dubbers

I've read about it on this website -- sorry no actual cases to hand. The problem is that if you file ASAP, then suppose they complete all the processing within the 90 days, so you get send up for interview. But they can't interview you because your anniversary isn't up. So you get bumped by a month or two.

There are good reasons to delay for a week or two into the 90 day window -- filing earlier can actually make for a later interview and oath.

You might want to check the process time for your local office. Most of the offices are 5 to 6 months some might take longer such as Baltimore. and you will have your interview or oath in August. You could do that but you will ave to comeback here when you receive your interview letter. Now is your job with an American company, or government? If so they will work with you regarding your residency, but if it's not they might give you a hard time. I'm not positive about that but if you fall with a hard headed officer he might complaint about that. The filing fee for the N400 is 680 dollars. If you decide and want to do it do ASAP your days are counting against you now and every minute counts. Good luck.

Thanks -- I'm delaying by a week or so because I've read that filing too early can actually hurt. If your file is ready for interview before the anniversary, it can get bumped by a month or two (or so they say). Local office claims to be 5 months.

Thanks for the info! Unfortunately a re-entry permit won't work (even if not gone for good, at least for 4 or 5 years). The only thing that's holding me back is the fee (for n400+biometrics, it's about $800 I think, plus the cost of an extra month with the American medical 'system').

(Clarification: the 90 day window opened on the 18th)

Hi all,

I'm a foreigner married to an American, and my 3 year ir-1 anniversary was March 18. I'm taking a job overseas, and we are leaving probably in early August (job starts Sept 1, but our American health insurance ends July 31). I suppose we could use COBRA to extend our insurance here by a month.

I have two questions:

- is it worth it to attempt to file n-400 now? I would file it this week. It seems like the processing time is right on the edge of being within our timeframe. Obviously there are some advantages to becoming an American citizen (it would make visits easier, and make it easier should we decide to return down the line). We are in the Raleigh-Durham area, which does seem to have reasonably quick processing times.

- from what I can tell, there is absolutely nothing wrong with leaving the country right after one's oath. But at the interview, do they ask something like "what are your plans for the next few years?" Obviously I wouldn't lie, so would "taking a job in France next month" be cause to deny the n-400?

Thanks for your help!

So not sure whats the recourse since you have already used your visa with typo on it.

not sure i need recourse - thinking of writing to uscis to let them know, though.

put my place of birth as 'london, ireland' ... but no worries! entered usa at boston airport no problems.

I think the USCIS offices in all cases are technically separate from the embassy. For security reasons they are located within the embassy.

I think you may have missed the point of the thread. In embassies that don't have USCIS offices attached (ie, most of them), you used to be able to DCF the i-130 at the embassy, and the department of state would process it. that's what I'm doing in Dublin now. But as of later this year, you won't be able to do that.

I reread the press release, and it is hilarious:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that effective Aug. 15, 2011, petitioners residing in countries without USCIS offices will be able to file a Petition for an Alien Relative (Form I-130), with the USCIS Chicago Lockbox facility.

Makes it sound like we're being given a brand new opportunity! Except we've always been able to do that. They're taking away the other (vastly quicker and superior) option.

dubbers

I thought most US embassies has USCIS offices?

Maybe - I know London does, but Dublin doesn't, does it?

Is this the much-rumoured end of DCF, except in a few countries?

dubbers

Yes unfortunately time does change a lot of things. I hope it will still be available for us. Hmmm I wonder why some people have been mentioning two joint sponsors then?

I guess more research is needed on the assets front then, so many people contradict themselves saying house/cars are perfectly fine then others say it is a no go.

That is reassuring for the vaccinations, if that is the case I will pretty much have all the ones needed : )

Thanks for the reply and I hope your application is approved soon!

Read the i-864 instructions, they're pretty clear about what counts.

Different embassies may differ, but you are allowed two joint sponsors. Even the i-864 form has room for that.

You don't need them for the US; they run an FBI namecheck.

Thanks for the reply, I think we may apply around May time or even just before that next year now given the 6 months you have with the visa too.

I just saw some peoples timelines of recent DCF and they seemed around the 10 month mark, maybe I just saw the worst cases will look into it some more : )

It is really hard to find out some of this information, especially regarding the medical and vaccination requirements.

The best way you can speed up the process is to get your paperwork for the second stage in order early. In particular: vaccination history, police reports from places you've lived, i-864 (this is the big one).

You can get an IR-1 if you have been married for two years at the time you enter the US. So another option would be to get the visa before the 2 years are up, and then delay entry. (It's valid for 6 months).

DCF 10 months is a bit pessimistic, despite what they say on the website. It seems to be more like 4-6 months for most people in London. No guarantees!

It depends on the consulate and the people supplying the document.

For example, I'm filing in Dublin:

- you don't need to wait for the packet here before getting the medical done. But in London, because the clinic sends stuff direct to the embassy, you do need to wait (I think).

- the British and Irish police issued me a certificate no problem, but the Japanese police wanted it on paper that one was needed by the embassy. Luckily, they accepted a general printout of the requirements.

One thing you can definitely get ahead of the game on is tax information for the i-864. And have you got your vaccination records? You'll probably need them for the medical.

Before or after tax number?

Should use the before tax number as a basis.

Depends on consulate, some look at totality of situation when determining if intending immigrant is a risk of becoming a charge of the state.

Dublin is less strict about this than for example Guangzhou..

How about filling in profile details? It helps when answering questions.. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=members

Before tax number (the 'total income' on IRS form 1040 for those keeping score).

We have loads of assets, we definitely won't be a charge. But since those assets are very illiquid, getting a current valuation to put on the form would be tough.

dubbers

Hey all,

Just waiting for my i-130 to (hopefully) get approved, quick question about the i-864.

My wife has just done her tax return for last year. As you know, to be a sole i-864 sponsor based on income only, her income needs to be 125% of federal poverty guidelines for a househould of two.

Well we've just looked into it, and her income beats that requirement by about $22: a really close one.

So my question is... if we meet the requirement, is that a guaranteed pass? Or should we start getting together evidence of assets in case they decide that they want more?

Thanks!

dubbers

Hey all,

Thanks for the replies! Was a bit worried at first, but we're now steeling ourselves and just trying to get as much info as we can together.

For evidence of us being resident in Ireland, we don't have leases or job letters, but we do have records of doctor's visits, a letter from the people we're subletting from, and things like PPS (social security) number letters, and a joint bank statement. It's not conclusive proof, but I hope it's enough.

One thing -- we're really hoping to be in the USA by early June (I've been offered a job that starts on June 16), but time is now getting a bit short. Do you think if we asked them nicely to process our i-130 second attempt quickly, they might do it? As far as I can tell, actually processing it only takes the officer an hour or two, but it takes 3 weeks or so for them to get to it. If we plead, I wonder if they'll do ours quickly, since we've already sent it once?

dubbers

Hey all,

So I submitted an I-130 DCF in Dublin a few weeks ago. Today, an Irish lady (not American) called me from the embassy saying they are returning my paperwork because:

- we didn't submit proof of my wife's American citizenship. This is annoying, because although we don't have her passport at the moment, we did submit her US birth certificate, which is specifically listed by the website as being acceptable.

- we haven't shown that we have been 'permanently resident' in this consular district for 6 months. Now this I don't understand. First, we showed her Irish passport. Second, I didn't know that 'permanent' residence was a requirement ... just 'continuous' residence?

What sort of evidence could we show for this?

Arrgh

dubbers

They were asking the requirements....

And why would round trip be cheaper than one way? That doesn't make any sense.

Google is your friend.

But anyway...

Round trip used to be cheaper than one way, because tourists (price-sensitive) would typically buy roundtrips, and business travellers (not price-sensitive) used to buy oneway tickets.

This is much less true than it used to be.

Be careful: if you buy a return ticket and only use half of it, the airline can come after you for the fare difference (it's usually in the terms you agree to when you buy the ticket).

dubbers

Thanks -- that's good news, on the whole!

The main thing which is slowing me down is my Japanese police report: it's free, but you need to go in person to the consulate twice (one to apply, once to pick up), and it takes about 2 months...

Hi all!

Applying for DCF in Dublin (CR-1 spousal visa). I've spent a couple of years in the US recently (on a student visa).

Now, they told me not to get police certificates for the US -- I expect they do their own checks. But I was wondering -- might that slow the process down for me? Will they have to contact the FBI for information on me? If I was applying for an FBI check I could do it now, but the consulate won't start until later, will they?

Thanks!

dubbers

Yes, all they want is childhood shot records. Mine were handwritten in a little booklet by my GP in Switzerland and that was fine. If you are getting something emailed/ posted, I'd make sure it has your GP's name and telephone number, just in case there are any questions, but if you had the standard set of shots it'll be no problem.

Cheers!

Hi fellow Dublin DCFer!

I think June 10th is very possible, Dublin is fast and friendly, though they do tend to bit-pick on documentation at times.

Definitely get your short record from your GP/ NHS Trust. You may be able to book your medical- I waited, but when booking they never asked for a case number or anything. As it can take a couple of weeks to get an appointment, and another two to get results, and Dublin can be quick to allocate interview slots, it's not a bad idea at all (in the first paperwork they sent me, it said they give at least a month's notice of the interview, but I got less than a week!).

Have you got all the documentation ready (birth certs, marriage cert, any translations if necessary)? Have you got the I-864 financial documents ready, and 3 years tax returns for the US spouse?

Thanks for the helpful info, Penguin!

I'll write to my GP tomorrow. They just wanted info about vaccinations, right?

Birth certificates are a bit of a pain actually -- we had them, but when we got married the other week, they kept them at the registry office! Getting them back is a big priority, or ordering new ones.

Oddly enough, the tax returns are the easiest part (touch wood). since my wife has her taxes done by an accountant, who emails them to her to print and sign, she has the old copies sitting in her email (or so she tells me...)

dubbers