Green Card for wife

[Rand Hudson 0]

I am a permanent resident in Mexico with 20 years married to a Mexican wife. She has a B1 visa that has been renewed every 10 years. I would like to start the process to get her a green card in case we decide to retire to the US in a few years. So the question is, can I use this DCF process to obtain the green card and keep it until we decide to reside in the US?

[SalishSea 17,928]

24 minutes ago, Rand Hudson said:

I am a permanent resident in Mexico with 20 years married to a Mexican wife. She has a B1 visa that has been renewed every 10 years. I would like to start the process to get her a green card in case we decide to retire to the US in a few years. So the question is, can I use this DCF process to obtain the green card and keep it until we decide to reside in the US?

@Paul & Mary did DCF in Mexico, hopefully they will see this.

[payxibka 10,045]

24 minutes ago, Rand Hudson said:

I am a permanent resident in Mexico with 20 years married to a Mexican wife. She has a B1 visa that has been renewed every 10 years. I would like to start the process to get her a green card in case we decide to retire to the US in a few years. So the question is, can I use this DCF process to obtain the green card and keep it until we decide to reside in the US?

Only if you have extenuating circumstances that make you eligible for DCF otherwise, no.

[payxibka 10,045]

Just now, Jorgedig said:

@Paul & Mary did DCF in Mexico, hopefully they will see this.

That was before the uscis closed international field offices. 

[Crazy Cat 41,981]

53 minutes ago, Rand Hudson said:

I am a permanent resident in Mexico with 20 years married to a Mexican wife. She has a B1 visa that has been renewed every 10 years. I would like to start the process to get her a green card in case we decide to retire to the US in a few years. So the question is, can I use this DCF process to obtain the green card and keep it until we decide to reside in the US?

Once a spousal visa is issued, the new immigrant will have up to 6 months (depending on when the medical exam was done) to enter the US.  The new immigrant can then leave the US to tie up loose ends, but he/she cannot remain outside the US indefinitely. 

[SalishSea 17,928]

2 hours ago, payxibka said:

That was before the uscis closed international field offices. 

That's right.  I couldn't remember the timing, but I think they were one of the final DCF cases out of CDJ.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

DCF is one issue but no you can’t just get and hold onto a green card until you decide to use it. You need to reside in the US to keep the green card active. You should apply later once you know for sure have say an 18-24 month timeframe for moving.

[Just Paul 4,595]

We were about a year before the USCIS CDJ field office closed.   CDMX field office is still open but they do not process I-130 per se.  About 12 to 18 months prior to your readiness to return to the US and immigrate your wife check what the process is.   Currently you would not qualify for exceptional circumstances.