DCF possible in AUS if about to loose job? (split topic)

[JoshK 0]

Hi all, new to this site, and this thread has been really interesting & helpful!

I'm about to file I-130's for my wife & 19yo step-son. I'm a USC living in Australia as a permanent resident for just shy of 10 years, married to my wife for 9 yrs w/ 4 kids (2 USC children whom we've just filed CRBA's for, and 2 young adult step-kids). I was getting concerned at the processing times, as we'd really like to be in the US as soon as possible, and no later than July/Aug as we'd like the young kids to be able to start school in the fall. I'm leaving a job this week (for other reasons), and think it'll be difficult to find decent work knowing we may be leaving in 6mo time.

I'm encouraged seeing some of your timelines...looks like you got interviewed and approved in 4-5 months when filing from overseas? That's great.

Sorry to hijack, but on a separate note, does anyone know if, due to the fact that I'm about to be out of work, we would qualify for DCF in Australia? Seems they only do DCF in exceptional circumstances.

Thanks, and as soon as I've filed, I'll add our details to this thread!

[Ryan H 3,819]

~~Post split from thread not intended for general Q & A.~~

[Penguin_ie 5,995]

There is no USCIS office in-house in the US embassy in Australia, so no DCF. When filing from abroad, spousal petitions are often auto expedited, which can cut the wait time from the usual year or so significantly, but that is not guaranteed.

On the I-864/ financial sponsorship, your job in Australia wouldn't count anyway, as it will not continue when you move back to the USA. You will need to sponsor your family on assets, or find a US based co-sponsor; someone who can stand guarantoor for the foreign beneficiaries. Or, since you are leaving a job now-ish, you could move to the USA by yourself first, and find a job there, that would count for financial sponsorship.

You mention two young adult step-kids- how old are they now, and how old were they when you legally married their mom?

[JoshK 0]

There is no USCIS office in-house in the US embassy in Australia, so no DCF. When filing from abroad, spousal petitions are often auto expedited, which can cut the wait time from the usual year or so significantly, but that is not guaranteed.

On the I-864/ financial sponsorship, your job in Australia wouldn't count anyway, as it will not continue when you move back to the USA. You will need to sponsor your family on assets, or find a US based co-sponsor; someone who can stand guarantoor for the foreign beneficiaries. Or, since you are leaving a job now-ish, you could move to the USA by yourself first, and find a job there, that would count for financial sponsorship.

You mention two young adult step-kids- how old are they now, and how old were they when you legally married their mom?

Hi Penguin_ie, my apologies but I just saw your post on my thread! Thanks for taking the time to write.

Since that post, we've sent everything off to the Chicago lockbox, and I just got an email today of confirmation of receipt and allocation to the Potomac Processing Center...so it's all underway.

I'll likely have a co-sponsor on the I-864 as I'm not really keen to move before my family, so will just aim to find work once we're there (or just before).

Our older kids (the non-USC) are 19 & 22, but only the 19 yo is planning to come...so no dramas on the age. His mum and I married when he was about 10.

Cheers