DCF in Frankfurt, started last week!

[Mary G. 0]

Does anyone know much about the passport photo requirements in Frankfurt? I read that both ears need to be visible, but I have a German style passport photo where my right ear is visible, but my left is a bit hidden by my hair (although you still see part of it). Are they very picky about the photos?

Thanks,

Mary

[sophyie 0]

Does anyone know much about the passport photo requirements in Frankfurt? I read that both ears need to be visible, but I have a German style passport photo where my right ear is visible, but my left is a bit hidden by my hair (although you still see part of it). Are they very picky about the photos?

Thanks,

Mary

Hi Mary,

here's a link to the passport photo requirements:

http://www.usembassy.de/germany/visa/photo_req.html

I don't know if Frankfurt is especially picky, even though they did take a good look at my pictures and commented on the visibility of my ears. (I have long hair and had it up in a ponytail on the photos)

There is the possibility of taking photos in the embassy in case they don't like yours...

Good luck!

[Candace 2]

Does anyone know much about the passport photo requirements in Frankfurt? I read that both ears need to be visible, but I have a German style passport photo where my right ear is visible, but my left is a bit hidden by my hair (although you still see part of it). Are they very picky about the photos?

Thanks,

Mary

Hello Mary,

Frankfurt in my experience are very fussy about having both ears showing. I had quite the argument with the lady doing the checking of photos at Frankfurt as my ears are very flat to my head and even though I wore the front part of my hair up and out of the way for the photo (I had mine taken at the machine in the lobby the day of my interview) you still cannot see my ears. The lady was not going to accept them at first, so I asked her what else she thought I should do (perhaps stick something behind them??!) and in the end she said 'well, you will have to argue at your POE.' I told her that since I was planning to take my (flat) ears to POE with me, I didn't think there would be a problem.

If you're not sure about the photo you have, just take it along with you, the photo is checked at the first window after you pay. There is plenty of time for you to go and get a set done if you get the ear police like I did

Good luck!

[Mary G. 0]

Sophyie and Candace,

Thanks so much for responding to my question regarding the passport photos. Your responses were very helpful. We just mailed the I-130 packet today. Reading about everyone else's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. I'm not sure we could have figured it all our on our own. The USCIS page for Frankfurt has so little information.

In any case, we plan to track our progress on here in hopes that it might help others as well. My husband (who's German) and I were married in August. We're hoping to be able to return to the States in June. Hopefully it will all go well. The biggest obstacle seems to be the I-864. Although my husband teaches here, I'm currently writing my dissertation and consequently unemployed. I did work earlier this year in the States, from January to August, but I doubt that will help much now that I am unemployed. In any case, my parents have agreed to sponsor him in case my income earlier this year and my assets are not enough.

Best wishes to all,

Mary

12/07/06 Mailed I-130 Packet complete with I-130 application, 325-A for both my husband and myself, copies of my passport and birth certificate, copies of his passport, passport photos, and copy of our marriage certificate)

[Candace 2]

Sophyie and Candace,

Thanks so much for responding to my question regarding the passport photos. Your responses were very helpful. We just mailed the I-130 packet today. Reading about everyone else's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. I'm not sure we could have figured it all our on our own. The USCIS page for Frankfurt has so little information.

In any case, we plan to track our progress on here in hopes that it might help others as well. My husband (who's German) and I were married in August. We're hoping to be able to return to the States in June. Hopefully it will all go well. The biggest obstacle seems to be the I-864. Although my husband teaches here, I'm currently writing my dissertation and consequently unemployed. I did work earlier this year in the States, from January to August, but I doubt that will help much now that I am unemployed. In any case, my parents have agreed to sponsor him in case my income earlier this year and my assets are not enough.

Best wishes to all,

Mary

12/07/06 Mailed I-130 Packet complete with I-130 application, 325-A for both my husband and myself, copies of my passport and birth certificate, copies of his passport, passport photos, and copy of our marriage certificate)

Belated congratulations on your marriage Mary! You're following along behind quite a group of us who have recently completed DCF at Frankfurt. Check out posts from users Germlish, Zauberblume, Suzybandseer as well as Sophyie and I, I think we have all posted our interview experiences somewhere within this forum. I think your timescales are within reason, I personally would have most likely been done from start to finish in under 3 months if I hadn't had a problem with payment in the first instance and held onto my checklist before sending it back for an interview appointment. Sophyie's journey was particularly quick as well.

I am sure you will have no problem with the sponsorship, you will always have to be the primary sponsor even if your income/assets are not sufficient and your parents joint sponsors, but that's awesome news they have agreed to help and so long as their income/assets meet the requirements then your journey should be smooth.

Best wishes

[Mary G. 0]

Hi Candace,

Hope all is well with you! Thanks for your helpful message. After reading it, I checked out a lot of the posts from the other members who've filed from Frankfurt, and learned a lot more as a result. Everyone's posts answered many of the questions I'd had.

We know that Frankfurt has received our I-130 application as of December 11th. My credit card hasn't yet been charged, but I'm hoping that it will be soon. My husband's requested his police certificate, we've filled out the DS-230, and we're in the process of collecting information for the I-864.

I'll post more here as we continue going through the process.

Best wishes,

Mary

[Mary G. 0]

Just an update: Our I-130 application was received in Frankfurt on December 11th, and my credit card was charged the $190 on December 21st. Haven't received official approval yet in the mail, but we're hopeful.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

[Julia&Corey 0]

Hi there!

I have a quick question regarding DCF and where else could I ask if not here!? I am so glad that someone set up a forum like this where the "new ones" to the visa process can get help from the "old ones" who have already gone through the process.

Here's a quick overview about my and my story:

My name is Julia, my husband`s name is Corey, he's American, I am German and we met more than 3 years ago in the States where he lived and I worked as an au pair. We have been dating ever since we met and after 2 years I had to return to Germany to finish school. Since we did not want to have a long distance relationship we decided that Corey would come to Germany with me and would work as a civilian for the Army in Heidelberg, which he is doind right now. We got married December 16 and Corey wants us to go to Frankfurt to hand in the petition tomorrow. In the States I first have to complete a 10months internship requirement to be able to graduate from school. Since the time period is very limited, I have 10 months and 2 weeks to complete the 10 months internship and then be back in Germany for the oral final I need to know if I can start working there the second I arrive even if I have not received my green card.

I read that SuzyBandseer posted that her husband received his green card 5 weeks after arriving in the States and now I am only wondering if he could have already worked within those 5 weeks.

Thank you very much for your answers! Hope you can ease my mind!

Take care, Julia

[zauberblume 0]

Julia,

Theoretically, you can work immediately.

Practically, some employers may not feel comfortable employing you without having seen your permanent resident card. It depends on how much a potential employer knows about the immigration process. You can tell them that it's pending.

My husband worked immediately upon his entry into the United States. He worked as an independent contractor. Strangely enough, no one at his company asked for his permanent resident card or his social security card. Now that he has been hired as a permanent employee, it looks like all of this information will be required, so we are happy that we do have the permanent resident card and the social security card as that will make the hiring process much easier.

Good luck!

--Z

Hi there!

I have a quick question regarding DCF and where else could I ask if not here!? I am so glad that someone set up a forum like this where the "new ones" to the visa process can get help from the "old ones" who have already gone through the process.

Here's a quick overview about my and my story:

My name is Julia, my husband`s name is Corey, he's American, I am German and we met more than 3 years ago in the States where he lived and I worked as an au pair. We have been dating ever since we met and after 2 years I had to return to Germany to finish school. Since we did not want to have a long distance relationship we decided that Corey would come to Germany with me and would work as a civilian for the Army in Heidelberg, which he is doind right now. We got married December 16 and Corey wants us to go to Frankfurt to hand in the petition tomorrow. In the States I first have to complete a 10months internship requirement to be able to graduate from school. Since the time period is very limited, I have 10 months and 2 weeks to complete the 10 months internship and then be back in Germany for the oral final I need to know if I can start working there the second I arrive even if I have not received my green card.

I read that SuzyBandseer posted that her husband received his green card 5 weeks after arriving in the States and now I am only wondering if he could have already worked within those 5 weeks.

Thank you very much for your answers! Hope you can ease my mind!

Take care, Julia

[duellema 0]

My husband (German) and I (American) are going to be filing shortly. We intend to stay in Germany for a while, however we are trying to get things taken care of on both sides of the ocean, as I am sure everyone here is.

When looking through the paperwork we noticed there were things about domicile... we live in Germany (Munich), however I assume my parents house that I grew up at in Ohio is sufficent.

Does anyone have an idea what I am supposed to put for that?

Also, when making the payment what are the options? I am going back to the states in a couple weeks, and while I understand Frankfurt does not take personal cheques my other options are what? Credit card or international money order (is that in USD then I assume)?

Thank you for your help - this website is a life saver!

[Mary G. 0]

Duellema,

For your domicile, so long as your parents still live at that address in Ohio, I think that will be fine to use.

You can use credit card to pay the visa fee for Frankfurt. There's a form to fill out with your credit card information, although I forget where to find it. If you check posts from Wacken, i think that Wacken's posts might contain a link to the form. Let me know if you can't find it.

Best wishes,

Mary

My husband (German) and I (American) are going to be filing shortly. We intend to stay in Germany for a while, however we are trying to get things taken care of on both sides of the ocean, as I am sure everyone here is.

When looking through the paperwork we noticed there were things about domicile... we live in Germany (Munich), however I assume my parents house that I grew up at in Ohio is sufficent.

Does anyone have an idea what I am supposed to put for that?

Also, when making the payment what are the options? I am going back to the states in a couple weeks, and while I understand Frankfurt does not take personal cheques my other options are what? Credit card or international money order (is that in USD then I assume)?

Thank you for your help - this website is a life saver!

[Mary G. 0]

Duellema,

Just in case you didn't find it:

http://germany.usembassy.gov/germany/img/a...7/ccpayment.pdf

That should open the credit card form you can use with Frankfurt.

Best wishes,

Mary

Duellema,

For your domicile, so long as your parents still live at that address in Ohio, I think that will be fine to use.

You can use credit card to pay the visa fee for Frankfurt. There's a form to fill out with your credit card information, although I forget where to find it. If you check posts from Wacken, i think that Wacken's posts might contain a link to the form. Let me know if you can't find it.

Best wishes,

Mary

My husband (German) and I (American) are going to be filing shortly. We intend to stay in Germany for a while, however we are trying to get things taken care of on both sides of the ocean, as I am sure everyone here is.

When looking through the paperwork we noticed there were things about domicile... we live in Germany (Munich), however I assume my parents house that I grew up at in Ohio is sufficent.

Does anyone have an idea what I am supposed to put for that?

Also, when making the payment what are the options? I am going back to the states in a couple weeks, and while I understand Frankfurt does not take personal cheques my other options are what? Credit card or international money order (is that in USD then I assume)?

Thank you for your help - this website is a life saver!

[Candace 2]

I waffled a whole load on page 2 of this thread; in continuation I just wanted to let you guys know that my SS# did get generated automatically (no unnecessary trips to Frankfurt, yay!) and both it and my green card arrived without much of a delay (dates in my sig.)

~Candace