What is your number one piece of advice?

[Smfr212 0]

Hi,

my fiance (U.S. citizen) and I (German) are trying to figure out how we will get me into the United States as a perminant resident after we marry. Both of us live in Germany right now and we will stay here for another 2 years before we can hopefully move to the U.S. permenantly.

So here is my question to anyone out there:

1. What is/was your number one piece of advice that has helped you the most during your application process?

2. If you had to start all over again what would you do differently?

Looking forward to reading all the posts

[Mark88 183]

What is/was your number one piece of advice that has helped you the most during your application process?

Definatly do DCF in Frankfurt. We were very quick and had everything done in just about 4 months. I would recommend this: Make an infopass appointment in Frankfurt and drop of all documents directly with a USCIS officer. They will go through the application and doucments with you on the spot. Friends of ours did this and were approved in just 6 weeks!

[Cathi 5,740]

Stay calm, be patient, read and re-read instructions, be thorough and organized, and use common sense. I see so many people here wanting everything to be done instantly, government doesn't work that way. When I sent my husband's petition I never once checked the status, I never once called NVC looking for his case number, I never called or wrote the embassy when he was in AP demanding it to come to an end, I knew it would get done when they finished with what they needed to do. The people who work at USCIS, NVC and at the consulates are people too,they have jobs to do and can only work with the resources they have. I see so many people get upset when they get an RFE or their affidavit of support is rejected, or when they are denied for misrepresentation, the list goes on forever. It isn't the fault of the people working at USCIS, NVC, or the consulates when people petitioning and applying for visas cannot read and follow straightforward instructions, or if they decide to leave out important documents, or don't earn above the poverty line, or if they decide to lie in order to obtain a visa, once again the list is a mile long. Just my 2 cents.

There isn't a single thing I would do differently, the outcome was the only important thing, and that was to reunite my husband and I here in the US. He has been here for exactly one year this week.

Best of luck on your journey!

Edited October 17, 2013 by mimolicious

[Mark88 183]

Just my 2 cents.

Excellent advice. I agree that most problems do come up, because of the reasons you mentioned. These things just take time...

[Smfr212 0]

Thanks for the great advice!

What exactly is direct consular filing (DCF)? What are the requirements for me and my fiance?

[Mark88 183]

What exactly is direct consular filing (DCF)? What are the requirements for me and my fiance?

Since you are planning on doing DCF in Frankfurt, this would be the best info to read on what it is and how it is done:

http://www.talkaboutusa.com/viewtopic.php?t=26190

[Dbkrantz 16]

Number one piece of advice is :

Don't be afraid to ask questions.

When you are stressed, sometimes, it's overwhelming and nothing makes sense. It took a while to wrap around the process, and it would not have been possible without asking people. There is no stupid question and it's better to ask and relax than freak out about something.

Thanks for the great advice!

What exactly is direct consular filing (DCF)? What are the requirements for me and my fiance?

Direct consular filing is when you can file your petition and do the whole process within the embassy and therefor not having to go through Chicago. It is generally faster (4 months maximum for DCF compared to 9-12 months for the regular process).

The requirements are generally having lived legally in the country for at least 6 months and being married.

[kittyandpipit 0]

My husband (us) has been living with me in Canada for almost six months, we applied for his extension, so he will be on implied status till the end of December. He is here legally but no pr or work permit. He has a trust fund, and a job waiting for him when I can move to us can we apply DCF? Thanks!

[mrss13 2]

I'm not sure if implied status is good enough. I'm not applying through Canada, but in Seoul we had to provide proof that we were here on long term (more than 6 month) visas.

[Baby's Girl 1]

Since you are planning on doing DCF in Frankfurt, this would be the best info to read on what it is and how it is done:

http://www.talkaboutusa.com/viewtopic.php?t=26190

Been wondering if it's (still) correct you have the choice whether to submit documents either in german or english? Never heard of that option, thought its mandatory to submit everything in english?! Am I wrong on that one? Edited October 23, 2013 by Baby's Girl

[Smfr212 0]

Been wondering if it's (still) correct you have the choice whether to submit documents either in german or english? Never heard of that option, thought its mandatory to submit everything in english?! Am I wrong on that one?

As far as I know, you can submit English and German certificates like birth or marriage to the German consulars. But that is not the case for other countries.

[Baby's Girl 1]

As far as I know, you can submit English and German certificates like birth or marriage to the German consulars. But that is not the case for other countries.

Thank you What about other documents like a divorce decree?

[Mark88 183]

As far as I know, you can submit English and German certificates like birth or marriage to the German consulars. But that is not the case for other countries.

And only if you file with the Consulate in Frankfurt. Should you file the I-130 over the Chicago Lockbox you will need to provide translations.

Thank you What about other documents like a divorce decree?

Like the info reads, any documents.

[Baby's Girl 1]

And only if you file with the Consulate in Frankfurt. Should you file the I-130 over the Chicago Lockbox you will need to provide translations.

Like the info reads, any documents.

Yes, we do indeed file through the Frankfurt Consulate!! Thanks a bunch, that's very helpful to know :-)

Edited October 24, 2013 by Baby's Girl

[UKHusband 1]

Just to get this thread back on topic, my number one piece of advice is try not to obsess over every little detail and time frame.

It's easy to get paranoid if you're reading Visa Journey and see others getting NOAs or medical and interview dates while your CEAC tracker remains stubbornly stuck fast, but they almost certainly haven't forgotten you/lost your forms and they will get to you - some people are on the lucky end of the scale and zip through quicker than others, but that doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong for you, and there is very little you can do until you've gone beyond the stated time frames anyway!