USC Abroad

[canadianmeghan 1]

"1. If the U.S. citizen petitioner resides abroad, it may be possible to process the I-130 at the USCIS overseas field office or, in an emergency, at a local U.S. Embassy or Consulate. (See my articles, Issues for U.S. Expats Filing a Form I-130, Immigrant Petition for Alien Relative and USCIS Beijing Filing Instructions for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative). Will some citizens move abroad just to expedite the I-130?"

Just wondering how long the US citizen must be living abroad to be able to expedite the I-130? My husband and I have been living in Mexico for 6 months (I am Canadian he is USC) are we able to file through consulate here or no?

I also found a really good article on the I-130 processing times were up to 13 months and are back down to 9 currently, yet the K-3 processing times were still around 6 months. It said the K-3 used to be obsolete since the times were quite similiar, but now it may be taking the lead? I guess the offices are focused more on DACA that I-130? Any thoughts on this?

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Duplicate thread removed~

[dwheels76 5,466]

"1. If the U.S. citizen petitioner resides abroad, it may be possible to process the I-130 at the USCIS overseas field office or, in an emergency, at a local U.S. Embassy or Consulate. (See my articles, Issues for U.S. Expats Filing a Form I-130, Immigrant Petition for Alien Relative and USCIS Beijing Filing Instructions for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative). Will some citizens move abroad just to expedite the I-130?"

Just wondering how long the US citizen must be living abroad to be able to expedite the I-130? My husband and I have been living in Mexico for 6 months (I am Canadian he is USC) are we able to file through consulate here or no?

I also found a really good article on the I-130 processing times were up to 13 months and are back down to 9 currently, yet the K-3 processing times were still around 6 months. It said the K-3 used to be obsolete since the times were quite similiar, but now it may be taking the lead? I guess the offices are focused more on DACA that I-130? Any thoughts on this?

Expedite has nothing to do with filing from abroad. To qualify for expedite you have to met the criteria to expedite.

http://www.uscis.gov/forms/expedite-criteria

They aren't even processing K3's many of the I-130'd thats been sitting filed I-129F to hopefully get on that K3 path and USCIS even pubished a memo saying they will marry up the two petitions and they both will wait together. So no K3's

Don't know what country you are in but if husband is resident of Mexico(is this wher you will interview) you can file at Consulkate (DCF) it is about 3 to 5 months you are done. Check into the criteria since you I believe you hav eto be resident. But if you are having interview there you must be one I guess right?

[canadianmeghan 1]

Great, thank you for the info!

[NikLR 13,227]

To qualify for DCF (direct consular filing) in Mexico you need to meet their requirements.

http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/mexico-ciudad-juarez-field-office

http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/mexico-mexico-city-field-office

http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/mexico-monterrey-field-office

Form I-130

U.S. citizens that reside in Mexico and are in possession of a Mexico Migration Form 2 or 3 (FM2/FM3) may file a Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130), by mail or in person at the above address.

If you do not meet their requirements you will have to file the I-130 with the Chicago lockbox and do the whole CR1 process. You do not have to be in Canada for the interview, but you do need to be legally residing in the country you wish to have the interview. If that is Mexico then you need to make sure you fulfill their residency requirements.

Canada does not have DCF as there is no USCIS International Field Office here.

Edited December 4, 2013 by NLR