DCF in Bangkok

[yashanya 0]

Hello.

My wife and I have been living in Bangkok for the past 10 months. We got married in Bangkok and the local USCIS office said we could file directly through them. I hear this is a good thing, though I am confused as to which process will serve us better in terms of time, the CR1 or a K3. Which one is ultimately faster? Do we still have a choice if we are filing directly through the local USCIS office? The local immigration lawyer that we had a consultation with failed to mention anything about DCF or a CR1. I luckily found out through the US embassy in Bangkok. If anyone could shed some light on the process I would greatly appreciate it. The Uscis office told me the whole process can take as little as 4 months. Is this at all true or am I just missing something? Thank you

[YuAndDan 153]

CR-1 is what is filed for when over seas (DCF) K-3 can only be done in the states.

CR-1 IS BETTER, it costs less, is an IMMIGRANT visa which the immigrant gets green-card upon entry to the USA.

K-3 has the added cost of adjusting status ($1010), has to wait up to 90 days after entry to get EAD allowing work.

Sometimes what is faster is not better.

Use the VJ timelines to compare (CR-1 (DCF) to CR-1 (States) and K-3)

[yashanya 0]

Thank you for your response. I am still in the dark as to which one is faster. The Uscis office in Bangkok said it would take 4 months.... I just do not see how that is possible. We are both legally living and working in Thailand but she is a Russian citizen. I am a bit overwhelmed.

[Dakine 26]

Hello.

My wife and I have been living in Bangkok for the past 10 months. We got married in Bangkok and the local USCIS office said we could file directly through them. I hear this is a good thing, though I am confused as to which process will serve us better in terms of time, the CR1 or a K3. Which one is ultimately faster? Do we still have a choice if we are filing directly through the local USCIS office? The local immigration lawyer that we had a consultation with failed to mention anything about DCF or a CR1. I luckily found out through the US embassy in Bangkok. If anyone could shed some light on the process I would greatly appreciate it. The Uscis office told me the whole process can take as little as 4 months. Is this at all true or am I just missing something? Thank you

Doing a CR-1 with DCF is normally a LOT faster and as Dan said you can't do a K3 using DCF.

MUCH better going with the immigrant visa anyway.

4 months is FAST.

I just helped a buddy do one in Manila and it took 6 months. Still faster by far than going thru the normal process in the US.

Go get im.

No need a lawyer unless your case is complex. Normal CR-1s are easy.

[MargotDarko 0]

Thank you for your response. I am still in the dark as to which one is faster. The Uscis office in Bangkok said it would take 4 months.... I just do not see how that is possible. We are both legally living and working in Thailand but she is a Russian citizen. I am a bit overwhelmed.

Don't feel too worried! You're in a great situation. DCF is very fast like the others said, and you've already spoken to the office in Bankok who assured you could file there. Do not consider the K3 visa - applying overseas is a nightmare anyway and it would take much longer than a CR1 through your local office. 4 months sounds a bit faster than usual for DCF, but certainly not strangely fast. If you can file the petition in person, 4 months sounds about right actually.

If you don't own property or have a job lined up in the US, you'll need to figure out how to establish US domicile. Having a permanent mailing address in the US, bank accounts, credit cards, etc. are all good things. A place to live and/or a job are better though.

Don't worry though - it's not too good to be true.

[yashanya 0]

Thank you all very much for putting me at ease. We will be filing our I-130 next week at the local office in Bangkok. Fingers crossed I am hoping that the process will be as short and painless as possible though the paperwork seems daunting.

[epoulsen 0]

Thank you all very much for putting me at ease. We will be filing our I-130 next week at the local office in Bangkok. Fingers crossed I am hoping that the process will be as short and painless as possible though the paperwork seems daunting.

Did you speak to anyone in particular about filing in Bangkok? I was also married in Bangkok and have been living here for 7 months. When I visited the USCIS office they told me I would have to live here for 1 year before I could file directly. The embassy website says 6 months but the woman I spoke to insists it is 1 year.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Here's for a quick processing of your DCF!!! And yes, it is way better than going K3.... like YuandDan said: faster is not always better (or cheaper)

Good luck, L.

[thaihome 0]

Friends of mine just finished the I-130 at Bangkok USCIS. Got married on Wednesday, file I-130 on Friday, I-130 approved the following Thursday, interview at Embassy scheduled 6 weeks later, visa one week after that. Just over 2 months total.

The fact that he has owned property in the US and maintained domicile (bank accounts, etc) for the entire time he was overseas and was being transferred back to US by a major US company probably made it easy to approve.

TH