getting married to start the DCF process

[Omar G. 4]

hello everyone!

i have some basic questions about DCF if anyone can help with any information it would be really appriciated....

well i am both an american and Colombian citizen i live here in Colombia with my girl. we are planning on getting married soon in january, we are just waiting for the documents to arrive. after we get married we are going to start the process inorder for my girl to get her visa permenant residency in the US. is there a time limit or time frame of us to be married inorder to start the DCF process? or can we do it immediately? i thought i heard that we must be married for 2 years minimum, is that correct?

question 2.....

is the DCF process complicated? i heard that i dont need a lawyer, that with the help here i would be fine....

is there any other information that i need to know about DCF?

i know its a long process more or less 1 year, and expensive, not too sure how much does the total cost cost?

and is it easy or difficult this how process of DCF? if i do all the paperwork as it needs to be done, will i have problems or will my girl have problems getting the visa?

any information would be helpful, thank you very much! and to all merry christmas and happy new year!

[gwenneh 7]

TO take your questions in order:

No, you don't need to be married for a certain length of time; however, the US citizen must meet the residency requirements for DCF. Those requirements vary from country to country, and you need to check with the US Embassy in the country to find out what they are.

DCF isn't any more complicated than the other visas on this site; I would suggest looking at the forms too see if you are comfortable doing them yourself or whether you would like to hire a lawyer. People take both sides on the issue, but really, only you can say whether or not you're comfortable with the heavy amounts of paperwork! DCF can be especially tricky as proving intent to immigrate and proving that you have maintained residence in the US is key.

The total costs vary from country to country; there is a filing fee, a fee for the medical, and a fee for the visa; there are also added expenses like copies of your marriage certificate and supporting evidence if necessary, police reports taht may cost money...it really will vary.

No one can tell you how easy it will be as these are a case-by-case visa. That will depend on how straightforward your case is!

Welcome to the journey, hope it's quick and painless!

[Omar G. 4]

this was the email i sent the embassy in bogota...

Hello, my name is Omar Guevara, i am a US citizen by birth and am living in Cali, Colombia. i have Dual citizenship of US and Colombia because my father is from Colombia. I am interested in requesting a visa for my wife and her daughter (both Colombian citizens) so we can travel to the US and live. i have been doing much research about visas and processings and have a question to see if i qualify for Direct Consular Filling. I have been a resident of Colombia for the last year and a half now, and have lived the rest of my life in the US. We are living in Cali, Colombia and are now ready to start the visa process. Do i qualitfy for the Direct Consular Filling (DCF)? and what is the 1st step i need to do and where can i get or request the forms i need to submit 1st. Is it necessary for me to go to Bogota to get the forms directly?

Thank you very much, and will wait for a response. Any other helpful information would be highly appreciated. Thank you.

Omar Guevara

they responded to me with ..................

Please contact our call center to make an appointment to file an immigrant visa petition for your wife and daughter. For more information, see our website at http://bogota.usembassy.gov.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Unit

So does that mean i qualify for DCF??? making the appointment means what? going to Bogota with my I-130 form completed and all? what do you guys say? is there anymore for more?

[Alt name 1]

Yes, they are offering you DCF

this was the email i sent the embassy in bogota...

Hello, my name is Omar Guevara, i am a US citizen by birth and am living in Cali, Colombia. i have Dual citizenship of US and Colombia because my father is from Colombia. I am interested in requesting a visa for my wife and her daughter (both Colombian citizens) so we can travel to the US and live. i have been doing much research about visas and processings and have a question to see if i qualify for Direct Consular Filling. I have been a resident of Colombia for the last year and a half now, and have lived the rest of my life in the US. We are living in Cali, Colombia and are now ready to start the visa process. Do i qualitfy for the Direct Consular Filling (DCF)? and what is the 1st step i need to do and where can i get or request the forms i need to submit 1st. Is it necessary for me to go to Bogota to get the forms directly?

Thank you very much, and will wait for a response. Any other helpful information would be highly appreciated. Thank you.

Omar Guevara

they responded to me with ..................

Please contact our call center to make an appointment to file an immigrant visa petition for your wife and daughter. For more information, see our website at http://bogota.usembassy.gov.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Unit

So does that mean i qualify for DCF??? making the appointment means what? going to Bogota with my I-130 form completed and all? what do you guys say? is there anymore for more?

[Omar G. 4]

Thank you... next big question,

Should i marry as a Colombian or as an American?

i have both options, but i hear that i should marry as a Colombian, but i thought that i should marry as an American because all the americans marry that way to get their wife the visas.....

i was on another forum site and they said to marry as a Colombian and not American.....what should i do? and why?

[gwenneh 7]

Married is married. Marry whichever way you will be legally recognized as married!