London UK DCF - 2012

[Holly2234 66]

Ohh ok! I misread that she had already moved back.

The timelines are currently about 5ish months if you stay on top of the next stage. But June is perfectly do-able from October You have 6 months to move from the medical anyway so you will have plenty of time to get things sorted.

[Tim42 0]

Well, following a discussion in the car this morning, we started wondering why we're waiting until next year (given that I'm working online and can do that from anywhere), so we're starting the process with the I-130 in the morning!

Edited September 3, 2012 by Tim42

[hazzlondon 0]

OK - got back from honeymoon yesterday, so it's time to get the VISA ball rolling! Glad we can share the journey with you lot. My wife is a US citizen (but no social security number yet).

So, just filling out the I-130 form. Seems straightforward, but just wanted to clarify a few things. Sorry if they have already been explained (I had a look already):

- Do we need to post the I-130, or is it physically taken to the London embassy?

- The instructions for the i-130 include a list of info required to prove a) she is a US citizen and b) that we are husband & wife. I assume that means we include copies of the required documents when submitting this form (as opposed to taking them at the time of the interview).

- For payment of the fee, the instructions say the funds have to come from a US bank account. However, there is a "Credit Card payment form" on the London embassy web site (http://london.usembassy.gov/dhs/uscis/i130filing.html). I assume we can fill in that form to pay the fee?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

H

[Holly2234 66]

Well, following a discussion in the car this morning, we started wondering why we're waiting until next year (given that I'm working online and can do that from anywhere), so we're starting the process with the I-130 in the morning!

Thats great! Good luck

[Holly2234 66]

OK - got back from honeymoon yesterday, so it's time to get the VISA ball rolling! Glad we can share the journey with you lot. My wife is a US citizen (but no social security number yet).

So, just filling out the I-130 form. Seems straightforward, but just wanted to clarify a few things. Sorry if they have already been explained (I had a look already):

- Do we need to post the I-130, or is it physically taken to the London embassy?

- The instructions for the i-130 include a list of info required to prove a) she is a US citizen and b) that we are husband & wife. I assume that means we include copies of the required documents when submitting this form (as opposed to taking them at the time of the interview).

- For payment of the fee, the instructions say the funds have to come from a US bank account. However, there is a "Credit Card payment form" on the London embassy web site (http://london.usembassy.gov/dhs/uscis/i130filing.html). I assume we can fill in that form to pay the fee?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

H

Yes you need to post the I-130. I recommend recorded for your own peace of mind! The address is on the first post of this thread.

You will need to send a photocopy of your wifes US passport photo page and also proof that she has been in the UK for 6 months. Could be a visa or an entry stamp or wage slips (dont know anybody who has used these but could be an option if nothing else) or something like that. You also need to send a photocopy of your marriage certificate. Staple it all in the order that is stated on the I-130 instructions. Link also on the first page.

You can use the credit card payment form if you wish. It doesnt matter what bank it comes from as long as the money can be taken.

You may get an RFE for your wifes SSN so it will probably be worth getting an appointment at the Embassy for her to get one. There might be other ways to get one but i havent looked into them.

[121 0]

Hi,

I am french citizen and plan to marry my fiancé who is a US citizen. As there is no DCF at Paris embassy, could we fill for DCF in the UK ?

I got family in the UK who can testify I live there.

Thank you

[Holly2234 66]

Do you both live in the UK? And have you both lived here legally for 6 months and not as visitors?

[Holly2234 66]

Just thought i would throw in a timeline for reference:

10th May 2012 - Mailed I-130

18th May 2012 - I-130 officially filed and received email

26th July 2012 - I-130 Approved (69 days)

28th July 2012 - Notice of approval received

10th August 2012 - Case number received. Letter dated 7th August.

15th August 2012 - Sent back DS-230 and DS-2001

23rd August 2012 - Medical

[hazzlondon 0]

Yes you need to post the I-130. I recommend recorded for your own peace of mind! The address is on the first post of this thread.

You will need to send a photocopy of your wifes US passport photo page and also proof that she has been in the UK for 6 months. Could be a visa or an entry stamp or wage slips (dont know anybody who has used these but could be an option if nothing else) or something like that. You also need to send a photocopy of your marriage certificate. Staple it all in the order that is stated on the I-130 instructions. Link also on the first page.

You can use the credit card payment form if you wish. It doesnt matter what bank it comes from as long as the money can be taken.

You may get an RFE for your wifes SSN so it will probably be worth getting an appointment at the Embassy for her to get one. There might be other ways to get one but i havent looked into them.

Thanks Holly. Appreciate your help.

[Laila Cakes 0]

Hi there,

I just joined this site so appologies for my ignorance if I'm posting in the wrong place!

I just wanted some help please if possible as I'm finding the whole visa process very confusing! I would like to know if I have grounds to file for DCF in London.

I am a UK citizen engaged to a US citizen. We plan on marrying next month in California.

My other half is in the US Air Force and has been living in England on military PCS orders for the past 7 Years. He owns a property in England so I'm hoping that would be evidence

Of him living here, besides the fact he's still been work & filing US taxes whilst in England.

Problem is this, he has just had orders to leave for another base in CA ( hence reason were going out there to marry). He is now at his new base but literally only been left from England a few weeks. Can we still file using DCF in London even though he's physically not here? Would he have to attend the interview in London? And also will it look odd that we have married in California as opposed to UK?

Sorry for all the questions I just really don't know where to start with all this! As I said my fiancé has original pcs orders & appropriate visas to be in England, in addition to property etc.

He is in the US Airforce and gets free flights back to UK via military flights so if it was desperate he needed to be here for interviews we could possibly get him back here.

We were originally going to file Cr1 visa app in US until he heard about this DCF filing from someone else on his squadron.

I forgot to mention, I have a child already (UK citizen) I understand we need to apply for her visa in her own right & have obtained permission from her father. Would having a child affect a DCF?

Sorry to waffle on! I'd love to hear from anyone with any ideas on this.

Thank you x

[Angela Murray 4]

We have not actually embarked on the process yet. We are trying to make sure we have everything in place before we get to the filing stage as we don't want to stall or to be denied simply because we didn't have our paperwork in order. The big hold up at the moment (beside trying to get to grip with the timescale) is that my husband discovered he should have been filing returns with the IRS all these years despite not being resident in the US and only being employed here in the UK. Big gaff. So now, as I understand it, he is going to have to back file.

Just a heads up, Even though you'll be filing the 3 years together, when you submit them to the IRS make sure you mail them out in 3 separate envelopes. I learned this the hard way when I ordered my transcripts a few months later only to find that they lost my 2010. After speaking to many a unapologetic agent they all managed to reiterate that I should have known better than to submit more than 1 tax return in 1 envelope because that's how they manage to go missing. I know that NOW.

[Angela Murray 4]

Holly, have you ever considered giving immigration law a go? I mean, I thought I was pretty 'up' on procedures, general timelines, forms and terminology but...I should stop irritating the living ####### out of my lawyer and just talk to you!

I am curious about something--OK, more than curious more like mildly crapping my pantaloons. My husband and I have this way of inadvertently pissing on eachothers parade with regards to how the process is going/will go. Wow pee and poo mentioned in all of 2 sentences. Can you tell which one of us is the American? One of us will have a random thought about possible RFE's or some sort of denial risk but then bring it up with the other and then the seed gets planted and suddenly we're both googling and printing and doing spontaneous math. All this waiting it turning us into lunatics!

Anyway, On to my concern...Yesterday my mother introduced me to a man at her job because he'd just completed the same process with his wife in El Salvador who was approved July 30th. Seeing as I'm currently living with my mother whilst my husband is in the UK, my mom gets the benefit of seeing me inflict punishment on the aforementioned pantaloons day and night. After a conversation with him about his experiences she had him try to ease my mind. In a nutshell he said they filed themselves, i-130 and DCF, He's also an El Salvadorian immigrant who came over in the 80's and since Stuart has made it passed the medical it's smooth sailing from there. 'Pffft, he's had his medical, all they're gonna do is ask him how long you've been together, maybe a few more questions and stamp his passport.' I know it's probably not that cut and dry but regardless I couldn't wait to get home and share this peace of mind with my husband.

That lasted all of about 13 seconds because my lovely hubby says--Yeah but they haven't processed the i-864 yet. I get the interview if that gets approved...And suddenly my reflux is making me realllly regret that caramel macchiato.

So--I'm self employed and have been in business for almost 2 years now. My first year I made $11,000--From Jan 1st to today I've made $23,594. My lawyer said that she'd be putting this years earnings at $29K given my monthly average but do you think this will result in an RFE? In addition, I think I may have to speak to her because on this sample i-864 (maybe I'm spazzing) but I can't see a space where I can give current income just the previous piddly 3 years. ((In addition my mother is co-sponsor in case they felt that self employment was a bit too precarious))

Thanks in advance!

Edited September 21, 2012 by Angela Murray

[Holly2234 66]

Holly, have you ever considered giving immigration law a go? I mean, I thought I was pretty 'up' on procedures, general timelines, forms and terminology but...I should stop irritating the living ####### out of my lawyer and just talk to you!

I am curious about something--OK, more than curious more like mildly crapping my pantaloons. My husband and I have this way of inadvertently pissing on eachothers parade with regards to how the process is going/will go. Wow pee and poo mentioned in all of 2 sentences. Can you tell which one of us is the American? One of us will have a random thought about possible RFE's or some sort of denial risk but then bring it up with the other and then the seed gets planted and suddenly we're both googling and printing and doing spontaneous math. All this waiting it turning us into lunatics!

Anyway, On to my concern...Yesterday my mother introduced me to a man at her job because he'd just completed the same process with his wife in El Salvador who was approved July 30th. Seeing as I'm currently living with my mother whilst my husband is in the UK, my mom gets the benefit of seeing me inflict punishment on the aforementioned pantaloons day and night. After a conversation with him about his experiences she had him try to ease my mind. In a nutshell he said they filed themselves, i-130 and DCF, He's also an El Salvadorian immigrant who came over in the 80's and since Stuart has made it passed the medical it's smooth sailing from there. 'Pffft, he's had his medical, all they're gonna do is ask him how long you've been together, maybe a few more questions and stamp his passport.' I know it's probably not that cut and dry but regardless I couldn't wait to get home and share this peace of mind with my husband.

That lasted all of about 13 seconds because my lovely hubby says--Yeah but they haven't processed the i-864 yet. I get the interview if that gets approved...And suddenly my reflux is making me realllly regret that caramel macchiato.

So--I'm self employed and have been in business for almost 2 years now. My first year I made $11,000--From Jan 1st to today I've made $23,594. My lawyer said that she'd be putting this years earnings at $29K given my monthly average but do you think this will result in an RFE? In addition, I think I may have to speak to her because on this sample i-864 (maybe I'm spazzing) but I can't see a space where I can give current income just the previous piddly 3 years. ((In addition my mother is co-sponsor in case they felt that self employment was a bit too precarious))

Thanks in advance!

AHHH i want to choke your lawyer!!!

The I-864 does not get mailed anywhere for DCF, you take it with you to the interview. Your lawyer doesnt even need to have touched or seen it unless you wanted them to double check it. As for this years earnings, you dont need to put those because the year isnt done yet. You need the 2011 tax return (2010 and 2009 if you feel it will help) showing income of more than $18,912 if it is just the two of you. Along with W2 and usually pay stubs so whatever it is you have to prove your income from your business(from this year). If you didnt earn that much last year, you will still need a joint sponsor. Because what you're earning now, you wont be able to show until next April (ish). If you use a joint sponsor, you need them to fill in an I-864 as a joint sponsor and provide their tax returns, W2's and pay stubs and a photocopy of their passport or birth certificate. If you use for example, your mom, since you live with her, you will do an I-864 and include the earnings of your household member (mom) and she will do an I-864a as the household member and still provide the same documents. Does any of that make sense? It does in my head but its come out as a massive jumble! ( i have just re-read and your mom is already your joint sponsor so ignore most of that!) If you want any help with the form if you do it yourself, give me a shout

I know what you mean about pissing on each others parade! Every time i mention a story or something to my husband he refuses to listen because he doesnt want to worry! Thankfully he doesnt read about immigration stuff!

The man from El Salvador is right. It really is (in a straight forward case) that simple. The passport will be taken, he will pay a courier (£14.80 by card or exact cash amount) and they return it a week or two later.

Is your lawyer a UK or US based one and do they specialise in immigration? Im actually really mad with them about how much they are misleading you, its not fair for the amount they charge!

I thought about it! But realised i have to go to college for that and that must be where they teach them to be morons. I know there are loads of good ones and i used one to get my husband to the UK. Im just being a cynic

[Holly2234 66]

Hi there,

I just joined this site so appologies for my ignorance if I'm posting in the wrong place!

I just wanted some help please if possible as I'm finding the whole visa process very confusing! I would like to know if I have grounds to file for DCF in London.

I am a UK citizen engaged to a US citizen. We plan on marrying next month in California.

My other half is in the US Air Force and has been living in England on military PCS orders for the past 7 Years. He owns a property in England so I'm hoping that would be evidence

Of him living here, besides the fact he's still been work & filing US taxes whilst in England.

Problem is this, he has just had orders to leave for another base in CA ( hence reason were going out there to marry). He is now at his new base but literally only been left from England a few weeks. Can we still file using DCF in London even though he's physically not here? Would he have to attend the interview in London? And also will it look odd that we have married in California as opposed to UK?

Sorry for all the questions I just really don't know where to start with all this! As I said my fiancé has original pcs orders & appropriate visas to be in England, in addition to property etc.

He is in the US Airforce and gets free flights back to UK via military flights so if it was desperate he needed to be here for interviews we could possibly get him back here.

We were originally going to file Cr1 visa app in US until he heard about this DCF filing from someone else on his squadron.

I forgot to mention, I have a child already (UK citizen) I understand we need to apply for her visa in her own right & have obtained permission from her father. Would having a child affect a DCF?

Sorry to waffle on! I'd love to hear from anyone with any ideas on this.

Thank you x

Has your husband left the UK for an extended period of time? If he has and he wont be coming back for a while, you wont be able to do DCF. If he is coming back, then you can file DCF while he is here and then if he has to go back, it doesnt matter. But he has to be a current resident and actively living here. I know he has a house and visa etc. but it doesnt mean much as far as the requirements are concerned.

From the sounds of things (the way i have interpreted your post, he has already left) you will need to file via the Chicago Lock Box. He will not need to be at the interview in London with you. You can marry in any country you want and it wont make a difference.

Yes you will need to get permission from your childs father, your husband (after the wedding!) will need to file a petition for her too.

You also have the option of a K-1 fiance visa and a K-2 i believe for your daughter. It will get you there more quickly. Having a child does not make a difference as long as you have the fathers permission to take her from the country to live in the US. If he wont give permission, you have to go through courts. There is a lady on here called Teachsays (i think!) and she has had to go through something similar so she may be able to give you advice on that.

[Angela Murray 4]

AHHH i want to choke your lawyer!!!

The I-864 does not get mailed anywhere for DCF, you take it with you to the interview. Your lawyer doesnt even need to have touched or seen it unless you wanted them to double check it. As for this years earnings, you dont need to put those because the year isnt done yet. You need the 2011 tax return (2010 and 2009 if you feel it will help) showing income of more than $18,912 if it is just the two of you. Along with W2 and usually pay stubs so whatever it is you have to prove your income from your business(from this year). If you didnt earn that much last year, you will still need a joint sponsor. Because what you're earning now, you wont be able to show until next April (ish). If you use a joint sponsor, you need them to fill in an I-864 as a joint sponsor and provide their tax returns, W2's and pay stubs and a photocopy of their passport or birth certificate. If you use for example, your mom, since you live with her, you will do an I-864 and include the earnings of your household member (mom) and she will do an I-864a as the household member and still provide the same documents. Does any of that make sense? It does in my head but its come out as a massive jumble! ( i have just re-read and your mom is already your joint sponsor so ignore most of that!) If you want any help with the form if you do it yourself, give me a shout

I know what you mean about pissing on each others parade! Every time i mention a story or something to my husband he refuses to listen because he doesnt want to worry! Thankfully he doesnt read about immigration stuff!

The man from El Salvador is right. It really is (in a straight forward case) that simple. The passport will be taken, he will pay a courier (£14.80 by card or exact cash amount) and they return it a week or two later.

Is your lawyer a UK or US based one and do they specialise in immigration? Im actually really mad with them about how much they are misleading you, its not fair for the amount they charge!

I thought about it! But realised i have to go to college for that and that must be where they teach them to be morons. I know there are loads of good ones and i used one to get my husband to the UK. Im just being a cynic

Thank you for your help. I need to speak with my husband about this again. I could have it wrong! I will admit that I do have a habit of selective hearing when it comes to things that cause me stress. I literally take in bits and pieces and put them together later. It's a built in filter and it causes more harm than good sometimes but I do recall him saying, they have received the affidavits of support but not processed them yet.

Our lawyer is a US Immigration lawyer and she's based in London. We wanted someone who specialized in it and she's American too. She's actually is a really lovely gal and doesn't give off that whole vampiric 'I vant to suck your money' vibe so, party bonus! I know that she sent over the DS230 the day of his medical (5th of this month).

We really just wanted to do this right and we just weren't confident that we could pull it off on our own. I think we've paid around $4,000 so far? It really is a buttload of money but the way we looked at it was a few grand now for an eternity together was worth it. We're cheesy bastards.

I'm glad were not the only couple stressing eachother out! Every other day one of us is saying 'Come on, I need your support, stop freaking me out!' I've been trying to refocus my attention on getting this place anglo-americanized in an effort to calm down. Electric kettle (walmart), Kitchen scales (bed bath and beyond), grocers that carry English products when he craves Irn-Bru or sausage rolls (Meyers of Keswick, NY) Where will you be living in the US?

As far as evidence of my current income I have paypal invoices showing all of the payments I've received from Jan 1st onward. Final one to be printed the night before the interview for good measure. A letter from an Etsy staff member (The website that I sell on) stating the amount of earned thus far which has been signed and with a phone number for any further questions. A print out from my etsy shop stats for this year so hopefully they accept it. That's all I can think of for now.

We're not far apart in the process. You could end up being interview buddies!