APPROVED FASTER BECAUSE OF LIVING ABROAD?!

[Jeisson&Ellie 2]

Hello everyone! I'm just wondering why do the people who file abroad get approved faster?! (no offense to the abroad filers) Like I just don't understand and it just blows my mind because there are people who wait almost a year to get their NOA2! I feel as though it is unfair because the people who file abroad most of them are already with their loved ones and we who file from the USA have to wait 6 months to almost a year!! To me it makes sense that since we live in the US and file from the US we should get approved faster because we are HERE and the abroad filers are totally in a different country and it makes sense to me since they live abroad their process should be longer. Like do I not make sense or what? And to be honest I am writing this post because even though I am a month into waiting for my NOA2 I am desperate I don't want to wait a year like other people on VJ, who I feel really bad for.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Because the US wants their citizens back faster and working and helping the economy in the US.

Honestly it's a courtesy to citizens living overseas to "return home" faster. It's really just that simple.

[austex 42]

We have been waiting for the 8 months and we still don't have an interview, we are just about to get an interview as our case is closed with the NVC and we are waiting for the appointment time, which will be any time now.

So I disagree with you that filing abroad gives you a quicker time. It takes a lot of patience....

M.

[tomvan 2]

I agree with you about this. We, the one that live in the US should be treated better because we are HERE.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Because some of us having a pressing need to return and an inability to support two households in the process as we started out with one.

I filed from abroad and I was NOT expedited. In fact, it turned my petition into a jumbled mess of ####### that is only starting to unwind due to many frantic emails and letters to Senators, Congressmen, ombudsman, scopsscata, embassies, field offices, and a service center.

Does that make you feel better?

Edited February 27, 2013 by Nola123

[GandD 5,966]

Because the US wants their citizens back faster and working and helping the economy in the US.

Nice

[Dave_Parisa 2]

We filed from abroad at still have not received the NOA2 ... almost 7 months now. It is a mystery to what there logic is for processing.

[Roosha 51]

You do realize that until a year ago USC living overseas could file with the embassy in that country and get a visa for their spouse in as little as 1-2 months? USCIS changed that and now all files are sent to the states for adjudication. Maybe that's why.

Whatever the reason it's really the least thing you should be worried and/or complaining about. What is it your business why people get approved faster, concentrate on your own petition b/c trust me these bad vibes aren't going to get you anywhere. Karma's a B!&%h, don't ever forget that.

[Robinhood 13]

Does not matter where we are leaving. We are USC and we are not important so we will just have to wait. at USCIS

[cookiesandcream 7]

You do realize that until a year ago USC living overseas could file with the embassy in that country and get a visa for their spouse in as little as 1-2 months? USCIS changed that and now all files are sent to the states for adjudication. Maybe that's why.

Whatever the reason it's really the least thing you should be worried and/or complaining about. What is it your business why people get approved faster, concentrate on your own petition b/c trust me these bad vibes aren't going to get you anywhere. Karma's a B!&%h, don't ever forget that.

+1

Also spouses who live together have a much lower chance of fraud. Like if you go through a high fraud country face-time is more important than all the bills and affidavits put together. I was at a conference yesterday where some guys from the US embassy Japan (foreign services personnel) were presenting, and a large portion of their job is to do with being able to spot visa fraud.

[AshleyLCBaker 7]

+1

Also spouses who live together have a much lower chance of fraud. Like if you go through a high fraud country face-time is more important than all the bills and affidavits put together. I was at a conference yesterday where some guys from the US embassy Japan (foreign services personnel) were presenting, and a large portion of their job is to do with being able to spot visa fraud.

This is what I've always thought. That if you live overseas with your spouse, the assumption is you're probably not in a green card relationship and the investigation time would probably be a bit quicker. I know it's really frustrating to have to wait, but all these comparisons of situations and 'we deserve it more' talk isn't helping anyone. We're all USC's and we all have a right to live in our country with our spouses (unless of course they're war criminals or something). But, unfortunately, a lot of other people want that same thing and the process takes time. I don't have an answer for that, but telling people that you deserve your case processed faster than theirs is just divisive and I don't really think that's the point of these forums.

[Canadian Bacon 6]

Hello everyone! I'm just wondering why do the people who file abroad get approved faster?! (no offense to the abroad filers) Like I just don't understand and it just blows my mind because there are people who wait almost a year to get their NOA2! I feel as though it is unfair because the people who file abroad most of them are already with their loved ones and we who file from the USA have to wait 6 months to almost a year!! To me it makes sense that since we live in the US and file from the US we should get approved faster because we are HERE and the abroad filers are totally in a different country and it makes sense to me since they live abroad their process should be longer. Like do I not make sense or what? And to be honest I am writing this post because even though I am a month into waiting for my NOA2 I am desperate I don't want to wait a year like other people on VJ, who I feel really bad for.

I understand your point but you have to realize it's how governments work in every country, there's lists and lines and waiting - for everything. No one gets special treatment over the other.

I chose to live abroad with my husband, it's a choice if you stay in the US or go to your spouse. For me, it was too painful to be apart from him. It took giving up my life in the US and crossing borders nearly 6 times with hundreds of pages of paperwork in the past year only for the ending result to be a study permit that doesn't allow me to support myself(not even part-time) without paying 21k+ in tuition. Now the job market in the area has been taken over and we can't make enough money to support ourselves nor continue our education in his country. This is why we have to move back to the US, in our financial situation it is crucial that we get approved as fast as possible so we can achieve at least the minimum standard of living with out living on credit lines and US government student loans. We're not asking for our case to be expedited, we aren't even going to tell them about our financial situation unless they ask, it's not part of the application per-say. We're willing to wait and go through our struggles together but it doesn't give us an extra bonus. Whether or not an application is faster than the other is based on the correct paperwork, processing times, the nature of the case, etc. Incorrect or missing paperwork and the speed of the people applying seems to be some leading causes in the estimated time frames.

I do hope your case is speedy! Please remember, life isn't always peachy on the other side.

-Crystal

Edited February 28, 2013 by Canadian Bacon

[MeredythB 38]

I'm sure you're not trying to be rude, but that's what your post comes across as. We all made choices once we got married. Some of us chose to stay in the US and some of us went to live overseas with our spouse. For me, the choice was to live abroad. It required me leaving the work that I loved, my house, my friends, my dog, and my family. It wasn't an easy transition, but I figured that it was the sacrifice that was required if I was going to be with my husband. Do you think I don't miss my family? My friends? My work? Do you think I wanted to be in a foreign country, away from almost everyone I loved, when I almost lost my baby at 17 weeks? When I got admitted at 34 weeks with preeclampsia and had to have an emergency caesarian? While I was praying that my 4 pound neonate would overcome her infections, would survive her surgery, don't you think I wanted my mom? My sister? We all have made sacrifices of some kind. My process has gone quickly. I am incredibly grateful that it has. There is, of course, guilt that others haven't had the same luck that I have. I want everyone to be with their loved ones as soon as they can be, so I don't begrudge the person who was approved the same day that I was, only to get their Case and Invoice numbers faster. I'm not angry at the person who managed to get through NVC in 8 days, without an expedite or electronic processing. What I do is this: I use the time that I am waiting to prepare everything that I can to get through each step as expeditiously as possible. Because the only journey that I can affect is MINE. My suggestion? Focus on your own case, getting yourself ready for the next step. And give support where you can. After all, we're all in the same boat.

[Mina90 134]

Here is another prime example as to why only MATURE ADULTS should marry or become engaged. There was a recent person who started a mini-war with a similar topic about how other people are being processed faster than them and they feel entitled to being approved after only waiting 1-2 months. Look, everyone has to wait, some less, some more depending on the circumstances. If USCIS/NVC process someone's case faster than yours, they have their reasons, whether they file from abroad or not. Mind your own business and concentrate on your normal daily life rather than being bitter on those people. If you married/got engaged to someone from another country, then that person must have really had something special that you saw in them. THEN WAIT FOR THEM. GOODNESS. If you whine about how other people are processed faster and how you don't want to wait "a year", then why did you get involved with someone who is required to go through this process in the first place? Pick and choose your battles.

Lately, too many people are whining about the wait times when they've only waited 1-2 months into the process. It's time to grow up and have patience.

Edited February 28, 2013 by Mina90

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Thanks for posting this thread actually. It's an interesting topic of discussion that I haven't seen posted about often on VJ. I find the responses to be informative with updated information from the various perspectives. I have been wondering to myself from time to time how the change in processing for DCF was affecting cases and I'm grateful to be able to see people sharing their stories. I also agree with those that mention the greater the face to face time in the high fraud country and how that may be viewed at the consulates.

While the tone of the original post seems to have offended some I do also get the frustration of the waiting to be with the ones we love. Believe me I get it. I've been there in the initial stages frustrated and looking for answers too. Like some have mentioned "we're all in this together". Hopefully bringing up the topic will help shed some more light for all. Big hugs to everyone on this journey and in this wait.