IR1/CR1 help

[TeamMmsig 2]

hello everyone:) just want to get some opinions on which route is best to take. im currently in the Philippines and my significant other and I were planning on getting married, if we do can I file the IR1 here in the Philippines or do i have to go back to the states and file it there? How long does IR1 usually takes? I would kindly appreciate anyone who have goner IR1. thank you so much& Godspeed!

[lost_at_sea 995]

1. You'll get a CR-1, not an IR-1, because you'll have been married less than 2 years (which, practically, just means you'll only get a 2 year greencard instead of a 10 year, and you'll need to remove the conditions for it down the line).

2. The I-130 petition can be filed while you live anywhere. Note the financial sponsorship requirements to require the person who sponsors (which could be a co-sponsor) to be US resident, however, so if you don't want to use a co-sponsor you'll need to make the required amount of money and be resident at the time of visa application (or have savings).

3. It takes as little as 7 months, but could be more. Some people wait a year for the whole process (the petition takes 5 - 9 months, then it's another 3 - 5 or so on the local embassy side).

[Ryan H 3,853]

If you are living in the Philippines on a long-term stay visa or residence permit, you can file the petition at the USCIS field office in Manila. However, tourist visa extensions, will not make this possible (i.e. you will have to send the petition to a lockbox facility in the US).