Immigration Visa... approx. how long?

[gusto 0]

I will be filing a CR-1 at the USCIS office in Bangkok, Thailand as my wife and I live in Thailand (I am an American). I am considering buying flight tickets with China Airlines to the US departing sometime in May. I have not yet filed the paperwork such as Form I-864 as I am still waiting on my income tax transcripts. I expect that I will have all of the papers submitted by mid February at the very latest. From the time I file until the time she is approved for a visa, approximately how long do you expect it to take? I would like to leave sometime in May and I have found ticket prices around my planned departure date to be very cheap.

Edited January 19, 2010 by gusto

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Unknown, I can tell you it's HIGHLY unlikely to be approved by May, next to unthinkable really... Have a look at similar timelines or just by looking at this: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/irstats.php?cfl= it says there's an average of 307 days till interview. As always some cases take longer but assuming a Feb 1 application date, you're looking at December 10 till your interview (not approval, just INTERVIEW).

If you look at this, which is slightly different: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...r1cr1historical the historical trend shows around 227 days to interview which given the same start date above as Feb 1, your interview would be around September 16.

In either event, May is definitely a no-go for your wife, and it COULD take longer than those "averages". She might have to wait in Thailand without you until her interview unless you're able to stay longer.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Edited January 19, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[gusto 0]

I have heard that Direct Consular Filing was the quickest.... as opposed to what? I will be filing at the USCIS office in BKK so 227-307 days is for filing at a USCIS office overseas? I will take a look at the two links you provided. Just so you understand, I have already filed the petition form I-130 and received the CR-1 application package from USCIS.

[rsn 135]

I will be filing a CR-1 at the USCIS office in Bangkok, Thailand as my wife and I live in Thailand (I am an American). I am considering buying flight tickets with China Airlines to the US departing sometime in May. I have not yet filed the paperwork such as Form I-864 as I am still waiting on my income tax transcripts. I expect that I will have all of the papers submitted by mid February at the very latest. From the time I file until the time she is approved for a visa, approximately how long do you expect it to take? I would like to leave sometime in May and I have found ticket prices around my planned departure date to be very cheap.

May is definitely possible given some past DCF cases at Bangkok, but I wouldn't make travel plans yet just in case. Talk to BarryBBQ, if you can. He filed a DCF in March of last year and had the visa in hand in about 3 months. Best of luck.

[CheeseQuavers 0]

I have read that timelines are slowing down as of late. And also that they frown upon people who over-anticipate and purchase airline tickets before they are given the visa?

I would've thought it would have been safer to get the visa, then buy the airline tickets, because its a lot of money to waste if for whatever reason, your visa is not approved in time.

[rin and john 71]

I would also check with the airlines on their change policy. When I booked Rin's ticket (wow, almost three years ago!), it was a deeply discounted ticket on Thai Airways, but the departure date could be changed free of charge for up to a year, as long as their was space available.

Best of luck!

John

[rsn 135]

I have read that timelines are slowing down as of late. And also that they frown upon people who over-anticipate and purchase airline tickets before they are given the visa?

I would've thought it would have been safer to get the visa, then buy the airline tickets, because its a lot of money to waste if for whatever reason, your visa is not approved in time.

Where did you read that DCFs were slowing down for Bangkok applicants? I suppose an overload of IV applicants at the Bangkok embassy could also cause a slowdown for DCFers, but the question remains. If the tickets have a reasonable change policy and the OP has found a significantly low price, then I don't see the harm in buying the tickets ahead of time. I probably wouldn't do it, but I'm not the OP. Also, what do you mean about the embassy frowning upon people who purchase tickets in advance? I haven't heard this either. I doubt they care either way since it's not their money, but if you can cite a situation where this has caused a problem, please list.

[CheeseQuavers 0]

Where did you read that DCFs were slowing down for Bangkok applicants? I suppose an overload of IV applicants at the Bangkok embassy could also cause a slowdown for DCFers, but the question remains. If the tickets have a reasonable change policy and the OP has found a significantly low price, then I don't see the harm in buying the tickets ahead of time. I probably wouldn't do it, but I'm not the OP. Also, what do you mean about the embassy frowning upon people who purchase tickets in advance? I haven't heard this either. I doubt they care either way since it's not their money, but if you can cite a situation where this has caused a problem, please list.

I read it on the embassy website just before christmas. It said something to the effect of delays due to larger numbers of applicants in the recent months? I troll various country's embassy websites for fun sometimes.

OP made it sound like he was buying static tickets, ones you cannot change the date on. This might be seen as intent to enter the country with thoughts to stay and adjust status or similar. That was the response I received when I asked the London embassy about purchasing tickets before being granted the visa. If you can get a good change policy/open ticket, then you'd just mention that at the interview and I don't think there'd be a problem.

Edited January 19, 2010 by casandra

[kaffy 2]

Here's a couple of other Bangkok DCF timelines:

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=22071

Packet 3 sent 7/2/2008, Interview date 8/26/2008

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=61869

Packet 3 sent 4/3/2009, Interview date 6/22/2009

It should be ok assuming your wife doesn't run into Administrative Processing or any other issues. Check with the airline to see what their change/cancellation policy is just incase.

[thongd4me 69]

I will be filing a CR-1 at the USCIS office in Bangkok, Thailand as my wife and I live in Thailand (I am an American). I am considering buying flight tickets with China Airlines to the US departing sometime in May. I have not yet filed the paperwork such as Form I-864 as I am still waiting on my income tax transcripts. I expect that I will have all of the papers submitted by mid February at the very latest. From the time I file until the time she is approved for a visa, approximately how long do you expect it to take? I would like to leave sometime in May and I have found ticket prices around my planned departure date to be very cheap.

Don't anticipate any result and especially do NOT buy a ticket in advance of the visa being in hand.

Database for Thai applicants

Check the database to see the approximate days it takes for NOA2 to interview.

Results will vary.

Heads up for anyone flying China Air with a POE in Anchorage, or anywhere else for that matter

- have her DOUBLE CHECK the I-94 ticket stapled into her passport BEFORE she leaves the area

where the immigration officials are - especially for misspelled name.

That will save you both a trip to the airport to have it corrected (like we did today successfully).

Best of luck

[kaffy 2]

^ OP is filing through DCF. The timeline data you posted doesn't really apply in this situation

[thongd4me 69]

^ OP is filing through DCF. The timeline data you posted doesn't really apply in this situation

Actually it's not at all that relevant as I said "results may vary." I agree.

They will vary quite a lot and that is why no ticket should be bought in anticipation.

That is the most important thing I wished to convey. The data I referred to was

for K-1.

CR-1 database

There are only around 55 records here, but you're welcome to draw or not draw conclusions from them.

Just hold back on the ticket until the visa is in hand.

[rin and john 71]

Actually it's not at all that relevant as I said "results may vary." I agree.

They will vary quite a lot and that is why no ticket should be bought in anticipation.

That is the most important thing I wished to convey. The data I referred to was

for K-1.

CR-1 database

There are only around 55 records here, but you're welcome to draw or not draw conclusions from them.

Just hold back on the ticket until the visa is in hand.

If you go to the bottom and click on DCF only, then the 2009 filings were less than 100 days (only three completed - one 98 days, the other two were 56 days). It is handled entirely in Bangkok, thus eliminating dealing with California or Vermont.

If a ticket can be purchased now at a deep discount with a reasonable change fee if necessary, it would be the most economical way to go. If you wait until the day the visa is issued and try to book a flight leaving in less than a week, the price will most likely be substantially higher than it is right now.

The embassy will either issue or deny the visa based on the merits of the applicaton. They will not care if you already have a ticket. Also, they will not feel any remorse if they deny the visa and you have to eat the ticket. It is a risk the OP has to decide if he is willing to take.

[littlecrazyangel 1]

I don't advise you to buy airline tickets in advance because anything can happen.