Moving UK Husband to the US

[TheDeaks17 0]

Hello, I've been looking into the DCF option for my british husband. We've only been married 3 weeks (Together 4 years) and only recently came to a firm decision to more stateside. If anyone here has done it before, how did it go? Also does anyone know if I qualify? I've been living in the UK since August of 2016, but I'm here on a Tier 4 Visa. Would my visa running out in January be a problem? Also aside from location obviously, how does the DCF process differ from filing in the US? I know the initial I-130 forms are the same but do things differ after that? 

 

Sorry if this seems a bit chaotic, I'm beyond confused honestly and just trying my best to make a life with the man I love. Any help or advice would be highly appreciated! Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this. 

[Georgia16 2,858]

Yes you can file DCF since you live there legally and have been living there 6+ months. You might be lucky and be done by Jan. if you apply now.

 

It's different because it is fraud to come to the us to adjust status so that is not an option for you. 

 

But there is the normal CR-1 that takes about a year to get but since you have the option for DCF that would be the fastes rute for you guys to move to the us.

 

http://www.visajourney.com/content/dcf

Edited July 27, 2017 by Georgia16

[JFH 12,191]

Definitely take the DCF route. Look at my timeline to see how long standard (non-DCF) processing takes for a U.K. spouse and compare with some DCF timelines here. And my process was fast compared to those in the middle of it now. 

 

With DCF everything is handled by the embassy and their workload is much smaller than the USCIS service centers in the USA who received thousands of petitions each week. 

Edited July 27, 2017 by JFH

[TheDeaks17 0]

Thank you both so much! I'm currently filling out the I-130 so I can send it as soon as I have all the documents needed. This may seem like a silly question but for addresses in the past 5 years, I've been in Uni so the only addresses on official documentation are my childhood home, My Uni Apartment, and my UK Residence. I lived in dorms my first couple years of Uni, do I need to include these addresses? 

 

Sorry if it seems nitpicky, I just want to get things as accurate as possible. Also should I put None or N/A in the parts that dont apply to us such as Children, translators etc or should I leave them blank? Thanks again! 

[Jorge V 195]

Someone made a wiki entry detailing the DCF process in London, http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/DCF_London . It might help.

[TheDeaks17 0]

That page is fantastic, thank you so much! 

[Jorge V 195]

No problem! I'm hoping to create a similar one for Mexico, but this one helped me even though it was London specific. Do keep in mind that some of the things on that page are outdated (such as the filing fee for the I-130) so be sure to double check everything!

[TheDeaks17 0]

I was about to ask about that actually, I noticed on the Wiki it has 

 

• 2 x G-325a biographic information forms (one each, both with US-sized photographs attached) 

as something needed in the packet while there's nothing about this on the checklist I found on the embassy website. Should I include them just to be safe?

 

Edit: This is apparently outdated info, keeping the question up for anyone who happens to find this and have the same question.

Edited July 27, 2017 by TheDeaks17

[Wuozopo 4,293]

34 minutes ago, TheDeaks17 said:

I was about to ask about that actually, I noticed on the Wiki it has 

 

• 2 x G-325a biographic information forms (one each, both with US-sized photographs attached) 

as something needed in the packet while there's nothing about this on the checklist I found on the embassy website. Should I include them just to be safe?

 

Edit: This is apparently outdated info, keeping the question up for anyone who happens to find this and have the same question.

Follow the embassy website exactly. The wiki is too outdated.

 

Your other question about differences.  There is a USCIS field office housed on site at the embassy location in London . It is not related to the embassy/consulate, which are different agencies (Dept of State). You are still going through USCIS for petition approval just like people in the States do. The difference comes after USCIS approves the petition. In the States, your file is transferred to the NVC, part of the Dept of State. They take a long time collecting info, fees, documents and eventually assign you an interview date and time before sending your file "across the pond" to the Immigrant VIsa Unit in London.

 

With DCF, the USCIS London field office is faster approving your petition. Then they send your file  "across the hall" to the ....Dept of State/Embassy/consulate/Immigrant Visa Unit.  You get to skip the NVC entirely and pick your own appointment date. 

[TheDeaks17 0]

Thank you so much! One last thing, My husband has some gaps in his employment over the past 5 years. What would be the best way to address those on the I-130A? I can only seem to find info on addressing my own gaps. 

 

I have an explanation in extra info at the moment, wondering if putting the gaps between the employment and putting the older employment in extra info would be more appropriate. 

[ViitaV 2]

I've just been approved via London DCF and the whole process took two months

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 hours ago, TheDeaks17 said:

Thank you so much! One last thing, My husband has some gaps in his employment over the past 5 years. What would be the best way to address those on the I-130A? I can only seem to find info on addressing my own gaps. 

 

I have an explanation in extra info at the moment, wondering if putting the gaps between the employment and putting the older employment in extra info would be more appropriate. 

Just put unemployed in those gaps with the date span. It doesn't matter and they don't need an explanation.  It's just biographical. Won't matter for spouse Visa.

 

 

[mindthegap 2,590]

15 hours ago, TheDeaks17 said:

If anyone here has done it before, how did it go? 

Quickly

 

15 hours ago, TheDeaks17 said:

 Also does anyone know if I qualify? I've been living in the UK since August of 2016, but I'm here on a Tier 4 Visa. Would my visa running out in January be a problem?

You qualify, and no, it is not a problem.

 

15 hours ago, TheDeaks17 said:

 Also aside from location obviously, how does the DCF process differ from filing in the US? I know the initial I-130 forms are the same but do things differ after that? 

 

The location IS the difference - largely due to rather than being sent to and from the NVC in the US, paperwork is sent to and processed directly at the USCIS field office at the embassy, and then sent directly to the immigrant visa office, which is handily in the same building.

 The significant time-savings are not to be underestimated.

 

8 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

Follow the embassy website exactly. The wiki is too outdated.

Very much this.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 28, 2017 by mindthegap

[TheDeaks17 0]

All of the help in here has been absolutely fantastic. I've gotten all of the forms and photocopies sorted and am organising everything. This may seem like a very small question but it's better to leave no stone unturned. The checklist says to staple everything together, however I remember tons of advice around the internet saying not to and to use paper clips instead. How much does this not actually matter! Currently intending to follow what it says on the official checklist. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

If the checklist posted on the USCIS London page says staple then don't worry about it. Apparently that particular office likes staples. Or use a paper clip. It is not so super strict that they will fail you over a staple or lack of.

Edited July 30, 2017 by Wuozopo