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DCF filing for NON RESIDENTS

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15 minutes ago, Tasiedu08 said:

Has any one ever DCF while not a resident in your spouses country? 

That's the whole part of DCF is if you are the resident in that country of filing.

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
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Can you do DCF in Ghana? I thought not.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
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Pretty sure DCF doesn't exist in Ghana. And never heard of anyone actually doing it while not being a resident of that country in some fashion. So gonna have to say no.

Edited by Ben&Zian

08/15/2014 : Met Online

06/30/2016 : I-129F Packet Sent

11/08/2016 : Interview - APPROVED!

11/23/2016 : POE - Dallas, Texas

From sending of I-129F petiton to POE - 146 days.

 

02/03/2017 - Married 

02/24/2017 - AOS packet sent

06/01/2017 - EAD/AP Combo Card Received in mail

12/06/2017 - I-485 Approved

12/14/2017 - Green Card Received in mail - No Interview

 

   

brickleberry GIF they see me rolling college football GIF by ESPN  

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36 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Can you do DCF in Ghana? I thought not.

 

17 minutes ago, Ben&Zian said:

Pretty sure DCF doesn't exist in Ghana. And never heard of anyone actually doing it while not being a resident of that country in some fashion. So gonna have to say no.

Pretty sure you can do DCF in Ghana. I remember reading a few old posts of others doing so, and USCIS has a field office in Ghana as well, https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices

 

As far as not being a resident, I was able to do DCF in Mexico while not being a legal resident, though I had been living there for 7 years. I never bothered to apply for residency because Mexico allows visa runs (renewing of tourist visas by simply exiting and reentering the country). So if your question is, "can you do DCF without being a legal resident", then the answer is possibly. However, if don't currently live in Ghana, even as a tourist, then the answer is likely no.

 

That said, each field office is different. Heck, even each case is different. The Mexico USCIS field office has a reputation for being a bit lax with their residency requirements so I called and they said they would be willing to take a look at other evidence in lieu of a residency card. So I sent in my lease and a few other pieces of evidence and got approved a few days later. You should call the Ghana office and ask.

Edited by Jorge V

DCF Mexico

06/04/2017: Married

06/24/2017: Mailed I-130

06/27/2017: NOA1 (technically a RFE as we were missing beneficiary ID)

07/06/2017: NOA2

07/12/2017: Case assigned by Juarez embassy

07/17/2017: Packet 3 received

08/15/2017: Interview/Approval!

08/22/2017: Visa received via DHL

09/03/2017: POE

09/16/2017: Permanent Resident Card received

 

Total days from NOA1 to approval: 49

 

I wrote a DCF Mexico guide! http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php?title=DCF_Mexico

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
Timeline

Definately can ask/inquire about it; but Ghana is not "lax" or laid back as Ghana is I believe still a "high fraud" country; but definately can inquire.

08/15/2014 : Met Online

06/30/2016 : I-129F Packet Sent

11/08/2016 : Interview - APPROVED!

11/23/2016 : POE - Dallas, Texas

From sending of I-129F petiton to POE - 146 days.

 

02/03/2017 - Married 

02/24/2017 - AOS packet sent

06/01/2017 - EAD/AP Combo Card Received in mail

12/06/2017 - I-485 Approved

12/14/2017 - Green Card Received in mail - No Interview

 

   

brickleberry GIF they see me rolling college football GIF by ESPN  

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Ghana
Timeline

thank you so much for your response I knew i was reading the article correct. I will be in Ghana for about 5 months this year so that was the reason for my question as far as residency I am currently already on his lease and bank account and well known in the community. I understand about the fraud rate so I thought I ask first I will call them in a few!! thank you again!

 

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3 minutes ago, Tasiedu08 said:

thank you so much for your response I knew i was reading the article correct. I will be in Ghana for about 5 months this year so that was the reason for my question as far as residency I am currently already on his lease and bank account and well known in the community. I understand about the fraud rate so I thought I ask first I will call them in a few!! thank you again!

 

Great. You can find their contact information on their USCIS page, https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/ghana-uscis-accra-field-office . Be sure to contact USCIS and not the embassy. That page also has information about filing the I130 and includes this bit of info:

 

Quote

Evidence of residency must be submitted with the petition. The evidence you submit must support a determination that you are a resident in Ghana.

Please Note: Certain pieces of evidence may more strongly support a finding of residency than others. For petitions filed at this field office, you must submit one or more of the following:

  • Passport entry stamp(s) and visa reflecting that you are residing in Ghana and not just visiting Ghana
  • Residency permit or card
  • Work authorization document
  • Military or government orders assigning you to reside in Ghana

In addition, other evidence of residency may include, but is not limited to:

  • Utility bills
  • Housing lease
  • Work contract or other employment documents
  • Proof of local registration
  • Local bank statements
  • Proof of school enrollment
  • Vehicle registration
  • Local driver’s license
  • Tax documents listing a Ghanaian address
  • Foreign property deeds or registration (although proof of property ownership in itself, may be insufficient if there is no evidence that the petitioner resides at that property)

 

DCF Mexico

06/04/2017: Married

06/24/2017: Mailed I-130

06/27/2017: NOA1 (technically a RFE as we were missing beneficiary ID)

07/06/2017: NOA2

07/12/2017: Case assigned by Juarez embassy

07/17/2017: Packet 3 received

08/15/2017: Interview/Approval!

08/22/2017: Visa received via DHL

09/03/2017: POE

09/16/2017: Permanent Resident Card received

 

Total days from NOA1 to approval: 49

 

I wrote a DCF Mexico guide! http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php?title=DCF_Mexico

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DCF requirements vary heavily from consulate to consulate. Some people are able to DCF without legal residency in some countries. Others are able to do so after fairly short period of legal residency (i.e. I believe London just needs a residency card). That said, I think most want to see 6+ months of legal residency. Contact the embassy directly to confirm their requirements.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ghana
Timeline

According to the Ghana USCIS Accra Field Office site listed below, you must be a resident to apply through DCF in Ghana. 

 

From the I-130, Petition for an Alien Relative section: “If you are filing with this field office, you must submit the petition and supporting evidence in person. Evidence of residency must be submitted with the petition. The evidence you submit must support a determination that you are a resident in Ghana.”

 

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/ghana-uscis-accra-field-office

 

If I remember correctly, among other requirements, you must live in Ghana for 6 months. 

Edited by O&GForever
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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
Timeline

In order to do DCF in a country (if allowed) you must at a minimum have maintained "status" in that country for more than 6 months.  How you are able to demonstrate status in a country varies significantly by each individual jurisdiction

YMMV

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