jolson

On 3/9/2018 at 9:24 PM, Jorge V said:

This is actually a quirk with the scheduling system. They don't open up all months at once. What they do is only open a single month block at a time, usually about 5 - 8 weeks before that month begins, but that is subject to change. This means that they may open May dates in the coming weeks, with June coming about a month later. The slots they open go fast, within a few days. My suggestion is to check the calendar every day, even multiple times per day if possible. Even after you get an appointment keep checking. 

Thank you Jorge, but I still wonder why September is currently the only block open when it is much more than 5 - 8 weeks out. That's what makes me think every else is taken. But I really hope what you are saying is true and I'll definitely keep checking the calendar for anything that might open, hopefully in May or June like you said. Thank you!

Finally received an email from the CDJ Consulate with my wife's case number and instructions for scheduling the appointments (the good news). The bad news: the only available interview dates are in September!?! I know there might be cancellations and I'll be checking the website regularly for that, but geeeez, I had hoped DCF would be faster but it in the end it appears that the whole process will be close to a year long anyway. I guess we just had very bad luck with our timing.  

On 3/3/2018 at 12:09 PM, Jorge V said:

So you have received NOA2 but not packet 3, right? If so, then 3 weeks isn't out of the ordinary The person you quoted had to wait over a month to receive it if I remember correctly. Another thing, did you use a lawyer to file? If so, the letter is probably going to be sent to them. I've read a few cases where the lawyer's office receives the letter but doesn't realize or notify the applicant for several weeks. It may be a good idea to call them if that's your case.

Correct, we have NOA2 but not packet 3. Didn't use a lawyer. I sent an email using the form that mexicoAmigo mentioned to hopefully get a status update. Hopefully we'll hear something this week or next. Thank you for your reply.

On 10/9/2017 at 5:12 PM, mexicoAmigo said:

Just reiterating what Jorge said on both accounts - there's no explicit permission you need to seek, just submitting the I130 is enough.

 

Definitely go with the email. Like Jorge my approval took about a month to come by regular mail but it was approved same day at the embassy and I received the email one day later. Same goes with receiving a case number - that letter also comes by mail but I got it about a month after the case number was actually assigned. Actually, thanks to Jorge's advice, I started calling to pester every other day just to see if the number was available. I also sent an email using the online form on the website and that's how I got notification that the case number was ready.

 

Here's the link to make an appointment at the embassy:

https://my.uscis.gov/appointment

 

"General Information" has appointments as early as Thursday. I130 submission has availability the 17th.

 

Be really grateful you qualify for DCF!!!  We are lucky.

Hi. My wife's I-130 was approved 3 weeks ago but still have not heard anything from the US Consulate in Ciudad Juarez. You mentioned that you, "sent an email using the online form on the website and that's how [you] got notification that the case number was ready." By chance, do you recall where that form is located? I've been looking on their website but I can't find any link to it (I'm probably missing something obvious). Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

On 2/9/2018 at 4:26 PM, Jorge V said:

We received Packet 3 11 days after receiving NOA2. We were approved July 6, Juarez assigned a case number on July 12, and Packet 3 was delivered to us on July 17th. Packet 3 will contain your case number. If you don't receive Packet 3 in 2-3 weeks it's probably time to start calling the embassy. It's hard to get an actual person that knows what's going on but you'll eventually get through. I believe the case you were referring to was @mexicoAmigo . He and I filed our DCF petitions around the same time, but his packet 3 letter took 4-5 weeks to arrive. He started calling and emailing the embassy and eventually got his case number through those means.

Excellent, thank you Jorge!

I-130 for my wife was approved yesterday. The email just said to wait to hear from the Consulate in Ciudad Juarez and to be patient. Would love to hear anyone else's experience and advice with this part of the process. I understand UCISC sends the packet via snail mail to the consulate and then the consulate will send a letter also via snail mail to me so I assume that I shouldn't expect anything until at least 2-3 weeks (we live in Guanajuato). Also, I seem to remember reading somewhere on the forums here about the need to call or email the Consulate to "pester" them to get the case number but I can't find that thread. Any advice from other Mexico DCF'ers would be awesome. Thanks!

18 hours ago, Jorge Valdivia said:

I think the fact that you have children makes for a very likely approval. Children, intermingling of finances (which you also have), and proof of cohabitation seem to be the best evidence. Sworn affidavits from friends are family are generally not recommended on VJ as they hold very little weight. Here's what I submitted during our recent DCF Mexico case:

 

• Two housing leases showing cohabitation of residence since February 2016 (and mentioning on the cover letter that we had been living together for many years before that, but we didn't want to translate and print any more than 2 leases)
• Financial documents showing commingling of finances:
  • Petitioner’s Roth IRA beneficiary list, showing spouse as beneficiary
  • Petitioner’s second Roth IRA beneficiary list, showing spouse as beneficiary
  • Petitioner’s Traditional IRA beneficiary list, showing spouse as beneficiary
  • Scanned credit cards showing that beneficiary is an authorized user on petitioner’s US credit card
• Airline itineraries of trips we took together (3 trips total)
• Photos taken throughout our 7.5 year relationship: (8 photos total)
  • Facebook posts/photos spanning 7 years
  • Photos of our wedding in June 2017 showing attendance by family and friends
• 3 affidavits from family and friends in support of our bona fide marriage

 

Using the above evidence we were approved almost immediately.

Jorge, a question. How were you able to add your wife as an authorized user on your US credit card or IRA beneficiary list without her SSN? I've been trying to add my wife to some of those things and unfortunately they all require her to have a SSN.

2 hours ago, Haltom Family said:

 

 

 

Hi Jolson,

 

Welcome to VisaJourney

Adil-rafa and millefleur are both right, the basics are the:

• A copy of your marriage certificate; 
• (3) Documentation showing that you and your spouse have combined your financial resources; &
• (4) Birth certificates of children born to you and your spouse together;   

 

In which you mentioned above, both (3) & (4) you already have. 

 

We do have a joint Mexican bank account and we have had two children born while living here so we have their birth certificates with both our names as the parents of course. 

  

and, 

(5) Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship.  Each affidavit must contain the full name and address of the person making the affidavit; date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit; and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge of your marriage; or

 

Is the sworn affidavit you mentioned above met the requirements in number 5?  if Yes, then you are all good. 

 

(6) Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union.

 

which is already mentioned in detailed by millefleur (Y)

 

We suggest that you will visit this link:  https://www.uscis.gov/i-130 there is a downloadable Instructions for Form I-130 if you click that site. Once you download the Instructions for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, please browse down to Page 6 (General Requirements), and scan down to number 5 which talks more in detailed about : What documents do you need to prove family relationship or proof of relationship with your spouse? Our suggestion, narrowed down all the proof you think are applicable to you and your spouse at your current situation. 

So, God bless your processing.  You may want to look at our 6P's in processing I-130 or petitioning for alien relative through DCF.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you! Appreciate it.

1 hour ago, Jorge Valdivia said:

I think the fact that you have children makes for a very likely approval. Children, intermingling of finances (which you also have), and proof of cohabitation seem to be the best evidence. Sworn affidavits from friends are family are generally not recommended on VJ as they hold very little weight. Here's what I submitted during our recent DCF Mexico case:

 

• Two housing leases showing cohabitation of residence since February 2016 (and mentioning on the cover letter that we had been living together for many years before that, but we didn't want to translate and print any more than 2 leases)
• Financial documents showing commingling of finances:
  • Petitioner’s Roth IRA beneficiary list, showing spouse as beneficiary
  • Petitioner’s second Roth IRA beneficiary list, showing spouse as beneficiary
  • Petitioner’s Traditional IRA beneficiary list, showing spouse as beneficiary
  • Scanned credit cards showing that beneficiary is an authorized user on petitioner’s US credit card
• Airline itineraries of trips we took together (3 trips total)
• Photos taken throughout our 7.5 year relationship: (8 photos total)
  • Facebook posts/photos spanning 7 years
  • Photos of our wedding in June 2017 showing attendance by family and friends
• 3 affidavits from family and friends in support of our bona fide marriage

 

Using the above evidence we were approved almost immediately.

Thank you! BTW I've been using your guide. EXTREMELY helpful, thank you, thank you! 

4 hours ago, adil-rafa said:

marriage certificate is needed

photos of the 2 of you together with Mexican family

passport pages showing the USC was in Mexico 

Thank you!

My first post. Really appreciate this website and everyone who has shared. Has been very helpful as I get started with the DCF process. I'm on the first step, getting the packet ready to send to the Embassy in Mexico City and wondering if I have enough evidence to prove a bona fide marriage. I know the main examples they give are documents of joint property or leases but I don't have that. They were all done in my wife's name.  We do have a joint Mexican bank account and we have had two children born while living here so we have their birth certificates with both our names as the parents of course. We also have sworn affidavits of our marriage. Do you think this will be enough evidence? Any thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Hi! I'm brand new to this forum and this is my first post. Thank you for this great website and all the info! I am an American citizen engaged to a Mexican citizen. We want to be married as soon as possible and to eventually live in the USA. Here is our proposed plan for this and would love to hear your feedback about it:

1. I am moving to Mexico.
2. We get married in Mexico.
3. We apply for my wife's visa
4. We live in Mexico, waiting for the visa (wait about 11 months according to the K3 guide?)
5. As soon as she gets her visa, we move to the USA.

As far as I can tell, the K3 visa is our best option but would love to hear any other suggestions, especially from anyone who has recently been through a similar experience.

Thank you!