Citizenship from outside US?

[Desert Salt 0]

Hello all,

I am obviously new here, but I have been getting great information on your site for the past 3 months.

I have known my fiance for about 2 years and I finally popped the question last month when we were together again. She lives in the Philippines (PI) and I in Las Vegas. I am flying out to the PI in a couple of months for all the formalities, but that's kind of besides the point. My question may be already answered somewhere on these boards but I couldn't find it and I will be happy to read the info for myself if someone will point me to it.

I have noticed the long wait times for all US visas and it will make a mess of my (future) wife's business with all that uncertainty. I have been considering moving to the PI to be with her instead of making her wait without me. If we are both outside the US what would that do to our wait time? And, if we decide to stay in the PI for a while is it possible for her to gain US citizenship? (I'm thinking not)

Is there a process where we can file for her citizenship so it is all processed but not make the move for perhaps 5 years or so?

I am a "natural born" US Citizen, retired military, 100% disabled veteran, if any of that makes a difference.

Thank you,

Steven

[Darnell 8,479]

there's some quickie movement for foreign spouses that live with their uscitizen spouses where the uscitizen (pick one) :

1. is active duty military or

2. works for the federal government

when both live outside of the usa.

since none of what you've written applies, you might want to refactor whatever plan you have.

for that first visa - it doesn't matter where the uscitizen is, only that they meet the requirements on income and domicile per the I-864 instructions (yes, regardless if CR-1 or K-1 visa)

Edited April 8, 2014 by Darnell

[Desert Salt 0]

I wasn't really expecting anything "quick" and that wasn't my question. (But since I am subject to recall, legally bound to the UCMJ, and collect retainer pay I would argue that I work for the federal government in some capacity. But that's moot.)

Okay, I can file an I-864 telling State what my income is (etc.) thank you.

But what I wanted to know was is there a way we can live in the PI for an indefinite period of time, and when we want to move to the US we don't have to wait up to 2 years or so for her visa? What about citizenship? If she sells her business in the PI and has to wait a year or more for a visa, she'll have no income except what I send her and what she can earn in a crappy economy. Or I can move there, but then I am thinking we might stay awhile. Might.

I haven't made any plans to refactor. I am just looking for information to use to make our initial plans.

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

A spousal visa takes around a year, not two years.

If you both live abroad legally (say on a work or residency visa, NOT a tourist visa) for a minimum of 6 months, then you may be able to file DCF- Direct Consular filing, ie with the embassy rather than with USCIS in the USA. This would make things faster, and your wait time for her visa would be down to a few months.

Spousal visas lead to greencards, not US citizenship. Citizenship isn't on the horizon yet. To get that, she needs to be married to you AND live inside the USA for three years before filing.

[Darnell 8,479]

so, you'd want to have her STOP things in the PI and then

wait on

visa issuance.

Sounds off, whack, to me.

Many things run concurrently, or in parallel, in one's life.

is there a way we can live in the PI for an indefinite period of time, and when we want to move to the US we don't have to wait up to 2 years or so for her visa?

Refactor.

You say indefinite, but at some point, you want a calendar date for the jump. peg that date, then plan accordingly, backwards from that date, on what to do, when to do,

then learn

how to do.

Go Get Em, and Good Luck !

Edited April 8, 2014 by Darnell

[Desert Salt 0]

A spousal visa takes around a year, not two years.

If you both live abroad legally (say on a work or residency visa, NOT a tourist visa) for a minimum of 6 months, then you may be able to file DCF- Direct Consular filing, ie with the embassy rather than with USCIS in the USA. This would make things faster, and your wait time for her visa would be down to a few months.

Spousal visas lead to greencards, not US citizenship. Citizenship isn't on the horizon yet. To get that, she needs to be married to you AND live inside the USA for three years before filing.

Thank you. That is very helpful. Your answer clarified my understanding of the situation. (I had actually read everything you said here, except about the DCF, but I didn't put it altogether.)

I understood from reading these boards and elsewhere that the "norm" was about 9 months to a year(?) But I have also read that two years wouldn't be a surprise. So I knew two years might be stretching it, but I like to plan for the worse case.

So Fair Play! or Broscht! Whichever way you'll have it.

Steven

[Desert Salt 0]

so, you'd want to have her STOP things in the PI and then wait on visa issuance.

No. That's exactly what I don't want. But when you sell a business you might find a buyer in two weeks or two years (or never.) I am trying to prevent my betrothed from having to take a financial loss to become a US citizen.

Sounds off, whack, to me.

Agreed. That's why I am here asking for help understanding.

Many things run concurrently, or in parallel, in one's life.

is there a way we can live in the PI for an indefinite period of time, and when we want to move to the US we don't have to wait up to 2 years or so for her visa?

True, but I'm not understanding your point here.

Refactor.

I don't understand why you keep using this term out of context. Perhaps it is a colloquialism?

You say indefinite, but at some point, you want a calendar date for the jump. peg that date, then plan accordingly, backwards from that date, on what to do, when to do, then learn how to do.

It is indefinite, right up until it isn't and I can't "peg" that date until the decision has been made. Indeed, I am here to learn what to do, when to do it and how to do it.

Maybe you've dealt with so many visas the answer is obvious to you and you can't understand why everyone else doesn't see it too?

Go Get Em, and Good Luck !

Thank you. I'm pretty sure that Queen Penguin has set me on the correct path.

Regards,

Steven

[Darnell 8,479]

OK. Fair Enough ! Good Luck, whatever transpires.

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

Yeah 9 months would be fast, but under a year is definitely possible for an ordinary CR-1 spousal visa, 4 months or so for DCF (but DCF really, really depends which country you are in, and not all countries offer it, only the ones on this list: http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices ).

2 years is extremely unusual for a US citizen petitioning. It really only happens if there is AP after the interview (extra name/ security checks), say for young Muslim male beneficiaries. It can be 2-3 years if you'd only be a greencard holder.