Direct Consular Filing

[scottydel 0]

Hi,

Our I-130 is almost ready to file Bangkok USCIS Field Office is letting us file there, as I've lived here in Thailand for at least 6+ months.

I'm looking down the road a little here, but my question is: are there any changes we should be aware of since we are going to use Direct Consular Filing? The Bangkok USCIS rep told us that our application is not processed by the NVC but instead by the embassy, is this true? Our application will physicall never the Thailand then?

I will unfortunately be heading back to America after our I-130 is filed, so my wife will be getting the packets and probably mailing them to me, and I'll figure out what needs to be done and mail them back to her. I've already saved copies of packet 3 and 4, in anticipation of what to expect.

Direct Consular Filing seems to be the minority of cases here on VJ, most posts deal with filing in the US, so I'm looking for any differences in our application process that we should be aware of!

I've read the Guides, and they are helpful. Looking for any Direct Consular Filing peeps who have specific info to share!

Thanks,

-Scott

[calibob 73]

Sorry to say I'm not familiar with DCF , there is a sub topic in the forum tab that is specific for DCF's. This may help your response rate if you could get a moderator to move your question. Sorry!

Bob

[Ryan H 3,821]

The Bangkok USCIS rep told us that our application is not processed by the NVC but instead by the embassy, is this true? Our application will physicall never the Thailand then?

That's correct, by filing at the USCIS field office in Bangkok, your file will never leave Thailand.

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

***** Moving from CR-1 to DCF forum as question is specific to the DCF process *****

[scottydel 0]

Thanks for moving to the appropriate forum and for the response

Any other DCF experiences welcome!

[LBeachey 45]

One of differences is you pay the fee directly to the consulate and not NVC. (There is also a fee to process the I-864 at NVC you don't have to pay saving you some money).

The other big difference in China is DCF submits documents directly to the consulate where filing in the US all documents are submitted to NVC.

So you will see people who filed in the US showing up with nothing but pictures though this is not recommended. I would recommend trying to have a copy of everything you ever submitted no matter where you filed.

One other thing to keep in mind (though the Thailand might be different) is that the notice for the interview in DCF cases can be much shorter than going through NVC. We got two weeks notice versus a typical 6+ weeks from NVC (But again this is China so it might not apply)

Edited September 19, 2011 by LBeachey

[scottydel 0]

Thanks LBeachey - very helpful info, esp. the part about the interview notice time - I'll be flying in from the US for that, might be worth it to buy my ticket ahead of time and hope to be able to change the date with whatever advanced notice we are given.

Great news about missing the I-864 fee!

-Scott

[danthai 0]

Just successfully completed the process for my Thai wife you're about to begin for yours. You don't receive packets in the mail per se just the notifications, the packets are on the Bangkok Embassy internet site and that's where they tell you to get them. Download what's there now and make sure you put together "everything" they ask for and make copies of "everything" you send or submit and have your wife bring "everything" with her to the interview having them organized so she can easily find anything they want - and yes I mean "everything." The three things that they seemed most concerned with is that you can prove your relationship is real (cerificates, pics, letters, emails, joint accounts, etc.), that your domicile is in the U.S. and you can document/prove it as well as having the income/assets called for in the I-864P Poverty Guidelines. You and your wife should rehearse all the questions listed on this site's list of interview questions for IR/CR visa as they could ask her anything, but if you document your relationship really well the questions should be a lot easier than if you don't. If you have any specific questions I'll try to answer them.

[_.-*GRAY*-._ 0]

Just successfully completed the process for my Thai wife you're about to begin for yours. You don't receive packets in the mail per se just the notifications, the packets are on the Bangkok Embassy internet site and that's where they tell you to get them. Download what's there now and make sure you put together "everything" they ask for and make copies of "everything" you send or submit and have your wife bring "everything" with her to the interview having them organized so she can easily find anything they want - and yes I mean "everything." The three things that they seemed most concerned with is that you can prove your relationship is real (cerificates, pics, letters, emails, joint accounts, etc.), that your domicile is in the U.S. and you can document/prove it as well as having the income/assets called for in the I-864P Poverty Guidelines. You and your wife should rehearse all the questions listed on this site's list of interview questions for IR/CR visa as they could ask her anything, but if you document your relationship really well the questions should be a lot easier than if you don't. If you have any specific questions I'll try to answer them.

HI im jst interested what is the difference of dcf vs filling it to uscis>nvc? And who can file for Dcf any specific situation that applies?

thank you

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

HI im jst interested what is the difference of dcf vs filling it to uscis>nvc? And who can file for Dcf any specific situation that applies?

thank you

DCF is only available if the US citizen has resided abroad legally for 6 months or more, and if there is a USCIS office in the country they live. The main benefit is that it i8s much quicker- 6 weeks in my case, though timelines vary per country.

[DerZinker 4]

DCF is only available if the US citizen has resided abroad legally for 6 months or more, and if there is a USCIS office in the country they live. The main benefit is that it i8s much quicker- 6 weeks in my case, though timelines vary per country.

Hi All, this has come up in another thread (the DCF Mexico thread, specifically). I qualify for DCF and have long been planning to file DCF in Mexico. In Mexico things have not changed as far as the new August 2011 DCF changes and as far as I know I would still be able to send my petition to Mexico City as normal and all that. However, another VJ member who qualifies for DCF plans to send all of his documents through the Chicago lockbox because he was told that it might actually be quicker as a result of the new changes in August 2011 and could also have other benefits (ex: after the petition is received, in theory all of the back-and-fourth between the NVC and petitioner / beneficiary takes place though file exchanges online and not through snail mail).

My question here is pretty simple: Taking into account the changes that came along with the August 2011 DCF stuff, could it possibly be more convenient / faster to actually file through the US even if you qualify for DCF abroad? It's hard for me to believe that it would be, but if anyone has any recent experience I'd love to hear from them.

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

It won't be faster, but I suppose it could be more convenient.

[milopnkr 0]

I was once eligible for DCF (USC living in Australia) but unfortunately, I didn't file until after August 15, 2011. But my i-130 was granted in 15 days at CSC via USCIS. My question is: what happens now?

I got the standard email that the petition has been approved and my file has been forwarded to the relevant authority but I don't have a clue who that is. Still haven't gotten the hardcopy NOA2 as I live on the other side of the world! I assumed with DCF no longer in Australia, my file would follow the NVC route. But when I checked the US Embassy in Australia website it says to mail packet 3, 4, etc to the sydney consulate (this sounds like DCF)--but it also states the correct information regarding i130s (send to Chicago--USCIS route). The pages are current and up to date.

Am I just really confused about the entire DCF process? How do i know if my file ends up in NVC or if it is sent to the Embassy in Australia? The more I read, the more confused I get because what I am reading about the major change that took place on August 15, 2011 was that USCIS was now handling all i130s... it didn't mention anything about the rest of the process...

headscratch

[Ryan H 3,821]

I was once eligible for DCF (USC living in Australia) but unfortunately, I didn't file until after August 15, 2011. But my i-130 was granted in 15 days at CSC via USCIS. My question is: what happens now?

I got the standard email that the petition has been approved and my file has been forwarded to the relevant authority but I don't have a clue who that is. Still haven't gotten the hardcopy NOA2 as I live on the other side of the world! I assumed with DCF no longer in Australia, my file would follow the NVC route. But when I checked the US Embassy in Australia website it says to mail packet 3, 4, etc to the sydney consulate (this sounds like DCF)--but it also states the correct information regarding i130s (send to Chicago--USCIS route). The pages are current and up to date.

Am I just really confused about the entire DCF process? How do i know if my file ends up in NVC or if it is sent to the Embassy in Australia? The more I read, the more confused I get because what I am reading about the major change that took place on August 15, 2011 was that USCIS was now handling all i130s... it didn't mention anything about the rest of the process...

headscratch

Your file is going to the NVC. It may take a month after your NOA2 date before they upload your file into their system and a case number is generated. All required material will have to be sent to the NVC. Packet 3, 4 etc. is for K visas.

[Idan 0]

I'm not sure this is the case. I am too in this situation. Both my case and Milopnkr's were approved within 15 days with the USCIS.

Both the Jerusalem US consulate and the one in Australia announce in their website that the next step is handled by the consulate.

See Jerusalem US consulate step 2 from their website:

STEP 2 - SCHEDULE YOUR INTERVIEW

When you file your petition, either directly with USCIS or at the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem, you will be given a checklist of steps that you must complete prior to the visa interview. Once you have assembled all of the required documents, it is your responsibility to notify us that the beneficiary is ready for an interview by submitting Form DS-2001 (Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants). You can submit this form via postal mail, email or in person at our reception window at the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem. Do NOT submit any original documents with the DS-2001. After we receive the DS-2001 we will schedule the beneficiary for his or her visa appointment.

LINK TO WEBSITE: US Consulate in Jerusalem

What do you think?