Spousal Visa - Timeframe & Process (California with spouse in Holland)

[Jematt 7]

Hi Everyone,

My fiancé & I plan to get married this summer while he is visiting me in California. He's then returning to Holland for his job. We plan to file for a spousal visa at that time. What I need some help with are a few things:

1. I looked up time frames and it looks like spousal visas are being handled for cases back in 2010....is that really the time frame we are looking at? Please, someone tell me that this moves faster than 3-years! I thought I read much faster results from other people on this site. I am in California, if that makes any difference. I looked up the timeframes for the California processing center.

2. Did any of you do the paperwork yourself or have you got recommendations for a service? Is an attorney necessary/recommended or just an added expense?

3. I have no idea what this process looks like/how it begins. Do we need any supporting documentation, other than our marriage documentation? Will they ask for proof of the relationship, etc.? If so, what should I have prepared?

4. Have any of you had any luck with traveling in/out of the US while waiting for your spousal visas to come through? Any advice?

I know I'm asking a lot. Thank you!

[immihelp99 21]

Hi Everyone,

My fiancé & I plan to get married this summer while he is visiting me in California. He's then returning to Holland for his job. We plan to file for a spousal visa at that time. What I need some help with are a few things:

1. I looked up time frames and it looks like spousal visas are being handled for cases back in 2010....is that really the time frame we are looking at? Please, someone tell me that this moves faster than 3-years! I thought I read much faster results from other people on this site. I am in California, if that makes any difference. I looked up the timeframes for the California processing center.

2. Did any of you do the paperwork yourself or have you got recommendations for a service? Is an attorney necessary/recommended or just an added expense?

3. I have no idea what this process looks like/how it begins. Do we need any supporting documentation, other than our marriage documentation? Will they ask for proof of the relationship, etc.? If so, what should I have prepared?

4. Have any of you had any luck with traveling in/out of the US while waiting for your spousal visas to come through? Any advice?

I know I'm asking a lot. Thank you!

Well congrats! I hope I can help you on this a little bit:

1. My case got approved in 55 days, and right now I'm at the NVC stage, now a total of 190 days (about 5 months). At this point my husband should get his visa in about 3-4 months, so about 8-9 months total, which I've seen over and over again the average time. I'm not sure what timeline you are looking at, but a 3 year case is (from what I've heard/seen) for green card holders. I'm assuming you're a citizen?

2. I did the paperwork myself, because, yes, a lawyer/service is just an added fee. There are step by step instructions which are easy to follow. In fact, I've heard about cases where the lawyer messed something up and made the process longer than it should've been. The way I see it, we are more emotionally desperate to get our lovers here, so we will make sure everything is perfect, the lawyer, not so much. (My opinion)

3. You will need documents such as marriage certificate, proof of citizenship (I gave them a copy of my passport), his birth certificate, police report for him, proof of relationship (pictures, call logs), any divorce certificates, your proof of income, your tax returns for the past 3 years.

4. You can go in and out of US as you please. I haven't for work reasons.

I hope this helps! Good luck

Edited June 10, 2013 by immihelp99

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

*** Moving from K3- an obsolete visa- to CR-1 spousal visa forum ****

[Jematt 7]

Thank you, ***removed***. Yes, I am a U.S. citizen, so I am relieved to hear your clarification about my visa being only 10 months. I was obviously looking at the time frame for the other visa you mentioned, petitions by a permanent resident. Whew!

Also, thanks for the info. about the lawyer not being needed. I'm not a huge fan of lawyers, so that is a nice relief, also. My experience with them is what you mentioned--they take lots of money, make lots of mistakes and we, the customer, pays for them. I think I can thoroughly read directions and get the paperwork in order myself. I've done lots of more detailed paperwork, so I'm sure this is no different....cross the t's and dot the i's.

I was actually wondering if HE would be able to come in and out of the U.S. while he waits for his visa to process. I can't imagine not seeing each other for 10 months. I realize we can meet somewhere neutral like Canada--but requiring a hotel, etc. will make it all the more costly and such...

Thanks again for your help!

[stevie b 141]

Thank you, ***removed***. Yes, I am a U.S. citizen, so I am relieved to hear your clarification about my visa being only 10 months. I was obviously looking at the time frame for the other visa you mentioned, petitions by a permanent resident. Whew!

Also, thanks for the info. about the lawyer not being needed. I'm not a huge fan of lawyers, so that is a nice relief, also. My experience with them is what you mentioned--they take lots of money, make lots of mistakes and we, the customer, pays for them. I think I can thoroughly read directions and get the paperwork in order myself. I've done lots of more detailed paperwork, so I'm sure this is no different....cross the t's and dot the i's.

I was actually wondering if HE would be able to come in and out of the U.S. while he waits for his visa to process. I can't imagine not seeing each other for 10 months. I realize we can meet somewhere neutral like Canada--but requiring a hotel, etc. will make it all the more costly and such...

Thanks again for your help!

he would be traveling on a tourist visa or vwp

either way it is up to him to prove that his ties to return to his home country outweigh the intent to immigrate assumption

[Jematt 7]

he would be traveling on a tourist visa or vwp

either way it is up to him to prove that his ties to return to his home country outweigh the intent to immigrate assumption

Thanks Stevie. I'm pretty sure he can show that--with his job, salary, bank accounts, rental agreement, etc. Seems like a crazy burden of proof to carry with yourself, but, this timeframe would cross over Christmas/New Year & being together is important/preferred for those big holidays.

By the way, I saw your timeline on your signature. Congratulations on the approval. Is your wife now here?

[stevie b 141]

Thanks Stevie. I'm pretty sure he can show that--with his job, salary, bank accounts, rental agreement, etc. Seems like a crazy burden of proof to carry with yourself, but, this timeframe would cross over Christmas/New Year & being together is important/preferred for those big holidays.

By the way, I saw your timeline on your signature. Congratulations on the approval. Is your wife now here?

holy cow do I wish.. my case file was not sent to nvc until I finally shook the right tree

file arrived Friday and the "kind" folks at immigration helped me get a case number today... that means that if my wife has her act together she should be here by the end of august

let's put it this way.. I can see the light

[Jematt 7]

holy cow do I wish.. my case file was not sent to nvc until I finally shook the right tree

file arrived Friday and the "kind" folks at immigration helped me get a case number today... that means that if my wife has her act together she should be here by the end of august

let's put it this way.. I can see the light

Oh no!!! That's awful. I can imagine them being that bad though, to be honest. I hope that she can be here by August! That would be super. Our tax dollars clearly at work to make things run well when we need them at our friendly government offices, huh? LOL! =)