Can I get the visa and then start to plan our move to the US?

[hlfldct 0]

My husband and I are intending to move to the US in about a year or so.

We want to start applying for a visa in good time, so that we have the visa by the time we decide to move. Some sources advise allowing 10 months for the whole process from start to finish.

However we don't want to start putting the apartment on the rental market and finding jobs etc until we know that we've been approved or until we at least have an idea of when it might be approved. Estate agents don't want to know unless you've got a date of moving out and few employers will employ me without me having a visa.

The thing is - the whole process (particularly my husband's re-establishing domicile in the US for the I-864) kind of assumes that we are already doing this.

Is there any way we can have the visa ready to go, and then start all the planning for the move? Or is this just not realistic?

[Boiler 46,323]

Assuming you have the domicile issue sorted then you have 6 months to move once you have the visa.

[cocolucho 35]

My husband and I are intending to move to the US in about a year or so.

We want to start applying for a visa in good time, so that we have the visa by the time we decide to move. Some sources advise allowing 10 months for the whole process from start to finish.

However we don't want to start putting the apartment on the rental market and finding jobs etc until we know that we've been approved or until we at least have an idea of when it might be approved. Estate agents don't want to know unless you've got a date of moving out and few employers will employ me without me having a visa.

The thing is - the whole process (particularly my husband's re-establishing domicile in the US for the I-864) kind of assumes that we are already doing this.

Is there any way we can have the visa ready to go, and then start all the planning for the move? Or is this just not realistic?

After reading this: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/DCF_London

I don't think it is realistic that you can get a visa ready to go and then start all your planning for the move. I think you may have some options so read the link above.

"The petitioner will need to complete the I-864 Affidavit of Support at this point, showing the required funds to support themselves, their spouse and any other dependants. It’s common in DCF cases for the USC to no longer be resident in the US, so if this applies to you then you cannot be the sponsor unless you establish your US residency again, or show you have maintained US domicile while away, or your intent to domicile in the US. This can be achieved in a variety of ways, and the evidence of your residency may be required at the interview. London does accept joint financial sponsors.

Guidance on the I-186, residency and joint sponsorship can be found here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html and: http://london.usembassy.gov/i864.html Make note to read the domicile requirements closely: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/443127-dcf-london-i-130-for-ir1cr1-spouse-guide/"

Good luck with everything!!!

[SilentOdyssey 6]

We want to start applying for a visa in good time, so that we have the visa by the time we decide to move. Some sources advise allowing 10 months for the whole process from start to finish.

This is typical naysayers' answer given to you and me, when it takes forever. We DCFers believe DCF process takes up to 6 months (USCIS Manila says 3-6 months while VJ including me and other DCFers said 1-3 months). Just don't believe the hype if you know this kind of qualification allow to do this direct petitioning. 6 months residency is the rule set by USCIS, otherwise mail your petition to one of USCIS Lockbox in the U.S.

Now, back to your question of getting approve first and then moving to America. It is doable for you, provide you meets domicile requirement and to know the validity of your immigration visa. Most case it is 6 months on the day it becomes approved. If I recall to many months ago upon reading a post elsewhere on American living in the UK. He had everything set in America but choose to remains in the UK until his wife is ready to go America with him. Maybe he did go to America, to get his bearing such as getting job offer and "library card and voter's registration" while appear his friend's wedding then come back at his wife's side. There were 2 or 3 posts I looked at with ahh-ohh. So, I think his case is similarly to your case. If you choose to stay in the UK, that's grand to me. Why not.

About timeline, the length of DCF, good news is that it does not take forever. By end of this week (since August 20) will be 1 month since I filed I-130 Petition for Alien Relative at USCIS Manila Window 25. My wife is taking her medical examination at St. Luke's this Tuesday the 15 and her IV (immigration visa) interview at USEM (US Embassy Manila) morning of 19. So, like other have said their word of congratulations and encouragements of keep going without stopping, we can testify our (majority of DCFers in VJ and non-members) DCF experience will takes approximately 2 months and 2 weeks (or less if airfare is having sale) from petition to POE (Point of Entry in US).

With my son recently gain his American citizenship through CRBA, I had never experience any process with NIV (National Visa Center) at all. I can't estimate how much time it shorten days, when I had to apart my family that I left, never mind how much I save time doing this, in order to take care with my Deaf mother. Even how much effort I went back to Manila to do petition instead of tempting using USCIS Lockbox/NVC route, I had to go back to do our son CRBA + US Passport interview, then back to America, again. Heartwrenching to leave there (for real this time) but its what I had to do, get ready for their homecoming in 2 months.

When no NVC involved, Petitioner concerns with dealing with petition paperworks, USCIS appointment set-up, and paying petition fee, are all handle directly with USCIS Field Office at chosen Embassy where USCIS accepts and adjudicates. Beneficiary only worry about applying DS-260, IV interview appointment set-up, and pay her/his IV fee. Then to process Green card before arriving America's POE, USCIS ELIS system is the final thing you do (which I am eager to do soon as my wife's IV gets approved). That's it. Say, I guess the average time would be 2 months and 2 weeks and few days.

To do DCF, find your nearest USCIS International Immigration Offices here. USCIS London accepts and adjudicates I-130 filed by U.S. Citizen residing in United Kingdom. Mind you, not every USCIS Field Office know what DCF means. Instead, refer as I-130 Petition and they have their own procedure. While USCIS London required or encouraged mail-in, USCIS required walk-in petitioning. lost-at-sea complies often helpful DCF London guide for spousal visas (I-130 for IR-1/CR-1)

Laugh heartily, if you may, at face to those who trying to scare you. But be humble until you finish the race. Great reward is when you know by live other there: one day the price that you has to pay for your residency (the permit and all of that hassle, will pay off when it comes to file DCF. Yes, it places value when you live in UK for lengthy of time. Mine is 6 years, but I only found out DCF procedure trough visajourney.com only few years ago. Back then I thought it is just a fable when I heard rumor of file directly.

Godspeed and good luck.

[SilentOdyssey 6]

This forum won't let me to edit, adding a sentence which I forgot to mention:

Then be sure your AOS (Affidavit of Support) has all careful reading on instruction from USCIS, making feedback on VJ and elsewhere, and doing all math right; NVC isn't there but won't hurt to have them helping you, before submit to your Beneficiary. The Beneficiary only have to worry about is to apply DS-260, IV interview appointment set-up, and pay her/his IV fee; even through the Petitioner could give the Beneficiary extra help, to get pressure off.

Edited September 14, 2014 by SilentOdyssey

[Viper93 0]

Have a read through these timelines and have a look on the timelines listed on the website here for DCF London. My wife is waiting for her visa to arrive, it's been approved. My timeline is a bit slow. I wasted 6 weeks or so waiting for something I already received.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/marriage-based-visas-35/immigrant-visa-dcf-i-130-filed-london-timeline-only-763941/page15/

http://britishexpats.com/forum/marriage-based-visas-35/immigrant-visa-dcf-i-130-filed-uk-timeline-only-843594/page7/

10 months is an exception, most will see their in 3 months I expect but depend on circumstances.

Edited September 22, 2014 by Viper93