Hilary

First, I'm not sure how long it's currently taking for DCF - some places
say 3 months and some 6 months. Does anyone know?

(The reason it matters is that we cannot move our cats in the summer
months - airline embargo for safety reasons - so we're trying to time our
move for Sept/Oct, and filing appropriately.)

The second question: will it matter whether we have booked a oneway or a
return ticket upon first entry? I know many return tickets can be cheaper
than oneways, but I'm not willing to save some money at the risk of my
husband being turned back.

Many thanks

Hilary

meauxna

Timelines depend on which Consulate/country and workload at this moment in time. If you share which one, someone using the same post will likely pipe in with their info.

If it helps your planning, once issued, the visa is valid for 6 months, so you don't have to leave the minute it's issued, if that time is inconvenient for you.

One way or RT doesn't matter for the visa. Why do you think your husband would be turned back if he had an Immigrant Visa?

antjen

if you look at my timeline - it will give you some idea of the timeline, this was for DCF from england.

Ant

Hilary

    > > First, I'm not sure how long it's currently taking for DCF - some
    > > places say 3 months and some 6 months. Does anyone know?
    > >
    > > (The reason it matters is that we cannot move our cats in the summer
    > > months - airline embargo for safety reasons - so we're trying to time
    > > our move for Sept/Oct, and filing appropriately.)
    > >
    > > The second question: will it matter whether we have booked a oneway or
    > > a return ticket upon first entry? I know many return tickets can be
    > > cheaper than oneways, but I'm not willing to save some money at the
    > > risk of my husband being turned back.
    > >
    > > Many thanks
    > >
    > > Hilary
    > Timelines depend on which Consulate/country and workload at this moment
    > in time. If you share which one, someone using the same post will likely
    > pipe in with their info.

Sorry, London.

    > If it helps your planning, once issued, the visa is valid for 6 months,
    > so you don't have to leave the minute it's issued, if that time is
    > inconvenient for you.
    > One way or RT doesn't matter for the visa. Why do you think your husband
    > would be turned back if he had an Immigrant Visa?

I wasn't sure - I know some people with non-spousal visas were told that a
oneway is better. Many people in travel book a "dummy" return within 1-3
months to take advantage of a cheaper fare - I wouldn't want immigration
to think there was something odd about us both having return tickets.

Hilary

L D Jones

Hilary wrote:

    > First, I'm not sure how long it's currently taking for DCF - some places
    > say 3 months and some 6 months. Does anyone know?
    >
    > (The reason it matters is that we cannot move our cats in the summer
    > months - airline embargo for safety reasons - so we're trying to time our
    > move for Sept/Oct, and filing appropriately.)
    >
    > The second question: will it matter whether we have booked a oneway or a
    > return ticket upon first entry? I know many return tickets can be cheaper
    > than oneways, but I'm not willing to save some money at the risk of my
    > husband being turned back.
    >
    > Many thanks
    >
    > Hilary

We bought one-way tickets after doing DCF in London. It never came up.
Can't comment on times now since it's been so long since we did DCF that
my knowledge of the process is now virtually useless.

If you get the IV you can always enter the US before the expiry date and
then go back the UK if required. We did this and didn't move to the US
"for good" until 3-4 months later (and we entered only 2 days before the
visa was to expire).

antjen

i also brought a return ticket when i came over (virgin) - though this was only because it was cheaper than a one way ticket??? - go figure!!!!

but upon arriving the US - they didnt ask or care about my airline ticket!!

Ant

Hilary

    > > > > The second question: will it matter whether we have booked a
    > > > > oneway or
    > > > > a return ticket upon first entry? I know many return tickets can
    > > > > be
    > > > > cheaper than oneways, but I'm not willing to save some money at
    > > > > the
    > > > > risk of my husband being turned back.
    > > > >
    > > > > Many thanks
    > > > >
    > > > > Hilary
    > > > Timelines depend on which Consulate/country and workload at this
    > > > moment
    > > > in time. If you share which one, someone using the same post will
    > > > likely
    > > > pipe in with their info.
    > >
    > > Sorry, London.
    > >
    > > > If it helps your planning, once issued, the visa is valid for 6
    > > > months,
    > > > so you don't have to leave the minute it's issued, if that time is
    > > > inconvenient for you.
    > > > One way or RT doesn't matter for the visa. Why do you think your
    > > > husband
    > > > would be turned back if he had an Immigrant Visa?
    > >
    > > I wasn't sure - I know some people with non-spousal visas were told
    > > that a
    > > oneway is better. Many people in travel book a "dummy" return within
    > > 1-3
    > > months to take advantage of a cheaper fare - I wouldn't want
    > > immigration
    > > to think there was something odd about us both having return tickets.
    > i also brought a return ticket when i came over (virgin) - though this
    > was only because it was cheaper than a one way ticket??? - go figure!!!!
    > but upon arriving the US - they didnt ask or care about my
    > airline ticket!!

That's good to know, thanks!

Hilary