Expedited IR1-CR1 (merged)

[Pkr 21]

tourist visa is primarily to visit .. u cant live in a tourist visa ...thats what was meant by transborderwife.

where were you living prior to meeting your husband why don't you try living there ...its just a suggestion

[dwheels76 5,468]

I have been looking if Abu Dhabi does Direct Consular Filing - found no information...I guess it means no. Anybody any idea?

DCF is about the Petitioner having residency not you. Your husband doesn't live in Abu Dhabi so no DCF. Sorry.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I have been looking if Abu Dhabi does Direct Consular Filing - found no information...I guess it means no. Anybody any idea?

Nope. Even if they did he'd need legal residency there for a certain amount of time

[myloveaa 0]

When you intend to live there yes that is abuse. How would you find your lifestyle? Find a legal way or a third country to have residence in.

I wouldn't live there per se - thinking of going for a few weeks maybe - of course would come back to Dubai. Will check with consulate what works, Have friends in Toronto wondered if I could stay at someone's place. That way he could fly over 3-4 time for 4-5 days each trip given he can't be out for longer.

Residence in a new country is next to impossible for me unfortunately, as I am guessing it only comes with employment. I have residence here in Dubai for now.

Thanks all for your help. So I have learnt the expediting is very unlikely. Have to find a way to carry on till papers are processed. We have met in a third country before but perhaps cheaper if only husband flies to where I am when we can afford it.

Would anyone know if its better to file in the US or through the local Embassy here?

Nope. Even if they did he'd need legal residency there for a certain amount of time

ok. understood.

[myloveaa 0]

Can I just say it is very cruel to have taken out K3.

I almost don't understand why a fiance gets there faster than a spouse...but okay its how it is. Nightmare!

I guess the lawyer misled us... I wish he had explained better to us. Getting a K1 from here seems to take average 4 months. We would have done that! if we knew than put through all this.

I do (used to) some business with the US - with the cancelling of my B1/B2 damaged visa - it messes up business even if find the strength to do it. I have 3 large open projects and almost have to do the trips myself

[Pkr 21]

for DCF the USC should also live and work in the country from where you want to file the petition

[dwheels76 5,468]

Would anyone know if its better to file in the US or through the local Embassy here?

No. You can't file at embassy. Try to prepare your mind get your expedite paperwork together. You said you have a lawyer have them write up why it's essential you get an expedite. You won;t know if you don;t try. You never know it could be granted.

Are you guys close to filing your petition. You could be lucky and sent to California service center and approved in 2 months or less than off to NVC where you would ask for expedite again (regardless if you were approved one at USCIS) and go through NVC that's about a 2 to 4 month process. So it's best to focus on filing and getting through. Look at the positives. I know it seems bleak.

Chin up.

[myloveaa 0]

Okay - last post allowed for the day...

Husband lives in Florida. Can we chose any service center?

SRC - Texas Service Center (TSC)

LIN - Nebraska Service Center (NSC)
WAC - California Service Center (CSC)
EAC - Vermont Service Center (VSC)
MSC - Missouri Service Center (MSC)
NBC - National Benefits Center (NBC)

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Can I just say it is very cruel to have taken out K3.

I almost don't understand why a fiance gets there faster than a spouse...but okay its how it is. Nightmare!

I guess the lawyer misled us... I wish he had explained better to us. Getting a K1 from here seems to take average 4 months. We would have done that! if we knew than put through all this.

I do (used to) some business with the US - with the cancelling of my B1/B2 damaged visa - it messes up business even if find the strength to do it. I have 3 large open projects and almost have to do the trips myself

The cr1 is a superior visa, that's why. K1s get here faster because they have more checks and processes to do, another hoop to go through before greencard so it is fair that way. K1s are more like 6-8 months. Possibly longer due to the region you're from.

Perhaps you can hire someone for the business

Okay - last post allowed for the day...

Husband lives in Florida. Can we chose any service center?

SRC - Texas Service Center (TSC)

LIN - Nebraska Service Center (NSC)

WAC - California Service Center (CSC)

EAC - Vermont Service Center (VSC)

MSC - Missouri Service Center (MSC)

NBC - National Benefits Center (NBC)

Please read the guides on here

[dwheels76 5,468]

Okay - last post allowed for the day...

Husband lives in Florida. Can we chose any service center?

SRC - Texas Service Center (TSC)

LIN - Nebraska Service Center (NSC)

WAC - California Service Center (CSC)

EAC - Vermont Service Center (VSC)

MSC - Missouri Service Center (MSC)

NBC - National Benefits Center (NBC)

No you can;t choose your Service Center. You will send to either Phoenix Lock box or Chicago (see where to send on uscis.gov) site. They determine which. It will be probably Potomac the new service center in Virginia. 5 to 6 months to process there. Nebraska and Texas the same. California some get through under 2 months some not.

[Kastrs 723]

Okay - last post allowed for the day...

Husband lives in Florida. Can we chose any service center?

SRC - Texas Service Center (TSC)

LIN - Nebraska Service Center (NSC)

WAC - California Service Center (CSC)

EAC - Vermont Service Center (VSC)

MSC - Missouri Service Center (MSC)

NBC - National Benefits Center (NBC)

You send your petition to the Lockbox and from there it is routed to a service center NO you can not select a service center

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

I wouldn't live there per se - thinking of going for a few weeks maybe - of course would come back to Dubai. Will check with consulate what works, Have friends in Toronto wondered if I could stay at someone's place. That way he could fly over 3-4 time for 4-5 days each trip given he can't be out for longer.

Residence in a new country is next to impossible for me unfortunately, as I am guessing it only comes with employment. I have residence here in Dubai for now.

Thanks all for your help. So I have learnt the expediting is very unlikely. Have to find a way to carry on till papers are processed. We have met in a third country before but perhaps cheaper if only husband flies to where I am when we can afford it.

Would anyone know if its better to file in the US or through the local Embassy here?

ok. understood.

Your words we "I guess I may consider going to Toronto on visit visa and getting a small place to live in and he could visit more regularly..."

So you were planning on getting your own place? Or staying with friends? Doesn't make sense for you to get your own place if you are only staying a few weeks.

From what I know about expediting it doesn't seem like you fit the criteria and you will most likely have to wait. I do not think the failing business is any help to your cause, if anything it may hurt you as it could seem like you are trying to leave for the US for financial reasons and not to be with your husband.

I am curious as to when you actually got married. You said it was "recently" but it seems like it has been a while. Is there a reason you didn't file your spousal visa immediately?

[Boiler 45,541]

I also get the impression UAE is not OP's home country?

I also do not see a cause for an expedite, but as I say if in doubt expedite.

Canada and the US share data btw.

[jwcir12016 32]

Sorry for your situation, unfortunately as difficult as it is to accept, entering into the immigration process is exactly that...a process. I applied for K3, took my chances, and it was converted to a CR-1 when entering NVC. I was also granted an expedite for medical reasons related to my son, and honestly, it hasn't sped the process up really at all. Sorry but as most have told you the process is long, instead of finding ways to get closer and here faster that may jeopardize your immigration chances, maybe you should look into finding coping mechanisms during the process. This site is a wealth of knowledge full of people who have gone or are going through this process, we all had to find ways to make it work in such a painful situation. Good luck to you.

[Pennycat 880]

Can I just say it is very cruel to have taken out K3.

I almost don't understand why a fiance gets there faster than a spouse...but okay its how it is. Nightmare!

I guess the lawyer misled us... I wish he had explained better to us. Getting a K1 from here seems to take average 4 months. We would have done that! if we knew than put through all this.

I do (used to) some business with the US - with the cancelling of my B1/B2 damaged visa - it messes up business even if find the strength to do it. I have 3 large open projects and almost have to do the trips myself

They haven't taken out K3. It is that K3 and CR1s are taking more or less the same amount of time and the K3s are not necessary anymore. Unless you want to wait longer for it than the CR1....

Fiances get to the US faster because they don't land with green cards on arrival like spouses do. They have to go through a completely separate process to apply to adjust status to get a green card once they get here. Compare the timelines here for fiances (Steps 3 and 4 together) and here for spouses (Step 3). NVC is where immigrant visas get processed. Spouse visas are immigrant visas, fiance visas aren't. Fiance visas get sent from USCIS to NVC mostly so that NVC can send to the embassies. Fiance visas don't get really processed at NVC and don't have to wait "in line" at NVC like spouses do. That's pretty much the only difference.

Overall, the fiance process is longer (to *green card*, not to immigration itself) and more expensive and there are a lot of restrictions on the fiance when they arrive (can't work, can't travel abroad etc). The only upside is that you can immigrate faster, and that is a decision that each couple makes on their own. For some it is either actually financially/logistically preferable or something they're willing to sacrifice to be together faster. For people in your situation-- needing/wanting to travel what sounds like quite frequently-- it wouldn't work and you're married anyway so it wouldn't apply. It's just a matter of completely different processes that have their pros and cons. We'd all love it if there was a magic visa that was all upside and no compromises but that's not how life works.