DCF FILING: from those who have gone through it recently

You can use your house, although I have heard that this is increasingly difficult and might not work given the fluctuation in the market.

That's a shame especially if your net house value far exceeded the requirement.  If I were going through this process I'd not have the liquid assets alone but if even a very conservative house assessment was used I'd have something like 10 times the 125% poverty guidelines.  They give you 1 year to realize the value but I guess in this market you just never know how long a house sale will take...

Does anyone know if at any point in this process the UK spouse is allowed to visit the US?  My husband will have various job interviews to attend in the US next spring and I am not sure when the best time to start or aim to finish the process would be.  Any thoughts?

My husband traveled to the US in December (both for work and holiday) and it was no problem (all of our paperwork had been submitted and we were waiting for our interview date). He made sure to bring a letter from his employer stating that he was expected to return to work in Ireland. In the end, he had no issues getting in and his visa has since been approved! Here is the guidance that is on the US Embassy in Dublin's website:

http://dublin.usembassy.gov/faqs_immigration.html#question20

Can I travel to the United States while my application for an immigrant or fiancé(e) visa is being processed?

If you intend taking up permanent residence in the U.S., you are required to wait until the immigrant or fiancé(e) visa is issued.  You cannot reside in the U.S. on a tourist visa or visa free under the Visa Waiver Program while waiting the processing of an immigrant or fiancé(e) visa.  However, if you wish to make a temporary visit at the end of which you will return to your permanent residence outside the United States, you may travel on a tourist (B-2) visa, or visa free under the Visa Waiver Program, if qualified.

If applying for a B-2 visa, you are required to furnish evidence of your residence outside the United States to which you intend returning at the end of your temporary stay.  Although a pending immigrant or fiancé(e) visa application is not necessarily conclusive evidence of intent to abandon a residence abroad, it is a factor considered by consular officers reviewing a visa application.  If you are unable to convince the consular officer reviewing the application that you do not intend abandoning your residence, you will not be issued a visa.

When traveling to the U.S. either with a visa or visa free under the Visa Waiver Program, you should be sure to carry with you for presentation to an immigration inspector evidence of your residence outside the U.S. If the immigration inspector is not convinced that you are a bona fide visitor for pleasure, you will be denied entry into the United States.

(OOPS-just found the answer to this one--6 months.)

I'm just about to file for my DH but I have a question...

What if at the time we are approved we can't move yet?  Is there a time period in which you must move back to the US?  I'm just curious because it all depends on my job & that doesn't have a set date.

Thanks

My husband traveled to the US in December (both for work and holiday) and it was no problem (all of our paperwork had been submitted and we were waiting for our interview date). He made sure to bring a letter from his employer stating that he was expected to return to work in Ireland. In the end, he had no issues getting in and his visa has since been approved! Here is the guidance that is on the US Embassy in Dublin's website:

Somehow missed this reply earlier--thank you for the info!  That makes it a much easier process as far as the timeline goes!

Ref the IRS forms--I haven't worked here & what little interest I made was not enough for tax filing.  I just confirmed with IRS today that I had "no filing requirement."

Question-how does this work when you go for the interview and need to have docs showing IRS tax filing?
 

Ref the IRS forms--I haven't worked here & what little interest I made was not enough for tax filing.  I just confirmed with IRS today that I had "no filing requirement."

Question-how does this work when you go for the interview and need to have docs showing IRS tax filing?
 

From the FAQ on the I-864:

What if I have not filed income tax returns for each of the most recent three tax years?
If you were required by law to file a tax return in any one of the three years immediately prior to your relative's immigrant visa interview, you will be required to furnish a tax return. If necessary you will be required to file retroactively with the IRS and provide a copy of the returns.

If I find out that I was not required by law to file a tax return for the last three years what do I do?You should explain the reasons why you are except from filing a tax return on the I-864.

You can also print this page to take with your I-864 to show that you are not required to file since you had no income: http://london.usembassy.gov/irs/irswho.html

From the FAQ on the I-864:

You can also print this page to take with your I-864 to show that you are not required to file since you had no income: http://london.usembassy.gov/irs/irswho.html

Thank you WebyJ!!   

I will print out a copy today. 

Thank you WebyJ!!   

I will print out a copy today. 

You're welcome. I had to do some digging for that form yesterday as I need it for our interview on Tuesday!     

You're welcome. I had to do some digging for that form yesterday as I need it for our interview on Tuesday!     

I looked all over for that doc yesterday...I'm so glad you found it.  Good luck with your interview!!
 

INFO FOR DCF

Forms Required:
I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)
G-325A (Biographical Information Sheet)
DS-230-I (Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration)
DS-2001 (Notification of Applicant Readiness)
I-864 (Affidavit of Support)

GENERAL TIMELINE
1. File a Petition (form I-130) & receive a case number
2. Request Police Certificate
3. File DS-230 part 1
4. File DS-2001
5. Collect Affidavits of Support & materials
6. Receive ‘Packet 4’ with interview date
7. Get Medical Exam (applicant only)
8. Attend the Interview
9. Receive Visa
10. Port of Entry

TOTAL ESTIMATED COST-> approximately £800

I was looking on Dive Into America and totalled up costs listed there which seemed to be around $800.
Could you confirm whether it's approx. £800 or $800?

I understand these are the things to pay for but not sure of the costs:
Police Certificate
I-I30
Medical
courier
DS-230

Thanks

I was looking on Dive Into America and totalled up costs listed there which seemed to be around $800.
Could you confirm whether it's approx. £800 or $800?

I understand these are the things to pay for but not sure of the costs:
Police Certificate
I-I30
Medical
courier
DS-230

Thanks

We Paid:

I-130 $355
Medical £200
Courier £14.85
DS-230-I/II & DS-2001 $404 (paid at the interview if DCF)
Police Certificate (ACPO) £35

Plus you need to factor in 2 trips to London (1 for the Medical & 1 for the Interview) and the cost of US Passport size photos.

If the Embassy determines that the NVC needs to process your application & petition then you'll also have to file the I-864's with the NVC as well and you'll be looking at a filing fee for each affidavit you submit in support of the applicant.

I thought I would give a more recent update since I'm going through it. I filed on 5 April 2011, received email confirmation on 12 April, am now expecting to hear something in the next week. Will update again when I hear something on time lines. Is anyone here aware of what's needed for the financial bit? My husband and I have sold our house and it's been exhanged but we are holding on completing until August but we have our money coming in from that as well as our pensions, so if anyone knows how much is enough without having a sponser please let me know.
Also, I have shipped all of our stuff with Doree Bonner International. They were very professional and I was very comfortable with them as well as they were the best price for a reputable company and not a sub-contracting company.

Thanks -Mar

I'm about to send off the I-130 and supporting documents, but have a couple of questions:

The Marriage Certificate- It says "Please provide a marriage certificate issued by a public authority to show that a public record exists of the marriage between you and your spouse. A copy of your marriage license or marriage certificate signed only by a minister or justice of the peace is not acceptable.
      Does this mean they want you to send a certified copy of the marriage certificate? Or a photocopy of a Certified copy, if that makes sense? I thought they don't want any originals- that photocopies are acceptable. Found it confusing.

Also, I've just applied for naturalisation as a BC and attended my ceremony and received my naturalisation certificate, but am waiting on my British passport. It says if a dual national, send a photocopy of your EU passport photo page. I don't have that yet, but could send a copy of my ILR stamp and naturalisation certificate. I suppose I could write a letter explaining this? Not sure if this would be accepted or if they would think I'm trying to mess them around and hide something. Any suggestions???

Just sent off DH's I-130 and thought I'd start a timeline here and update it for the benefit of any future applicants:



13 Aug 2011 -- sent I-30 to embassy in London



Will continue to update as and when things begin to happen.