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Posted

I have been finding the guides and search tool very helpful. For several days I've been reading about other people's experiences and becoming familar with the forms.

The one big thing I have been unable to find help with on my own is related to filing everything from the UK. I am the USC and my husband is a UK citizen. We have been living in the UK together for almost two years, but I spent the first year or so as a student and I won't be elgible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (which I would need for DCF) for almost two years. (We married in Sept 2006). We really want to move to Michigan and we're trying to make it happen for January 2008.

Am I right in thinking that the K3 route is feasible for us and the best thing to do? Can anyone share their experiences with attempting to gain a K3 for their spouse while living in their spouse's country?

I have US bank accounts and still receive mail at my parents' home in Michigan, which is my permanent address. I also have a valid drivers' license at that address. But when I file the forms, I should use my UK address, correct? I don't want everything to go to my parents' home and then have them mail it to me - or is this better? To make it even more complicated, we'll be moving this summer within the UK. Would it be hard to notify the USCIS of our new UK address?

Please be understanding if I'm saying anything totally off the wall. It's really hard to get your head around all this!

Thanks for any help!

My Crafting Blog - On a Roll - Blogspot

3179788211_95b93e62af_t.jpg3179788215_6a1e497e9b_t.jpg3165849344_f296789fd3_t.jpg

_______________________________________________________

US Immigration Timeline

-------------------------

24 Feb 2007 - Sent I-130 to London USCIS office (I'm the petitioner)

25 May 2007 - NOA2

2 June 2007 - Received Packet 3

12 Oct 2007 - Sent Packet 3 back by special delivery

5 Nov 2007 - Interview in London - Approved without any hitches!

7 Nov 2007 - Visa and MBE arrived by SMS! :)

30 Jan 2008 - Fly to Michigan!! :)

*Note: Any delays in our case are only due to us taking things slowly

Posted

Wow. I feel really ditzy. I didn't think to check if there were responses to my last post (from June last year) that I hadn't seen before.

So, it sounds like it's no problem to file from the UK. I'm still not clear if it's fine to use my UK address. So, please so still share your experiences if you filed from outside the US while living with your spouse. Are you experiencing any problems you could have avoided if you were better informed from the start? Any trouble with overseas mailing? Lost mail?

Thanks!

My Crafting Blog - On a Roll - Blogspot

3179788211_95b93e62af_t.jpg3179788215_6a1e497e9b_t.jpg3165849344_f296789fd3_t.jpg

_______________________________________________________

US Immigration Timeline

-------------------------

24 Feb 2007 - Sent I-130 to London USCIS office (I'm the petitioner)

25 May 2007 - NOA2

2 June 2007 - Received Packet 3

12 Oct 2007 - Sent Packet 3 back by special delivery

5 Nov 2007 - Interview in London - Approved without any hitches!

7 Nov 2007 - Visa and MBE arrived by SMS! :)

30 Jan 2008 - Fly to Michigan!! :)

*Note: Any delays in our case are only due to us taking things slowly

Filed: Other Timeline
Posted

I dunno about overseas mailing and whatnot, but I do think you are required to have a US address for stuff to go to. And as DCF is no longer an option, period, I think even USCIS is going to be confused about who is doing what anymore.

First you send the I-130, wait for the receipt from the service centre, then you send the I-129F stuff and wait. If you get RFEs or anything, your parents can send you whatever you need. You may have to go ahead of your husband to the US and get yourself a job and home before his interview in London, so start thinking about that now.

I'm sure there are a few people who've done exactly as you need to do, so just hang around a while and see who responds.

divorced - April 2010 moved back to Ontario May 2010 and surrendered green card

PLEASE DO NOT PRIVATE MESSAGE ME OR EMAIL ME. I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT CURRENT US IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES!!!!!

Posted
I dunno about overseas mailing and whatnot, but I do think you are required to have a US address for stuff to go to. And as DCF is no longer an option, period, I think even USCIS is going to be confused about who is doing what anymore.

First you send the I-130, wait for the receipt from the service centre, then you send the I-129F stuff and wait. If you get RFEs or anything, your parents can send you whatever you need. You may have to go ahead of your husband to the US and get yourself a job and home before his interview in London, so start thinking about that now.

I'm sure there are a few people who've done exactly as you need to do, so just hang around a while and see who responds.

Thanks for the reply. DCF is no longer an option for anyone? I hadn't heard of that.

I won't need to get a job in advance because my dad is going to be a joint sponsor and has plenty of proof of being way above 125% of the poverty line. My parents have also offered to let us stay with them until we find our own place. :)

My Crafting Blog - On a Roll - Blogspot

3179788211_95b93e62af_t.jpg3179788215_6a1e497e9b_t.jpg3165849344_f296789fd3_t.jpg

_______________________________________________________

US Immigration Timeline

-------------------------

24 Feb 2007 - Sent I-130 to London USCIS office (I'm the petitioner)

25 May 2007 - NOA2

2 June 2007 - Received Packet 3

12 Oct 2007 - Sent Packet 3 back by special delivery

5 Nov 2007 - Interview in London - Approved without any hitches!

7 Nov 2007 - Visa and MBE arrived by SMS! :)

30 Jan 2008 - Fly to Michigan!! :)

*Note: Any delays in our case are only due to us taking things slowly

Posted

I've just seen the post now about DCF. Wow. I'm glad we aren't still counting on that route!

My Crafting Blog - On a Roll - Blogspot

3179788211_95b93e62af_t.jpg3179788215_6a1e497e9b_t.jpg3165849344_f296789fd3_t.jpg

_______________________________________________________

US Immigration Timeline

-------------------------

24 Feb 2007 - Sent I-130 to London USCIS office (I'm the petitioner)

25 May 2007 - NOA2

2 June 2007 - Received Packet 3

12 Oct 2007 - Sent Packet 3 back by special delivery

5 Nov 2007 - Interview in London - Approved without any hitches!

7 Nov 2007 - Visa and MBE arrived by SMS! :)

30 Jan 2008 - Fly to Michigan!! :)

*Note: Any delays in our case are only due to us taking things slowly

Posted
I've just seen the post now about DCF. Wow. I'm glad we aren't still counting on that route!

Actually that problem doesnt apply to you. The thing is that London happens to be a USCIS center and you can actually apply there. Its the other countries that dont have USCIS centers that suffer.

Overall your best bet is still to file DCF. You take a look and you will see that K3's take something like 6-12 months and DCF's take something like 2months (depending on the country of course)

Posted
I've just seen the post now about DCF. Wow. I'm glad we aren't still counting on that route!

Actually that problem doesnt apply to you. The thing is that London happens to be a USCIS center and you can actually apply there. Its the other countries that dont have USCIS centers that suffer.

Overall your best bet is still to file DCF. You take a look and you will see that K3's take something like 6-12 months and DCF's take something like 2months (depending on the country of course)

Thanks for the explanation about London being a USCIS center.

I feel nervous about DCF since I'm definitely not a permanent resident and I won't have been living in the UK for two years until August of this year. I've heard that I can submit the application but that I won't lose my money if they don't process it. Have you heard that as well?

We currently have 10 months between the time we should have everything ready to file and the time we would like to move to the US.

My Crafting Blog - On a Roll - Blogspot

3179788211_95b93e62af_t.jpg3179788215_6a1e497e9b_t.jpg3165849344_f296789fd3_t.jpg

_______________________________________________________

US Immigration Timeline

-------------------------

24 Feb 2007 - Sent I-130 to London USCIS office (I'm the petitioner)

25 May 2007 - NOA2

2 June 2007 - Received Packet 3

12 Oct 2007 - Sent Packet 3 back by special delivery

5 Nov 2007 - Interview in London - Approved without any hitches!

7 Nov 2007 - Visa and MBE arrived by SMS! :)

30 Jan 2008 - Fly to Michigan!! :)

*Note: Any delays in our case are only due to us taking things slowly

Filed: Country: United Kingdom
Timeline
Posted
I've heard that I can submit the application but that I won't lose my money if they don't process it. Have you heard that as well?

You can easily search the DCF Forum to confirm that information.

Now That You Are A Permanent Resident

How Do I Remove The Conditions On Permanent Residence Based On Marriage?

Welcome to the United States: A Guide For New Immigrants

Yes, even this last one.. stuff in there that not even your USC knows.....

Here are more links that I love:

Arriving in America, The POE Drill

Dual Citizenship FAQ

Other Fora I Post To:

alt.visa.us.marriage-based http://britishexpats.com/ and www.***removed***.com

censored link = *family based immigration* website

Inertia. Is that the Greek god of 'can't be bothered'?

Met, married, immigrated, naturalized.

I-130 filed Aug02

USC Jul06

No Deje Piedras Sobre El Pavimento!

Filed: Timeline
Posted (edited)

Fofire,

It's not yet clear whether or not people living overseas can file I-130 at the overseas USCIS field offices. People who have tried it at Bangkok have been given a written notice that the overseas USCIS field offices cannot accept I-130 because they have no mechanism for accepting the fee payment. Previously, they used the consulates to collect the fees, but now that the consulates can't accept the petitions they will not accept the fee payments either. The Bangkok notice is written with language that indicates this problem exists everywhere, not just in Bangkok.

Do give it a try, though, and report back what happens. The information will be valuable to a lot of people.

Yodrak

I've just seen the post now about DCF. Wow. I'm glad we aren't still counting on that route!

Actually that problem doesnt apply to you. The thing is that London happens to be a USCIS center and you can actually apply there. Its the other countries that dont have USCIS centers that suffer.

Overall your best bet is still to file DCF. You take a look and you will see that K3's take something like 6-12 months and DCF's take something like 2months (depending on the country of course)

Edited by Yodrak
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: England
Timeline
Posted

We are in exactly the same position and have filed at the USCIS London Office...

We sent the I-130 to Nebraska (Milwaukee ex resident) -

They forwarded it to California who sent it back to us DHL to say file in London.

London will get it with the California front sheet on the 4th Feb with a request to advise us by email/phone whether they will accept it or forwarded it BACK to Nebraska or California or send it to us so we can just stare at each other with wonderment. They won't I bet.

Actually I am not so surprised as I worked for a Government organization for 3 years and computerized my job down to 4 days a month and then resigned as I was bored.... I had a dyslexic data inputter assigned me (they told me I had to have him as it was a disability) and a typist who had never typed. So it's not just the US

I really think California should have sent it to London themselves rather than bounce it - they are ONE organization after all..

Yodrak I really appreciate you watching this as I respect your utterances and I know you don't shoot from the hip.

I haven't quite figured the difference between filing at London field office (and whether that is DCF ) - and filing at London Embassy (Consulate)..

Wouldn't it be nice if London field office took it and processed it like a DCF ? Actually I don't want to use the visa until the 5th November when we have been married 2 years (want unconditional green card) - but at the moment it looks like we will either be very early (must watch 6 month validity) or very late with them sending it round in circles like pass the parcel at a party. I will post here when I learn more - hopefully this week..

I never imagined that even getting NOA1 would be so hard when I worked so hard at the package and had professional US compliant photos done etc - I have seen people on VJ faint with pleasure at a NOA1 but never thought I would be one of them !

alan

moresheep400100.jpg

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: England
Timeline
Posted

Monday morning dawns - 5th Feb - just received an email from USCIS London ..

They say we should send the application to them and they will forward it to Nebraska....

Actually we already did, and LONDON should receive it this morning

So mystery solved - you should send it to London and they will forward it with their cover sheet to the USCIS office covering last place of residence in the US...

If you send it direct to the US they will bounce it back to you after sending it round the continent...

I am still not 100% confident as I have seen vj-ers who have just had it sent back to them from London.

Anyway this doesn't look like DCF to me so I reckon it's the slow boat for all of us now...

I am hoping that London will NOA1 it before they send it to Nebraska , as someone else mailed to London a few weeks ago and got NOA1 in 4 days, - but its a slim chance I reckon...

I will report back if I do get NOA1

alan

moresheep400100.jpg

Posted
Monday morning dawns - 5th Feb - just received an email from USCIS London ..

They say we should send the application to them and they will forward it to Nebraska....

Actually we already did, and LONDON should receive it this morning

So mystery solved - you should send it to London and they will forward it with their cover sheet to the USCIS office covering last place of residence in the US...

If you send it direct to the US they will bounce it back to you after sending it round the continent...

I am still not 100% confident as I have seen vj-ers who have just had it sent back to them from London.

Anyway this doesn't look like DCF to me so I reckon it's the slow boat for all of us now...

I am hoping that London will NOA1 it before they send it to Nebraska , as someone else mailed to London a few weeks ago and got NOA1 in 4 days, - but its a slim chance I reckon...

I will report back if I do get NOA1

alan

Thanks for the update! Too bad it doesn't look like DCF, but at least they're helping you now and seems to be moving forward! :)

I'm now wondering whether I should just use my US address on the form as that is my permanent home address and send it directly to Nebraska with a cover letter explaining the situation. And then my parents can DHL/UPS things to me when needed. I'm going to be home later this month and I could send everything then. I'll call the helpline in the states before trying that though I think.

Thanks again and keep us posted!

My Crafting Blog - On a Roll - Blogspot

3179788211_95b93e62af_t.jpg3179788215_6a1e497e9b_t.jpg3165849344_f296789fd3_t.jpg

_______________________________________________________

US Immigration Timeline

-------------------------

24 Feb 2007 - Sent I-130 to London USCIS office (I'm the petitioner)

25 May 2007 - NOA2

2 June 2007 - Received Packet 3

12 Oct 2007 - Sent Packet 3 back by special delivery

5 Nov 2007 - Interview in London - Approved without any hitches!

7 Nov 2007 - Visa and MBE arrived by SMS! :)

30 Jan 2008 - Fly to Michigan!! :)

*Note: Any delays in our case are only due to us taking things slowly

Filed: Country: Germany
Timeline
Posted

My husband and I are also in this mess... one question that you have not brought up that I am curious about is how you make your payment for your visa. Do you bring US cheques and use those or do they take some other currency (namely Euros or in your case pounds?).

We are planning on staying here in Germany for some time, however we want to get the visa stuff out of the way so when the chance arrises (say through his job) we would have the option to go back with out additional hassles of paperwork and extra things.

Please keep us updated on your progress - it is really helpful! I will do the same as soon as I have any extra info!

Thanks!

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: England
Timeline
Posted
My husband and I are also in this mess... one question that you have not brought up that I am curious about is how you make your payment for your visa. Do you bring US cheques and use those or do they take some other currency (namely Euros or in your case pounds?).

We are planning on staying here in Germany for some time, however we want to get the visa stuff out of the way so when the chance arrises (say through his job) we would have the option to go back with out additional hassles of paperwork and extra things.

Please keep us updated on your progress - it is really helpful! I will do the same as soon as I have any extra info!

Thanks!

Luckily Carolyn has her US cheque (check !) book with her

sehr gluecklich ja ?

I think you can use international money orders etc but certainly not cards - that is one thing london uscis stressed...

So it depends what the US Service centre (center) will take..

Might be a good idea to email london uscis and ask them if an international money order from a european bank is ok - and if not then what...

London.Uscis@dhs.gov

ok i will let you all know what is happening - we are hoping for noa1 from california (nebraska will send it there again !) some time end of next week if we are lucky...

November seems a long way off but I reckon we will only just get it in time .. yes get moving now as you can always delay the final part so your visa does not expire too soon (valid 6 months)

tchus !

moresheep400100.jpg

 
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