Mailing DCF

[johnnyandi 0]

Hi All,

This is my first post so please forgive me if the questions have already been answered elsewhere.

My wife(USC) and I are about to file our I-130 to the US Embassy in Sydney, I have searched this website (and others) and only seem to find topics about people filing in person. We live a ways from Sydney and it would be ideal if we could lodge it via mail. I understand we would still have to travel to Sydney for the interview but would like not to have to fly down twice.

Has anyone filed there I-130 via mail ?

Any information you can offer will be greatly appreciated

Cheers

John

[LBeachey 44]

Procedures vary from country to country but the barrier is generally you have to pay the I-130 fee in person (typically at American Citizens Services appointment) so they can generate the receipt with the USC (petitioner) name on it. Not being familiar with Australia, is there a consulate/embassy closer to you than Sydney? Else, you have to go to Sydney anyway.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

I believe in Sydney, there is an actual I-130 interview and the petitioner must attend in person, also to show they are actually present in the country.

In other countries (such as Ireland when I did it), you must mail in the I-130 and cannot make an appointment...

[Barbara J 115]

Hi All,

This is my first post so please forgive me if the questions have already been answered elsewhere.

My wife(USC) and I are about to file our I-130 to the US Embassy in Sydney, I have searched this website (and others) and only seem to find topics about people filing in person. We live a ways from Sydney and it would be ideal if we could lodge it via mail. I understand we would still have to travel to Sydney for the interview but would like not to have to fly down twice.

Has anyone filed there I-130 via mail ?

Any information you can offer will be greatly appreciated

Cheers

John

How do I apply?

The first step in applying for an immigrant visa is for the U.S. citizen to file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with USCIS in the United States, or at one of our Consulates in Australia if the petitioner meets certain filing requirements. A separate petition must be filed for each person immigrating.

If filing the petition in the Unitehttp://canberra.usembassy.gov/i-130.htmld States, please visit the USCIS website for instructions.

You need to read the instructions on the Sydney consulate site. Are you in NSW or Vic as there is a possibility of Melbourne. You can't email petitions to Sydney consulate

[johnnyandi 0]

How do I apply?

The first step in applying for an immigrant visa is for the U.S. citizen to file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with USCIS in the United States, or at one of our Consulates in Australia if the petitioner meets certain filing requirements. A separate petition must be filed for each person immigrating.

If filing the petition in the Unitehttp://canberra.usembassy.gov/i-130.htmld States, please visit the USCIS website for instructions.

You need to read the instructions on the Sydney consulate site. Are you in NSW or Vic as there is a possibility of Melbourne. You can't email petitions to Sydney consulate

My question is specific to the Australian consulate and I was hoping someone who had been through the DCF process in australia would be able to answer my question. Guessing, personal opinions and references to the USCIS and Consulate websites are not very helpful to me at this stage.

[johnnyandi 0]

I believe in Sydney, there is an actual I-130 interview and the petitioner must attend in person, also to show they are actually present in the country.

In other countries (such as Ireland when I did it), you must mail in the I-130 and cannot make an appointment...

Thanks for the advice, it looks like a trip to Sydney is inevitable

[johnnyandi 0]

UPDATE

My partner sent an email to the Sydney Consulate asking if we had to file the I-130 in person. She got a response the SAME DAY! So, for any future readers, the answer is yes, in Australia you MUST file the I-130 in person at the Consulate. If you cannot file in person you must file directly with USCIS in the US.

In addition, they sent the list of documents required to prove eligibility and book an appointment at the Consulate in order to file the I-130. We had not seen this detailed information on the website, so it's a good thing they told us.

The following is directly from the email we received from the Sydney Consulate:

"To request an appointment and to determine your eligibility to file the petition in Australia, please email: SydneyPetitions@state.gov unless applying through Perth, please email perthacs@state.gov attaching the following documents for our review:

• Biographic page of your valid U.S. passport, please ensure your passport is signed.
  
• If you are a dual national of Australia and the U.S, we require the biographic page of your valid Australian passport.
  
• Passport page showing your valid Australian Permanent Resident (PR) visa OR a copy of your PR Electronic Visa.
  
• Passport pages showing your Australian entry and exit stamps prior to and since your PR visa was issued. If you entered Australia on a New Zealand passport we will require a copy of your arrival and departure records.
  
• Military orders for U.S. Military Personnel.
  

An email will be sent with further instructions once we determine whether or not you qualify to file your petition in Australia."

[Benjamin44 10]

It is true that you cannot send the I-130 petition by mail in Australia; however, this does NOT mean that the U.S. Citizen petitioner needs to travel to Sydney in order to file it. If you live in the Consular Districts of either Perth or Melbourne (and presumably then also live closer to either of those 2 cities, saving you travel time), then you can file the I-130 petitions there in person as well (even though only Sydney processes the actual application for the immigrant visa itself). So, even though you're stuck going into Sydney for the immigrant visa interview later on, you can at least save yourself the trip out there just for filing the I-130 by filing it at one of the 2 Consulates which may be closer to home.

[johnnyandi 0]

It is true that you cannot send the I-130 petition by mail in Australia; however, this does NOT mean that the U.S. Citizen petitioner needs to travel to Sydney in order to file it. If you live in the Consular Districts of either Perth or Melbourne (and presumably then also live closer to either of those 2 cities, saving you travel time), then you can file the I-130 petitions there in person as well (even though only Sydney processes the actual application for the immigrant visa itself). So, even though you're stuck going into Sydney for the immigrant visa interview later on, you can at least save yourself the trip out there just for filing the I-130 by filing it at one of the 2 Consulates which may be closer to home.

Thanks for the Info Benjamin44,

Unfortunately I live on the Gold Coast (I don't think I have ever had to say that before ) So Sydney here I come, with any luck I might get my immigrant visa interview scheduled around the second State of Origin. Here's to hoping !!!

Cheers,

John

[johnnyandi 0]

UPDATE 2

Emailed Embassy in Sydney to get approval for DCF on Thursday 26th May, received confirmation email and I-130 appointment date on Tuesday 31st May. Appointment set for Thursday 9th June. Pretty excited the visa journey has begun !!!!

[flanags 0]

Awesome !!! you should start getting your police report / medical / and things needed for your I1864 so the process can go as quickly and smoothly as possible.

we're still waiting on my husband's Hong Kong police clearance - been 4 weeks already !!! The Australian police clearance came back in 10 days.

Congrats and good luck !

[johnnyandi 0]

UPDATE 3

I-130 approved !!!! We both went to the US Embassy in Sydney on Thursday 8th June. Stayed just around the corner from the Embassy at the Travelodge, 5 min walk. The whole process lasted approximately 1hr 15mins, and that was from when we left the hotel room to sitting downstairs having a coffee in a cafe afterwards. The people where super nice and it was over before we knew it !!!! Just waiting for the Pack 3 to arrive !!! In the mean time I am organising my police check and medical.

[johnnyandi 0]

FORGOT TO MENTION

My partner(USC) hasn't finalised her last 2 years tax returns, the immigration officer was adamant that she make sure that her taxes where filed before the final interview.

[johnnyandi 0]

UPDATE 4

Received the package 3 email on Friday 17th June, that makes it 8 days processing from my I-130 appointment. Just waiting on my police check to come back and medical !!!!

[johnnyandi 0]

UPDATE 5

Finally sent my Packet 3 material away, I have had a lot of distraction stopping me from filing earlier (Friends Wedding etc.). Mailed via platinum express on Thursday 4th August, tracked it arriving at the US Embassy at 12:30pm Friday 5th August. Received Packet 4 & Finally interview date email on the following Monday 8th August !!! 1 business day !!! Interview set for the 30th of August (three weeks lead time).

The Pack 4 contained a check-list which requested some further information required by the embassy (joint sponsor's proof of citizenship), but other than it was all smooth sailing (fingers crossed).