Can I choose consulate for CR1 interview?

[UserC 25]

Hello,

 

My wife (USC) and I (French Citizen) both work and live in Dubai.

We want to start the CR1 process.

 

In our application, will we be able to ask a different consulate to process the interview? We've heard that the Abu Dhabi consulate is very very busy and takes a long time to schedule interviews.

 

Can I mention that I am a french national and would like the Paris consulate to handle my case?

 

Thanks.

 

Henry

[JFH 12,190]

Yes, you can select Paris. You can be interviewed at the consulate responsible for your home country or where you currently live. You will have you make your way to France for the medical and interview. It's not possible to have the medical in the UAE and the interview in France, for example. Both must be done in the same place. 

Edited January 27, 2018 by JFH

[UserC 25]

Thank you very much for your reply! Highly appreciated.

At what stage can I request this? I am just getting familiar with the process but can't find what form includes the choice of consulate.

 

Many thanks.

 

Henry

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*moved from "bringing family members of USCs" to "IR-1/CR-1 spouse visa" as this is more appropriate for the OP's situation*~*~*

[JFH 12,190]

1 minute ago, HenryD said:

Thank you very much for your reply! Highly appreciated.

At what stage can I request this? I am just getting familiar with the process but can't find what form includes the choice of consulate.

 

Many thanks.

 

Henry

You write it on the I-130 - page 8, question 62A.

[UserC 25]

4 minutes ago, JFH said:

You write it on the I-130 - page 8, question 62A.

Thanks a lot. How could I have missed that?

It says that "the US consulate has discretion over whether or not to accept the beneficiary's case". Do you think that because I'm a french national, I have chances to get accepted?

 

Will the fact that I will still be living in Dubai affect my chances?

Also, at the interview (If they accept my case to be moved to Paris), if I'm asked why I changed, can I just mention that the Abu Dhabi consulate is extremely busy as they also handle cases from other countries like Iran?  Or will it give a bad impression?

[JFH 12,190]

Unlikely that a French citizen all will be asked why he is being interviewed in Paris. You will be leaving the UAE soon after that stage anyway - it's quite normal that by that stage you will be severing your ties there and preparing to move here. 

 

Its no different for dual citizens - I am a dual citizen (two European countries) because of my parentage. I interviewed in London. I had to pick one of them! 

 

Regarding the mention of using discretion to accept a case, that's for people who are not residents of or citizens of a certain country but want to be interviewed there for a certain reason - such cases require the discretion of the consulate in question. I'm thinking of people who are students in a foreign country, for example. Often they are not considered residents of that country. 

Edited January 27, 2018 by JFH

[UserC 25]

Very clear! Thanks a million for your replies. Highly appreciated.

[UserC 25]

Sorry one more question: if I go to the interview in Paris,  can I mention another address in France where they can mail back my passport? I guess they will only have my UAE address in the system...

[JFH 12,190]

You can have your passport sent to any address - a workplace, a relative... as the courier normally comes during the day, many people choose their office address or that of a retired or non-working relative (mother, grandmother). Some countries also give the option to collect the passport from a courier depot. The U.K. has this option and I selected this too as I had by then sold my house and was staying with a friend with no real address of my own. Some allow you to collect it from the embassy - you will need to check with the embassy in Paris as to what options they offer. 

 

You give the embassy your instructions regarding passport return. It's a separate process from the forms. 

[kris&me 572]

make sure you get a criminal investigation report before leaving Dubai

and your medical exam will need to be done in France

How are you establishing your USC wife as having US residency?

[UserC 25]

Thanks! Yes you are right, will definitely get the criminal record in Dubai.

 

Do you know how long it takes between the medical exam and the actual interview? Is everything doable in one trip?

 

Concerning my wife, we will show documents proving intent to relocate to the US: phone bill, maintenance of a bank account, conversations with realtors, quotes from moving companies...Do you think this will be a problem? She will probably be in Dubai until the moment we move.

 

Thanks for your help