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Posted
36 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Not a red flag at all. It's very common for people to get rejected for a B visa and then apply for a spousal/fiance visa after that. Same thing happened in our case. We also did DCF.

 

Sounds like you have more than enough evidence and strong case to get approved quickly. Only thing is, if you've been living abroad, you might want to start thinking about "intent to reestablish domicile" as you will need to submit proof of that once your I-130 is approved.

How long did it take you start to finish for the DCF

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted (edited)
18 minutes ago, Jjackson123 said:

Yea, I have a home in America. I only leave the country for 1-2 months then return to America. I did unknowingly commit a small crime in Ukraine and had to pay 1700 UAH ($60) but I got to renew and keep my Ukrainian residency. Both the lawyers I consulted with told me it was legal to send collectable AK47 magazines to myself in the USA from Ukraine but they were wrong.  CBP scanned those documents when I was in secondary in Houston after spending 9 months in Ukraine and asked me a few questions. I was stopped because I had 12 bottles of champagne and 6 bottles of vodka.

Hm. I'm not sure about the CBP stopping you and how that plays into all this. I don't know for sure but I think it's not a problem even if the USC has a criminal record or is even incarcerated or has done jail time, they can still file I-130's and bring spouses over? A bit outside my area of knowledge so I'm not 100% sure. If you paid the fine in Ukraine and it was all taken care of there, I don't think that factors in at all. There is some kind of background check that is run on the USC but it's nothing like the AP for the visa holder.

 

Even if you have a house in the States, I would still at least submit other evidence like bank statements, driver's license (assuming it's not expired) just to be on the safe side. They will mention it to you after I-130 approval and will probably provide a list of evidence they expect.

 

16 minutes ago, Jjackson123 said:

How long did it take you start to finish for the DCF

Our whole DCF process took a couple months from start to finish but the I-130 itself was actually approved in around 6 days. We got our case number about 3 weeks later. We were not in any rush so I specifically scheduled the interview later to give us more time, but we probably could've done it sooner, I just had to spend a bunch of time completing the I-864, domicile and gathering evidence for that, so I opted to postpone the visa interview until we had everything.

 

However, we had a really intense interview at the USCIS Moscow office, back in those days you actually got 2 interviews: the I-130 and then the final visa interview. I was grilled more than my husband, although we were both interviewed together in the same room. We had some red flags. I was aware of that so I brought a mountain of evidence in to submit with the I-130 and I think that is what got us such a quick approval. Anything you think might be a red flag, just be prepared that it can come up.

Edited by millefleur

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
Timeline
Posted

There was somebody doing DCF London who reported something similar, seems they have added another loop into the process

“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.”

Posted
15 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Hm. I'm not sure about the CBP stopping you and how that plays into all this. I don't know for sure but I think it's not a problem even if the USC has a criminal record or is even incarcerated or has done jail time, they can still file I-130's and bring spouses over? A bit outside my area of knowledge so I'm not 100% sure. If you paid the fine in Ukraine and it was all taken care of there, I don't think that factors in at all. There is some kind of background check that is run on the USC but it's nothing like the AP for the visa holder.

 

Even if you have a house in the States, I would still at least submit other evidence like bank statements, driver's license (assuming it's not expired) just to be on the safe side. They will mention it to you after I-130 approval and will probably provide a list of evidence they expect.

 

Our whole DCF process took a couple months from start to finish but the I-130 itself was actually approved in around 6 days. We got our case number about 3 weeks later. We were not in any rush so I specifically scheduled the interview later to give us more time, but we probably could've done it sooner, I just had to spend a bunch of time completing the I-864, domicile and gathering evidence for that, so I opted to postpone the visa interview until we had everything.

 

However, we had a really intense interview at the USCIS Moscow office, back in those days you actually got 2 interviews: the I-130 and then the final visa interview. I was grilled more than my husband, although we were both interviewed together in the same room. We had some red flags. I was aware of that so I brought a mountain of evidence in to submit with the I-130 and I think that is what got us such a quick approval. Anything you think might be a red flag, just be prepared that it can come up.

I have never been arrested or to jail thankfully.  I have my bank statements, investments accounts, and 2021 taxes prepared.  We had an interview when we filed the  I-130 and it went very smooth the consular was very nice asked us simple questions. He said everything looked good and I could come if i wanted to the final interview but, I would not be asked any questions. He would just take biometrics and ask her  few simple questions. 

Posted
2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

There was somebody doing DCF London who reported something similar, seems they have added another loop into the process

That is interesting. You would think with the war going on they would make the process easier. We are stuck here until they approve her. 

Posted
5 minutes ago, Boiler said:

There was somebody doing DCF London who reported something similar, seems they have added another loop into the process

We were going to do it in Frankfurt. The estimated time was 1-2 weeks for the I-130 and 2-3 weeks for the visa process. 

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
Timeline
Posted
10 minutes ago, Jjackson123 said:

We were going to do it in Frankfurt. The estimated time was 1-2 weeks for the I-130 and 2-3 weeks for the visa process. 

DCF is quick but that would be outstanding, Cyprus may be unusual 

 

The London case had nothing to do with Ukraine 

“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.”

Posted
2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

DCF is quick but that would be outstanding, Cyprus may be unusual 

 

The London case had nothing to do with Ukraine 

Yea it would be. Cyprus told me 2-3 weeks for the approval and 1-2 for the visa process. It is just very strange about the administrative processing with the USCIS. 

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
26 minutes ago, Jjackson123 said:

 I have my bank statements, investments accounts, and 2021 taxes prepared.  We had an interview when we filed the  I-130 and it went very smooth the consular was very nice asked us simple questions. He said everything looked good and I could come if i wanted to the final interview but, I would not be asked any questions. He would just take biometrics and ask her  few simple questions. 

That's great to hear. Sounds like there's nothing to worry about then. The visa interview is indeed a no brainer as long as all your paperwork is in order. You may be able to attend if you want, you can ask them once you get to that step of the process.

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

It has been over 3 weeks since we filled the I-130. The consular said it would take 2-3 weeks for it to be processed. I emailed the embassy for a follow up and they responded stating they could not give me a timeframe on when it will be processed. 

Posted

~~ Duplicate thread removed. Please do not post multiple threads pertaining to the same or related topic. Please keep all further discussion in this thread so others are aware of the history of your case ~
 

~~ When you post your question again here, please omit all personal information. This is a very public forum, keep your personal information safe ~~

 

 

Posted

I received a response to my email from the embassy today. My DFC was sent to the NVC. Can I request the NVC expedite my petition?

 

 

Your petition was not assigned a USCIS number as it was filed directly in Nicosia with case no: NCS**************.

 

According to our records USCIS requested from National Visa Center (NVC) the petition from Nicosia.

Upon NVC request, Nicosia transferred the electronic file to NVC on April 4, 2022.

Posted

So I need some help. I went to check the case status on https://ceac.state.gov.

It said created on March 24 returned to NVC on April,4. I entered my case number to fill out the DS260 and it allows me to fill it out. Does anyone know why it would let me fill out the DS-260? This new process is confusing. 

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
9 hours ago, Jjackson123 said:

I received a response to my email from the embassy today. My DFC was sent to the NVC. Can I request the NVC expedite my petition?

There's usually no NVC review when it goes DCF? Are you sure that might just be an automatic email?

 

8 hours ago, Jjackson123 said:

So I need some help. I went to check the case status on https://ceac.state.gov.

It said created on March 24 returned to NVC on April,4. I entered my case number to fill out the DS260 and it allows me to fill it out. Does anyone know why it would let me fill out the DS-260? This new process is confusing. 

That sounds right. Fill out the DS-260 and then you should be able to schedule the appointment? That's how our DCF situation went.

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

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