Fastest/Best Way to Bring Australian Wife to US?

[craigfrogers 0]

Hi! I am trying to bring my Australian wife of 2 months to America. I'm just wondering what is the fastest way to do this, as we don't want to be apart for too long.

I saw something stating that the K-3 (non-immigrant) visa is meant for just this purpose, but then also saw that not many are issued anymore. We also saw somewhere that you have to have been married for 2 years to apply for the IR-1 visa, but www.travel.state.gov makes no mention of this, so I wasn't sure if that was right.

So is our best course of action to do submit the I-130, wait for it to be approved, then apply for the K-3 visa? Or should we apply for the IR-1/CR-1?

Thanks a lot for any and all responses!

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Cr1 is what you need. It'll be probably 8-14 months

[Georgia16 2,858]

Yes as Transborderwife says CR-1

Here are the guides:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

[rajbabu 3]

K3 is defunct.

CR1 is the only option.

As it has already been 2 months, I think you can apply for DCF (direct consular filing) if you stay there for 4 more months, but I am not 100% sure. I think Australia allows it. DCF takes around 4 months.

If you can initiate DCF even after 4 months, it will be much faster than CR-1 which is an extremely slow process averaging around a year.

[Kastrs 723]

And forget chasing a K3, I have actually seen cases where filing the I129F has slowed down approval of the I130 petition

Getting a CR1/IR1 is done via the same process, you will automatically get a 2 year GC if entry is before your second anniversary and 10 year GC if you enter after your second anniversary

The best way to speed the process up is to have all your paperwork in order and especially at the NVC respond as quickly as possible

K3 is defunct.

CR1 is the only option.

As it has already been 2 months, I think you can apply for DCF (direct consular filing) if you stay there for 4 more months, but I am not 100% sure. I think Australia allows it. DCF takes around 4 months.

If you can initiate DCF even after 4 months, it will be much faster than CR-1 which is an extremely slow process averaging around a year.

IF DCF is available in Australia, then the USC would have to be a legal resident of Australia to qualify....his post seems to indicate that he is currently living in the US and therefore this is not an option

[Kastrs 723]

Hi! I am trying to bring my Australian wife of 2 months to America. I'm just wondering what is the fastest way to do this, as we don't want to be apart for too long.

I saw something stating that the K-3 (non-immigrant) visa is meant for just this purpose, but then also saw that not many are issued anymore. We also saw somewhere that you have to have been married for 2 years to apply for the IR-1 visa, but www.travel.state.gov makes no mention of this, so I wasn't sure if that was right.

So is our best course of action to do submit the I-130, wait for it to be approved, then apply for the K-3 visa? Or should we apply for the IR-1/CR-1?

Thanks a lot for any and all responses!

Also, for clarity you will submit an I130 petition. Make sure it is complete and includes all required forms and supporting documentation. After the petition is approved it will be send to the NVC for processing and you will eventually have an interview. If all goes well your wife will receive a CR1/IR1 visa stamped in her passport.

And assuming your wife is an Aussie citizen, she will be able to visit you on the VWP during processing of the petition- we are not all so lucky

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Dcf isn't an option in Australia

[craigfrogers 0]

Cr1 is what you need. It'll be probably 8-14 months

Thanks so much for the responses, everyone! We'll probably apply for the CR-1 and she'll come visit on the VWP

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Excellent ?

[Thesmiths2016 117]

K3 is defunct.

CR1 is the only option.

As it has already been 2 months, I think you can apply for DCF (direct consular filing) if you stay there for 4 more months, but I am not 100% sure. I think Australia allows it. DCF takes around 4 months.

If you can initiate DCF even after 4 months, it will be much faster than CR-1 which is an extremely slow process averaging around a year.

I can also confirm Aussie doesn't have DCF. You need to file via the chicago lockbox. I just did so, so feel free to keep in touch (I'm a kiwi but we live in aussie currently)

Hi! I am trying to bring my Australian wife of 2 months to America. I'm just wondering what is the fastest way to do this, as we don't want to be apart for too long.

I saw something stating that the K-3 (non-immigrant) visa is meant for just this purpose, but then also saw that not many are issued anymore. We also saw somewhere that you have to have been married for 2 years to apply for the IR-1 visa, but www.travel.state.gov makes no mention of this, so I wasn't sure if that was right.

So is our best course of action to do submit the I-130, wait for it to be approved, then apply for the K-3 visa? Or should we apply for the IR-1/CR-1?

Thanks a lot for any and all responses!

Be aware if your wife enters on a visa waiver (or any visitor permit) while the application is processing there's no guarantee they will let her in. If they think that she's coming to visit but is going to sneakily try to stay on for example they may turn her away and she won't know til she gets to the USA. From what I've seen of those who successfully were able to do so, they made sure they had:

1) return flights booked to their home country

2) evidence of ties to their home country such as bank account etc

3) current home ownership or lease agreement

Basically proof to show they plan on returning back to Australia so immigration doesn't get suspicious :-)

Also you don't have to wait til you've been married 2 years to apply.... it just means her greencard is conditional if its been less than 2yrs.