CR-1 Visa. American living abroad in Brazil.

[Caleb J 1]

Hello. How is everyone? New member here. I wanted to know which would be the best option to take my wife with me to the U.S? I´ve been told about the CR-1 visa and that it would take 8-10 months or more. I have also been told I could go for Direct Consular Filing but to my recent knowledge they´ve stopped doing it since August 2011, and only allow it through exceptional causes.

About myself: I have been in Brazil for nearly two years and I got married to my wonderful wife in July of this year. I have known her for five years now(I lived here a few years ago before returning to the U.S and now I'm back). We dated a year and a half since my return.

I am a U.S born citizen from Ohio and I have dual citizenship through parentage, so I am a Brazilian citizen as well. I wanted to know how could I file for the CR-1 visa since we have been married for less than two years. I live in Brazil as I've mentioned, and have legal documents, a home address in my name and bills, etc. I don't think I could file directly in the embassy in Rio de Janeiro, could I? I came here to support an elderly family member, my grandmother, in building an Orphanage and now it is in the completion phases, I think it is time to return home with my wife. What would be my best option here?

About her. She tried to go for the tourist visa earlier this year in March but was denied due to lack of ties to the country. She didn't try it again. She was suppose to go on a trip with me to a cruise going to Mexico but I ended up going alone with my family. We had no intentions to live in the U.S at the time. We planned on coming back here to Brazil to have the marriage ceremony, and we did. Since that's done I would like to begin the process as soon as possible.

Questions:

1. Will her denied tourist visa be a problem for us attempting to go to the U.S? It was denied this year.

2. Is there any way I can attempt Direct Consular Filing?

3. Does the Affadavit of Support have to be submited along with the I-30 form or does that come later?

4. The I-130 fee has to be sent with the application or do I pay after it has been approved in NOA?

Thanks in advance guys! Looking forward to hear from you soon.

[Ryan H 3,812]

***Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.***

**Moderator hat off**

Answers:

1. A tourist visa denial in of itself will not adversely affect the spousal visa process (it will need to be disclosed as the question will come up).
2. No, that is only possible in countries that have a USCIS field office, Brazil does not have one.
3. Affidavit of Support comes at a later point in the process; it is not submitted with the I-130.
4. Fee must accompany the petition (you are submitting a petition, not an application) or the petition will not be processed.

[Caleb J 1]

I see. Thanks Ryan. Now I just print the I-130 PDF form and fill it out. What are all the documents I need exactly? Sorry for the questions but I want to get started as soon as possible. Home is calling!

[FabtheFab 67]

I see. Thanks Ryan. Now I just print the I-130 PDF form and fill it out. What are all the documents I need exactly? Sorry for the questions but I want to get started as soon as possible. Home is calling!

Hi Caleb Joshua,

I have read about a few cases where Americans living abroad in Brazil managed to file through the embassy, but it was years ago. Before you do anything, I think you should try to call the embassy in Rio tomorrow and see what they can do.

Even if you go through the normal process, just because you are residing outside the US right now, you will be eligible for a much faster approval with USCIS. It usually takes 5 months from NOA1 to NOA2, but most Americans filing from abroad get approved within 30 to 60 days.

Regarding what documents you need to send, I would suggest that you read the guides here at Visa Journey for IR1-CR1 visas - they are super helpful. If you have questions after that, let me know.

Boa sorte!

Edited August 30, 2015 by BRlove

[Ryan H 3,812]

I see. Thanks Ryan. Now I just print the I-130 PDF form and fill it out. What are all the documents I need exactly? Sorry for the questions but I want to get started as soon as possible. Home is calling!

Photocopy of your marriage certificate (must be accompanied by a translation if not in English). Any evidence of time spent together in-person, since you have been living together in Brazil, you have some options as to what that will entail.

[Velvety 4]

1. Tourist visa being denied has nothing to do with immigrant visa. A lot of people get denied.

2. DCF is unavailable in Brazil. You´ll have to file the normal way and send your I-130 packet to the chicago lockbox address.

3. AOS packet is later on in the NVC process. Your I-130 packet must be approved before being sent to the NVC.

4. I-130 fee must be paid within the packet.

5. I suggest you read the CR1 guide on here so that you know how the process works. Read it once, and read it a million times again.

6. Tem um grupo no face de brasileiros/brasileiras que estao no mesmo processo. Grupo privado.

Hello. How is everyone? New member here. I wanted to know which would be the best option to take my wife with me to the U.S? I´ve been told about the CR-1 visa and that it would take 8-10 months or more. I have also been told I could go for Direct Consular Filing but to my recent knowledge they´ve stopped doing it since August 2011, and only allow it through exceptional causes.

About myself: I have been in Brazil for nearly two years and I got married to my wonderful wife in July of this year. I have known her for five years now(I lived here a few years ago before returning to the U.S and now I'm back). We dated a year and a half since my return.

I am a U.S born citizen from Ohio and I have dual citizenship through parentage, so I am a Brazilian citizen as well. I wanted to know how could I file for the CR-1 visa since we have been married for less than two years. I live in Brazil as I've mentioned, and have legal documents, a home address in my name and bills, etc. I don't think I could file directly in the embassy in Rio de Janeiro, could I? I came here to support an elderly family member, my grandmother, in building an Orphanage and now it is in the completion phases, I think it is time to return home with my wife. What would be my best option here?

About her. She tried to go for the tourist visa earlier this year in March but was denied due to lack of ties to the country. She didn't try it again. She was suppose to go on a trip with me to a cruise going to Mexico but I ended up going alone with my family. We had no intentions to live in the U.S at the time. We planned on coming back here to Brazil to have the marriage ceremony, and we did. Since that's done I would like to begin the process as soon as possible.

Questions:

1. Will her denied tourist visa be a problem for us attempting to go to the U.S? It was denied this year.

2. Is there any way I can attempt Direct Consular Filing?

3. Does the Affadavit of Support have to be submited along with the I-30 form or does that come later?

4. The I-130 fee has to be sent with the application or do I pay after it has been approved in NOA?

Thanks in advance guys! Looking forward to hear from you soon.

[anamaral 4]

Hello

Same situation here, but I'm the beneficiary. Hubby lived in Brazil for 2 years, we are just waiting for interview now.

Hang on, it will be worthy!

As BRlove said, there is an unofficial "expedite", some people filling from abroad actually have their petition approved faster, nobody knows why (and we won't complain!). We filled from Brazil and between NOA1 and NOA2 took us a bit over one month!

Read the guides, over and over again! Read, read, read, and ask all yours questions. Somebody will always be able to help!

O grupo de face citado por Velvety é ótimo!

With our I130 form and the documents, we sent, as prove of bonfire marriage: about 20 photos, plane tickets and passport stamps from the trips we made while we were dating, bank and credit card statements, apartment lease together, health insurance (together), around 4 affidavits from friends n family, and a letter explaining how we met etc

Good luck on your journey!

[Caleb J 1]

Plenty of things to learn and read and read again. Thank you all for your support! Muito obrigado. I will get on it as soon as possible. As of right now I only have photos. Plenty of photos of me and my wife when we were friends, and when we dated and got married. Now joint accounts we have none, neither of any trips together due to an issue with the vacation plans and credit card. The best other thing we can obtain is the utility bills.

[anamaral 4]

Caleb you guys can also get affidavits from friends/family

Did you make any kind of ceremony? Would be nice to include photos of it too

I believe utility bills could also help (why not, right?)

Good luck!

[Caleb J 1]

We have tons of ceremonial photos and post-ceremonial photos. I'll add those as well.

Thanks!

Oh and I wanted to know how I could do the translations for the documents such as marriage certificate and birth certificate? I know the format that explains I am a certified translator. I just don't know how to translate the document itself by format. Do I use word? What about official signatures? I can't possibly replicate them myself. And seals?