idea of the timeframe) ?

Thanks a lot!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Thank you for your answer!

Did you also send the form G-1145?

As far as I know it is the only way you receive their email (I believe even earlier than when they charge your card).

I did (sending the G-1145) and I'm still waiting for that email and my card has not been debited yet...

I filed with the DCF the 22th of march, that's why I'm wondering if this wait is normal.

Can I ask you how long did it take before your card was debited (just to have an idea of the timeframe) ?

Thanks a lot!

I hope I can remember correctly -- it was a long time (7 years) ago! I don't think we used the G-1145 back then for DCF through London. At the time, there was a notation on the consulate website that "you will receive notification" (i.e. some sort of NOA1) after the I-130 had been accepted for processing. No indication if by post or email. And in fact I now recall that when I received the email from them, they said they had sent a postcard. But then this was all a long time ago, so I'm sure my situation was very different. I think it took about a week for the debit card to be charged. I wouldn't be overly worried at this point, but you're at the two week point which is a little odd.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

How can a LPR do DCF? To do DCF, the petitioner has to be residing in the foreign country for at least 6 months. And to be a LPR, one has to maintain residency in the US and generally cannot be out of the US for long periods. The technical limit is a year, but anytime over 6 months can be used to determine if you have abandoned residency in the US.

They seem like they contradict one another.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

How can a LPR do DCF? To do DCF, the petitioner has to be residing in the foreign country for at least 6 months. And to be a LPR, one has to maintain residency in the US and generally cannot be out of the US for long periods. The technical limit is a year, but anytime over 6 months can be used to determine if you have abandoned residency in the US.

They seem like they contradict one another.

Crikey, I missed that. Good catch.

OP, this could be your problem. Are you sure you and your spouse are eligible for DCF?

[danielenglish 3]

oh, yes, that was a point that I made immediately clear with the embassy, by querying them (although in their website it is said: "The USCIS Field Office London will only accept I-130 petitions from United States Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents who are resident in the United Kingdom.")

I was in London in order to complete the studies I had started before becoming permanent resident but, still, I wanted to be even more sure and then I asked.

The answer was, in fact, that I could file with them.

P.s. after having sent the papers, I moved to the US.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

oh, yes, that was a point that I made immediately clear with the embassy, by querying them (although in their website it is said: "The USCIS Field Office London will only accept I-130 petitions from United States Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents who are resident in the United Kingdom.")

I was in London in order to complete the studies I had started before becoming permanent resident but, still, I wanted to be even more sure and then I asked.

The answer was, in fact, that I could file with them.

P.s. after having sent the papers, I moved to the US.

Aha! Well, that all makes a lot more sense. I don't recall seeing an LPR do DCF before, so please excuse my ignorance. I suppose after your I-130 is processed you'll have to wait for your spouse's visa number to become current, so you'll be on a slightly different timeline than other DCFers. Good luck and keep us updated with your timeline, since your situation is a rare one.

[danielenglish 3]

The maven, it's ok

Only few people know that a LPR can file the form I-130 in London and, anyway, there is no advantage in preferring the Uscis in London given that - as you said - we still need to wait for my spouse's visa number to become current.

Thank you very much for your answer (you've been very kind).

If someone else can contribute with his/her experience..it'd be great since I don't know if two weeks - to be just notified about the receipt of the papers - are "normal" or not.

P.s. I also thought that it takes more (even in this very first stage) because I'm "only" LPR and I'll probably email them next week.

Edited April 6, 2014 by danielenglish

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

That's very interesting, thank you for the information. I don't think G-1145 works for DCF because that form is for USCIS notices, and you are bypassing them obviously. I don't have direct experience, but I seem to remember people asking about delays (and therefore experiencing the same) when sending to the embassy so I wouldn't panic just yet.

Good luck.

[danielenglish 3]

My pleasure

Well, regarding the form G-1145, it is mentioned in the "I-130 - Checklist for petition for alien spouse" that you must follow if file with the american embassy in London.

Of course, it is an optional form that you send only if you like to receive an email as soon as they check the correctness of the papers.

Besides, (sorry in advance I'm mistaken this) you say that the embassy is not the Uscis but..I'm not sure about that since they are "The USCIS Field Office London".

One last thing: as I wrote in the first message, I read that it normally takes 5 working days for your card to be charged and, even earlier than that, they send you the email saying that they receive the package.

That's why, after two weeks of silence I'm a bit anxious (especially because I'm no longer in London).