DCF still available?

[ozzac 10]

Dear all, 

 

I am an Italian citizen and my wife is a US citizen. Since our marriage (a year and a half ago) we have been living in Switzerland and we are now thinking about moving to the US in the future. 
 

As my wife has been living for more than 6 months abroad, we were looking into the possibility of a DCF, which seems to be the shortest route to get a  CR1/IR1 visa (about 3 months?).

 

We wrote to the embassy in Bern, however, and they mentioned that we need to apply via the USICS in order to get a CR1/IR1 visa and that it would take about one year to get it. 

 

Do you know if DCF is still available at all and how we can apply for that? 

Many thanks in advance! 

[Crazy Cat 39,218]

I just read a thread from here dated 2017.  It says that DCF is not available in Switzerland.....Normal spousal visa processing is about 12-14 months right now.  Keep in mind that the US citizen will have to establish intent for domicile in the US.

[SeabreezeUF 31]

@missileman is correct- you cannot file DCF in Switzerand.  It looks like they used to awhile ago but no longer. 

 

ETA: Link to international field offices to help anyone else who may find this thread: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices

Edited November 27, 2018 by SeabreezeUF
link for USCIS international offices

[Jorge V 195]

As mentioned, DCF is only available in these countries: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices . However, you may still qualify for DCF if you meet one of the exceptional circumstances outlined in this memo: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/2012/May/DOS-I130May1412.pdf .

 

Examples of circumstances that USCIS is likely to approve include, but are not limited to, 

• Military emergencies
• Medical emergencies
• Threats to personal safety
• Close to aging out
• Adoption of a child
• Short notice of position relocation

We've had several people use a short notice job offer to qualify for DCF while living in non DCF countries. Here are 2 examples I was able to quickly find: https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/689314-dcf-tokyo-japan/ and https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/662470-visa-interview-update-dcf-with-exceptional-circumstances-stockholm/

 

 

If you think you meet one of these exceptional circumstances then you need to contact the embassy in Switzerland again and tell them so. Your request should be forwarded to the USCIS field office in Frankfurt who will make the final decision.

 

Keep in mind that there is no guarantee of approval even if you meet the exceptional circumstance criteria. 

[ozzac 10]

Thank you so much guys for your help! It's very useful information, even though it's bad news for me as I will have to file via the US which will take much longer than DCF...😕