Interview Centers & where to file outside USA

[mogulnara 0]

US citizen married to a Kazakhstan in UAE (2011) & now about to leave UAE due to end of contract. I need help answering few questions:

1. Where to file "I-130" Petition for Alien Relative? Greece or Chicago?

2. If we send I-130 from UAE (which does not have a USCIS local international field office), which country will we have to go for interview?

[Roosha 51]

1. Chicago. All I-130s need to be sent to the Chicago lock box unless you can apply at the Embassy b/c it has a USCIS office, which UAE embassy does not. Closest one is actually in Jordan I think and you have to be a resident in Jordan to be able to apply at the embassy there.

2. Will the non-US citizen spouse continue living in the UAE after you leave? If so, then he/she will interview at the embassy in the UAE. You, the US Citizen will not have to interview.

I've been married for 7 years in Qatar and am now starting the process from here, keep in mind that it will take at least 7-8 months start to finish, if you're lucky. Also, there is a domicile requirement once you reach the affidavit of support stage. Feel free to send me a message if you want.

[pushbrk 12,908]

US citizen married to a Kazakhstan in UAE (2011) & now about to leave UAE due to end of contract. I need help answering few questions:

1. Where to file "I-130" Petition for Alien Relative? Greece or Chicago?

2. If we send I-130 from UAE (which does not have a USCIS local international field office), which country will we have to go for interview?

You will mail the petition to Chicago and the foreign spouse will have their medical and interview at the Consular Immigrant Visa Unit that is responsible for their country of citizenship, or (if living in another country legally) their then current country of legal residence.

[mogulnara 0]

Thank you Roosha & Pushbrk for your responses & Happy Thanksgiving!

I must clarify that my (non-US)wife's UAE resident visa ended & is now a tourist till we leave next month, then she will live in Kazakhstan.

Q: Should we mail the I-130 from UAE, Kazakhstan or US?

PS.

I don't need to file an affidavit of support (according to USCIS website) since I have over 40 quarters in the S.S. system.

[pushbrk 12,908]

Thank you Roosha & Pushbrk for your responses & Happy Thanksgiving!

I must clarify that my (non-US)wife's UAE resident visa ended & is now a tourist till we leave next month, then she will live in Kazakhstan.

Q: Should we mail the I-130 from UAE, Kazakhstan or US?

PS.

I don't need to file an affidavit of support (according to USCIS website) since I have over 40 quarters in the S.S. system.

It doesn't matter where you mail the petition from but it should show her Kazakhstan address as her current address, so there is no confusion where she lives.

Obtain the UAE police certificate before she leaves.

Police Records

Available, only if applicant is physically present in the UAE.

Police certificates may be obtained by any person, regardless of nationality, by personally appearing at the Central Police Headquarters located in the emirate of residence or former residence. When appearing to request a police certificate, the applicant should provide recent photographs, a letter from the requesting authority, the date of residence in the emirate, and their passport.

Not available by mail. Post recommends that consular officers waive the general requirement to obtain police certificates unless the applicant lives in the UAE.

Edited November 23, 2012 by pushbrk

[Darnell 8,478]

I don't need to file an affidavit of support (according to USCIS website) since I have over 40 quarters in the S.S. system.

That rule is for the beneficiary, not for the petitioner.

Does the beneficiary, the foreign spouse, have over 40 quarters in the S.S. system ?