Can I still qualify for the DCF Procedure ? (merged threads)

[Boiler 45,466]

You said you will be there as a Tourist, which is it?

[Sunnybanana1913 11]

You said you will be there as a Tourist, which is it?

No at the time i can only apply for a "tourist Visa" but i was basically living there.

If i remember correctly this is how most of the US Citizens who are applying for DCF are doing in Philippines.

When i entered Philippines Airport in Manila they asked me why i am visiting i said for my wife. and they gave me a visa which i believe is a family visa or tourist visa but it required me to extend it after every couple months. Unless we leave the country together and reenter I would have to keep on extending my visa. This time we will leave Philippines to HK for a few days for a vacation and enter philippines with my 1 year visa free stay (no fees).

Edited April 24, 2016 by Sunnybanana1913

[Transborderwife 4,666]

You're not answering the question. Are you a legal resident? An extended tourist visa is not legal residency for dcf

[Sunnybanana1913 11]

You're not answering the question. Are you a legal resident? An extended tourist visa is not legal residency for dcf

http://www.immigration.gov.ph/faqs/visa-inquiry/permanent-resident-visa

[Marrienne 112]

They asked us for his Greek green card here as I said but because it was recent (less than 6 months) we also provided them with his rental agreement which was older.

[bellashay 14]

Your previous stay in the Philippines from 2014-2015 doesn't count to qualify for DCF. You must be in the Philippines for a period of 6months to do so. Basically if you're moving this June, then you can file the petition on December 2016.

Regarding your status in the Philipines, you don't have to be on a permanent resident status unlike other coutnries. My husband was on a tourist visa and we just extended it as well.

[Villanelle 4,122]

I use to think the same thing but someone posted in the PI subforums I think and explained in Manila, direct filing for spouse only needs proof of living here for 6 months. Not a permanent residence card.

So the OP needs to be there for 6 months BEFORE filing. The couple in the previous post were approved 2 months after filing. The OP will have to decide if they want to file now and wait the 8 months to a year it could potentially take or move there for 6 months and then file and wait another month or two or lets be honest it can go up to 3 months after.

Just like the above poster stated DCF would be filed in Dec 16. Maybe a visa in Feb. If filing now for CR1 it could be 12 months which would be April 17, so DCF seems to be faster.

[bendinlar 16]

Yep, as myself and others can testify, being in the Philippines for 6 months on a visitor visa, and associated extensions, will qualify you for DCF. They just care that you have been legally residing, not that you are a permanent legal resident.

Since you left, as mentioned, your previous stay will not count, sorry. There was some one that was able to file after taking a trip out of the country for business(if I remember right), but they were still residing in the Philippines.

Edit: if you line all the ducks up, and stay on top of it, the DCF process can be done in about a month, from filing the petition to visa in hand. So if you don't mind spending some time there again, it could be significantly faster than filing state side.

Edited April 25, 2016 by bendinlar

[Lhanz0729 52]

You have two options to get your wife her visa, one is DCF and the other is filing through the lockbox.

Since you left the country (PH) you no longer qualify to do DCF BUT since you are planning to move on June you can file after 6 months of continuous stay in the country. You don't need to be a permanent resident.

My husband and I processed my visa through DCF and if only took us 41 days to get the visa on hand (could've taken less than 30 days if we didn't slack )

If total of 7 months waiting is too much you can opt to take the other route which is sending your application to the lockbox which I believe takes 1 year or more to get your wife's visa..

Best of luck to your visa journey

I will be living there we have a house built there.

but thanks anyways

Edited April 25, 2016 by Lhanz0729

[lost_at_sea 995]

The rules say you must have been residing in the country for 6 months continuously before qualifying.

Just in case someone comes across this - the 6 months rule is only for some countries.

Some require more, some require much less (London removed the 6 month criteria recently, for example). Always check the local information and ask them if in doubt.