2 or 10 year greencard

[JenniferNN 0]

I have here some info for DCF in the Philippines!! GOD bless you and more power!! :)

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United States IR-1 Immigrant Visa with Direct Consular Filing (DCF)

Direct Consular Filing (DCF) is the unofficial term for filing an I-130 petition via a Consulate overseas rather than through the U.S. Service Center. This process can expedite the speed in which a beneficiary can enter the United States and become a “Green Card” holder (Legal Permanent Resident).

The U.S. Embassy requires DCF sponsors to have permanent residency in the Philippines. The easiest way to show proof of permanent residency is by way of a 13a Visa. If you do not have a 13a visa to prove residency, the U.S. Embassy may still allow for U.S. citizens to file DCF if they can prove they have established a residence in the Philippines and are living in the Philippines on a permanent bases.

When filing a DCF, the sponsor must have the intent to return to the states to permanently live. However, “permanent” does not mean forever.

The petitioner has to fill out Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) as part of the DCF process, and one of the questions asked on the form is the address in the US that the petitioner will be domiciled. Some may question how the petitioner can be a permanent resident in the Philippines and still be domiciled in the states at the same time. Answer � Have a stateside address. Many will use a relatives address in the U.S.

Another option is to get a rental contract prior to the interview. And you really don't ever need to travel to the U.S. to rent an apartment either. You can do that by internet, phone, and fax. Any real estate agent can rent an apartment for you. It doesn't have to be more than a cheap 1BR apartment. Just have the agent go by once every couple weeks to pick up mail. It doesn't have to have a phone or utilities hooked up either. Just show the rental contract to the Embassy at the interview. In my case, I drew up a rental contract between myself and my daughter in the US. This contract shows myself and my wife renting space in my daughter’s house upon our arrival. The “contract” is signed by myself, my wife and my daughter. You can find sample rental contracts on the internet.

Again, if you do not have a current stateside address, as long as the sponsor can show an intent to return to the states to live upon approval, and if they have the means to support there immigrant spouse, there should be no problems with approval.

If the sponsor has been married to the applicant for at least 2 years upon entering the U.S. for the first time, the applicants Immigration status will be IR-1 when they arrive, and they will receive a Ten Year Green Card within weeks of arrival. Then there is no need to go through the 1 year “Adjustment of Status”.

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A. Initially Filing For This Visa:

To initially file for this visa, bring the below listed documents to the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 12:00pm to window 35. No appointment is necessary. Total time I spent at the Embassy was approx 1.5 hours.

If you have any questions, call the Dept. of Homeland Security at 02-301-2000 Ext: 2224 or 2379

Documents Required for Initial Filing:

1. I-130 application

2. G-325A application (myself) with 2 passport photos (2 ”x 2” glossy color with white background)

3. G-325A application (wife) with 2 passport photos (2” x 2” glossy color with white background)

4. Photocopy and original U.S. passport (Front page and page with 13a visa stamp)

5. Photocopy and original Philippines passport (Front page)

6. Photocopy and original NSO birth certificate

7. Photocopy and original U.S. birth certificate

8. Photocopy and original NSO marriage contract

9. Photocopy and original ACR-I card

10. Photocopy and original retired military ID cards (if applicable)

11. Photocopy of all previous divorce papers

12. Documentation (such as a title) showing joint ownership or property (house, lot or vehicle), or a rental lease contract showing joint occupancy of an apartment or house in both husband’s and wife’s name.

13. Photos of your wedding 14. $355 in cash or credit card

Once these documents are submitted to the Embassy, you will receive by mail a “Notice of Approval of Relative Immigrant Visa Petition” letter about 1-2 weeks later.

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B. Packet 3:

About 3-4 weeks after receiving the “Notice of Approval of Relative Immigrant Visa Petition” letter, you will receive by mail “Packet 3”.

Complete Part 1 of form DS-230 and the DS-2001 form and mail them back to the Embassy. The completed form DS-2001 tells the Embassy that you are now ready for an interview.

Mail these documents to: United States Embassy Chief, Immigrant Visa Branch 1201 Roxas Blvd, Ermita, Metro Manila 1000

Once the Embassy recieves the completed Part 1 of form DS-230 and the DS-2001 form from Packet 3, they may send you an “Appointment Letter”. This letter may show your interview appointment date.

If the embassy asks you to schedule your own interview appointment, or you do not hear back from them in about a month, use this website to make the scheduling online and download and print your Appointment Letter http://www.ustraveld...ph/index.html��

Click: Applying For An Immigrant Visa Appointment Click: Schedule An Appointment Click: I Agree and Continue

Note: All questions concerning this visa should now be addressed at phone: 02-982-5555

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C. Medical Exam:

Your wife needs to have a medical exam completed approx 1-2 weeks prior to her visa interview at the embassy. Make sure your wife is not on her period when she goes in for the medical exam.

No appointment is needed at the St Lukes Extension Clinic.

Take her original “Appointment Letter” that shows her Interview Date and her Case Number along with her Philippines passport plus a photocopy of the first (bio) page of her passport and 3 colored photos (2” x 2” glossy with white background) to St Lukes. Be at St. Lukes between 6:00am - 7:00am ... First come, first served.

Your wife will be asked what your address and phone number will be in the US where you will be living once you arrive, so make sure she has that info available when she fills out the application form at St Lukes.

The physical exam will take 2 days to complete, so plan on staying in a hotel at least that long. The fee is $213 (in equivalent pesos) that will need to be paid at the time of the medical exam. They only take cash.

Medical Exam Info: http://manila.usemba...v/wwwh3218.html

St. Lukes Extension Clinic1177 J. Bocobo Street , Ermita, Manila Tele: 02-521-0020 or 02-521-8647

"""""If the sponsor has been married to the applicant for at least 2 years upon entering the U.S. for the first time, the applicants Immigration status will be IR-1 when they arrive, and they will receive a Ten Year Green Card within weeks of arrival. Then there is no need to go through the 1 year “Adjustment of Status”."""""

I just read this and was like huh? My Filipino husband and I have been married for 8 years (January 8, 2005), we have 2 beautiful children together... been in the Philippines with him for about 10 years...never been to the States together. Does this mean he will automatically get the 10 year green card upon approval???? If this is true, then so cool.

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

**** Topic split from an old topic by a different member ****

Yes, if you are married more than 2 years upon immigration to the USA, which you guys definitely are, he will get the ten year card. Next step: citizenship!

[Tygrys 143]

Yes, he will get unconditional 10-year GC.

[JenniferNN 0]

That's great! Thanks for the encouragement.

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

**** Topic split from an old topic by a different member ****

Yes, if you are married more than 2 years upon immigration to the USA, which you guys definitely are, he will get the ten year card. Next step: citizenship!

If you are granted the 2 year conditional visa, then successfully apply to remove those conditions, does the immigrant then get a 10 year GC? How long until that person can apply for citizenship in that scenario?

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

Yes, ROC (Removal of Conditions) is to change from the two to the ten year card.

You can apply for citizenship (assuming you are still married) 90 days before the three year anniversary of your "residence since" date on your greencard. This date will be the same on the two and ten year card.

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

Yes, ROC (Removal of Conditions) is to change from the two to the ten year card.

You can apply for citizenship (assuming you are still married) 90 days before the three year anniversary of your "residence since" date on your greencard. This date will be the same on the two and ten year card.

Okay, great, thank you. I was concerned the ROC would change the amount of time hubby had to apply for citizenship. Thanks for the info!