Hi from Germany

[Walter G. 0]

I just joined yesterday, and actually officially started my "visa journey" yesterday, too. My wife (a German citizen) and I are planning on moving our family to the U.S. as soon as possible. We just mailed out the I-130 yesterday to the USCIS at the Consulate General in Frankfurt.

Has anyone else filed the I-130 at Frankfurt recently? Reading some of the timelines here, I'm starting to wonder if we didn't make a mistake in not making a DCF. Anyone have a guess as to how much longer mailing it to Frankfurt will take?

Anyway, cheers everybody!

Walter

[Mary G. 0]

Hi Walter,

I was looking for your other posts and stumbled across this one after having already responded to your first. You did not make a mistake. It might take a little longer because you mailed the I-130 to Frankfurt, but that is called DCF as well--regardless of whether or not you file it in person. Usually you will have a decision on the I-130 within 60-90 days. For us, it took 78. We just made sure we had everything else ready to go, so as soon as we got approval, we had everything ready to mail back the Checklist (the OF-169). Also, my husband made sure he'd already had his medical exam (in Dortmund, near Essen where we live). Do you have a copy of the checklist so you know what else you'll need to submit? Do you have a list of civil surgeons in Germany so you know where your wife can have her medical exam? You can do it in Frankfurt as well, the day of her interview, but we wanted to get it done ahead of time.

Let me know if you have questions.

Best wishes,

Mary

I just joined yesterday, and actually officially started my "visa journey" yesterday, too. My wife (a German citizen) and I are planning on moving our family to the U.S. as soon as possible. We just mailed out the I-130 yesterday to the USCIS at the Consulate General in Frankfurt.

Has anyone else filed the I-130 at Frankfurt recently? Reading some of the timelines here, I'm starting to wonder if we didn't make a mistake in not making a DCF. Anyone have a guess as to how much longer mailing it to Frankfurt will take?

Anyway, cheers everybody!

Walter

[Walter G. 0]

Hi Mary, and thanks for the replies! I'll change my profile to DCF--I hadn't thought about it that way, but of course I'm doing a DCF.

I'm definitely going to get the other apps filled out before hand. I doubt we'll go to Frankfurt for Claudia's medical exam, since it's nearly a three-hour drive and we have two small kids. We'll just do it before the interview and assume everything's fine.

I'm amazed (and thankful) at how fast your application went following I-130 approval. I'm really hoping we can get final approval before July, but I'm afraid that might be wishful thinking.

Walter

Hi Walter,

I was looking for your other posts and stumbled across this one after having already responded to your first. You did not make a mistake. It might take a little longer because you mailed the I-130 to Frankfurt, but that is called DCF as well--regardless of whether or not you file it in person. Usually you will have a decision on the I-130 within 60-90 days. For us, it took 78. We just made sure we had everything else ready to go, so as soon as we got approval, we had everything ready to mail back the Checklist (the OF-169). Also, my husband made sure he'd already had his medical exam (in Dortmund, near Essen where we live). Do you have a copy of the checklist so you know what else you'll need to submit? Do you have a list of civil surgeons in Germany so you know where your wife can have her medical exam? You can do it in Frankfurt as well, the day of her interview, but we wanted to get it done ahead of time.

Let me know if you have questions.

Best wishes,

Mary

[Stefanie 1]

Hey Walter!!!

Welcome to this board!!! Good luck with your "visajourney"!!!

I am from Germany as well. We are actually living in Germany again due to my husbands military orders. We have been done with our "visa journey" for quite some time now... in June though I will have to file for my lifting of conditions because I only have a temporary two-year greencard. People that file the K-1 visa usually go this route. I don't know a whole lot about the DCF process but there are plenty of other people here that will help you! Good luck

Stefanie

[Mary G. 0]

Walter,

The closest civil surgeon to you is, I believe, in Muenchen. In case you don't have his name and info, it's:

Dr. Karl-Friedrich Holtz

Hess Strasse 72

80798 Muenchen

Tel:089-52314102

I think it might be possible to finish before July. It just depends on you submitting everything on time and not getting asked for more information. If we hadn't been asked for evidence of our marriage being bonafide, we would have finished in less than four months from when we submitted everything.

Good luck, and let me know if I can help you at all!

Mary

Hi Mary, and thanks for the replies! I'll change my profile to DCF--I hadn't thought about it that way, but of course I'm doing a DCF.

I'm definitely going to get the other apps filled out before hand. I doubt we'll go to Frankfurt for Claudia's medical exam, since it's nearly a three-hour drive and we have two small kids. We'll just do it before the interview and assume everything's fine.

I'm amazed (and thankful) at how fast your application went following I-130 approval. I'm really hoping we can get final approval before July, but I'm afraid that might be wishful thinking.

Walter

Hi Walter,

I was looking for your other posts and stumbled across this one after having already responded to your first. You did not make a mistake. It might take a little longer because you mailed the I-130 to Frankfurt, but that is called DCF as well--regardless of whether or not you file it in person. Usually you will have a decision on the I-130 within 60-90 days. For us, it took 78. We just made sure we had everything else ready to go, so as soon as we got approval, we had everything ready to mail back the Checklist (the OF-169). Also, my husband made sure he'd already had his medical exam (in Dortmund, near Essen where we live). Do you have a copy of the checklist so you know what else you'll need to submit? Do you have a list of civil surgeons in Germany so you know where your wife can have her medical exam? You can do it in Frankfurt as well, the day of her interview, but we wanted to get it done ahead of time.

Let me know if you have questions.

Best wishes,

Mary

[~Chad~ 0]

It's nice to meet you Walter, welcome to VJ! This site is great! I don't know what I would have done without it... Chad

[flutter95 4]

Hi and welcome!

I am not from Germany or have done a DCF but I do understand the waiting and all that stuff so welcome aboard! I hope you enjoy this place and find it useful and supportive!

Good luck with everything!

[Niels Bohr 72]

WELCOME TO VJ!!!

[SoL. 0]

Welcome to VJ!

[MaydayDas 1]

Hi Walter,

I started my DCF in Jan at the Consulate in Frankfurt, I am still waiting for my petition to be approved, like Mary G said it takes 60-90 days to be approved. Any questions don't hesitate to ask, all of us we here to help each other.

All the best....

[Savanphil 3]

Welcome to VJ. Good luck on your journey.

[LuzyC 0]

Hello,

ABOARD!!

This site is great!A lot of nice and helpful people here!! Goodluck!!

[Michaela_Hassan 1]

Welcome to VJ Walter! I'm originally from Germany too, but now USC with a Moroccan husband. Alot has changed since I went through Frankfurt so I won't be much help..but I wanted to wish you Good Luck...and a speedy Journey!

Michaela

[Muuuuah 0]

Hi and welcome to VJ

[Otto 83]

Hallo Walter...Welcome