DCF before six months? (Taiwan)

[rmaguir 0]

This is a side question from another thread I started a couple of weeks ago about our marriage (this Thursday).

Long story short, we want to file DCF (obviously), but the last time I entered Taiwan was about two and a half months ago. So it would appear I'm not eligible for DCF. However, I emailed the de facto American Embassy here (the American Institute in Taiwan) explaining that I'd only been here for two months, but that I'd spent twenty out of the last twenty four months in Taiwan. Their response was that they needed more information to answer my question and that all cases are reviewed by themselves on a "case by case basis."

The fact that they didn't say "no" flat out gave me the idea that, since I emphasized twice in the email that I had only been back for two months and that the time I left (with my girlfriend) was four months, it might be possible to file DCF before I hit the six month mark.

What I'm thinking of doing:

- First off, I'll explain why we went back to the US: My girlfriend and I had been together for three years and knew marriage was the next step, but she had still yet to meet most of my family and friends (because we met in France, and moved to Taiwan after a year in Paris). We stayed in the US for four months, however, because I had various preparations to make for grad school (like taking the GRE and going to talk to professors) and I was also a groomsman in my cousin's wedding in April, and I don't have the money to make two trips to the US in four months.

What I'll show: pictures from our trip, copies of my GRE scores, copies of my cousin's wedding invitation, photos from the wedding, etc.

- Then I'll show why we need to get back to the US in December, if possible.

What I'll show: I'm applying for an internship in D.C. that starts in January. I'll also show my applications for graduate school. The argument here is that, regardless of if I get the internship or not, it would be a huge hassle for us to go back to the US too soon before I start grad school.

- Third, I'll prove that we've been together for four years. I have copious forms of proof of this. (However, I do have one question, here: can I give them a CD with pictures and videos of us together in various places? I've also thought of making youtube/flickr playlists for them and providing the link so they can go to the site and see that I have thousands of photos and videos of the two of us together in all of the countries that our passports show us as being in at the same time.)

What do you think? Is there any chance they'll let us start the process earlier?

[mynameisCat 0]

Congrats on your marriage!

I'd say give it a go -- if they didn't flat out say no, they can only say no later, and you won't really be out anything, but if you don't try, then you might have missed out, right?

[MargotDarko 0]

It sounds more like you've been there for two years with one extended visit home. You should be able to make a good case.

They won't want any CDs or anything online. Everything should be paper.

You call her your "girlfriend".... When will you be married? You need to be married before sending in the I-130 package.

[mynameisCat 0]

A woman I talked to recently did take in some stuff from online and all (with a printout of everything, referenced so they could look it up), but then among all the other things, she also brought in a big box of love letters from the last six years. They laughed and told her it was all slightly overkill, but that they took her point.

[MargotDarko 0]

Printouts from online are fine. I meant not to give links and password.

[NYN 0]

Hi,

I am not in your country, but I assume the process is similar for filing. I have been living in El Salvador for about a year and a half, but went to visit my family for New Year´s and upon returning began to panic that I might not meet the six month requirement. The lady in the window (it´s like a bank teller) asked me why I had left, and why I had come to El Salvador. She asked that I bring proof of my permanent stay before I went back to visit my family. She said anything that proved my initial intent a year and a half ago to make El Salvador my home would work. I brought school documents, bank documents of when i opened my account here, governement ID documents and when they were issued here in El Salvador, mail i was sent over that time period etc. She kept the school documents and the copies of other stuff I showed her. That was satisfactory and my two month absence was not seen as not meeting the six month requirement.

Good luck

[rmaguir 0]

Everyone, thank you so much for the replies. I was not getting the email updates, so I had no idea there were any posts here.

NYN, your account has given me hope that this can work!

Anyone else have experience with this sort of situation?

[NYN 0]

Hey again,

let me know if you want a list of what I sent them or what my proof of residency packet looked like. I would just say start gathering any info that might prove your permanent stay befor you left, like some rent agreement, bank account or paychecks local to you, any place you attended that would have records etc. Make a copy of the relevant documents, and bring everything with you. I sorted mine out by category and put each chronologically. Then I photocopied the most relevant from each. My local embassy kept some originals, but said they would be returned at the interview.

Hope this helps, and I say go to your embassy and get everything ready to file. The least they can say is no, and if so just wait. But I say try to submit it. If you need input from others try to post again, but rephrase your header with more specific wording.

Nydia

[rmaguir 0]

Just wanted to fill y'all in, in case anyone has this same question.

My wife and I went to the American Institute in Taiwan (the de facto consulate here in Taiwan). I had made a package of information that comprised even the most minor proofs of my stay in Taiwan. When it was our turn, the lady who reviewed our case said that there was nothing she could do because I had simply had not been in Taiwan for six months. I was persistent though, because I knew that the lady was not an employee of the US government (she was one of the Taiwanese workers at AIT), and she was just following the rules she was given. Finally, she said, "Do you want to speak with an officer?"

I said yes, and we waited for a while until we could speak with an officer. The officer was as nice as he could be and asked me to explain our situation. Then he went away for about five minutes and came back saying that he just wanted to make sure he wasn't going over his head. He said they'd accept it. No problem.

We're, of course, very happy about this, but we've still got to get through the process....

[kaffy 2]

thats great news! Congrats on having your DCF accepted