DCF Options for Sweet Sweden

[jlachine 0]

Has anyone applied for expediated services from Sweden recently? How has it worked? 1) Are you able to visit the US embassy in Stockholm to complete the process, or must you travel to the nearest international immigration office, i.e. London?

 

I was told I need the following: 
 

o             Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130)

o             G-325A for both petitioner and beneficiary (please attach one passport photo to each form)

o             Marriage certificate (and divorce decrees if applicable)

o             Copy of U.S. passport’s bio page and copy of beneficiary’s alien passport’s bio page

o             An original letter (signed by the petitioner) outlining the 'exceptional circumstances' that warrant processing of the I-130 at the overseas consulate.

o             Documentary evidence to support the claims of the petitioner (i.e., medical statements, police reports, military orders, job contract and etc).  (Note:  A letter submitted by the petitioner without any documentary evidence to support the claim of 'exceptional circumstances' will result in denial of the petitioner's request)

 

2) Does it sound right to send this all through the mail to the US embassy in Stockholm?

 

Some background:

My fiancé and I have both lived in Sweden for the past 6 years (I am now a dual citizen). I have just received a job offer back in the US starting in a month, and we are now weighing our options between a CR-1 and K1 visa. We are favoring CR-1 because it seems like it would be healthier option for us both if she would have recourse to work during her time in the USA, rather than if she was just sitting around all day waiting for her change of status with the K1.

 

We are not yet married, but would consider marrying before I move if the CR-1 is the faster route.

It all seems to depend on the probability of the DCF request being accepted: I know I must provide "a letter (signed by the petitioner) outlining the 'exceptional circumstances' that warrant processing of the I-130 at the overseas consulate."

 

3) How objective are the reviewers when determining 'exceptional circumstances?' For example, I can demonstrate "severe financial loss to myself", or "nonprofit organization whose request is in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States", but how stringent are they? Is it a matter of catching a reviewer on a good day?
 

4) Is short notice job relocation an applicable reason?
 

5) Are there any disadvantages to sending all these materials to the embassy in Stockholm? Do people ordinarily send them to the Chicago office?

 

Thanks for any help,

 

Edited September 3, 2019 by jlachine
Wrong meme

[SalishSea 17,928]

There is no DCF in Stockholm.  You will need to send the petition to the US lockbox on the forms.

 

And I don't think a job offer is considered an "exceptional circumstance."

Edited September 3, 2019 by Jorgedig

[geowrian 22,337]

DCF is only available for an I-130, so unless you are willing to actually get married first, that idea goes away.

 

Exceptional circumstances is a discretionary decision on a case by case basis. No way to know if they will accept it or not until you are ready to file. I’ve seen success and failure trying DCF based on a short notice of relocation due to a job.

Edited September 3, 2019 by geowrian
Changed it to unless (whoops)

[jlachine 0]

@Jorgedig

 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/662470-dcf-with-exceptional-circumstances/

 

On this thread, the applicant listed short term job relocation as an exceptional reason and conducted much of the process in Sweden/Copenhagen. 

Edited September 3, 2019 by jlachine
To clarify who I was replying to, because we posted a reply at the same time

[SalishSea 17,928]

4 minutes ago, jlachine said:

@Jorgedig

 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/662470-dcf-with-exceptional-circumstances/

 

On this thread, the applicant listed short term job relocation as an exceptional reason and conducted much of the process in Sweden/Copenhagen. 

There are no USCIS offices in Stockholm or Copenhagen.

 

All you can do is try, like geo said above.

[B&ANZ 134]

We are in the same situation as you and deciding whether or not to get married. I (US Citizen) have been actively applying to US jobs as I cannot get New Zealand residency due to a medical issue. From what I have been reading, the job offer route is a hit or miss despite that being deemed as an exceptional circumstance. I am hoping it will work out for us and good luck to you as well! As soon as I get a job offer, we are definitely doing the DCF route because you never know it will work until you try. Upon emailing the consulate here, they said they need to ask the USCIS Office in Bangkok if we can proceed with filing DCF. I am waiting for a job offer/get married before we ask for permission. 

[geowrian 22,337]

Keep in mind that a new job offer vs a transfer for an existing job would be a factor in the decision. But nobody knows how it will go until you try.

[fdhs 9]

We went through this process a little more than a year ago. Answering the OP's questions:

 

1) No travel to London is needed. The embassy in Stockholm just has to get permission from London USCIS to let them process the I-130.

 

2) Yes, that is what we sent.

 

3) No idea how they make this call. My letter outlining the exceptional circumstances read

Quote

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to ask for permission to file a petition for an immigrant visa I-130 for my
wife at the US embassy in Stockholm.

On May 1st 2018 I received verification of a job offer from ****, with start
date July 1st 2018 (see attachment A).
Due to the short relocation time (less than two months), I believe that this falls under
category “Short notice of position relocation” of exceptional circumstances permitting
the I-130 to be filed at the embassy as listed on www.uscis.gov/i-130.

Sincerly,

 

4) Yes, it is listed as such in the memo for exceptional circumstances DCF.

 

5) I guess the only disadvantage is that if you get married and they don't let you do DCF, then you have to send the I-130 to Chicago and get a CR-1 visa. If I'm not mistaken, this takes longer than the K-1 visa which you could apply for now.

 

Two things to keep in mind:

1) If you get married, you will need the personbevis from skatteverket as the marriage certificate. It can take a few weeks for your marriage to get entered into the system.

 

2) They don't let you use your future income when meeting the affidavit of support requirements.

 

On 9/3/2019 at 5:14 PM, Jorgedig said:

There is no DCF in Stockholm.  You will need to send the petition to the US lockbox on the forms.

 

And I don't think a job offer is considered an "exceptional circumstance."

A job offer is literally listed as one of the exceptional circumstances on the I-130 page:

Quote

Short notice of position relocation: A U.S. Citizen petitioner, living and working abroad, who receives a job relocation within the same company or subsidiary to the United States, or an offer of a new job in the United States with very little notice.

 

[Just Paul 4,595]

On 9/3/2019 at 3:50 PM, jlachine said:

o             G-325A for both petitioner and beneficiary (please attach one passport photo to each form)

G-325A is no linger used.

 

Include the I-130A in the packet

 

You need to include proof that beneficiary is a legal resident of the consulate's jurisdiction.

[Boiler 45,664]

Well you are moving in a month and you need to be married to file, how long will that take?

[jlachine 0]

On ‎9‎/‎6‎/‎2019 at 4:23 AM, Paul & Mary said:

G-325A is no linger used.

 

Include the I-130A in the packet

 

You need to include proof that beneficiary is a legal resident of the consulate's jurisdiction.

Embassy asked in the email for G-325A. Should I just include both?

[Just Paul 4,595]

8 hours ago, jlachine said:

Embassy asked in the email for G-325A. Should I just include both?

Then give it to them.   Everything that was on that form has been incorporated into other forms.