DCF in Naija(Nigeria)

[Unuigboje7 15]

Hello VJ members, guests, and anonymous,

I am heavily contemplating going back to Naija for about a year and filing DCF for my husband there.

There are a few factors I saw and wanted to ask about before making that decision.

1. Having stayed for three to six months there first as a permanent resident and being able to show legally.

2. The sponsorship i864 aspect and;

3. General success rate with that.

The reason I am possibly choosing that route is because if I stay here and file the paperwork, it will take a year. And thats too long for me.. I miss hubs.

Also, will they let him come here if I don't have employment, and no tax returns for the past three years? (I have been claimed by my mother) but have a sponsor and legally binding documents to prove we will have residency here?

In addition, what is the best visa to stay in the country in to show residency for that time frame... or should I get a Nigerian passport?

OR

Should I file his papers there with the consulate and immediately come back and start working, understanding a sponsor will still be needed.

All replies will be appreciated although I have my mind set on going there and filing DCF.

Many more questions, but that will do for now!!

Thanks and God bless!!

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Nigeria is not one of the country with a USCIS field office so they do not offer DCF. Also if you get a Nigerian passport the US embassy will not help you should you have problems in country.

Edited March 8, 2013 by NigeriaorBust

[dwheels76 5,468]

Hello VJ members, guests, and anonymous,

I am heavily contemplating going back to Naija for about a year and filing DCF for my husband there.

There are a few factors I saw and wanted to ask about before making that decision.

1. Having stayed for three to six months there first as a permanent resident and being able to show legally. Check the residency requirements I think its 6 months. Get a Naijawife Visa. Inquire with immigration there. But if all you are doing is to show you were there for a period of time your Stamp in Passport does that.

2. The sponsorship i864 aspect and; Yes you will need a sponsor if you don't meet the poverty guidelines for the # in your household.

3. General success rate with that. Success rate of what?

The reason I am possibly choosing that route is because if I stay here and file the paperwork, it will take a year. And thats too long for me.. I miss hubs.

Current I-130 filing you are looking at 8 months to a year. Most are going to NBC and they been approving under 90 days. But you never know. There is no fast track.

Also, will they let him come here if I don't have employment, and no tax returns for the past three years? (I have been claimed by my mother) but have a sponsor and legally binding documents to prove we will have residency here? Long as your co-sponsor makes the guideline for the # in household. Regardless od your mom sponsoring you still have to file your last 3 years tax returns unless you made below the total threshold amount. You would write a statement why you you didn't have to file.

In addition, what is the best visa to stay in the country in to show residency for that time frame... or should I get a Nigerian passport? The stamp in your passport will show when you entered and when you left.

OR

Should I file his papers there with the consulate and immediately come back and start working, understanding a sponsor will still be needed.

All replies will be appreciated although I have my mind set on going there and filing DCF. Sorry have to file in US.

Many more questions, but that will do for now!!

Thanks and God bless!!

[Unuigboje7 15]

Nigeria is not one of the country with a USCIS field office so they do not offer DCF. Also if you get a Nigerian passport the US embassy will not help you should you have problems in country.

Awwwwww but thanks. (Sigh) I just figured that out right before I read these responses..

I remember you, glad to see your really close to having your hubs here!

Also, what is the NBC?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Awwwwww but thanks. (Sigh) I just figured that out right before I read these responses..

I remember you, glad to see your really close to having your hubs here!

Also, what is the NBC?

You have me confused with DWheels. We are waiting on Citizenship already. Home strech and almost done.

[Unuigboje7 15]

Sorry!

For some reason I was responding to the both of you in one post.

So to dwheels I remember her and want to know whats NBC?

And to NigeraorBust, I just figured out no DCF this morning before reading your reply.

[dwheels76 5,468]

Sorry!

For some reason I was responding to the both of you in one post.

So to dwheels I remember her and want to know whats NBC?

And to NigeraorBust, I just figured out no DCF this morning before reading your reply.

NBC is National Benefits Center, where all the I-130 been sent to since August 15. You still send to one of the Lockbox but they been going there. Then dispatched elsewhere. There's no set timeline to really lock in to. Could be 90 or less days or more. You have to just be patient.

[Chicshik 0]

Hi,

I'm actually in a similar situation, but residing in Nigeria. I just called the Embassy in Lagos now, and they confirmed that they do in fact do DCF filing, but only for USC Residents. You must prove that you have been in Nigeria for at least 6 months. Also as regards the dual citizenship, Nigeria recognizes dual citizenship, but the US does not. Its tricky, but you are allowed (by Nigerian law) to live and work in Nigeria permanently with a Nigerian passport (which proves your citizenship). But as a US citizen, you are officially not allowed to claim to be a Nigerian in the US, unless by ethnicity/descent. So yea, I just wanted to clarify that Lagos does indeed allow DCF filings, but only for USC resident in Nigeria.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Talking to some random person that answers the phone is not going to get you the right answer. A couple of years ago almost all countries allowed for DCF but they changed the rule at you can only do a direct filing at a location that has a USCIS field office. Nigeria is not one of those places. foreign USCIS field offices If you look at the list there is NO office in Nigeria and they do not have the authority to approve the petition themselves. You got bad phone information. If you submit the petition at Lagos it has to go to a USCIS center ( the US) and will wait like the rest of the petitions. Only those with in country offices get quicker attention.

It is safer to travel and stay in Nigerian with the Niger wives visa as holding a Nigerian passport means that the US embassy will NOT assist you if you have problems in Nigeria or if problems break out.

Edited April 23, 2013 by NigeriaorBust

[Chicshik 0]

Thanks Igwe and Lolo...I did some more research online and it did say that they stopped allowing DCF filing as of 2011, save for countries with a USCIS field office, of which Nigeria is not one. Ughh. So it looks like I have to go through the Chicago Lockbox. Any advice on this? Approximately how long is the timeline from the I-130 being received until we can go to the US together? Also, would any one advice to go through the fiance visa route? Would that be faster? We are planning our honeymoon for January 2013 in the US/Caribbeans, and I'm wondering if this is a realistic goal.