valaben

We had a similar issue with getting the SSN. You'll just need to make an appointment with your local Social Security office as Crazy Cat says

We arrived in March and my husband didn't get his SSN until September, and that's because we scheduled an appointment with our local social security office. They only gave him the appointment because I got a job and he needed the number right away to get health insurance.

They told us that otherwise, if you don't hear anything after 6-8 weeks, they are telling new immigrants to file the SS5 form and send in their green card and passport as identification. I did not want to send his only 2 forms of legal ID through the mail, so I looked for a way to get the appointment. Hopefully you can reach someone at your local office and maybe get an appointment.

We're supposed to be flying FRA to DFW on Tuesday... Fingers crossed we make it! We'll be in self-isolation for 2 weeks but that's no big deal as we both work from home. This is such a stressful situation for everyone, but hopefully everything works out (to "flatten the curve") and we can all move on.

We used only my stepdad as joint sponsor since his income alone was enough, and didn't have my mom fill out the I-864A. They didn't say anything about it to us, so it seemed to be fine.

I don't have any experience with Stockholm, so I can't help with specifics, but in Frankfurt Germany we paid right then in Euros for the doctor exam, and then received a bill in the mail a few days later for the lab work, which we paid through bank transfer (with our German account). I hope that helps.

15 minutes ago, Inita said:

As mailing address we have my parents in laws address in Virginia. So, as soon as we'll have our new home in Hawaii we can change the address you're saying?

Yes. Whenever you enter the US (at the airport) they will confirm your mailing address for the green card, and you can update it then.

Hi Inita,

We put our address in Germany for my (the USC's) address. But for the mailing address in the US we used my parent's address, since they need that info to know where to mail the actual "green card". Is there someone whose address you can use for now? You can change it pretty simply  later on.

22 hours ago, perser said:

I would recommend you to email the consular Immigrant Visa section for an update on your case number. I did so and received it the next day. I have send out package 3 today. Hopefully it will be processed before new year. 

We got the letter yesterday, but still have to wait on his birth certificate. Everything else is ready to go, hopefully we'll make it before the end of the year.

We got our NOA2 letter today! The approval date was also Dec 2.

5 hours ago, nkk0 said:

Just got my approval in the mail 30 minutes ago

Congrats to you guys!

17 hours ago, nkk0 said:

Filed in July, I recently emailed them to ask for a status update. They messaged back that they are short on staff so processing times are 120-150 days (for I-130).

I'm glad they emailed you back and you posted here. I emailed them a few weeks ago and didn't get any response so I appreciate you sharing!

8 hours ago, Germerican said:

Does anyone know how long on average the process currently is from I-130 submission to visa in hand for DCF via Frankfurt? I've seen anything from 90 days to 14 months, so really not sure what to expect.

We filed in July (you can check my timeline) and still haven't heard anything back I think the whole process is slowing down. They say 90 days is the expected processing time, but clearly it's gone beyond that. Most DCF cases on here look like they're anywhere from 100-120 days right now.

No problem!

1 minute ago, Benjaminp1987 said:

would he tick the box for joint sponsor?

I think so, but I'm not 100% sure. I think you'd be primary sponsor (or whatever it says on the form) and he'd check joint sponsor. There should be instructions available online, and I believe VJ also has guides available as well.

1 minute ago, Benjaminp1987 said:

I was under the impression that I had to complete form I-184 and he just had to complete I-184a or does he also have to complete form 1-184.

He also has to fill out the I-864.

1 minute ago, Benjaminp1987 said:

I am a bit worried about restablishing domicile so was thinking of moving back to America and living with my brother to begin looking for jobs a little before my husband moves over

Lots of people who file DCF do move back before their spouse, for this exact reason. So it might be a good idea to do so. But I understand wanting to stay with your husband, I'm in a bit of the same predicament!

16 hours ago, Benjaminp1987 said:

Does anybody have any experience of this and know if this would be sufficient.

Assuming he makes above the poverty guidelines for the size of his household plus your husband, yes. You need to fill out the I-864, he needs to fill out the I-864, and any secondary sponsors from him (for example, if he is married and using their income) would fill out the I-864a. We are going through this at the moment by using my parents income, and we have done it previously (about 6 years ago) using my grandparents income.

84F/29C

My name is Val, and I'm from Tulsa, Oklahoma. My husband is Ben, and he's from Speyer, Germany! We've actually already gone through US immigration before, in 2013, but we moved to Germany in January 2016 so now we have to go through it again. Luckily we qualify for DCF, so we are taking that route. We met on Twitter in 2010, and we have 3 cats.

I'm normally a lurker, but wanted to post on here in case I find others from Oklahoma or others who are applying DCF in Frankfurt like we are who might like to chat or offer support to one another.