U.S Citizen vs Permanent resident priority

[Mimi@25 9]

Hi fam,

Is the waiting period for U.S Citizens to bring their spouse from abroad to USA shorter than for a Permanent resident? and how long of wait do U.S. Citizens have to wait for their i-130 filing to go through than Permanent residents?

[aaron2020 11,651]

When a USC petitions for a spouse, a visa number is immediately available.  An LPR petitioning for a spouse must wait for an available visa number.  This is why it's a shorter wait for a USC to petition a spouse vs an LPR petitioning for a spouse.

You can't compare two different waiting lines.  Furthermore, things fluctuate and are case independent.

 

On average, it takes a USC about 12-16 months to petition for a spouse while it takes an LPR over two years.  

What is your situation?  

[Mimi@25 9]

Hi Aaron,

Thank you for your response.

I am USC about to petitioned for my spouse this week.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Don't concern yourself with an LPR petitioning for a spouse.  It's not your process and has nothing to do with your process.

 

Concentrate on what you have to do for your case.  

[geowrian 22,338]

As noted above, USCs petitioning a spouse only have to wait for processing. LPRs have to wait for a visa number + processing (there is no visa number wait for that category right now, but that isn't expected to last...typically it falls in around ~1.5-2.5 years once enough requests come in again).

LPRs don't have any priority over a USC for the same type of relative being petitioned.

[Kurdish 76]

1 hour ago, Mimi@25 said:

Hi fam,

Is the waiting period for U.S Citizens to bring their spouse from abroad to USA shorter than for a Permanent resident? and how long of wait do U.S. Citizens have to wait for their i-130 filing to go through than Permanent residents?

If you are citizen will be faster. Which office are you sending I-130 form? If Vermont will be faster than other location. Probably take one year to get your case prove and then transfer for NVC (National Visa Center) 

[geowrian 22,338]

9 minutes ago, Kurdish said:

Which office are you sending I-130 form? If Vermont will be faster than other location.

Just to clarify to the OP....you don't send to a service center. You send the I-130 to a lockbox, then they will assign a service center.

[Kurdish 76]

7 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Just to clarify to the OP....you don't send to a service center. You send the I-130 to a lockbox, then they will assign a service center.

Right they are only 5 offices working on I-130 form. Depend which state are you living. For example if you live in Verginia they will send to Vermont. 

[geowrian 22,338]

1 minute ago, Kurdish said:

Right they are only 5 offices working on I-130 form. Depend which state are you living. For example if you live in Verginia they will send to Vermont. 

State has no impact on service center. The service center is assigned based on an internal routing mechanism to balance load and priorities...nobody knows who will get a particular service center beforehand.

There are people who live in CA that get Vermont. There are people who live in new england who get Texas.

Edited August 6, 2019 by geowrian

[Kurdish 76]

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

State has no impact on service center. The service center is assigned based on an internal routing mechanism to balance load and priorities...nobody knows who will get a particular service center beforehand.

Yes between Nebraska, Texas and California they do that. For citizens I believe take one year but for green card take longer. 

[carmel34 3,655]

11 minutes ago, Kurdish said:

Yes between Nebraska, Texas and California they do that. For citizens I believe take one year but for green card take longer. 

For an approved spousal visa, for spouses of US citizens, the entire process is taking about a year these days, the beneficiary becomes an LPR immediately upon entry to the US, and the green card arrives a few weeks later.

Edited August 6, 2019 by carmel34

[Mimi@25 9]

Thank you fam for the replies and clarification.

 

Question.

I see most people actually making an album for the pics. Is it a requirement for the supporting documents to be in an album form? 

[geowrian 22,338]

2 hours ago, Mimi@25 said:

Question.

I see most people actually making an album for the pics. Is it a requirement for the supporting documents to be in an album form? 

Nope. I didn't use an album and many others did not.

Depending on exactly what kind of "album" is sent, it can result in an album being returned without being scanned. Whatever you send them gets scanned into the system.

[HRQX 4,145]

2 hours ago, Mimi@25 said:

Thank you fam for the replies and clarification.

 

Question.

I see most people actually making an album for the pics. Is it a requirement for the supporting documents to be in an album form? 

For pictures, I recommend just printing a few on regular 8.5x11 paper. https://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips

[Mimi@25 9]

For the filing of I-130 form, is name change a requirement before you submit your petition to USCIC office?