First time filing and have questions

[JenniferNangel 137]

No criticism please or attacking

As me and my husband are getting the I-130 packet together (dcf filing in dr) we are a bit confused by somethings mostly regarding evidence. We have a TON of photos but need to know when we put them in the packet do we also need to have copies of the photos when we get the interview??

Are we able to request of evidence back at any point after he gets his green card ??

Is it better having a lawyer come with us or does it make the process faster ??

When do I summit the I-184(support of income form) ??

What are all the forms we will need to dcf ??

From what I understand we summit the petition, once we get the approval he has his medical and a few days later we go to the embassy for the interview and he either gets his visa or is denied right ???

Please be as nice as possible I've already had a bad experience with a few users on here I was debating even keeping my profile but I do find it helpful not being "alone" in the visa journey

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

****** Moving from Bringing Family to DCF forum, as policies are often different when filing directly with the embassy *****

1. I would send only a small selection of photos, bring the rest to the interview.

2. No-ish; things like photos and wedding cards you show at the interview usually do not stay with the packet, but anything you send ahead of time, and anything official (birth certs etc) become part of your file and you won't get them back. You may see them again at your naturalisation interview many years in the future though!

3. Lawyers tend to slow things down, not speed it up. Unless there are complications in your case (criminal past,l needing a waiver for previous overstay in the USA), you are likely wasting money, DCF tends to be smooth and easy.

4. Usually with DCF, the I-864 is submitted at interview. But hopefully someone with experience with your specific embassy will chime in.

5. Same as for lockbox submissions. Also check your local US embassy's page for specific policies or things they may want.

[JenniferNangel 137]

Why did you move my post to dcf ?? Just because I plan on doing dcf im still bringing my husband to America. How does a lawyer slow things down??

[JenniferNangel 137]

****** Moving from Bringing Family to DCF forum, as policies are often different when filing directly with the embassy *****

Nobody on the dcf forum as gone threw dcf that's why I posted it on bringing family to America I need people who have filed the I-130 appl to help me understand better

1. I would send only a small selection of photos, bring the rest to the interview.

2. No-ish; things like photos and wedding cards you show at the interview usually do not stay with the packet, but anything you send ahead of time, and anything official (birth certs etc) become part of your file and you won't get them back. You may see them again at your naturalisation interview many years in the future though!

3. Lawyers tend to slow things down, not speed it up. Unless there are complications in your case (criminal past,l needing a waiver for previous overstay in the USA), you are likely wasting money, DCF tends to be smooth and easy.

4. Usually with DCF, the I-864 is submitted at interview. But hopefully someone with experience with your specific embassy will chime in.

5. Same as for lockbox submissions. Also check your local US embassy's page for specific policies or things they may want.

*dcf in santo domingio

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

DCF stands for Direct Consular Filing; the policies and timelines of this process are very different than filing for a CR-1 visa via the Chicago lockbox, that is why we have a specific forum for it. You don't want to get wrong information from people who are doing a different process than you, even if they end up with the same visa. In any case, the "Bringing Family..." forum is meant for larger families; not for spouses, who have their own forum in the CR-1/ IR-1 spousal visa forum.

Lawyers add an extra step; you give them info, they fill in forms, and send them off. You are not their only client, you are not a priority,l= so they may wait a week or longer to send stuff off, or get back to you to clarify things before filling in forms.

Edited July 17, 2016 by Penguin_ie

[JenniferNangel 137]

Like I said before nobody on dcf can help me (I completely understand dcf including the meaning of dcf and have posted in the forum before ) I feel somebody who filed the I-130 is better to help me in the situation. The only difference in doing dcf is the interview is for both appl and visa that's why is so fast

[CasiCassie 0]

Hey! My husband and I are going through the same process, and through Santo Domingo as well. With the DCF versus the normal CR-1/IR-1 people, we are actually going through the same process, but we get to file our I-130 for the CR-1R1 process locally instead of waiting for the lockbox. I'm in agreement with Penguin--our process doesn't require the exact same things, so it's better to seek answers in this forum. Not insulting your knowledge or experience. Just reiterating that they both involve the I-130, but we are different in the timeline and the requirements.

For my husband and I to DCF, we brought in our packet that included: a cover letter, the filled-out I-130 of our case, G-325A for me, passport picture of me, a copy of my passport, a copy of my birth certificate (just in case), G-325A for him, passport picture of him, the G-1145 filled out, a copy of our marriage certificate and its legal translation into English, a copy of his birth certificate with its translation in English, and proof of our relationships in the form of our rental lease, screen shots of some conversations we started years ago (with translation), pictures of our families together, etc. We had an extra folder with us with the originals and extra photos just in case, and they did end up wanting the originals of our marriage certificate and his birth certificate. We also included a check, but they only take payment in cash or card or bank-check.

The man was very kind and explained that for our next appointment, we'll need the I-694 (affidavit of support) as well as his police records, his medical test results (from an appointment with a civil surgeon) and more copies of other documents. We won't be able to set that up until they will let us know when we get our NOA from the USCIS that they moved the case downstairs. So meanwhile, we're getting those all ready.

Hope that helps in your process! Glad to know we aren't the only ones. :-)

[JenniferNangel 137]

Hey! My husband and I are going through the same process, and through Santo Domingo as well. With the DCF versus the normal CR-1/IR-1 people, we are actually going through the same process, but we get to file our I-130 for the CR-1R1 process locally instead of waiting for the lockbox. I'm in agreement with Penguin--our process doesn't require the exact same things, so it's better to seek answers in this forum. Not insulting your knowledge or experience. Just reiterating that they both involve the I-130, but we are different in the timeline and the requirements.

For my husband and I to DCF, we brought in our packet that included: a cover letter, the filled-out I-130 of our case, G-325A for me, passport picture of me, a copy of my passport, a copy of my birth certificate (just in case), G-325A for him, passport picture of him, the G-1145 filled out, a copy of our marriage certificate and its legal translation into English, a copy of his birth certificate with its translation in English, and proof of our relationships in the form of our rental lease, screen shots of some conversations we started years ago (with translation), pictures of our families together, etc. We had an extra folder with us with the originals and extra photos just in case, and they did end up wanting the originals of our marriage certificate and his birth certificate. We also included a check, but they only take payment in cash or card or bank-check.

The man was very kind and explained that for our next appointment, we'll need the I-694 (affidavit of support) as well as his police records, his medical test results (from an appointment with a civil surgeon) and more copies of other documents. We won't be able to set that up until they will let us know when we get our NOA from the USCIS that they moved the case downstairs. So meanwhile, we're getting those all ready.

Hope that helps in your process! Glad to know we aren't the only ones. :-)

Thank you so much !!! All this is confusing at times I thought I was the only one actually going threw the dcf at USA embassy in santo domingio. I seen you added me as a friend as well so I figured you weren't insulting at all. I did send a message to you as well not sure you received it I have delt with a lot of bashing on this website that's why I put that in the orginal message. I read so much online that some answers you can't find online. We have a munch of screenshots of our conversation as well as conversations between me family and my self. Both my parents are writing a letter saying they had knowledge of our relationship before getting married lol before I even left USA. I am so greatful I found somebody going threw the same process as me

[JenniferNangel 137]

Hey! My husband and I are going through the same process, and through Santo Domingo as well. With the DCF versus the normal CR-1/IR-1 people, we are actually going through the same process, but we get to file our I-130 for the CR-1R1 process locally instead of waiting for the lockbox. I'm in agreement with Penguin--our process doesn't require the exact same things, so it's better to seek answers in this forum. Not insulting your knowledge or experience. Just reiterating that they both involve the I-130, but we are different in the timeline and the requirements.

For my husband and I to DCF, we brought in our packet that included: a cover letter, the filled-out I-130 of our case, G-325A for me, passport picture of me, a copy of my passport, a copy of my birth certificate (just in case), G-325A for him, passport picture of him, the G-1145 filled out, a copy of our marriage certificate and its legal translation into English, a copy of his birth certificate with its translation in English, and proof of our relationships in the form of our rental lease, screen shots of some conversations we started years ago (with translation), pictures of our families together, etc. We had an extra folder with us with the originals and extra photos just in case, and they did end up wanting the originals of our marriage certificate and his birth certificate. We also included a check, but they only take payment in cash or card or bank-check.

The man was very kind and explained that for our next appointment, we'll need the I-694 (affidavit of support) as well as his police records, his medical test results (from an appointment with a civil surgeon) and more copies of other documents. We won't be able to set that up until they will let us know when we get our NOA from the USCIS that they moved the case downstairs. So meanwhile, we're getting those all ready.

Hope that helps in your process! Glad to know we aren't the only ones. :-)

Hey for the cover letter did you put the address for the embassy on the top ?? I found a example for the cover letter but it's all filing in USA I can't find a example for a dcf cover letter. I know the application will be processed at DR and doesn't leave until his visa gets approved

[CasiCassie 0]

They have a forum listed here where everyone put up a copy of their cover letters. I just used that as a template because our situation is a little tricky (I was never a resident of the DR but worked and lived there in and out for 8 years with an organization), and wanted to explain why I felt we qualified for filing this way.

And I found hardly anything on the USCIS DR website about DCF/Local filing, so it's been a lot of studying for me. This website has a lot of resources and details that are generic about what is "typically" required for a DCF, but we just had everything ready with us just in case--forms, money, 2-3 extra copies of things, proof in case they asked for it, etc.

(But honestly--with as much fraud that the US consulate gets in the DR, I doubt they will ever put up on there that there is a shorter or simpler way to go through this process for those who are willing to do a little more research.)