Petition for I-130 from Belgium, can I begin to file at USCIS Frankfurt?

[FlemishYankee 0]

Hey everyone,

My wife and i are FINALLY starting the process of getting a greencard sorted so she can come live in the states. I am currently living over here in europe but plan on going back to the states in January. Should we file our i-130 petition in Frankfurt at the regional office or is it easier to send it to Chicago to start the process?

Also since i'm in europe i'm finding it difficult to figure out how to pay for the initial petition as i dont have immediate access to a check or money order from my US bank account. Anyone have any experience with that? Can i have my bank send me one?

[teeak 224]

If you do DCF (direct consular filing) in Frankfurt, then the process should only take a few months. To do this though you have to be a legal resident of Germany: http://germany.usembassy.gov/visa/uscis/i130/

If you send the petition to the Chicago lockbox and go through NVC then the process will take up to a year.

With DCF, your wife may be able to go back to the states with in January.

You could have your bank send you some personal checks abroad and then use this to pay the fee.

[pushbrk 13,869]

If you do DCF (direct consular filing) in Frankfurt, then the process should only take a few months. To do this though you have to be a legal resident of Germany: http://germany.usembassy.gov/visa/uscis/i130/

If you send the petition to the Chicago lockbox and go through NVC then the process will take up to a year.

With DCF, your wife may be able to go back to the states with in January.

You could have your bank send you some personal checks abroad and then use this to pay the fee.

All correct, except it does not appear the US Citizen is a resident of Germany. Fortunately, if the US Citizen lives abroad and files through the Chicago lockbox, there's a good chance the petition approval may be expedited. Even so, they would be looking at at least a six month process from filing to interview.

[FlemishYankee 0]

All correct, except it does not appear the US Citizen is a resident of Germany. Fortunately, if the US Citizen lives abroad and files through the Chicago lockbox, there's a good chance the petition approval may be expedited. Even so, they would be looking at at least a six month process from filing to interview.

yeah im not a resident of Germany, im a resident of Belgium though. If i file as living abroad then do i need to stay overseas during the whole process? I was planning on flying back to the states to start working, re establish domicile and get everything going before she arrives. Not too worried about it taking a while, I was thinking it would take all summer anyways. Do i need to stay here though?

[teeak 224]

Nope, it's not necessary to remain overseas. You can start the processing from over there and return to the US to complete it.

[FlemishYankee 0]

well heres a question we are actually living in the UK currently (but not for much longer) do you think i would be able to file the i-130 petition in London before we leave and continue the process from the US and Belgium respectively?

[Boiler 48,038]

You have ILR in the UK?

[FlemishYankee 0]

You have ILR in the UK?

Well i dunno about ILR but yes im a EU (irish) citizen, living in Wales actually and have NIN and UTR number.. is it worth trying? I wont be in the UK that much longer though, maybe 2 months. It just seems that if i filed there it might be quicker.. i email the USCIS office in London but i'm not holding my breath they'll get back to me.

[Boiler 48,038]

Then file and let her interview in London.

[FlemishYankee 0]

Then file and let her interview in London.

well thats what im wondering.. She is Belgian and if i filed at the USCIS office in the UK would the whole process need to take place in London? i.e. paperwork get sent to the UK address. Does she need to be from the country im filing in? If i file at the Chicago lockbox presumably they will transfer her case to the embassy in Belgium for the interview. Sorry for the back and forth im just trying figure it all out and it seems like it might be quicker to use another USCIS office other than Chicago but maybe not?

[pushbrk 13,869]

She can interview/complete the process in her country of residence or country of citizenship. It is the US Citizen that must be a resident of the UK, to file in London. If you do, then that needs to also be country of residence for your spouse when you file and when the interview occurs.

[Boiler 48,038]

Where is she living?

[Shauneg 763]

You can request through nvc where to have tge interview...it is up to the new interviewing location to accept or deny that request based on caseload.

[pushbrk 13,869]

You can request through nvc where to have tge interview...it is up to the new interviewing location to accept or deny that request based on caseload.

Based on any criteria they may arbitrarily decide to use. Generally, they will accept the case if the intending immigrant lives in the Consular district. In most cases, that means, in the country. First hurdle is the filing. Does the petitioner meet London's resident requirements for filing DCF? Second, will the applicant meet their requirements, when the time comes for the interview. I would expect since it's EU, if they get past the first hurdle, the second is pretty likely a good bet too.

[Shauneg 763]

More accurate than what I said, yes...it's not caseload alone like I implied...they can decide whatever they want for whatever reason to let you have the interview there. To your question though, yes it's possible.