Direct filing I-130 petition at the U.S. Consulate

[LeThanhTon 14]

Hello everyone,

 

currently living in Vietnam but am beginning to worry about the country's hospital capabilities to treat COVID-19 patients. Will be sending a request to file an I-130 petition (for my wife) at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City rather than with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) citing COVID-19 for the exceptional circumstances. Curious if anyone else has done the same and if they were successful?

 

Appreciate anyone sharing their experience. Thanks!

 

 

[Boiler 45,733]

Sorry to hear about your wife.

 

Might be quicker applying for a B2 Medical to allow her to obtain better treatment.

[payxibka 10,047]

3 hours ago, LeThanhTon said:

Hello everyone,

 

currently living in Vietnam but am beginning to worry about the country's hospital capabilities to treat COVID-19 patients. Will be sending a request to file an I-130 petition (for my wife) at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City rather than with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) citing COVID-19 for the exceptional circumstances. Curious if anyone else has done the same and if they were successful?

 

Appreciate anyone sharing their experience. Thanks!

 

 

Vietnam only has 1,000 reported cases,, so if true, they appear to have it controlled.  If covid conditions was a valid reason,  they would need to open the whole world to this extenuating circumstance.  Good luck but don't get your hopes up.

Edited August 27, 2020 by payxibka

[millefleur 5,047]

There have been a few cases here of DCF via exceptional circumstances for various reasons, it really depends on each Embassy. It's worth trying, many people here do but it's not a guarantee. Let us know the outcome if you decide to try.

[Just Paul 4,595]

5 hours ago, LeThanhTon said:

Hello everyone,

 

currently living in Vietnam but am beginning to worry about the country's hospital capabilities to treat COVID-19 patients. Will be sending a request to file an I-130 petition (for my wife) at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City rather than with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) citing COVID-19 for the exceptional circumstances. Curious if anyone else has done the same and if they were successful?

 

Appreciate anyone sharing their experience. Thanks!

 

 

Rarely DCFs go thru for medical, especially if the petitioner does not have a medical issue.  An acquaintance of ours got one done last year when he, the petitioner was re-diagnosed with cancer.  Now we usually see a few due to petitioner needing to move for work or the petitioner is military.  It is completely up to the consulate - and that is now an issue getting done with covid.

[SalishSea 17,970]

Worrying about potential care/lack of care if someone gets sick is not an extreme hardship warranting DCF.

[LeThanhTon 14]

Thanks for all the responses. Looks like my chances for filing an I-130 spousal petition at the U.S. Consulate General are pretty slim but think I'll give it a try. If I get rejected, I can just file online. Will update the board with their response. Cheers.

[Just Paul 4,595]

12 hours ago, LeThanhTon said:

Thanks for all the responses. Looks like my chances for filing an I-130 spousal petition at the U.S. Consulate General are pretty slim but think I'll give it a try. If I get rejected, I can just file online. Will update the board with their response. Cheers.

You need to email the immigrant visa unit at HCMC consulate and layout in detail why you are asking to file under exceptional circumstances.   If they accept it you would send the I-130 to them.   Let use know how it goes!

[LeThanhTon 14]

So, I submitted my  a request to file an I-130 petition (for my wife) at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City rather than with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) citing COVID-19 for the exceptional circumstances via the consulate webform on Sunday (Vietnam time) and it was approved a few minutes ago. Sometimes it's worth a try no matter how remote the chances are.

 

Quote

We are pleased to inform you that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approved your request to file the I-130 petition on behalf of your spouse at the U.S. Consulate General.  Please prepare the following required documents: ...

 

[Appy 38]

4 hours ago, LeThanhTon said:

So, I submitted my  a request to file an I-130 petition (for my wife) at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City rather than with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) citing COVID-19 for the exceptional circumstances via the consulate webform on Sunday (Vietnam time) and it was approved a few minutes ago. Sometimes it's worth a try no matter how remote the chances are.

 

 

That's great! What a relief.

[Just Paul 4,595]

6 hours ago, LeThanhTon said:

So, I submitted my  a request to file an I-130 petition (for my wife) at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City rather than with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) citing COVID-19 for the exceptional circumstances via the consulate webform on Sunday (Vietnam time) and it was approved a few minutes ago. Sometimes it's worth a try no matter how remote the chances are.

 

 

I like it when a plan works! 

 

Next the hard part - You have to keep up on everything and remember take everything to interview that would have been submitted to the NVC.   You will also have to schedule your own interview once the consulate accepts the I-130 and gives you a case number.

Edited September 1, 2020 by Paul & Mary

[millefleur 5,047]

7 hours ago, LeThanhTon said:

So, I submitted my  a request to file an I-130 petition (for my wife) at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City rather than with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) citing COVID-19 for the exceptional circumstances via the consulate webform on Sunday (Vietnam time) and it was approved a few minutes ago. Sometimes it's worth a try no matter how remote the chances are.

 

 

That's great news! Absolutely worth a try. And now we know some Consulates might consider Covid an exceptional circumstance.

[Sassou75 9]

Good to hear good news !! It worth trying sometimes now the big part is coming but lucky you the dcf process is faster ! 

[LeThanhTon 14]

Just wanted to give everyone an update. Wife and I went to the Consulate in HCMC on Monday 10/19/2020, and we received her passport with IV stamp and sealed immigration paperwork today. Process was much faster than I could ever have imagined.

 

Appreciative of all the advice we received on this board. Thank you. Best wishes in your visa journeys.

[geocity 1]

hi LeThanhTon, 

 

I'm curious once the visa is approved, do they give you a specific timeframe where you MUST return/ enter the US?

thank you sir.

Edited December 2, 2020 by geocity
no edit