Jump to content
smile0505

Getting married to US Citizen

By smile0505 in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

 Share

9 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

smile0505 Newbie

smile0505   0

Posted
Filed: Timeline
Posted
Hello Everyone !


I am an Indian Citizen and would be getting married to an U.S. Citizen in the months to come. I have gone through a lot of material available on the Internet but the more I read something, the more I get confused. I would appreciate if someone can help me understand the processing of VISA on the below lines.


- What Kind of VISA will be needed to apply for ? I know that there are a lot of options but what is the best route to go for!


- How early we can start the application process ? Since we will get married in India, Will my partner need to go back to USA to start my application process. Can it be started immediately after marriage?


- How long will it take to get the immigration VISA? Is there any kind of premium processing option? It would be great if someone can provide me the duration for which the immigration status is valid ?


Please feel free to guide me on points that I will need to be aware of.I would be looking for your answers and Thanks in Advance !


If this is not the right forum, please guide me as to where should I place this question.


- Best Regards


sadavis5 Explorer

sadavis5   46

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Nicaragua
 Timeline
Posted

http://www.visajourney.com/content/guides

You'll be filing for the CR-1 visa, unless you want to try a tourist or some sort of work/student visa. 12-16 months is normal, though you could wait years. You can't make it go any faster unless you have extraordinary circumstances (such as military deployment).

April 27, 2016: I-751 mailed

May 2: I-751 received

May ??? NOA1

May 12: Check cashed

May 31: Biometrics appointment scheduled

June 1: Biometrics appointment letter arrives!

June 2: Biometrics walk-in

flora01 Enthusiast

flora01   37

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Timeline
Posted
Hello Everyone !
I am an Indian Citizen and would be getting married to an U.S. Citizen in the months to come. I have gone through a lot of material available on the Internet but the more I read something, the more I get confused. I would appreciate if someone can help me understand the processing of VISA on the below lines.
- What Kind of VISA will be needed to apply for ? I know that there are a lot of options but what is the best route to go for!
- How early we can start the application process ? Since we will get married in India, Will my partner need to go back to USA to start my application process. Can it be started immediately after marriage?
- How long will it take to get the immigration VISA? Is there any kind of premium processing option? It would be great if someone can provide me the duration for which the immigration status is valid ?
Please feel free to guide me on points that I will need to be aware of.I would be looking for your answers and Thanks in Advance !
If this is not the right forum, please guide me as to where should I place this question.
- Best Regards

Your US Citizen partner will apply for cr1 visa after getting married to you in India.There is only one option for marriage based visa i.e. cr1.

He/She will have to come back to US to file application.It can be started as soon as he/she comes back to US to file.

General time frame right now is 10/12 months or more to get visa,depends on different situations and documents he/she submits on your behalf.

ROC sent (DAY 00) -2/21/2014

ROC received at center (DAY 03) -2/24/2014

NOA received at home (DAY 07) -2/28/2014 (NOA dated 2/24/2014)

BIO received at home (DAY 12) -3/05/2014 (bio appt on 3/20/2014)

BIO appt (early bio) (DAY 12) -3/05/2014

Approval decision date (DAY 89) -5/21/2014

Approval letter received (DAY 91) -5/23/2014

Card received at home (DAY 102)-6/03/2014

Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,819

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

Answers in bold and red:

- What Kind of VISA will be needed to apply for ? I know that there are a lot of options but what is the best route to go for!
Only one option, CR-1
- How early we can start the application process ? Since we will get married in India, Will my partner need to go back to USA to start my application process. Can it be started immediately after marriage?
The process can be started as soon as photocopies of needed documents are in hand (do not submit originals with the I-130).
- How long will it take to get the immigration VISA? Is there any kind of premium processing option? It would be great if someone can provide me the duration for which the immigration status is valid ?
Based on current processing times, plan on at least a year from the time paperwork is filed to the time an interview takes place. There is no premium processing option.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

smile0505 Newbie

smile0505   0

Posted
Filed: Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Thanks a lot to all of you for your quick responses. I really appreciate that.

One year is a long time and I don't think that we can stay apart for that long period. I wonder what would be the processing times for permanent residents if the processing times for US Citizens is itself very huge. I wonder if booking an attorney helps in any case.

Because of the longevity of the paperwork,Is it possible to have my spouse ( who is an US Citizen) come back to India after filing the paper work and spend the time with me till my paper-work is completed?

Is there any compulsion that the spouse ( who is an US Citizen) needs to present and working in US during that 1 whole year? My spouse is currently working in US and she will need to quit her job in order to spend time with me in India.

Abby&Mario Enthusiast

Abby&Mario   100

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Colombia
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

You don't have to do long distance while you go through the CR-1 process. Post #3 is wrong about having to return to the U.S. to file. I (USC) live abroad with my husband and we sent our I-130 packet yesterday via FedEx. While it does have to be filed in the U.S. if you are not in a location that offers direct consular filing (referred to as DCF around the forum), you absolutely CAN do it from abroad.

It's not easy though, and there are a few things to consider. Using courier services will get expensive. Paying the fee with U.S. funds from a U.S. account can be complicated. The USC has to worry about re-establishing domicile later. And don't forget about the affidavit of support. If the USC isn't making above a certain amount of money in the U.S. while living abroad, a joint sponsor will be needed. I also can't help but wonder if I'll ever actually get things like NOAs in the mail, considering I live in a country with a crappy postal system.

But please don't think that if you do the CR-1 that the USC has to stay in the U.S. for the whole process. There are plenty of us filing from abroad. Why we don't have our own subforum to address the specific issues that come up when doing it this way is a mystery to me.

Edited by Abby&Mario

USCIS (Priority date April 1, Approval April 17, no RFEs)

March 28, 2014: I-130 sent via FedEx from Bogotá to Chicago Lockbox

April 1, 2014: Delivered to Chicago Lockbox at 10:29 a.m. according to FedEx tracking; signed for by J. CHYBA (date confirmed by My Case Status)

April 4, 2014: NOA1 e-mail received at 12:17 a.m.; case accepted and routed to CSC for processing. Check cashed.

April 17, 2014: Changed mailing address with USCIS Tier 2 representative. He also confirmed that our case had arrived to the CSC and that our NOA1 date is April 3.

April 18, 2014: NOA2 e-mail received at 12:30 a.m. Case status online changed to post-decision activity; date of "last updated" changed to April 17. Change of address e-mail received at 3 a.m. Status changed back to initial review on e-mail and online. Date of "last updated" now April 18. Called and spoke to two Tier 2 reps; both were useless.

April 21, 2014: Approval confirmed verbally by Tier 2 rep. Order put in to send second NOA2 hard copy to new address. Instructed to ignore online case status.

April 25 or 26, 2014: NOA1 hard copy arrives to old apartment in Bogotá. Priority date actually April 1. (April 3 was the notice date.)

May 16: USCIS change of address e-mail received

May 19: USCIS e-mail received saying a duplicate notice was mailed on this date. Case status now set to "Acceptance."

May 22: NOA2 duplicate hard copy arrives to U.S. address

NVC

April 29, 2014: Case received

​May 22, 2014: Case number and IIN assigned. Asked operator about our move from Colombia to Argentina and received instructions.

May 24, 2014: E-mails about embassy change/address change sent to nvcinquiry@state.gov at 4:36 p.m. NVC time

​June 3, 2014: Payment portal message "This case is in the process of termination" appears. DS-261 appears, submitted. E-mails received from NVC concerning case number and AOS bill.

June 4, 2014: AOS payment invoiced, paid; DS-261 received by NVC

June 6, 2014: AOS payment shows as PAID in payment portal

June 17, 2014: Response received from nvcinquiry@state.gov. "The correspondence submitted is currently under review. An appropriate action will be taken once this review is completed."

June 24, 2014: AOS package sent via FedEx overnight shipping from Houston to NVC

June 25, 2014: AOS package delivered at 9:43 a.m. according to FedEx tracking; signed for by F.FNU

July 1, 2014: AOS package scanned

July 18, 2014: Checked payment portal and saw: "CASE NUMBER CHANGE: The applicant's case number, [bGT#], has been changed to [bNS#]." Called and confirmed. Also said today marked 30 business days since NVC received DS-261; operator said she would have that reviewed and make IV payment available ASAP.

August 5: E-mail sent to nvcinquiry@state.gov concerning changing our embassy BACK to Bogotá at 6:41 p.m. NVC time

August 6: IV invoice e-mail FINALLY received at 2:13 a.m. NVC time

August 7: IV payment made available on payment portal; paid

August 8: IV payment shows as PAID in payment portal; DS-260 becomes available

August 14: Checklist received; errors on sponsor's I-864 form and on joint sponsor's I-864A

August 15: DS-260 submitted

August 29: Checklist response and IV package sent via FedEx ground from Houston to NVC

September 4: Checklist response and IV package delivered at 11:21 a.m. according to FedEx tracking; signed for by GPETERS

September 8: Checklist response and IV package scanned

September 10: DS-260 accepted; false checklist received

September 17: E-mail response received from asknvc@state.gov (30 business days/43 calendar days later): Correspondence under review

September 26: Embassy change approved; new case number assigned

October 30: CASE COMPLETE

Embassy

Interview scheduled: Nov. 10 -- Medical: Nov. 25 -- Interview: Dec. 1, 9:30 a.m. APPROVED! -- Visa in hand: Dec. 5 -- POE: Dec. 29 in Houston

daviddelen Explorer

daviddelen   34

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

Hold one here. Is it necessary for you to get married in the "months to come?" Right now the process for getting a visa is significantly shorter if you get married in the U.S. on a K1 visa. If your goal is to be with your fiancee as soon as possible a K1 visa makes much more sense. Also, be sure to follow cultural norms to avoid red flags when your interview comes.

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...