Help for a beginner!

[James&Hailie 0]

OK, so I'm starting to figure out the US visa process... I think. My wife and I married in the UK in May 2009, have been resident in the UK ever since and now we want to move to the US. I'm British; she's an American citizen.

We're looking to use the Direct Consular Filing (DCF) process at the USCIS Field Office in London, which looks like it'll be quicker. I understand that we can submit our petition (I-130) there, and then submit the visa application itself (DS-230)... is that right?

Then I'll be interviewed and have a medical, and all being well they'll issue me a visa...?

And this will take roughly a billion years! Would anyone be able to make the timescales a little clearer for me? Also, what is the NAO1 and NAO2 that I read so much about? I haven't seen that mentioned in the guidance on the USCIS website.

I'm sorry if this post is in the wrong place - feel free to move it if it is - I just couldn't see a place for questions that seem so basic!

Any help at all would be hugely appreciated!

James

[Inky 1,110]

Because its not a USCIS term. A lot of the acronyms are only used on this website.

NOA1 is the 797 acceptance letter for your petition.

NOA2 is the 797C approval notice for your petition

RFE is request for evidence

Check the wiki it lists many things. http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

We're looking to use the Direct Consular Filing (DCF) process at the USCIS Field Office in London, which looks like it'll be quicker. I understand that we can submit our petition (I-130) there, and then submit the visa application itself (DS-230)... is that right?

Then I'll be interviewed and have a medical, and all being well they'll issue me a visa...?

And this will take roughly a billion years! Would anyone be able to make the timescales a little clearer for me?

Gonna paste something I answered earlier today. Flip the gender references---

DCF

I-130 petition is filed at the USCIS office in London. Instructions

http://london.usembassy.gov/dhs/uscis/i130filing.html

Their current approval time is posted and it's just under 3 months. Then the case goes to the embassy (Immigrant Visa Unit). That's when your wife sends in the visa application, gets a medical exam, and goes for an interview. That might take a month or likely two depending if you get your stuff together early so she's ready with all her documents as soon as the case is transferred to the IV Unit. A hold up is often the I-864 Affidavit of Support because many USCs don't file their US tax returns as required when living abroad. So when it's time to send that Affidavit of Support (either with VWP adjustment or an immigrant visa) they post "what can I do now?" A head's up if you haven filed 2009, 2010, and 2011...do it now before you need it.

You're going to skip the NVC (National Visa Center) process that those with spouses in the US go through. Your Immigrant Visa Unit process for London is here http://london.usembassy.gov/ivprocess.html and here http://london.usembassy.gov/ds2001.html (Remember that's after the USCIS field office approves the I-130 petition and sends it to the embassy).

Confused yet??? This might help:

Petitions are approved by USCIS (under the US Dept of Homeland Security)

Visas are approved by the embassy (under the US Dept of State)

It's two separate agencies of the US government. USCIS happens to rent some office space at the embassy building in London, but they can only approve your USC spouses petition, then have to transfer to the the Embassy/Dept of State so you the UK person can apply for a visa.

If you look at the topics in the left column of the London Embassy website there's a lot of information just waiting for your click on the link.

[Holly2234 66]

Hi, the previous posters have answered pretty much everything but i'm also filing for the same thing right now also from London so if you need any info, just give me a shout!

[James&Hailie 0]

Thank you to everyone who's posted on this topic, I've really found the advice helpful! I'm so please I found the VJ forum