View Full Version : Can I live for 2 years in the country of my spouse for ease of immigration?
gwoiler
Feb 16, 2016, 10:48 AM
I read a few years ago, that one way for my spouse to immigrate to this country was for me to live with her 2 years in her country. Then, after 2 years, we would go to the US embassy there and the processing was immediate for her to immigrate. As I search today, I can not find this option. Is it buried? Or is this no longer possible.
smoothy
Feb 16, 2016, 11:05 AM
You better research it a lot better... because there are LONG waiting lists for certain countries... and if she is here illegally (like in the USA or many other countries) it becomes exceptionally difficult or even impossible in many cases to ever get them legal.
You might not even be able to live in her country legally for even 2 years much less longer.
I'd contact the INS and ask them what options are open. As I said, what country she is a citizen of now plays a great deal of importance in what you will face next.
It just MIGHT be easier to live in her country why you make applications for her at the US Embassy there. Either of you becoming illegal in your status will significantly complicate things.
Several things to be certain of...its not automatic, its not easy...and its not cheap. And its also not quick.
Been through this myself personally...and had rather significant problems and my wife was not from a country that factors into the serious problem of illegals here. Those are the countries you have the most trouble with.
What you don't want to do is take any actions that will cause her status to become illegal here. That will cause far more problems than you would face otherwise.
newacct
Feb 16, 2016, 05:27 PM
You are thinking of Direct Consular Filing (DCF), which is only available in the US consulates for some countries but not others. Usually, you would file a petition with a place in the US, and then after they process it and approve it they would send it to the consulate. But in consulates that support DCF, if the petitioner has been residing legally long-term in the country, then they allow you to submit the petition directly to the consulate, which would make it a little faster. However, the regular non-DCF process for US citizens to petition immediate relatives only takes about a year from filing of petition to getting of immigrant visa. DCF, if available, is maybe faster by a few months. Therefore, it makes no sense for you to delay a few years just to use DCF.