Direct Consular Filing: London

[rob&karen 0]

Hi all,

This is our first post after finding this invaluable resource - it's great to feel like we're not alone with our own visa journey...

Here's our story, abbreviated:

1995 married in South Carolina, CPR status granted in early 2006, Green Card 2008.

Lived and worked continuously in US until July 2006

August 2006: we (USC wife, 3 USC children + BritDad, me) sold up and moved to UK "for a year or 2"(!)

2010: ready to go home!

So, since I have been outside of the US for so long my permanent residency has now expired, and my green card is no longer valid for re-entry to US. We are now almost at the point of sending off for DCF in London, in the hope that this will be the quickest way for us all to return to the US, effectively going back to square one again. Wish I had gone the US citizen route when I could have!!! Hindsight...

We've called the London Embassy Hotline (bargain that it is) and exchanged a few emails with USCIS there. They seem to think we may not have good grounds for "Returning Resident" status and that the K-3 Visa is an option, but probably quicker to do DCF.

So far, though, no-one has indicated what I should do with my existing green card - should I send in with the I-130, or hand in when I (hopefully) re-enter at US Immigration, or...?

Does all this sound like we are on the right track? Has anyone else had a similar experience, particularly with having been a permanent resident before? And does anyone have a rough idea of the timeframe we are looking at?

Many thanks!

Rob & Karen

[JoannaV 174]

Definitely sounds like you're on the right track going DCF. Even if you were successful with a returning resident application it would not save you much time and money, whereas failure would cost you quite a bit of time and money.

Time frame varies. Look at the immigration time lines on this site for some statistics. I'd say this though: if you apply now you will be moving before the end of the year. I hate to say more than that: sure it could be much shorter but there's not much use hoping/planning for the shortest possible time.

Someone on here should know about your current green card. I'd think you wouldn't hand it in unless asked for, however you could certainly ask about it at the interview: what do I do with my old green card? I don't see anything indicating that it would be relevant for the I-130, but I don't know about later forms.

[rob&karen 0]

Thanks Joanna. Fingers crossed it's sooner rather than later...

I re-read my post and realised I got my dates a bit wrong: got my Green Card in 1996, not 2006. Seems like only yesterday, I guess(!)