DCF in US?

[jopryorii 0]

I'm really new to all this, but I just have a general question. I intend to file for a CR1, and I saw that Direct Consular Filing is alot faster than normal processing times. So my question is this, I am an American Citizen, and my spouse is Canadian. Am I able to file somewhere like in New York? or Does it have to be in Ottawa? Or am I not even allowed to file there because I'm not a Canadian citizen? Any help is much appreciated.

[Darnell 8,479]

I am not aware that DCF is available for Canada.

[JayJayH 546]

Not sure if DCF is available in Canada.

If it is, you would still have to show that you reside in Canada (you can't just be there on vacation).

DCF is generally available only to US citizens residing in the country that they are filing from.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Yang-Ja

[SelinaWill 5]

and even if its available you probably wouldnt be able to do it. i know in Germany to file dcf the American citizen had to live in Germany when filing since at least 6 months

[JayJayH 546]

PS. I do believe all IV processing in Canada is done through the consulate in Montreal, rather than Ottawa. I could be wrong.

[lost_at_sea 995]

No DCF in Canada. Here's a list of the places that allow DCF: http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices

DCF obviously doesn't exist in the USA, since it's a process for foreign couples (where the USC/LPR has a legal residence abroad).

Edited November 12, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Leigh&Gigi 2]

Sept 25, 2009: E-mail an introduction letter of myself to my future wife. (I was in Changsha, China at the time)

Oct 03, 2009: Received a return e-mail with her phone number from my future wife.

Oct 05, 2009: We meet in Changsha, China and went to lunch, coffee and a long talk.

Nov 06, 2009: Engagement party.

July 28, 2010: Officially married in Changsha, China but waiting for a church wedding ! ! !

2012: My wife is turned down for a US visitors visa. (Told because her husband in American it's very hard to get one, that we should apply for an immigration visa)

Nov 2012: My brother comes to Changsha, China from Texas

Dec 02, 2012: Wedding and wedding party at the 100 YO Church of Christ in Changsha, China with my brother as my best man

Sept 06, 2013: I filed a DCF I-130 for an IR-1 at the US Consulate in Guangzhou, China.

Oct 11, 2013: I received a request from the USCIS Field Office Guangzhou for additional evidence.

Oct 14, 2013: I e-mail the requested additional evidence to the USCIS Field Office in Guangzhou.

Oct 18, 2013: I e-mailed Brian Spalter Field Office Director USCIS Guangzhou for confirmation of their receipt of my e-mail with the additional supporting evidence.

Oct 21, 2013: received confirmation from USCIS, DHS Guangzhou that they had received the additional supporting evidence.

Dec 17, 2013: I e-mailed USCIS DHS Guangzhou asking for an update of the status of my I-130 petition.

Dec 19, 2013: Received e-mail from USCIS DHS Guangzhou:

________________________________________________________________________________

Good Afternoon,

Thank you for your inquiry to the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) Office in Guangzhou, China. Our office has received your response to our Request For Evidence. These cases are currently still being processed. No additional evidence or documentation is required at this time. Upon rendering a decision, we will notify you.

Sincerely,

USCIS Guangzhou

Department of Homeland Security

Dec 27, 2013: received e-mail from USCIS:

________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Applicant, Petitioner, or Agent of record:

The U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou has received your application information and will begin the next phase of processing your visa. Please follow the instructions to submit the items listed below along with this letter to the Consulate. Do NOT submit other documents to the Consulate at this time, as they will be destroyed. You will receive further instructions after you submit these items. If you have questions, contact us through our email web-form at http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn//immigrant-visa-unit-question.html.

□ COMPLETE FORM DS-260(Online Immigrant Visa Application & Registration). Starting September 1, 2013 immigrant visa applicants are required to complete form DS-260. Please complete this form at https://ceac.state.gov/IV. *Please note that you should enter your date of birth as your Invoice ID Number at the sign-in page. Once you have completed the form, print the confirmation page and submit it along with other requested items in this notice. *For instructions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on completing the DS-260, please visit http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_5164.html.

□ COPY OF THE PERSONAL INFORMATION PAGE OF YOUR PASSPORT: A copy of the personal information page of your current passport. (Each applicant must have a current passport that will be valid for travel to the United States for at least 8 months beyond the visa issuance date.)

□ PHOTOGRAPHS: Two 2 inches square (roughly 50 mm square) un-mounted full-face color photographs with a white background. All applicants must submit photos, regardless of age.

Sincerely,

Chief, Immigrant Visa Unit

Dec 29, 2013: Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application Form (DS-260) submitted.

Dec 30, 2013: Received e-mail confirmation:

____________________________________________________________________________________

YOUR CONFIRMATION PAGE IS ATTACHED TO THIS EMAIL IN A PDF FILE!

You must follow the instructions on the confirmation page in order for the U.S. Department of State to continue processing your visa application.

How to print your Confirmation Page:

1. DOUBLE CLICK on the attached file.

2. From within Adobe Reader, go to FILE and select PRINT

Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application Confirmation

Thank You

Your Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application (DS-260) was sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) for review. Please allow up to 30 business days for the NVC to complete the review.

Next Steps

All applicants must:

1. Obtain and submit required supporting civil documents.

2. Obtain and submit photographs that meet the Department of States visa requirements.

3. Review the information specific to U.S. Embassy/Consulate General where your visa interview will occur.

If you have not already collected and submitted the required documents to the National Visa Center then you should do so at this time. If the documentation you have submitted is either insufficient or incomplete you will be notified by the NVC. Your visa interview cannot be scheduled until your supporting documentation is complete and

correct.

Note: During the interview with a consular officer, you will be required to sign your application by providing a biometric signature, i.e. your fingerprint. By providing this biometric signature, you are certifying under penalty of perjury that you have read and understood the questions in your immigrant visa application and that all statements that appear in your immigrant visa application have been made by you and are true and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief. Furthermore, at the time of your interview, you will be required to certify under penalty of perjury that all statements in your application and those made during your interview are true and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief.

This confirms the submission of the Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration application

Jan 10, 2014: Received appointment e-mail:

________________________________________________________________

Dear Applicant, Petitioner, or Agent of record:

This office is ready to begin final processing of the immigrant visa applicant(s) named above in this case. Please follow these steps to schedule and prepare for your visa interview:

1. Once you receive this notice, please visit http://ustraveldocs.com and register a document pick-up location by selecting the Select Document Delivery Address option in the Immigrant Visas section of the website. If you have already registered, you do not need to register again. Failure to register prior to your visa interview will result in delay of your visa application.

2. Once registered, visit http://ustraveldocs.com and select Schedule My Appointment in the Immigrant Visas section of the website to schedule your visa interview appointment.

3. Once you have scheduled your appointment, download the Immigrant Visa Instruction Packet (or K visa Instruction Packet for K visa applicants) and follow the instructions inside it to prepare the necessary documents for your visa interview. Instruction packets can be found by selecting Prepare Documents in the Immigrant Visas section of http://ustraveldocs.com.

4. All applicants, regardless of age, must complete a medical exam and vaccination(s) with one of our designated panel physicians prior to the visa interview. (Please refer to the detailed instructions in the instruction packet.) Applicants must bring a copy of this letter with them to their medical exam.

5. On the scheduled date and time, the applicant(s) should come to the Consulate with all required documents and a copy of this letter. Applicants who do not bring a copy of this letter may not be allowed into the consulate for their interview.

You must now register and schedule an appointment through CGI Stanley. Failure to follow these instructions will result in delay of your visa application.

Please do not reply to this email. Any replies sent will not be received. If you have any questions, please use the following web site to contact us: http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/immigrant-visa-unit-question.html.When communicating with our office about your case, please provide your name and case number exactly as shown in this letter.

Sincerely,

Chief, Immigrant Visa Unit

Jan 10, 2014: Scheduled appointment online for Jan 29, 2014 08:45 AM

Jan 24, 2014: We went to Guangzhou early because needed to go for her IV medical exam and vaccinations, she went on the morning of Jan 26, 2014, it took about 2 ½ hrs. and she was told to return for the medical exam results and IV medical certificate packet on Jan 28, 2014 at 3:00 PM

Jan 29, 2014: My wife and I arrived at US Consulate at 08:30 AM, she checked in for appointment and was admitted for document review and immigration visa interview at 08:45 she was asked the usual questions she said the VO was nice to her the VO told her she was approved for her visa and it would take 2 to 3 week to process and delivery to CITIC Bank in Changsha.

Feb 07, 2014: Passport has been received from the consular section, and is currently being processed for delivery.