Need advice urgently

[VickyP 34]

Can I ask something without sounding totally stupid lol???

Why is the DCF from Germany only taking 90 days but all other countries longer?

Why could it take almost a year when applying from Portugal?

Maybe I am just understanding something totally wrong?!?! but I am not getting it!

Edited February 14, 2014 by VickyP

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Can I ask something without sounding totally stupid lol???

Why is the DCF from Germany only taking 90 days but all other countries longer?

Why could it take almost a year when applying from Portugal?

Maybe I am just understanding something totally wrong?!?! but I am not getting it!

Because not all countries have DCF.

OP: Sometimes there is a secret "auto-expedite" queue for I130s from USCs who live abroad. You can't ask for it, they won't say it exists, but we have noticed in on this site. it appears to have stopped, unfortunately, but you never know when it might start up again. Make sure it's clear your wife is abroad when she files.

Have you filed yet?

Edited February 14, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[VickyP 34]

Because not all countries have DCF.

And what is the difference exactly?

When I am comparing the different steps that you have to take, the look much alike!

[Jawaree 717]

I think U R listening to lots of rumors, slow down ,have your spouse file I130 with $420

copy of her PP bio page , both birth certs, your PP photo, I 130 filled in correctly & signed

with marriage cert.....Don't get job in the mix, neither is the process only gonna take 90

days from anywhere including Germany. process is USCIS, NVC then your Embassy.

Start the process now, the forms can be downloaded. DCF goes a bit faster for those

countries it can be filed

Edited February 14, 2014 by Jawaree

[lost_at_sea 995]

And what is the difference exactly?

When I am comparing the different steps that you have to take, the look much alike!

The I-130 gets filed at the local consulate, not the US, so the processing is faster (less of a queue). Hence DIRECT consular filing.

[VickyP 34]

I think U R listening to lots of rumors, slow down ,have your spouse file I130 with $420

copy of her PP bio page , both birth certs, your PP photo, I 130 filled in correctly & signed

with marriage cert.....Don't get job in the mix, neither is the process only gonna take 90

days from anywhere including Germany. process is USCIS, NVC then your Embassy.

Start the process now, the forms can be downloaded. DCF goes a bit faster for those

countries it can be filed

Yes it took 90 days...trust me and I was not just a lucky one. It's the regular processing time in Frankfurt!!!

[Darnell 8,478]

And what is the difference exactly?

When I am comparing the different steps that you have to take, the look much alike!

USCIS handles the I-130.

File one to the lockbox address, that's the USCIS in the USA.

File one to Frankfurt, that's the USCIS office in Frankfurt.

Different queues, different duration of time in the queue.

Since there isn't 120,000 I-130s at Frankfurt, their queue is smaller.

[VickyP 34]

The I-130 gets filed at the local consulate, not the US, so the processing is faster (less of a queue). Hence DIRECT consular filing.

Ohhh duhhhh good morning Vicky lol...make sense hehe. Thanks

[raven52 233]

I-130, you might be lucky, and get it in 8-9 months, but I think, you are looking at 10-14 months, I have read some ere, at 4 years, I-130, is lenghty.,.,. K-1 is going in about 6 months, some less, but that is not for your situation.,., good luck!

As one frequent poster says, ""this will not be quick"" and """you will not like this journey"""

But, you just play by their rules.,.,. its their game, and rules..,.we just play.,.,.

[APeralta 2]

Because not all countries have DCF.

OP: Sometimes there is a secret "auto-expedite" queue for I130s from USCs who live abroad. You can't ask for it, they won't say it exists, but we have noticed in on this site. it appears to have stopped, unfortunately, but you never know when it might start up again. Make sure it's clear your wife is abroad when she files.

Have you filed yet?

I haven't filed yet, I'm still gathering the last documents to pack everything. DCF is not available in my country as far as I know. The US Embassy here does not deal with Immigrant Visas either, it's all taken care in the Paris US Embassy, which I'm not sure will help in terms of speed or not... Is there an option in the I-130 to clearly state my wife is living abroad other than having the same adress as me? lol

[Ryan E 10]

I haven't filed yet, I'm still gathering the last documents to pack everything. DCF is not available in my country as far as I know. The US Embassy here does not deal with Immigrant Visas either, it's all taken care in the Paris US Embassy, which I'm not sure will help in terms of speed or not... Is there an option in the I-130 to clearly state my wife is living abroad other than having the same adress as me? lol

From what I have gathered in the forums the auto-expedite seems like it was triggered if the USC was living abroad. It is assumed the non-USC spouse is abroad.

There is a thread (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/357465-usc-petitioner-living-abroad/) indicating people were seeing very quick USCIS NOA 2 times, but it doesn't seem like this is happening anymore. It seems like it was triggered by not having any US address on the I-130.

I'm in the same situation and have my fingers crossed, but at planning for at least a year. Back when DCF was possible and good embassy could do everything in a couple months.

Edit: linked to relevant thread, recreated post after link as it was deleted.

Edited February 14, 2014 by Ryan E

[altito 63]

I haven't filed yet, I'm still gathering the last documents to pack everything. DCF is not available in my country as far as I know. The US Embassy here does not deal with Immigrant Visas either, it's all taken care in the Paris US Embassy, which I'm not sure will help in terms of speed or not... Is there an option in the I-130 to clearly state my wife is living abroad other than having the same adress as me? lol

Make sure if the US Embassy in Paris file I-130 as DCF; if so, maybe is an advantage for you.

My husband (US citizen) and I (the beneficiary) live in Madrid. We filed I-30 form stating our address in Spain. We do not have DCF availabile either.

Our plan is similar to yours. We would like to entry the US around Sept/Oct 2014. My I-130 priority date is Jan-06-2014 and was routed to NSC (Nebraska Service Center), the slowest office processing IR1-CR1 visaS. Pehaps, being lucky we achieve our goal by fall. If not, he will have to entry the states by then and I will have to wait here to get my visa.

Do no wate time, send the I-130 as soon as you can.

Regarding the job searching, I am also at the same point than you. My idea is to start jobs searching when I have my visa in hand. Then, you have six months to entry to the US. Therefore, you can always show to your employer a copy of your passport showing you are eligible to work. With l luck, I might arrange some job interviews from Madrid. But that is the final step.

[offline 4]

APeralta, we got our I-130 adjudicated in 6 weeks and 1 month. I believe that the adjudications are moving a bit faster because they're being distributed to different service centers. If you file ASAP, you can estimate that your petition would be accepted in September-ish. Then, arrive at the NVC around October and possibly be done with that stage in Nov. Afterwards, estimate that your interview may be sometime around Dec - Feb.

Your wife could move back to the US and find a job so she can show that she can sponsor you at the NVC stage. Alternatively, if she stays with you in Portugal, perhaps her family in the US would be willing to be your sponsor. That would avoid lots of heartbreak with time apart.

It's a tough journey and truly a test of love, faith, and perseverance... Definitely not for the weak of heart. In Boston there are a lot of Portuguese people in your situation. See if you can reach out to anyone you know there and ask them about their experiences. Also, check out the Portugal portal in this page ans ask fellow VJers from your country any questions you may have.

Boa sorte!

[Ryan E 10]

APeralta, we got our I-130 adjudicated in 6 weeks and 1 month. I believe that the adjudications are moving a bit faster because they're being distributed to different service centers. If you file ASAP, you can estimate that your petition would be accepted in September-ish. Then, arrive at the NVC around October and possibly be done with that stage in Nov. Afterwards, estimate that your interview may be sometime around Dec - Feb.

Your wife could move back to the US and find a job so she can show that she can sponsor you at the NVC stage. Alternatively, if she stays with you in Portugal, perhaps her family in the US would be willing to be your sponsor. That would avoid lots of heartbreak with time apart.

It's a tough journey and truly a test of love, faith, and perseverance... Definitely not for the weak of heart. In Boston there are a lot of Portuguese people in your situation. See if you can reach out to anyone you know there and ask them about their experiences. Also, check out the Portugal portal in this page ans ask fellow VJers from your country any questions you may have.

Boa sorte!

Caroluiz I think you meant 6 months and 1 week. I got excited when I read 6 weeks, then I looked at your timeline. :-)

[offline 4]

Doh! Stupid mistake due to insomnia! Argh, I can't go back and fix it but thanks for pointing it out. 6 MONTHS and 1 WEEK...! :-0