USC petitioner living abroad

[AmyAndres 2]

1. Country USC resides in: Chile

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No

3. When did you file the I-130: March 17, 2015

4. How long had you been living abroad: 3 years permanently

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes

6. What is the reason for your residence: Family

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes

8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes

9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes, CRBA of our son born in Chile, utility bills in my name at my foreign address

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes, 27 days. NOA1 was on March 19 and NOA2 was on April 15. (both electronic).

Our case was at CSC.

Edited May 5, 2015 by AmyAndres

[katze101 4]

1. Country USC resides in: Australia

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: April 2015 it was sent to the CSC
4. How long had you been living abroad: almost 5 years
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: work permit/student/tourist/ work
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? No
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. A copy of our lease agreement
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Not really, just our foreign address on the cover letter.
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? I'm going to say yes. 40 days.

[marymon 15]

1. Country USC resides in: Ireland

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: April 27th 2015
4. How long had you been living abroad: 1 year
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: work permit/student/tourist/ Spouse's job relocation

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? copy of our lease agreement, bank statements and bills
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? No

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes.15 days

[Dani&Juli_VE 1]

1. Country USC resides in: Venezuela

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? NO
3. When did you file the I-130: April 09th 2015 according to NOA1
4. How long had you been living abroad: 28 years
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes of course!
6. What is the reason for your residence: I was basically raised in Venezuela

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? YES, everywhere
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Not exactly. Sent the package to sister in FL, she opens and adds payment (by moneyorder) and sends package via USPS from FL.
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? These were originally intended AS PROOF OR RESIDENCE, but I guess they could have considered them as evidence... but YES, we sent: Joint Property Document, Utility Bill showing both as owners and both Venezuelan Photo ID's updated recently. That's it.

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? YES, we mentioned it on the first paragraph of our cover letter.

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? YES... 40 days.

Edited May 23, 2015 by Dani&Juli_VE

[spectrrr 14]

1. Country USC resides in: Venezuela

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? NO
3. When did you file the I-130: NOA1 date is Feb. 25th, 2015

4. How long had you been living abroad: 2 years

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes, on a 1 year temporary family visa (renewable every year)
6. What is the reason for your residence: Married here, living here to be with wife's family until visa comes through.

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? YES, on every form, and on continuation sheets as well.
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? YES. Mailed via FedEx from abroad, with a foreign return address.
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? YES. Rental contract in both our names.

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? YES. We mentioned it in the first paragraph of cover letter, and also in a separate letter describing the evolution of our relationship.

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? I think NO. 84 days. --- Perhaps it was semi-expedited because we were sent ot the fast CSC office, but I dont think that 84 days counts as "expedited".

[aeh85 7]

1. Country USC resides in: France

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: June 2015
4. How long had you been living abroad: almost 8 years
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: work permit/student/tourist/other - first work, then study, now marriage
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes, except 18. the address where beneficiary intends to live - I put my parents' USA address
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes, and marked "filed from abroad" on the envelope
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. Joint bank account, both names on the lease.
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes, pretty detailed about our relationship: when we started living together, when we got a civil partnership (PACS), when we got married in France, how our son was born in France, etc.
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes, 22 days!

[OLee 64]

1. Country USC resides in: Venezuela

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? NO

3. When did you file the I-130: NOA1 date is Feb. 25th, 2015

4. How long had you been living abroad: 2 years

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes, on a 1 year temporary family visa (renewable every year)

6. What is the reason for your residence: Married here, living here to be with wife's family until visa comes through.

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? YES, on every form, and on continuation sheets as well.

8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? YES. Mailed via FedEx from abroad, with a foreign return address.

9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? YES. Rental contract in both our names.

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? YES. We mentioned it in the first paragraph of cover letter, and also in a separate letter describing the evolution of our relationship.

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? I think NO. 84 days. --- Perhaps it was semi-expedited because we were sent ot the fast CSC office, but I dont think that 84 days counts as "expedited".

YES, you were expedited. Just compare to 6-8 months people are stuck with the USCIS.

[Samia&Yasser 0]

1. Country USC resides in: Saudi Arabia

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No

3. When did you file the I-130: June 2015

4. How long had you been living abroad: 1 year

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes

6. What is the reason for your residence: visit

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes

8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes

9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? No

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? No

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? 2 days?

[Ryan H 3,812]

***This purpose of this thread is to provide information when sending a petition from abroad from countries where DCF is unavailable (or a petitioner did not qualify to use); it is not intended for general Q and A. Several recent posts that deviated from the purpose of this thread have been removed.***

[theskeets 10]

1. Country USC resides in: The Netherlands

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: July 04, 2015
4. How long had you been living abroad: 11-months
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: Tagged along with my then-fíance-now-husband for his job; I'm still not working, just living.
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes, but put my parents address in USA where I intend to live.
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes, from Switzerland. But we live in NL.
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes: joint bank account, health insurance and lease.
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? No
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes, 22 days!

Edited August 13, 2015 by theskeets

[Sekhvaruli 74]

1. Country USC resides in: Georgia
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: July 2015
4. How long had you been living abroad: 4 months
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: work permit/student/tourist/ I arrived for the purpose of staying with my husband and waiting for his visa together
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? We sent it to a friend in the US, and he sent it in the sealed Georgian envelope, with the enclosed check
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. They were meant to be evidence of bona fide relationship, but they also proved the USC was residing in Georgia
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? No
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes, 30 days - July 14th - August 13th

[oncefuturealien 45]

1. Country USC resides in: Canada

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No

3. When did you file the I-130: July 8, 2015

4. How long had you been living abroad: 6+ years

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes

6. What is the reason for your residence: work permit/student/tourist/ Work then married and LPR

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes

8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes

9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. Home ownership info.

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Unsure...48 days at CSC is not as fast as some although faster than many.

[tobias 0]

1. Country USC resides in: Vietnam
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: August 11
4. How long had you been living abroad: 3+ year
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: work permit/student/tourist/ Work
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes. Indicate Filed from abroad in envelope
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. Home ownership info.
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes, 28 days. Awesome

[MordecaiRigby 29]

1. Country USC resides in: Poland
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: sent on September 23rd, was received October 1st
4. How long had you been living abroad: 3 and a half years
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes
6. What is the reason for your residence: marriage to Polish citizen (family-based temporary residence permit)
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes. Wrote big fat "Filed from abroad" on the envelope; wrote foreign address on all forms.
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. Photocopy of Polish residency card showing the same address as spouse; photocopies of letters sent by family members to our address in Poland; document from a Polish bank showing joint bank account in Poland. Info about employment in Poland on form G-325a.
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes, wrote a separate letter on the evolution of our relationship.
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes, 29 days from NOA-1 to "case approved" on USCIS website.

We were routed to California Service Center.

Edited November 4, 2015 by Mr.M&Mrs.J

[skeltzer 19]

1. Country USC resides in: Canada
2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No
3. When did you file the I-130: Mailed Oct. 30 and received Nov. 3
4. How long had you been living abroad: Just over 2 years
5. Do you reside in the country legally? Yes.
6. What is the reason for your residence: Graduate student on a study visa then on a post-graduate work permit
7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes. Included "filed from abroad" on our cover letter as well.
8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes, through Canada Post
9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes. We included our lease, our renter's insurance, our Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union, our most recent Canadian tax return, Canadian joint credit card statements, letters from our Canadian bank confirming joint accounts, a copy of my current work permit and my education tax credit form from the University of Toronto. We had quite a bit!
10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes, mentioned the dates we met, began cohabitating/when I moved to Canada for school, became engaged, and got married.
11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Yes, 34 days!!!