DCF from UK due to job and post-grad offer

[Inflatableboots 11]

Hi all. Sharing a bit of information about my experience to date in case it helps others. Very early in the process but encouraged by how smoothly things are moving along.

 

Me - UK citizen

Wife - US citizen with residency in UK

 

March 2023 - My (now) wife was offered a post-grad course and (paid) job in US, to start in August. She contacted the US embassy in London to request DCF, but as we were not yet married we were told to submit the request again once married.

 

July 2023 - We married on 24 Jul and applied for DCF again when we received our marriage certificate on 31 Jul. Within 24 hours she was given an appointment at the US embassy in London on 17 Aug to file the I-130 package. They provided a checklist via email that differed slightly from the one on in the USCIC website.

 

August 2023 - I (beneficiary) did not attend the interview with my wife on 17 Aug. She wasn’t asked about our relationship at all, only for the documents and payment. They returned original docs to her. While there she was told that the package was approved (we provided lots of supporting evidence that they were not interested in, particularly photos) but it would need to be sent to USCIS for final approval. She was told that we should get a follow-up email in 2-4 weeks, but probably sooner.

 

On 17 Aug I submitted my ACRO police certificate request (should have done this earlier). Even if I-130 is approved imminently I understand that currently I can’t complete the medical examination until I have the police certificate, expecting mid-Sep 2023 based on 30 day turnaround time.

 

My wife returned to the US on 19 Aug to start her new position. I am going to visit at end of September for her birthday (under ESTA/VWP) for 10 days, therefore I intend to push the visa interview until after I have returned.

 

TL:DR - Requested DCF on 31 July, interview scheduled for 17 Aug. Wife returned to US on 19 Aug.

Edited August 21, 2023 by Inflatableboots

[D-R-J 192]

Congratulations! Glad it is working out so well for you. We did DCF and it really is great. I feel for people who have to go through normal processing.

[Boiler 45,657]

The ones I have seen of late are around the four month mark, please let us know how yours goes, people always ask.

[primrose_bambi 3]

This is useful, thank you! If it's okay to ask, what evidence did your wife provide for your I-485?

[Boiler 45,657]

3 minutes ago, primrose_bambi said:

This is useful, thank you! If it's okay to ask, what evidence did your wife provide for your I-485?

This is DCF.

[primrose_bambi 3]

10 hours ago, Boiler said:

This is DCF.

 

Oops. I meant i-864. 

[Inflatableboots 11]

47 minutes ago, primrose_bambi said:

 

Oops. I meant i-864. 

Currently intending to use her parents as joint sponsor (as she's employed part time employed her salary would be too low), although I am selling my property in the UK so hoping that we may be able to use this to support too.

Edited August 22, 2023 by Inflatableboots

[Inflatableboots 11]

A couple of updates (this is just my diary now!):

 

22 Aug: I collected my immunisation record from my GP.

 

24 Aug: I received a letter from the US Embassy confirming my immigrant visa petition approval and LND number, and inviting me to complete the steps on the website. Have started to complete the DS-260 form online and will book the medical on receipt of the ACRO certificate.

[millefleur 5,047]

Great news! Thanks for updating us, it's always nice to hear DCF success stories. 

[Bluejay999 0]

Hi there. Just reading through your thread…it’s super helpful. Just curious of a couple things since I’m planning to file through embassy with dcf due to job relocation as well. Was it just the job offer letter your wife submitted as evidence? I have one, but wondering if they will need anything else/further proof from my employer? 
 

also wondering about the time gap between receiving the letter on 24 august and having your medical exam 9 Oct. Did they give you that date? Or you were able to choose? 
 

And were you able to travel no problem while all of this was in the works? Is there a point where you’re unable to travel during the process? 
 

thanks. 

[Inflatableboots 11]

On 10/21/2023 at 12:20 AM, Bluejay999 said:

Hi there. Just reading through your thread…it’s super helpful. Just curious of a couple things since I’m planning to file through embassy with dcf due to job relocation as well. Was it just the job offer letter your wife submitted as evidence? I have one, but wondering if they will need anything else/further proof from my employer? 
 

also wondering about the time gap between receiving the letter on 24 august and having your medical exam 9 Oct. Did they give you that date? Or you were able to choose? 
 

And were you able to travel no problem while all of this was in the works? Is there a point where you’re unable to travel during the process? 
 

thanks. 

Sure, no problem To request DCF, the embassy didn’t ask for anything other than the job offer letter (which had a start date listed), and it was accepted. They gave my wife an appointment to hand in the I-130.

 

I could have booked my medical immediately after the letter was received on 24 Aug, but was delayed while I waited for my police certificate to be received. Once I had that (mid Sep) I called for an appointment and took the earliest available date, but they had other times available too. You can ask them on the call.

 

I travelled to the US on an ESTA from 27 Sep to 6 Oct and it was fine.

[Bluejay999 0]

Thanks so much for the response. Helpful! Do you have any tips for what to explain in the box when you’re first submitting the request to do DCF? Should I go into much detail as possible as to who I need to take with me etc? Or do I just simply say it’s for me to relocate for a job. I’ve read other comments of people saying to keep it short. It’s my partner who will be the beneficiary and our daughter already has a US passport. 
 

Also, please keep us updated of the rest of your journey. I read your interview is soon. Almost finished! 

Edited October 23, 2023 by Bluejay999

[Inflatableboots 11]

22 hours ago, Bluejay999 said:

Thanks so much for the response. Helpful! Do you have any tips for what to explain in the box when you’re first submitting the request to do DCF? Should I go into much detail as possible as to who I need to take with me etc? Or do I just simply say it’s for me to relocate for a job. I’ve read other comments of people saying to keep it short. It’s my partner who will be the beneficiary and our daughter already has a US passport. 
 

Also, please keep us updated of the rest of your journey. I read your interview is soon. Almost finished! 

Go into as much detail as possible when requesting DCF. What they want to know in particular is the start date of the petitioner's new job/role. If you give them a deadline by when they need to be back in the US, and the nature of the position, then they will get back to you very quickly whether DCF is approved.

[Inflatableboots 11]

Latest updates, almost done.

 

Mid-Sep: Received police certificate and booked medical for 09 Oct

 

26 Sep-06 Oct: Took trip to US under ESTA, no issues or questions at border

 

09 Oct: Medical completed. No issues, but needed a few additional vaccinations. I could have had these done elsewhere for less money but had them given there to save time

 

10 Oct: Interview booked for 24 October

 

24 Oct: Visa approved at the interview. Quick - was in the building for just over an hour - and with few, basic questions, despite having joint sponsors per the I-864. Told to wait 1-2 weeks for the passport with visa to be returned to me

Edited October 24, 2023 by Inflatableboots

[BonnieBonkie 0]

Hi there! This was... incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for sharing your story! I hope everything has gone well since you last wrote. 

 

For a bit of background, I'm a USC residing in London (grad visa), and would like my Swedish husband (in the UK with ILR) to join me in the US following my new job offer for a Feb start. I have a few questions, if you wouldn't mind answering: 

 

1. I believe this was already asked/answered, but regarding your wife's job offer - did they have any follow up questions for her/her new company? I'd like to alert my new employer if they should expect to be contacted, etc. 

2. Did you guys have any issues with using your wife's parents as co-sponsors? 

3. Question about travel during this process... two parts: A. Once applying, were you able to travel freely? My partner & I are visiting Sweden soon, so I'd like to know whether that'll cause any problems and B. Assuming your wife was able to travel during this process? Namely curious about her experience if her UK visa expired during the application process/once she returned to the US (my visa runs out in Feb... assuming the DCF process won't be that quick). 

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!