DCF times frame currently & work realted questions for move.

Hi all,
I have a few questions about DCF. If anyone has gone through it recently I was wondering what the time frame is currently? Is it at all possible to expedite the service? My UK spouse has been offered a job in the States that would start in August- it has been our plan to move back for some time now but needed to wait for my citizenship to happen. Finally that has been accomplished & simultaneously this job has come up. So I am trying to figure out if its possible if we applied asap to perhaps get it sorted bu August?

The job in itself is as a paid touring musician with our friend who my hubs used to play with  before I moved to the UK & we did the whole immigration here. I briefly have wondered if UKhubs could get a visa through employment with this band, however I "think" that it would have to be proved that the role could not be filled in the States, which is not the case.

Assuming option DCF is what we use, my husband would then be employed upon arrival. I would have a job set up, we would have some savings but still need a co-sponser. Does any of that effect the time?

A little background, married for 6 years in Sept & I have been here for 5 years now. I have my citizenship here- thank goodness!!

Any help or advice is much appreciated- this forum has been such a massive help to us through out our whole relationship! I hope to have the internet back on in our new flat tomorrow so I can really really get things going- but in the mean time! Thanks!!!

Hi all,
I have a few questions about DCF. If anyone has gone through it recently I was wondering what the time frame is currently? Is it at all possible to expedite the service? My UK spouse has been offered a job in the States that would start in August- it has been our plan to move back for some time now but needed to wait for my citizenship to happen. Finally that has been accomplished & simultaneously this job has come up. So I am trying to figure out if its possible if we applied asap to perhaps get it sorted bu August?

I don't think you would manage it by August, I'm afraid. Even though using DCF is generally faster than you applying from the US, the minimum processing time is 6 months, with the average processing time being about 9 months.

When using DCF filing, the US Embassy in London actually recommends filing the petition 10 months before you want to move to the US (http://london.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas/family-based-visas.html).

First you have to file the petition to sponsor his visa, which generally takes about 2-4 months to be approved, then after that, he will have to go through the rest of the visa application processing - booking a medical exam (which can have a waiting list of a few weeks/couple of months), then attending a visa interview in London (again there can be waiting times to get an appointment), and then having to wait for the visa to be approved.

I don't believe there is any way to speed up the process, and from what I remember from other people's experiences here at UK-Y, it's generally taken about 9 months in total, from start to finish, for them to get their visas and be able to move to the US.

Thanks so much for the reply! I have gotten online & been reading through everything I can find. This might be a stupid question, would husband be able to travel to the US during any part of the waiting times or is it like here where you ship the passport with all the documents.

I think it would qualify as
http://london.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas/immediate-relatives.html
I don't see the waiting times. Its kind of a drag for folks that are offered a time specific position I guess. 

He can travel while it's processing -- the only time he won't have his passport is between the interview and getting it back with the visa in it. We traveled quite a bit while DH's was processing.

Thanks for that info! So really that is just at the end of the process for what seems like a shortish period of time? Weeks from the looks of posts made by others. Im back in research mode- so soon after completing the process here, can't believe it!!

Haven't started the DCF process myself but have considered it over the years.

This is an excellent place to look for advice on making the UK-USA move (lots of Wikis explaining the whole thing and VERY knowledgable people!)

http://britishexpats.com/forum/

Here's the marriage-based visa forum I have liked:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=35

And they have a DCF thread/timeline just for London, too:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=763941&page=11


Hope the links worked! Good luck!

Thanks !! I am totally gonna check these out right now! I am starting to remember how frustrating this stuff is, and how isolated it makes me feel! Going to really try & keep momentum!!