DCF Mexico

[Marisol73 0]

Thank you !!

Hi, Marisol!

Yes, you have to fill one I-864 even if you don't have a job and yes, he checks "I am the only joint sponsor".

[Marisol73 0]

Thank you ! I will add also the letter explaining that I just got here and Im applying for jobs.

About the SS Card.. we received here in Houston My Son's SS card Before the Permanent Residence Card (and It has the picture we gave in Cd Juarez).

I will fill out the forms (I-864) if I have more questions I will bother you again Thanks for your help

Hey Marisol--

I agree with LaGringa's post. I was looking for a job too when I filled out the I-864, so I was technically unemployed. I filled out an I-864, checked off that I was unemployed and then had my mom fill out an I-854 as my only joint sponsor. Also, I typed up a letter explaining my unemployment just so they could see that it was only a temporary thing (not being long-term unemployed!). I basically said that I had just moved up from Mexico, was looking for a job, what my field was, when I was hoping to get a job by and what I was anticipating the pay to be. I don't know if that helped, but I thought it at least gave them some more background on me! When my husband went down for the interview, I had him take evidence of my new job (check stubs, letters from my employer), but he wasn't asked for any of it.

Also, guess what?! I just got my husband's permanent resident card in the mail!! Ahh! And it IS green! It's funny because they ended up using the picture that we had turned in at the Monterrey Consulate at the beginning of the process, not the nice glossy ones that we fretted over!

Last week we also received two letters from the gov't--one basically saying that they have received notice that his visa was approved and that we'd hear from them within 30 days. That one was postmarked two days after he had crossed the border in CDJ. We also received a "Welcome" letter. It wasn't anything too in depth, but it basically said "welcome" and that it was very important to hold onto all of those letters, which have important numbers on them for him.

Does anyone know if we should be receiving his Social Security card soon? Or will he have to apply for that once he gets to the States (in a month and a half)?

[czmjacq 1]

Hey Marisol--

I agree with LaGringa's post. I was looking for a job too when I filled out the I-864, so I was technically unemployed. I filled out an I-864, checked off that I was unemployed and then had my mom fill out an I-854 as my only joint sponsor. Also, I typed up a letter explaining my unemployment just so they could see that it was only a temporary thing (not being long-term unemployed!). I basically said that I had just moved up from Mexico, was looking for a job, what my field was, when I was hoping to get a job by and what I was anticipating the pay to be. I don't know if that helped, but I thought it at least gave them some more background on me! When my husband went down for the interview, I had him take evidence of my new job (check stubs, letters from my employer), but he wasn't asked for any of it.

Also, guess what?! I just got my husband's permanent resident card in the mail!! Ahh! And it IS green! It's funny because they ended up using the picture that we had turned in at the Monterrey Consulate at the beginning of the process, not the nice glossy ones that we fretted over!

Last week we also received two letters from the gov't--one basically saying that they have received notice that his visa was approved and that we'd hear from them within 30 days. That one was postmarked two days after he had crossed the border in CDJ. We also received a "Welcome" letter. It wasn't anything too in depth, but it basically said "welcome" and that it was very important to hold onto all of those letters, which have important numbers on them for him.

Does anyone know if we should be receiving his Social Security card soon? Or will he have to apply for that once he gets to the States (in a month and a half)?

Pnewton

Congrats on receiving the GREEN card and letters - we received all those within a month from the approval date - EXCEPT the Social Security card. I know I checked it off on the app to automatically process one, but maybe since he wasn't approved until the second appt. they overlooked it. Unfortunately we didn't know that when he came to Texas right after the approval - now he will have to apply in March when he comes up for a visit. The bad thing is that the SS office couldn't give me any info without him present - and I'm filing my taxes and since I'm married I have to put his SS in - which is non-existent. So I have to wait. Also since he was officially a permanent resident in the US - eventhough he hasn't moved here permanently or is working here - he still has to file taxes. That won't be a problem since I filed when I was living in MX and as long as you don't earn more than 80,000 you are tax exempt!

So I would say to definitely apply for a SS card as soon as he gets there if it doesn't come in the mail in the meantime.

[MrsArmstrong 0]

Hi Everybody! I haven't posted in awhile due to drawbacks in our process: We sent our I-130 via DHL to DF on March 1, and after 3 weeks of not hearing from them I called. They said they had no record of it which probably meant the packet had missing documents and they probably sent it back to me on March 2, and to wait three to four weeks for the slow mail. Four weeks later, after hearing nothing, I called back and asked for it again. They said it was sent out the SAME DAY as I called (approx. March 25). I waited another couple weeks and decided it was lost, and it sounded like DF really didn't know anything about it to begin with. So, discouraged, my husband and I put the packet together again and flew to Mexico City on May 23 to ensure it was properly received.

Today marked the day, four weeks and three days after turning it all in again, that I was going to call and start the whole song and dance again. When I got home I checked the mailbox and I was more than surprised to find a LETTER FROM CIUDAD JUAREZ in the mail!! It said they'd received the I-130 and also included our case number! I couldn't believe it! It turns out after our bad luck with Mexico City, we're having good luck with Ciudad Juarez!

We'd been told 6-8 months when we turned in the paperwork in DF, and now I'm seeing people who are getting their interview dates 5-6 weeks after they turn in packet 3! That gives me hope we could be moving back to the USA six months earlier than planned!

In conclusion, I would like to add a big THANK YOU to everyone who continues to update their statuses on here. I really appreciate everything you have to say and it really makes me feel better about the whole thing! Good luck to everyone!

How did you pay for your I 130 filling fee??

[MrsArmstrong 0]

I'm fairly new at this whole process, I'm still struggling with the filling of the I 130!!! I live in Los Cabos and at this moment can't afford going to Mexico city, so I decided to mail the I 130. I saw some bad experiences with the mailing option, but no one really explain how they pay for the I 130 $420 USD fee. We have a Banamex account in pesos, but I have no idea if we need to pay inpesos at the exchange rate of that day or what. Can someone explain this to me please!! Thanks, the newbie.

[ulises 0]

I'm fairly new at this whole process, I'm still struggling with the filling of the I 130!!! I live in Los Cabos and at this moment can't afford going to Mexico city, so I decided to mail the I 130. I saw some bad experiences with the mailing option, but no one really explain how they pay for the I 130 $420 USD fee. We have a Banamex account in pesos, but I have no idea if we need to pay inpesos at the exchange rate of that day or what. Can someone explain this to me please!! Thanks, the newbie.

Hi, you need to send a Money Order for that amount in dollars. Also they require the money order to be all written in English. You can either address it to CIS or put the full name Citizenship and Immigration Services.

They usually recommend buying the money order from a "Casa de Cambio" I went to Mexico city myself, and bought the money orders at "Casa de Cambio Tiber" But I also saw that someone had bought at "Consultoria Internacional" I called at Guadalajara branch, and they said they would sell traveller checks, but you have to pay them in cash (to the casa de cambio).

Another option they give is to ask for a Cashier's check from a bank, (Santander, HSBC, Banamex), and I tried at my Santander branch at Guadalajara, they did have cashier checks in dollars, but they were not all written in english.

Now, who are you filing for?

You have to send proof that you live in Mexico (usually if you work here, you'll need your FM3). Also send copy of all the documents, and a copy of a Government ID for the person you are filing for (IFE, Mexican passport, etc.)

If you live at Los Cabos, I think you can file your I-130 at Tijuana consulate which would be the nearest to you.

Give them a call.

Go check:

http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eng/einsinfo.html

For Tijuana consulate call:

Tel: [int'l access code + 52](664) 622−7443

Fax: [int'l access code + 52](664) 686−5908

They will tell you if they can receive your I-130.

I'll try to scan a copy of the money orders I submitted.

[MrsArmstrong 0]

Hi, you need to send a Money Order for that amount in dollars. Also they require the money order to be all written in English. You can either address it to CIS or put the full name Citizenship and Immigration Services.

They usually recommend buying the money order from a "Casa de Cambio" I went to Mexico city myself, and bought the money orders at "Casa de Cambio Tiber" But I also saw that someone had bought at "Consultoria Internacional" I called at Guadalajara branch, and they said they would sell traveller checks, but you have to pay them in cash (to the casa de cambio).

Another option they give is to ask for a Cashier's check from a bank, (Santander, HSBC, Banamex), and I tried at my Santander branch at Guadalajara, they did have cashier checks in dollars, but they were not all written in english.

Now, who are you filing for?

You have to send proof that you live in Mexico (usually if you work here, you'll need your FM3). Also send copy of all the documents, and a copy of a Government ID for the person you are filing for (IFE, Mexican passport, etc.)

If you live at Los Cabos, I think you can file your I-130 at Tijuana consulate which would be the nearest to you.

Give them a call.

Go check:

http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eng/einsinfo.html

For Tijuana consulate call:

Tel: [int'l access code + 52](664) 622−7443

Fax: [int'l access code + 52](664) 686−5908

They will tell you if they can receive your I-130.

I'll try to scan a copy of the money orders I submitted.

Hi!!

My husband, who's in Mexico thanks to an FM2, is technically filling it for me, but actually I'm doing all the paperwork since he's always busy with work and his masters, bla bla. So, just to be sure, I have to find a money order completally in English and in US dollars and fill it for "Citizenship and Immigration Services", and I can do this at a Casa de Cambio. The USCIS wepage says I have to send the I 130 to Mexico city and they will send it to Ciudad Juarez.

Thank you very much!!!

[dtbrooklyn 0]

A quick question: below it says that your mom filled out an i-854 as a joint sponsor. That is a typo, right? Joint sponsors have to fill in the same 1-864 forms as the primary sponsors, no?

thanks,

dt

Hey Marisol--

I agree with LaGringa's post. I was looking for a job too when I filled out the I-864, so I was technically unemployed. I filled out an I-864, checked off that I was unemployed and then had my mom fill out an I-854 as my only joint sponsor. Also, I typed up a letter explaining my unemployment just so they could see that it was only a temporary thing (not being long-term unemployed!). I basically said that I had just moved up from Mexico, was looking for a job, what my field was, when I was hoping to get a job by and what I was anticipating the pay to be. I don't know if that helped, but I thought it at least gave them some more background on me! When my husband went down for the interview, I had him take evidence of my new job (check stubs, letters from my employer), but he wasn't asked for any of it.

Also, guess what?! I just got my husband's permanent resident card in the mail!! Ahh! And it IS green! It's funny because they ended up using the picture that we had turned in at the Monterrey Consulate at the beginning of the process, not the nice glossy ones that we fretted over!

Last week we also received two letters from the gov't--one basically saying that they have received notice that his visa was approved and that we'd hear from them within 30 days. That one was postmarked two days after he had crossed the border in CDJ. We also received a "Welcome" letter. It wasn't anything too in depth, but it basically said "welcome" and that it was very important to hold onto all of those letters, which have important numbers on them for him.

Does anyone know if we should be receiving his Social Security card soon? Or will he have to apply for that once he gets to the States (in a month and a half)?

[ulises 0]

Hi!!

My husband, who's in Mexico thanks to an FM2, is technically filling it for me, but actually I'm doing all the paperwork since he's always busy with work and his masters, bla bla. So, just to be sure, I have to find a money order completally in English and in US dollars and fill it for "Citizenship and Immigration Services", and I can do this at a Casa de Cambio. The USCIS wepage says I have to send the I 130 to Mexico city and they will send it to Ciudad Juarez.

Thank you very much!!!

HI, yes. I suggested you to call, because depending on where you live, you can either submit in person your I-130 in Tijuana, Monterrey, Ciudad Juarea or Mexico City.

I think Tijuana and Monterrey will send the paperwork to Mexico city (not sure though). But I think it's worth calling. If you are going to mail, than probably it's better for you to not use SEPOMEX but DHL,UPS, or another carrier.

And yes, once your I-130 is approved, they send all the paperwork to Cd Juarez Consulate. I am still waiting for Cd Juarez to contact me , but I guess I am still within the limits.

So my advise is to either call USCIS offices in Tijuana, Monterry or Mexico city, and they will tell you where and how you can file your I-130. I think that someone from here did it in Monterrey, and she was able to pay with credit card.

[pnewton 0]

Hi DTBrooklyn,

Oops, that was a typo! Yes, I meant 1-864. Both my mom and I filled out our own copies of that form, and she just checked the box stating that she was our sponsor.

As for paying the I-130, I think a money order works. When we paid in Monterrey, we paid in cash (pesos) at a register in the Consulate.

Good luck to you both and feel free to ask any questions as they come up!

P.S. We got double copies of the "Welcome" letter in the mail! Hmm...and no Social Security card, yet. Czmjcq, what are you planning to do about the SSN for taxes? If we don't have his SSN by then, I was thinking of just including a note on it?

[czmjacq 1]

Hi DTBrooklyn,

Oops, that was a typo! Yes, I meant 1-864. Both my mom and I filled out our own copies of that form, and she just checked the box stating that she was our sponsor.

As for paying the I-130, I think a money order works. When we paid in Monterrey, we paid in cash (pesos) at a register in the Consulate.

Good luck to you both and feel free to ask any questions as they come up!

P.S. We got double copies of the "Welcome" letter in the mail! Hmm...and no Social Security card, yet. Czmjcq, what are you planning to do about the SSN for taxes? If we don't have his SSN by then, I was thinking of just including a note on it?

Pnewton- I was doing my taxes on Turbo Tax and it just keeps coming up with his SS in red as missing info. I supposed I could print it like that and mail it in with a note, as opposed to doing electronic filing. I have been meaning to ask a real tax preparer but just haven't had time - Worse case would be just waiting until he comes up in March for a week's vacation and have him apply for a card then and just wait the 2 weeks for it to get here and then file.

[ulises 0]

Hey there,

I filed I-130 for wife and kids at Mexico City on December 16th. I got an approval letter on january stating that my petition (the 3 of them) had been approved and that everything had been sent to Ciudad Juarez and that I should expect them to communicate with me. I've read in different places that it can take up to 40 days for them to give a case number? Anyway, I called them today cause I haven't got anything from them, and I tried with the telephone numbers they display in their webpage, but none of them worked, so I called them to the phone where they address general questions.

I chose Immigrant visa option. I explained the guy my situation and that I had received no letter. He asked me if I already had a case number, and I said that no, that the reason I was calling was to see if I already got one, but he told me that I should call NVC at New Hampshire. I explained that when you file DCF your case doesn't go to the NVC, but he said that all the cases go to NVC first and they I should call them and see if I have a case number. Is this true? Has anyone here filed in december 2010 and already got a response? Should I contact NVC? What do you recommend?

Hey there,

I filed I-130 for wife and kids at Mexico City on December 16th. I got an approval letter on january stating that my petition (the 3 of them) had been approved and that everything had been sent to Ciudad Juarez and that I should expect them to communicate with me. I've read in different places that it can take up to 40 days for them to give a case number? Anyway, I called them today cause I haven't got anything from them, and I tried with the telephone numbers they display in their webpage, but none of them worked, so I called them to the phone where they address general questions.

I chose Immigrant visa option. I explained the guy my situation and that I had received no letter. He asked me if I already had a case number, and I said that no, that the reason I was calling was to see if I already got one, but he told me that I should call NVC at New Hampshire. I explained that when you file DCF your case doesn't go to the NVC, but he said that all the cases go to NVC first and they I should call them and see if I have a case number. Is this true? Has anyone here filed in december 2010 and already got a response? Should I contact NVC? What do you recommend?

The letter I got from CIS at Mexico stated that my petitions were approved on December 17th.

[LaGringa 0]

Hi Ulises. Have you tried contacting them through the form in their webpage? They take a few days to answer but that's how some of us have gotten our case numbers. I can't find the page right now, but I know someone linked to it earlier. Good luck!

[ulises 0]

Hi Ulises. Have you tried contacting them through the form in their webpage? They take a few days to answer but that's how some of us have gotten our case numbers. I can't find the page right now, but I know someone linked to it earlier. Good luck!

Hi LaGringa, do you mean contact the consulate or the NVC?

Thanks for responding.

[ulises 0]

Hi LaGringa, do you mean contact the consulate or the NVC?

Thanks for responding.

Oh, and one more thing, once I get a case number, do I have to mail all the documents in packet 3, or only the DS part I? And later take all my documentation to the interview?