DCF or Chicago Lockbox?

[bartlettchef 0]

My wife and I are both residing in Bangkok Thailand together. We've been working on getting all of the i-130 and supporting documents ready for submission and nearly have everything completely in order. I had been planning to submit our i-130 through the mail to the Chicago Lockbox, however, i recently had someone suggest that perhaps DCF at the Bangkok USCIS field office may be the better option.  I currently don't meet he residency qualifications for DCF in Bangkok.  It's been about a month since i received my non-immigrant visa here in Thailand, to my understanding I will qualify for DCF upon holding non-immigrant status for 6 months. This means that i would be eligible for DCF filing here in Bangkok in about 5 months from now.  I was wondering what everyone thinks would be the quickest route? Apply now through Chicago Lockbox now, or, wait 5 months to apply DCF here in Bangkok.  I'm not sure how long of a timeline i would be facing filing the standard way ( I have been told currently 14 months). If the quote of 14 months is accurate i would think that waiting 5 months to file DCF might in fact be the quickest route as i've read that DCF filing here in Bangkok can be as fast as 6-12 weeks (is this true?).  What does everyone think the fastest way would be? Should i file asap through the standard procedure, or wait 5 months in order to be qualified to file directly with the USCIS office here in Bangkok.  I've seen online that some of the Visa Centers in the USA are currently quoting 7-12 months, however, it seems that most people here on VJ are saying it would currently take longer than that. Thanks in advance for the help again.

[geowrian 22,338]

Do you intend to stay in Thailand for the 6 months? Will you have a valid residency status there?

If the answer to both of the above is yes, then DCF is likely much faster than filing in the US. I don't know the specifics for Bangkok, but DCF is usually in the land of weeks to a few months to process a visa.

 

The requirements to DCF vary from embassy to embassy. Some just want evidence of residency (i.e. utility bills, lease, etc.), while others want 6 months of physical presence, while others want a form of residency status. I suggest contacting the embassy and getting the specifics on what they require.

 

Note that you will need to show US domicile (or sufficient intent to establish US domicile) if doing DCF.

You will also need sufficient income (coming from the same source upon return to the US, which often doesn't apply to workers) or assets (at at least 3x the income level) for the I-864. If you don't meet the financial requirements for the I-864, then you will need a joint sponsor to also file an I-864.

 

11 minutes ago, bartlettchef said:

I've seen online that some of the Visa Centers in the USA are currently quoting 7-12 months, however, it seems that most people here on VJ are saying it would currently take longer than that.

There are no visa centers in the US (except NVC, but it's just a processing area that prepares and packages the petitions for the embassies). I think you're thinking of USCIS service centers, which process the I-130 petitions. The timeline for that is anywhere from 7-12 months, but keep in mind that's only step 1 in the process...then it goes to NVC, then to the embassy. Expect 12-16 months from I-130 filing to visa interview if filing through the US.

Edited June 25, 2018 by geowrian

[TNJ17 1,329]

Yeah if you qualify dcf is the way to go. 

[bartlettchef 0]

16 minutes ago, geowrian said:

If the answer to both of the above is yes, then DCF is likely much faster than filing in the US. I don't know the specifics for Bangkok, but DCF is usually in the land of weeks to a few months to process a visa.

Thanks for the quick response and informed opinion, Yea, i'm starting to think that DCF might be the way to go. I'll be here for the entirety of the six months and should not have a problem proving residency as i have a non-immigrant visa, bank account, etc.

 

16 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Note that you will need to show US domicile (or sufficient intent to establish US domicile) if doing DCF.

You will also need sufficient income (coming from the same source upon return to the US, which often doesn't apply to workers) or assets (at at least 3x the income level) for the I-864. If you don't meet the financial requirements for the I-864, then you will need a joint sponsor to also file an I-864.

 

I think that i have everything in order to prove intent to re-establish domicile, including; Bank account with permanent address attached to it, valid Minnesota drivers license, voting registration, drawn up lease with relative, and a letter from former employer stating that they will hire me back upon my return to the US (would this be enough to prove intent to reestablish domicile?).

 

As for the the I-864, i will be using a joint sponsor (mother), as my income has been variant over the last few years and i have few assets. My mother has stable employment with the same employer for the last 20 years, has made over $50,000 per year for the last 5 years and owns her own house and cars. I think that she would make a very suitable joint sponsor. Thoughts?

Edited June 25, 2018 by bartlettchef

[geowrian 22,338]

Overall, it sounds pretty good. The final decision lies with the CO, but nothing you noted seems out of the ordinary or particularly concerning.

 

Other examples of evidence to establish domicile are in a section of the NVC wiki:

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process