DCF and i485... how long do you have to move to the USA

[panda1983 1]

Hi,

Im new here so please be nice if this question has been asked a million times.

Question 1: I will qualify to do DCF for my husband in Mexico because I have lived in Mexico for the last four years.

Anyway, I see all of the instructions talk about filling out and sending in the 130, but not the i485.

Will we ever send in an i485?

http://www.uscis.gov/family/family-us-citizens/spouse/bringing-spouses-live-united-states-permanent-residents

Question 2: After you have completed the final interview and they say APPROVED, how long do you have to move to the USA? We will need to sell things, pack, etc..

Thank you

[HarryCallahan 0]

After you complete the interview and get approved, you will get an immigrant visa in your passport. That immigrant visa is good for six months from the date you get it. Within those six months, you had better enter the US, or else you'll have to start over.

If you need more time, you can enter the US within six months, and then go back to Mexico temporarily to take care of moving. Temporary trips of less than six months duration usually do not affect your green card, unless you string several consecutive long trips together. Trips between six months and one year can cause problems; when you return to the US, you'll have to prove at the border that you still intend to live in the US. Trips over one year are a major problem; you won't be allowed back into the US unless you apply for a returning resident visa, which is a huge pain.

Informally I have heard that you are expected to move to the US within one year (365 days) after your entry date. That means if you really string it out you can get up to 18 months after your approval (six months to enter the US, and then one year on top of that to fully move). However, try to avoid any single trip of six months or more. If you do need the full year on top, make sure to visit the US often enough that you're never out of the country for six months at one time.

[HarryCallahan 0]

To answer your other question, it's been a while since I did this (and I only did it once, obviously), but I don't recall ever sending in an I-485. The I-485 is for AOS, which is different from consular processing.

For consular processing, you just indicate on your I-130 that you wish to choose consular processing. The NVC will notify the US consulate in your country when your materials are ready. The US consulate will send you a letter with an interview date. The letter will contain instructions to bring along a whole ton of stuff, including medical examination results and police records from every country that you have lived in. See http://www.hooyou.com/consularprocess/faq.html

[panda1983 1]

Thank you

[NorrisSF 16]

Hi

here's the link to VJ's guide to DCF.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/dcf

I believe that because DCF is a variant of consular processing and it is directly done at the Embassy in DF (unless you're in a state that is served by a different consulate). "NVC" processing time within the whole DCF process is super short and interview is within a couple of weeks of your case being completed.

I've seen people going from Filing at embassy in DF to immigrant visa in less than 30 days... so... keep that in mind.

if you have time constraints and can afford it, what you could do is to take a quick trip to nearest Point of entry to the US, have your visa turned into a green card and just come back to Mexico, pack your stuff and finish your move. (that's what I would do anyway... I would like to feel comfortable being sure that I've dealt with the green card stuff and just make sure I go back to the states ASAP)

Greetings!

Edited May 14, 2014 by NorrisSF

[NorrisSF 16]

http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/mexico-mexico-city-field-office

link to USCIS local office in Mexico city

[panda1983 1]

Thanks, yes Im interested in getting it done and then crossing the border and crossing back to GDL long enough to get moved, sell stuff, etc..

What would you all do when applying for a job in the US? Do you state visa in processing or what? The job would be for electronic engineer, so not exactly something that a company might get a million applications for but... still I dont want to get passed up just because it would be a little while before we would be back in the US..

Thoughts?

[NorrisSF 16]

Thanks, yes Im interested in getting it done and then crossing the border and crossing back to GDL long enough to get moved, sell stuff, etc..

What would you all do when applying for a job in the US? Do you state visa in processing or what? The job would be for electronic engineer, so not exactly something that a company might get a million applications for but... still I dont want to get passed up just because it would be a little while before we would be back in the US..

Thoughts?

Yeah, just be very clear about it, let them know from the get go what is your current status and give them a timeframe on when you'd be able to start working with them. They'll let you know if they're willing to wait for you or not.

Good engineers are very sought after and they'll wait for you if they consider you a good fit for the company.