Expedite for a job?

[alizon 77]

Hi everyone,

I'm a July I-130 filer still waiting for our NOA2, and I am wondering if having a job offer is a good reason for an expedite. I've searched the forums and most of the expedites seem to be for health reasons, children, or financial strain like needing the second income (which we of course we do, but I know this isn't going to be a successful way to expedite).

Anyway, my husband is now at the interview stage for a teaching fellowship that would begin next summer (May or June, I'm not sure). Because we filed in July, we expected that we'd be done in April at the latest, but I'm starting to think that might not happen.

So my questions are these:

1. Will we be approved for an expedite if he gets the fellowship? The summer section would not be paid, but it would be preparing him for a paid high school teaching position in the fall.

2. Is being in the interview stage enough to ask for the expedite now? I'm worried that if we wait, the expedite won't be fast enough. I'm also going to make my "hey, it's been 5 months, #######" call in a little over a week. Could I ask them for an expedite then?

Thanks!

[Ryan H 3,812]

and I am wondering if having a job offer is a good reason for an expedite.

No

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

No. If anything it could be seen as suspicious- that you only married/ apply for the spousal visa now because he wants the job.

I thin you could try for an "informal" expedite once it reaches the embassy, ie contact them, explain the situation and say you can be ready within days for a cancelation appointment.

[alizon 77]

No

What evidence do you have? Why doesn't losing a job that you otherwise would have gotten count as "Severe financial loss to the individual?"

No. If anything it could be seen as suspicious- that you only married/ apply for the spousal visa now because he wants the job.

I thin you could try for an "informal" expedite once it reaches the embassy, ie contact them, explain the situation and say you can be ready within days for a cancelation appointment.

What on earth would look suspicious about this? He applied for the job nearly 6 months after we got married and filed our I-130. Presumably if the US doesn't want immigrants taking state benefits, they expect them to work, so why should looking for a job be suspicious?

[intx13 5]

Why doesn't losing a job that you otherwise would have gotten count as "Severe financial loss to the individual?"

I suspect you would have to show tangible losses to justify an expedite request. Losing the opportunity to make money would probably not count. And at the interview stage you can't even claim that yet.

What on earth would look suspicious about this? He applied for the job nearly 6 months after we got married and filed our I-130. Presumably if the US doesn't want immigrants taking state benefits, they expect them to work, so why should looking for a job be suspicious?

As an intending immigrant, his motivations are being examined. An IR1/CR1 is a spouse visa; his motivations are expected to be a desire to be with his spouse. Bringing up his desire to get to the US quickly so as to find job opportunities puts those motivations in question. Like Penguin_ie said, an informal discussion with the consulate might be productive, but I wouldn't make a big fuss about it, even though you obviously know his desire to work comes second to his desire to be with you. You just don't want the NVC or consulate to have any doubts about that.

[alizon 77]

I suspect you would have to show tangible losses to justify an expedite request. Losing the opportunity to make money would probably not count. And at the interview stage you can't even claim that yet.

That's true; I expect that just having the interview wouldn't be enough, but I still find it hard to believe that having a job offer is a bad reason for an expedite. What purpose does it serve the government, who doesn't want to pay to support people who are immigrating, to forbid them from looking for jobs while we're waiting for them to take their sweet time on our application? Thanks for the further explanation though. Far more helpful and considerate than a simple "no."

Bringing up his desire to get to the US quickly so as to find job opportunities puts those motivations in question.

*sigh* This seems like such BS (on the gov's part, not yours). He's already employed at home, so moving here is more of a job risk than benefit. We're just trying to mitigate those risks so we don't have to spend much or any time living on my income alone. Sorry, just frustrated.

[intx13 5]

*sigh* This seems like such BS (on the gov's part, not yours). He's already employed at home, so moving here is more of a job risk than benefit. We're just trying to mitigate those risks so we don't have to spend much or any time living on my income alone. Sorry, just frustrated.

No, I agree, it is frustrating. If the evidence is there to validate the legitimacy of your relationship, other reasons to expedite should be acceptable. But I guess there's a lot of potential for abuse. Hopefully the consulate will lend an ear and you won't have to suffer unduly!

[canadian_wife 1,814]

That's true; I expect that just having the interview wouldn't be enough, but I still find it hard to believe that having a job offer is a bad reason for an expedite. What purpose does it serve the government, who doesn't want to pay to support people who are immigrating, to forbid them from looking for jobs while we're waiting for them to take their sweet time on our application? Thanks for the further explanation though. Far more helpful and considerate than a simple "no."

By all means apply, there is no reason why you can't apply for an expedite, all they can say is no

We are simply saying that expedites are generally for dire or extreme cases. The only expedites I've seen is for severe illness or imminent military deployments. Fair or not, your husband's job is not on the same level as that. I am sorry

Good luck

[alizon 77]

The only expedites I've seen is for severe illness or imminent military deployments. Fair or not, your husband's job is not on the same level as that.

I don't think I ever claimed that it was "on the same level" as severe illness or deployment. I was merely asking what can qualify under "Severe financial loss to company or individual." If expedites were only granted for illness and deployment, then I'm guessing "financial loss" wouldn't be listed among the several possible criteria on the USCIS website.

EDIT: And it seems like there have been several posts lately that are people claiming that they simply asked for the expedite (with no reason or they won't share their reason), and they got it. So maybe dire circumstances aren't actually the only successful requests...

Edited December 10, 2011 by alizon

[Adriene H 89]

I don't think I ever claimed that it was "on the same level" as severe illness or deployment. I was merely asking what can qualify under "Severe financial loss to company or individual." If expedites were only granted for illness and deployment, then I'm guessing "financial loss" wouldn't be listed among the several possible criteria on the USCIS website.

EDIT: And it seems like there have been several posts lately that are people claiming that they simply asked for the expedite (with no reason or they won't share their reason), and they got it. So maybe dire circumstances aren't actually the only successful requests...

I raise my hand as one the people simply requesting an expedite.

Most likely, the answer will be no but it's something I had to try.

My (British) husband's daughter (USC) turns 18 in Feb; Graduates from high school

(In the running to be valedictorian of her class!) this May ...

And he hasn't seen her in person since she was 2 years old.

[canadian_wife 1,814]

I don't think I ever claimed that it was "on the same level" as severe illness or deployment. I was merely asking what can qualify under "Severe financial loss to company or individual." If expedites were only granted for illness and deployment, then I'm guessing "financial loss" wouldn't be listed among the several possible criteria on the USCIS website.

EDIT: And it seems like there have been several posts lately that are people claiming that they simply asked for the expedite (with no reason or they won't share their reason), and they got it. So maybe dire circumstances aren't actually the only successful requests...

Then absolutly apply for your expedite! Good luck, I truly hope it is granted. I'd love to know that USCIS is actually full of humans!!

[Darnell 8,478]

to the OP - I think yer calendar is skewed, a bit.

Surely he'll have the interview at the IV unit by mid-may, yes?

[alizon 77]

to the OP - I think yer calendar is skewed, a bit.

Surely he'll have the interview at the IV unit by mid-may, yes?

Well, that's what we thought, but we are in the group of July applications that are rumored to be in a "remote storage location," and the latest news from USCIS is that we shouldn't expect approvals until January or February. So from what I'm seeing it could take a month and a half or more to get a case number and get through NVC, then Montreal is historically really backed up for interviews with something like at least a 2 month wait...that could easily put us past May.

[tphatak 0]

my case was expedited because i had job interviews.

[alizon 77]

Update: I filed the expedite on Dec. 12 at 9am, was contacted by email for more information a few hours later, and faxed them a letter explaining the situation + evidence that afternoon. We never received an answer as to whether our expedite was approved or denied, but 5 days later...NOA2!