exsocal

Our Situation:
Greencard based on marriage to a US citizen. 2 kids - 5mos+2.5yrs - with dual nationality (German and US).
Married in the US while on H1B working there, 6.5 years ago. Lived in Germany for 5.5 years now.
GC through consular processing in Frankfurt, Germany.
Preparation:
We prepared and did background reading on the DHS website, US Consulate in Frankfurt's website and this forum (THANKS!).
All forms and work was done by ourselves with reading through form instructions and US Consulate website, plus applying common sense as to the intent of each form.
Timeline:
Apr 19 2010:
We drove to Frankfurt and stayed in the Best Western by the consulate the night before.
Next morning at our appointment, delivered petition I-130. That got approved right on the spot (married 6yrs+, 2kids).
Then were told to go down to the atrium for filing DS-230 part I. That was not expected. A challenge was to write down all
addresses I had lived at since the age of 16 and the times when I had been to the US in my life! Needed some extra sheets to
put it all down. Filled out and submitted the form.
Total time at the consulate: 2.5hrs
May 31 2010:
Faxed in the "all forms complete" and with an anticipated moving date to the US in Oct 2010.
Jun 30 2010:
Consulate internal stamped visa ok to progress
Jul 06 2010:
Received letter with appointment for interview and medical exam.
Aug 04 2010:
Did medical exam in Munich and chest x-ray.
Should call back for results in a week and results would be send to consulate directly. All was ok!
Jul - Aug:
- collect documents: birth certificate, police records (only non-US residences, consulate checks with FBI and local authorities), military record.
- I-864: we did with our own funds from cash and investments (no job in the US yet, only here in Germany)
Aug 30 2010:
09:12 - parking on street, no issue, plenty of space today
09:15 - outside in line to get ticket number (used for all day)
09:35 - finally inside at Atrium
10:10 - see officer, checking that I have all documents: ok
- needed to buy stamps for the return envelope of my passport and GC package, EUR4.25
- paid feed USD404 for visa fee + security fee (what might that be?)
- took all of 5mins
10:30 - next officer taking the documents and passport,
- explains procedure and next steps what to do with greencard, SSN card, etc,
- passport back in <1-2weeks with temp visa - 6months to enter US
- sealed envelope with cut off corner - to show at port of entry to the US
- duration 10mins
11:20 - finally, interview with officer
- going through documents + typing on computer: all complete, all ok
- 3 questions: how long married, do we have kids, where will I work
- more typing on computer
- green card approved!
- duration 10mins
Total duration at consulate <2.5hrs, face time with consular officers 25mins.
Total GC processing time until interview: ~4.5months, including ~1.5months of waiting (mid-April until end of May)
Items to take in hand luggage when entering US next time:
- all of your family (as you are all immigrating now)
- passport with unexpired temporary visa
- chect x-ray (film or CD-ROM from medical exam)
- sealed envelope from US consulate
Post entry to US:
Green card should arrive at our US address within 2-12months (you get a 12mo visa in your passport at first entry).
GC then needs to be presented each time you enter the US subsequently.
SSN card should arrive in 1-2months at the US address.
In summary, the much dreaded process was very painless. The officers were throughout very courteous and professional.
Once the process is understood, it makes sense what is to be established at which step:
1) The petition establishes the identity of your sponsor and the eligibility to sponsor you.
2-3)The remaining two steps are about the immigrant: their identity, health, criminal background and financial means.
Could we have done it faster? Yes. We were asked numerous times when our anticipated moving date is, we arbitrarily picked Oct 01.
Is it advisable to submit in person? Absolutely. It cuts down iterations, when something small is missing (postage stamps, or so).
Then we waited more than a month to fax in the all-forms-complete. So 3months or less might be doable.
How does it compare to getting a German Green Card (Niederlassungserlaubnis) for my wife?
2.5hrs in total including subway ride to local Auslaenderamt, 6 Euros for pictures
vs.
4.5mos in total, ~1000USD in fees, excluding medical, travel to and hotel in Frankfurt
Notes on the Frankfurt consulate:
They have a large waiting area (the Atrium) where they handle all visas and also the interviews - right on the windows,
where the consular office sits behind glas and talks to you via intercom.
A copy machine is avaialable with 50 Euro cents a copy, coins only! A machine for postage stamps is there too, accepting cash and geldkarte.
Restrooms and a snack bar with coffee and stuff complete the facilities.
The security lines at the entrance can be long, as the security staff is of varying competence and speed.
When we had questions during the period, email was very efficient and the answers helpful and accurate.