I-130 Filing from Ukraine

[Kharkov_Natalie 0]

I have been trying to find the answer to my question without much success... maybe someone here knows...

I have read that if you live abroad, you may file the I-130 with the USCIS office that has jurisdication over your place of residence. Does anyone know which office has jurisdiction over Ukraine (Kharkov)? Is it Moscow?

Just trying to figure it all out...

[payxibka 10,044]

I have been trying to find the answer to my question without much success... maybe someone here knows...

I have read that if you live abroad, you may file the I-130 with the USCIS office that has jurisdication over your place of residence. Does anyone know which office has jurisdiction over Ukraine (Kharkov)? Is it Moscow?

Just trying to figure it all out...

The latest information is that it will be filed at one of the USCIS service centers here in the states. Someone has posted a link to the new criteria here on VJ. I can't find it at the moment.

[Kharkov_Natalie 0]

I found the answer. If you live in Ukraine as a resident, then you may file in Moscow as that office has jurisdiction. The only problem is that you have to file in person which means I woudl have to get a Russian visa, so I may just try filing it from the States.

[meauxna 15]

I found the answer. If you live in Ukraine as a resident, then you may file in Moscow as that office has jurisdiction. The only problem is that you have to file in person which means I woudl have to get a Russian visa, so I may just try filing it from the States.

Please note that ALL overseas filings are suspended now: there is no filing in Moscow or elsewhere.

Please read this thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...c=52046&hl=

[slim 1,514]

Send it to the appropriate Service Center using your home of record (whether that's your previous address in the States, your mom and dad's house, sister/brother's house, whatever. Wherever you plan on living when you come back to the States, or wherever you left from, that's your home of record.) as your address. They'll never know the difference, and if you're "technically" still living there, you're going to have to use that address anyway for where your fiance will reside after arrival in the States.

Edited: Just noticed you're doing the I-130, so substitute husband for fiance. Also, what about a DCF? Is that possible?

Edited January 31, 2007 by slim

[Kharkov_Natalie 0]

Okay, this is confusing... because i went to the "Special Instructions" on the USCIS website and there are no Special Instructions written.. it is blank... but when you open the new I-130 Form it says that if you live abroad you should file with the overseas office that has jurisdiction....

I am copying from the I-130...

Petitioners residing abroad: If you live in Canada, file your petition at the Vermont Service Center. Exception: If youare a U.S. citizen residing in Canada, and you are petitioningfor your spouse, child, or parent, you may file the petition atthe nearest American Embassy or Consulate, except for thosein Quebec City. If you reside elsewhere outside the UnitedStates. file your relative petition at the USCIS office overseas or the U.S. Embassy or Consulate having jurisdiction over the area where you live. For further information, contact the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.

Are the rules changing or am I reading this wrong????

[payxibka 10,044]

Okay, this is confusing... because i went to the "Special Instructions" on the USCIS website and there are no Special Instructions written.. it is blank... but when you open the new I-130 Form it says that if you live abroad you should file with the overseas office that has jurisdiction....

I am copying from the I-130...

Petitioners residing abroad: If you live in Canada, file your petition at the Vermont Service Center. Exception: If youare a U.S. citizen residing in Canada, and you are petitioningfor your spouse, child, or parent, you may file the petition atthe nearest American Embassy or Consulate, except for thosein Quebec City. If you reside elsewhere outside the UnitedStates. file your relative petition at the USCIS office overseas or the U.S. Embassy or Consulate having jurisdiction over the area where you live. For further information, contact the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.

Are the rules changing or am I reading this wrong????

This is a very fluid situation and to answer your question, YES it appears the rules/processes are changing each day particularly now since they effectively "pulled the plug" on DCF. It will take a week or weeks for them to decide on final procedures.

[john_and_marlene 162]

Are the rules changing or am I reading this wrong????

Rules regarding Direct Consular Filing changed very abruptly and very recently. I imagine there are several websites that have yet to catch up to the recent changes.

[meauxna 15]

Are the rules changing or am I reading this wrong????

The rules are changing. Please see this thread, particularly the post I added today: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=52046

[1HappyGuy 45]

I just looked up the new I-130 dated 01/05/07 and the instructions say to file the application at the closest U.S. embassy or consulate where you live. To me that says prepare everything and send it to Kiev (Kyiv). But, it does say to contact the embassy too. Try using their email system. It works pretty good but takes about a week for them to respond back. The response can be even longer if Ukrainian or American holidays are occurring at the same time.

[payxibka 10,044]

I just looked up the new I-130 dated 01/05/07 and the instructions say to file the application at the closest U.S. embassy or consulate where you live. To me that says prepare everything and send it to Kiev (Kyiv). But, it does say to contact the embassy too. Try using their email system. It works pretty good but takes about a week for them to respond back. The response can be even longer if Ukrainian or American holidays are occurring at the same time.

For today however that is wrong advice. The rules changed on 1/23/07 so the 01/05/07 form now includes old information.