chaine1

Venezuela does allow co-sponsors.

If I understand correctly, I think they are planning to file in Spain.

OP - I strongly encourage you to consider the CR-1 visa. I just returned to the USA (with my immigrant husband) after 5 years abroad, and just the act of re-establishing and re-building life here has been a big job. If we had had to worry about filing for adjustment of status, EAD, etc (as with the K-1 visa), it would have only added to the stress and uncertainty.

With the CR-1 visa, my husband was able to hit the ground running as soon as he landed, which was a huge benefit during a time of enormous transition.

Only you two know what is best for you both, but I'd suggest you take a second look at the CR-1 visa.

Good Luck!

Hi Full Circle,

If you are worrying about timing and addresses, I strongly encourage you to read through this thread. As a US citizen residing abroad, it is likely your petition for a spouse would be expedited. I don't know about this possibility for a fiance visa.

Good Luck!

how to make sure the application is in fact expedited

If you want to do your best to ensure this happens, make sure to read through the link Harpa gave you in the post above your last one. Although, one thing I learned going through this process is nothing is ever guaranteed!

Good Luck!

Does anyone have any experience with filing from abroad with the husband and wife in two separate countries? I am in Canada and my Wife is in Jordan. I hope we get auto-expedited. Thanks to anyone who can shed light on this.

Shouldn't make any difference that you both reside in different countries. You will fill out your address where it is required, and she will fill our her address where it is required. I would assume you will request for her to be interviewed in Amman.

There have been mixed reports of expedited cases from Canada. Read through this topic to get a better idea.

Good Luck!

He called the military helpline last night and the lady he talked to, said I could come to the US on a one-way ticket, tell the IO at POE that I'd adjust status and file in the US. Is this good sound advice? I have a tourist visa, we haven't filed for I-130 yet. I know I can visit for 6 months max.

Again, unless there is some exception for military, this is a very bad idea. It is illegal to enter the US on a non-immigrant visa (tourist) with the intent to immigrant. Under normal circumstances, if you told an IO at POE that you were going to adjust status, you would be denied entry.

But again, I'm unfamiliar with military procedures. I suggest you post this question in the 'Military Immigration-Related Discussion' forum.

@ chaine1: Sorry but that information is not correct. Even though Malaysia does not have a USCIS office, we could still do DCF

I just wanted to comment on this for people who may read this later. The information I posted is not incorrect. Most embassies can accept petitions if certain extreme circumstances are met. As you found out, it's pretty difficult to met these extreme circumstances. The great majority of people will not be able to file at an embassy that does not have a USCIS Overseas Field Office.

Good Luck!

I'll double check those requirements again.

Didn't see the mistake in time to edit the post. What this should say is - 'If I were you, I would double check those requirements again.'

I won't be checking the requirements again! Good Luck!

I did, it said we could. Just want to know whether DCF will be faster compared to normal USCIS route.

Unless there is some exclusion for military, Malaysia does not offer DCF anymore. In order to file DCF, there must be a USCIS field office, which Malaysia does not have. See this link from the USCIS.

And the US embassy page for Malaysia also states that all petitions must be filed at the Chicago Lockbox. Click here for a PDF file from the embassy.

I'll double check those requirements again. Good Luck!

We are yet to receive a NOA1 and we even called the USCIS to ask about it and the customer service rep informed us that "their systems" don't allow them to enter a foreign address.

I never received my NOA1. It shouldn't be an issue.

The USCIS will send overseas mail. That's the line the customer service gives when inquiring about foreign addresses, but it's completely false. I did eventually receive my NOA2 in the mail (about two months after approval) in Kuwait. Many of the people in this thread received documents from the USCIS at their foreign address.

Would my wife be able to process in Bangkok even though she is not a Thai national?

Yes, provided she is a legal resident of Thailand.

Would it be better that I remain in Thailand until this process is finalized or should I move back to the state side as soon as possible?

My husband and I both resided in Kuwait until the visa was in his passport. Neither the NVC nor the embassy in Kuwait ever asked me to prove intent to re-establish domicile. At the USCIS stage, I provided our addresses in Kuwait, but once we hit the NVC, I had our address changed to my parents in the USA (because they asked me to). I think that is why the NVC did not ask for any proof of domicile (but that was an unintended side effect). However, I did show up for my husband's interview with letters from the university I will attend here in the USA and my USA driver's license. That was it. And it wasn't even asked for.

The whole point of telling you this is to encourage you to relax. You are going to have to make your own decisions, and I would encourage you to make decisions that are in the best interest of your family, and NOT what is best for immigration purposes. If it's best for you to stay in Thailand and you can prove intent with things like a driver's license, canceled Thai work visa, job search efforts, etc then stay in Thailand until everything is finalized.

One thing I learned throughout this process is that it is impossible to be 100% prepared for every little detail. Stop trying to be. Take care of the big stuff, and then everything else will fall into place. It may not fall into place in a way you like it, but it will work itself out. Welcome to the roller coaster ride!

Good Luck!

I hope it is A too. You never know with him and his flip flopping!

He certainly has a tendency to say whatever comes to mind, without thinking if it's appropriate or not. Ie- the statement about the 'power' of 'culture' to account for the economic differences between Israelis and Palestinians. One might think it, but, SAYING IT OUT LOUD to a large number of people is an entirely different matter.

He obviously didn't think through the ramifications of making such a ridiculous statement.

I'm not so sure. The statement about moving the embassy to Jerusalem is either (a) a pretty sophisticated way of showing loyalty to Israel or (b) a bumbling idiot thinking 'Hey Jerusalem's a pretty interesting city with lots of historical significance. Why, the capital should be here, and I'm so excited about that idea that I'm going to proclaim it to the world!'

I hope for the Republicans and Mitt's sake that it's choice A.

Still, yes, pandering to the Jewish vote.

Where is the monitors at? This is incorrect information and misleading information.

Huh? No, it's not incorrect. Read here.

I have brought in three dogs, and a cat into the USA from abroad (but not from the Philippines). The process is not that bad. The USA does NOT require an inport permit nor any kind of quarantine (unless Hawaii). You will probably have to get an export permit from the Philippines, which will likely involve a visit to the vet and current vaccinations.

In my experience, all that is necessary to bring the dog/cat into the USA is proof of currrent rabies vaccination. It is a little more of a process to get the animal out of the country of origin, but still not very stressful. (but if you are trying to bring the dog into Hawaii, this is a completely different ballgame, and you will need to research that thoroughly)

Start by going to a reliable vet's office and tell them you need to export the dog out of the country. They should be able to help you.

Good luck!

I could attribute his behavior to culture shock if it had started here in the US but he had been treating me this way since before we even got married.

Yikes. How did you respond to this before you where married?

Hi Amanda,

I'm so sorry to hear this! When I was going through this process, you were about a month ahead of me and I keep watching your timeline for what I should do next!

A few thoughts - pretty harsh to buy him a plane ticket to go home. In doing so, you have basically said - 'I have all the power here, and you have none.' I'm sure that's not what you meant to do, but from his perspective, that's probably how he's feeling.

And I'm sure you know this - but never a good idea to go deeper into a relationship thinking things will change.

These seem like major cultural differences, and I wish I had good advice for how to fix them. Only you and he can decide if things are worth/possible repairing. Take things one day at a time and don't do anything too quickly. A little bit of space and perspective is often enough to allow you both to see clearly.

Stay strong and good luck.

Hi there,

Someone might know better, but I think you are out of luck for any of the scenarios you listed regarding DCF filing. I petitioned my Kiwi husband, and we both reside abroad in a third country. What you do need to know is that, as a citizen abroad, your petition would most likely be auto-expedited. My I-130 was approved in 2 weeks. However, you will still go through the NVC at the usual rate. All told, it took us a little under 4 months from filing to visa in hand.

There is a thread about filing from abroad here. I suggest you read through it - make sure you use your Oz address on the I-130!

Good Luck!

May I ask how fast yours went though?

For me, from NOA1 to NOA2, it took 13 days. If you scroll through the thread I linked, you will find many more people.

You must have used your address in Russia. It seems that USCIS is fast-tracking petitions from US citizens who reside abroad. There are many of us (myself included) who have been lucky to go through USCIS so quickly: Read through this thread and add your info if you like.

You will go with the I-130 (K3 is dead, so do NOT send in the 129F after submitting the I-130).

As far as time: Most petitioners who live abroad have seen their I-130 applications expedited. For me, it took 2 weeks from NOA1 to NOA2, then about 2 months to get through the NVC. I'm expecting it will have taken us about 4 months from start to visa in hand.

You say you have approximately 10 months, which is more than enough time if you are expedited. However, if expedited, be careful that you don't receive your visa more than six months prior to arriving in USA. (CR-1/IR-1 visa is valid for only 6 months). You can move through the NVC as slowly as you like though, so use that to temper your speed.

For more info on petitioner's who reside abroad, read through this thread. Basically, if you want the expedite, make sure to list your address abroad on the I-130.

Good Luck!

The kid was a punk and got what he had coming. He was mad that he was followed, retaliated by following Zimmerman, and got shot for his actions.

In my opinion, that's quite a harsh statement to make.

I think it's a fair statement to say that most of us did some pretty stupid stuff as teenagers. Some of that pretty stupid stuff could have gotten us killed, if we met wrong person, car, etc.

To say that a 17 year-old deserved to die because he may have done something stupid is, well, I can't think of a word that describes that mentality.

To all those American citizens responding to this topic: when was the last time YOU took off for SIX MONTHS to 'goof off' in a foreign country???????

Ummm...I've done it. I was in between undergrad and graduate school, had worked for a year, and wanted to see the world. No one but my savings paid my way.

Statements like this just display ignorance. Regardless of the OP's motives, to say that no American would ever take six months off to travel is wrong and shows a short-sighted view of the world.

I now live abroad, where it is quite common to find Americans (and other nationalities) who have taken off even (shockingly) a year or two.

You would do better in your arguments if you did not make such blatant, false generalizations.

Why has this Zimmerman-Martin story turned into some kind of vitriolic 'conservatives are stupid, liberals are idiots' conversation? Maybe I've been out of the USA too long, but I don't get it. Doesn't everyone (news media included) have better things to do than politicize the death of a teenager? Right or wrong, the violent death a teenager is still a sad event, and at least deserves an investigation. The truth, as always, likely lies somewhere in the middle.

Americans that travel to South Africa and Nigeria

get kidnapped, rape, and beheaded and not necessarily

in that order in this area of the world.

That's a pretty big blanket statement. How about the thousands that travel there (myself included) who safely return, only happier to have seen some of the most beautiful scenery available on the Earth?

A quote from your own source (BBC article):

"In blunt terms, areas with problems have murder levels that can be wildly above the national average. "

While yes, the rate of crime is high, the rules one follows to maintain personal safety in Africa are the same rules one would follow in any part of the world.

Rule Number 1 = Stay out of high crime areas.

Hi all,

Just wanted to join in on the fun! My husband's interview is scheduled for June 13th at 1:00 pm.

He will have his medical this week.

Good Luck to everyone!