is the DCF working in france?

[Baissemelba 0]

Hi everyone!

 

We are looking for information about the DCF at the french embassy.

 

My wife is american and we live together in france since our wedding almost two years ago.

She wants to go back to the states because she is needed in her family business.

We read a lot of information, and just before sending the I-130 to the lockbox in chicago, we discovered there was a shorter way for the US citizen living abroad : the Direct Consular Filing. We saw some cases that took only few months to get their visa. So, we did what they did : sending an email explaining the situation to the embassy. But they responded saying they are not doing it anymore since 2011.

here is their answer :

 

Dear M.  Minix,

 

Effective August 15, 2011, all I-130 petitions for an immediate relative must be filed directly with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Chicago lockbox and the information you need most will be found at www.uscis.gov.  Only once you have successfully filed your petition with USCIS and completed the necessary processing will your file be transferred to the National Visa Center (NVC). 

 

This procedure from USCIS to NVC to Paris will take few months. You may follow up your case on line via the following website  https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/Dashboard.do  by entering your case number provided by NVC. You can also find additional information on the process at www.travel.state.gov.

 

Posts receive hardcopy files within three weeks prior the interview of eligibility scheduled by NVC. Educating yourself on the process by visiting the links above and preparing all the necessary information/documents is the best way to expedite the procedure. 

 

Thank you for your inquiry.

 

Sincerely,

 

Immigrant Visas
Visa Unit

U.S. Embassy, Paris France

 

 

It's hard to find information about that. we found only few DCF made in france.

 

That' why we add a new post here, specificaly for the french embassy.

 

does anybody have information, or experience, with this DCF at the french embassy?

 

Thanks a lot!

 

Clément and kalah

 

 

[geowrian 22,337]

DCF is not available in France (except for extenuating circumstances, which applies to all embassies). Since 2011, the embassy or consulate must have a USCIS field office to qualify for DCF. France does not.

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices

Edited December 12, 2017 by geowrian

[Lemonslice 4,922]

14 minutes ago, Baissemelba said:

Hi everyone!

 

We are looking for information about the DCF at the french embassy.

 

My wife is american and we live together in france since our wedding almost two years ago.

She wants to go back to the states because she is needed in her family business.

We read a lot of information, and just before sending the I-130 to the lockbox in chicago, we discovered there was a shorter way for the US citizen living abroad : the Direct Consular Filing. We saw some cases that took only few months to get their visa. So, we did what they did : sending an email explaining the situation to the embassy. But they responded saying they are not doing it anymore since 2011.

here is their answer :

 

Dear M.  Minix,

 

Effective August 15, 2011, all I-130 petitions for an immediate relative must be filed directly with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Chicago lockbox and the information you need most will be found at www.uscis.gov.  Only once you have successfully filed your petition with USCIS and completed the necessary processing will your file be transferred to the National Visa Center (NVC). 

 

This procedure from USCIS to NVC to Paris will take few months. You may follow up your case on line via the following website  https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/Dashboard.do  by entering your case number provided by NVC. You can also find additional information on the process at www.travel.state.gov.

 

Posts receive hardcopy files within three weeks prior the interview of eligibility scheduled by NVC. Educating yourself on the process by visiting the links above and preparing all the necessary information/documents is the best way to expedite the procedure. 

 

Thank you for your inquiry.

 

Sincerely,

 

Immigrant Visas
Visa Unit

U.S. Embassy, Paris France

 

 

It's hard to find information about that. we found only few DCF made in france.

 

That' why we add a new post here, specificaly for the french embassy.

 

does anybody have information, or experience, with this DCF at the french embassy?

 

Thanks a lot!

 

Clément and kalah

 

 

I understand you wanted a different answer, however the Embassy's reply make it clear that you have to file in the US (=no DCF).

Bonne chance.

[millefleur 5,047]

No DCF in France. You may have read cases of it from old threads where maybe they used to have it or there was an extreme emergency situation that granted it. But as of right now in 2017, no DCF in France.

[Mr_B 3]

No DCF in France is only partially true, there are exceptions.

If your wife is urgently needed in her family business, there could have been a possibility of the exception "

Quote

Short notice of position relocation: A U.S. Citizen petitioner, living and working abroad, who receives a job relocation within the same company or subsidiary to the United States, or an offer of a new job in the United States with very little notice.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/2012/May/DOS-I130May1412.pdf

 

Of course, they look at your entire situation and not just the job start date. Cases in which young children are involved that would be separated for months from one of their parents etc. would likely have a higher chance, ... you get the picture.

 

Sorry to hear your case wasn't considered.

[Baissemelba 0]

Thanks for your coments!

We read more information about it, and indeed, it's only for really specific situation.

So, we just applied for the CR1, hopping it wont take a full year!!

thanks again!

 

[Florine Casbonne 2]

Hi Clément !

My fiancé and I are in a similar situation.. We both live and work in France right now, and we are planning on going back to the USA in about 2 years.
We were hopping for the DCF to work but it's clear now, that it won't be an option. So based on your recent experience, I just would like to know, if you can start the CR1 process while both in France or does my fiancé has to be in the USA for that ? Even after reading the e-mail the ambassy sent you, i'm not quite sure if that's possible ?

 

Thanks and hope everyhting is working out for you and your love one 🙂

 

Florine and Luke

[geowrian 22,337]

You can start the process / file from abroad.