file i-130 with us from uk

[ukfloridagirl]

Is it faster to file my I-130 for my UK spouse with the US(chicago lockbox) if I am living in the UK? Can I file an I-129F from the UK so that my spouse can travel with me to the US when we leave the UK permanently?

[nichole]

If you have lived in the UK at least 6 months you are eligible for Direct Consular Filing (DCF) to the USCIS office at the embassy in London. It could be a few months faster. If you're just visiting or on a student visa you won't be eligible. You have to be considered a UK resident.

From the website of the US Embassy London:

In order to meet the above criteria; the United States citizen must satisfy two requirements:
--The United States citizen must show evidence that he/she has permission from the UK Home Office to live and work in the United Kingdom; and
--The United States citizen must also show that his/her principal residence is in fact in the UK.

There's a webpage all about it, but this website deletes outside links so you'll have to find it yourself. Sorry.

Basically your process will be more like a K1 because you will skip the NVC (National Visa Center) step that most spouse visas go through,

Difference:

File to Chicago Lockbox (USCIS)

1. Get approval of the I-130
2. USCIS hands-off your case to the Dept of State at the NVC.
3. Wait for the them to notify you by mail to proceed with the visa forms.
4. NVC: Send payments, forms, documents like police report, Affidavit of Support, birth certificate for processing. When complete they schedule your interview in London and forward the file to the immigrant visa unit of the embassy.
5. Schedule your medical.
6. London: You will get immunizations, a medical exam, and attend an interview. Your documents will already be at the embassy (birth certificate, etc) fforwarded by NVC.

File DCF to USCIS office in London

1. Get approval of the I-130
2. USCIS (London) hands-off your case to the Dept of State at the immigrant visa unit of the embassy in London.
3. Wait for the IV unit to notify you by mail to proceed with the visa forms. Mail the forms in. (K1s do this same step, but different forms)
4. Schedule your medical.
5. When London gets your medical results they assign you an interview. (same as K1s), You go to interview will all your personal documents in hand (birth certificate, police report. marriage license, any divorce decrees, etc)

USCIS
LONDON FIELD OFFICE (LDN)
Field Office DIRECTOR: Vacant
Department of Homeland Security/USCIS
American Embassy - London
Unit 8400 Box 0026
FPO AE 09498-4026
Phone: 9-011-44-20-7495-0551
Fax: 9-011-44-20-7295-4330