US Immigration from Mongolia

Hi everyone,

I m a U.S. citizen relocating back to the U.S. after living abroad for 17 years. I m shipping my household goods, personal effects, and tools of trade to the U.S. and seeking duty-free entry under HTSUSA codes 9804.00.05, 9804.00.15, and 9804.00.20.

I ve completed CBP Form 3299, and I m working with FedEx to clear my shipment through U.S. Customs. However, I m getting conflicting information from a FedEx representative, and I m hoping someone here can clarify.

Issues I m Facing:

1. Residency Status Emigration vs. Returning Resident

- The CBP website states that U.S. citizens who have been abroad for 3+ years qualify as non-residents (CBP guidance: https://www.help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1329?language=en\_US).

- Since I have lived abroad for 17 years, I selected Emigration on the form.

- FedEx is saying I should select Returning Resident because I have an SSN, but my understanding is that customs residency is based on time spent abroad, not SSN ownership.

2. Marking Multiple Boxes in Section 10 (Statements of Eligibility for Free Entry of Articles)

- The CBP Form 3299 instructions clearly state: X all that apply.

- The CBP website (source: https://www.help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1329?language=en\_US) also confirms:

Statement of Eligibility for Free Entry of Articles: Mark statements that apply to the articles being imported note that more than one statement may be marked.

- Since I am importing household goods (HTSUSA 9804.00.05) and tools of trade (HTSUSA 9804.00.15), I believe that I should mark both categories on the form.

- FedEx is saying that only one box can be checked and that checking multiple boxes will cause a rejection.

My Questions:

- Has anyone successfully checked multiple boxes in Section 10 of CBP Form 3299 when shipping with FedEx?

- Has anyone had issues with CBP rejecting shipments based on selecting Emigration instead of Returning Resident ?

- Does FedEx have an internal policy that differs from CBP s official guidance?

- If FedEx continues to insist on their interpretation, what is my best option?

I d really appreciate any insights from anyone who has dealt with this process before. Thanks in advance!

cbp_form_3299_0-2.pdf

Hi everyone, I wanted to share an update on our DCF process, especially for those who might be in a similar situation. After the I-130 was approved, we ve completed the DS-260 form, but are currently stuck at the stage before we can schedule our consular interview. We ran into this issue right as the system transitioned to a new scheduling platform.

As of October 26th, 2024, the new system for scheduling appointments is:

https://www.usvisascheduling.com

You can also find a notice of this change here:

Germany - Notice of System Change (PDF)

The problem we re facing is that when we try to create an application in this new system, we are asked for a NVC/KCC Case Number. However, the case number given to us by the consulate (which starts with FRN2024 ) is not being recognized. The error message we receive is:

The Case Number entered is invalid. Please confirm your Case Number and re-enter it.

We ve reached out to support via the application portal and provided screenshots of the issue. Unfortunately, after a week, we still haven t received any concrete solutions.

I ll keep you posted if we get a resolution, but if anyone else has faced this and found a workaround, I d love to hear your advice. Hopefully, this helps anyone else going through the same transition!

Hi everyone. I am getting ready to file the I-130 at the consulate and I just want to make sure that my petition package, and specially the bone fide proof, is comprehensive. We had our online Utah wedding last week.

I'm sharing with you the cover letter I'm preparing, which lists all elements of the petition. Does it look good to you? Is anything missing or excessive?

Thanks so much for your help!

Just a note: I m not including proof of joint accounts or shared property since we don t have any yet.

Hello community. My wife and I got married yesterday (Utah online wedding). I am now preparing an email to send to the US Consulate in Frankfurt to hopefully start the DCF process (due to a job offer I got in the US, we need to relocate there within months).

I thought I'd share here what I intend to send them before doing so. Please let me know your opinions. Do you find this suitable?

Subject: U88 - I-130 EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES - [MY FULL NAME]

Petitioner Last Name: MY LAST NAME

Petitioner First Names: MY FIRST NAME

Beneficiary Last Name: HER LAST NAME

Beneficiary First Names: HER FIRST NAME

Nationality of Beneficiary: Mongolia

Relationship between petitioner and beneficiary: Spouse

Please describe the circumstances of your case:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I hope this email finds you well. I am seeking your guidance regarding the filing of an I-130 petition under exceptional circumstances.

I have recently accepted a position as an Associate Professor at the University of XXX, with a start date of February 3rd, 2025. This opportunity arose unexpectedly, and due to the significance of the role, I wish to relocate to the United States with my wife.

Given the relatively short timeframe, I am concerned that the standard USCIS processing times for the I-130 petition may result in us being separated for a considerable period. This separation would present significant personal and professional challenges for both of us, particularly as my wife is also planning to apply for a PhD program at the University of XXX.

I have attached a copy of my job offer letter and am prepared to provide any additional documentation or information you may require.

Could you please advise if our situation qualifies for filing the I-130 petition directly at the consulate under exceptional circumstances?

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to your guidance and am available for any follow-up discussion.

Sincerely,
Dr. MY FIRST NAME Miguel Dovale

Hello everyone, this is my first post, and I could really use some advice.

I m a U.S. citizen who s been living and working in Germany for the past six years. My fianc is a Mongolian citizen who has been studying in Germany for the last five years. We ve been together for 2.5 years and have been living together for the past two.

I ve recently been offered a job in Arizona and need to relocate in January 2025. Here s my plan:

Get married as soon as possible.

Apply for direct consular processing through the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt (under exceptional circumstances for filing the I-130 petition).

My question is whether Utah s online marriage is a valid option in our situation. Getting married in Germany isn t an option for us, as it would almost certainly mean being separated for several months.

I ve looked through the forums and found mixed feedback. If anyone has personal experience or concrete advice, I would greatly appreciate your help.