DCF Seoul - trying to get an appointment, tips?

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

I have my I-130 and all supporting documents ready to go, and I just realized that next week is the only time I'll be able to get a day off work to go to the embassy with my husband. So on Thursday last week, I emailed CIS Seoul (seoul.inquiries@dhs.gov) requesting an appointment. I have not yet received a reply. I really need to tell my employer which day I'm taking off, and I'm not sure how to get a response. How long is a typical wait time to get an email reply? I have had poor success reaching consulates by phone in the past, but is this the only other option? If so, which number is likely to yield success?

[richardkorea2010 15]

I did my DCF through the US embassy in Seoul.

This is the email address and telephone number for the US embassy(DCF division) in Seoul.

General Phone Inquiries: 02-397–4548 or 02-397-4282.

General E-mail Inquiries: CIS-Seoul.Inquiries@dhs.gov

They are generally very fast in response, when you email them. Within 2 days usually you get an answer.

All the best of luck!

Seoul's US embassy is one of the best!

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

Oh mercy. It was quite simple. I had omitted the "CIS-" from the email address when I mailed them. Thank you for your help!

I hear great things about Seoul, looking forward to a positive experience with them.

Edited June 25, 2012 by Carlos and Amy

[richardkorea2010 15]

No problem. Just remember when you file the I-130 , have all your papers signed.

My wife and I applied through DCF in April, and I had my interview on June 15th, and it was approved. I received my immigrant visa last week. All happened within 2 months, so as long as you are honest, and do everything that they ask, you should be fine.

I had a great experience with them,

No problem. Just remember when you file the I-130 , have all your papers signed.

My wife and I applied through DCF in April, and I had my interview on June 15th, and it was approved. I received my immigrant visa last week. All happened within 2 months, so as long as you are honest, and do everything that they ask, you should be fine.

I had a great experience with them,

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

Wow, no kidding they're fast. They already emailed back with our appointment time. NEW FAVORITE CONSULATE!!!!!

Thanks for the pointers. It's been 4 years since I was filing paperwork, and I am clearly forgetting a LOT.

[andnico 1]

Wow, no kidding they're fast. They already emailed back with our appointment time. NEW FAVORITE CONSULATE!!!!!

Thanks for the pointers. It's been 4 years since I was filing paperwork, and I am clearly forgetting a LOT.

I just read your storry!!! WOW you are a very strong couple!! I too came to be with my hubby since they denied(for different reasones) his k1 visa in 2004 in CD juarez. Have been here in mexico and ready to back with my family to the US this year. He got his cr1 visa last week.

So what day is you appointment?? So I can pray for you ....just like alot of people prayed alot on his intreview date.

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

I just read your storry!!! WOW you are a very strong couple!! I too came to be with my hubby since they denied(for different reasones) his k1 visa in 2004 in CD juarez. Have been here in mexico and ready to back with my family to the US this year. He got his cr1 visa last week.

So what day is you appointment?? So I can pray for you ....just like alot of people prayed alot on his intreview date.

Aw thanks! My year (or so) living in Mexico was rough! Good for you for toughing it out! Congrats on the approval!!!!

Our I-130 appointment is on Monday. Time to double, triple, quadruple-check the paperwork.! We definitely appreciate any prayers. This round should be easy, but it's the visa interview that will be tough, especially because we're going into knowing we'll be denied again, but hoping for a better outcome in terms of waiver eligibility.

[beejay 125]

I've seen your story at i2us. Hopefully this round with immigration will produce more favorable results for your family. I can't remember are you teaching at an international school over there?

Good luck with everything!

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

I've seen your story at i2us. Hopefully this round with immigration will produce more favorable results for your family. I can't remember are you teaching at an international school over there?

Good luck with everything!

Thank you! Yeah, trying not to get my hopes up too high because this is a crazy long shot, but hey, hope is hope.

Actually, I'm teaching at a public middle school here. International schools pay really well and have great benefits, but my experience teaching in that environment in Mexico kind of helped me realize it's not for me. Public school in Korea offers a pretty decent balance for the short-term, though.

[beejay 125]

Thank you! Yeah, trying not to get my hopes up too high because this is a crazy long shot, but hey, hope is hope.

Actually, I'm teaching at a public middle school here. International schools pay really well and have great benefits, but my experience teaching in that environment in Mexico kind of helped me realize it's not for me. Public school in Korea offers a pretty decent balance for the short-term, though.

That's actually kind of cool that you are at a local school. It's too bad you didn't like your experience at Mexico. I don't really want to derail your thread so you can ignore this question but what was it about your experience at the international school in Mexico that you didn't like?

Again fingers crossed for you and your family. Either way I'm glad you found a way to be together

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

That's actually kind of cool that you are at a local school. It's too bad you didn't like your experience at Mexico. I don't really want to derail your thread so you can ignore this question but what was it about your experience at the international school in Mexico that you didn't like?

Again fingers crossed for you and your family. Either way I'm glad you found a way to be together

It's OK, don't worry. Yeah, besides the fact that I was severely under-paid (even by Mexican standards), I just realized the private school environment is so unfamiliar to me and the learning curve was steep. I was extremely limited in the kinds of discipline I could employ, and I had boys in 4th grade who were sexually harassing girls in my class, yet I was told there was little I could do because the parents were paying very big money to the school. I wasn't allowed to grade any student lower than a C, even if they never did the work and failed the exam. I know this was an extreme and very negative experience, but the stress of basically being an employee of the parents made the job a lot less like teaching and a lot more like walking on eggshells all the time. I certainly understand the concerns of the parents -they were spending more than my annual salary to put their kids in the school, and they expected their money's worth. I just don't know if I was the best one to provide that service.

And thanks for the kind wishes, it is such an amazing thing to finally be a family! We're even expecting a baby to be born here in Korea in December!

Edited June 26, 2012 by Carlos and Amy

[beejay 125]

<snip>

And thanks for the kind wishes, it is such an amazing thing to finally be a family! We're even expecting a baby to be born here in Korea in December!

That makes perfect sense why you would shy away from that system after your experience in Mexico. It's not always the best mentality to try and run a school like a business and view parents as 'customers'. Hopefully the pros outweigh the cons at your new school.

and Congrats on your expanding family!!! (Those are the benefits of living in the same location, you can make new little ones )