Processing Times for CR1 visa

[EDFB14 1]

My boyfriend and I have been doing long distance between the USA and Europe. We are thinking about the CR1 visa. Can anyone tell me how long it has taken from start to finish to have the CR1 visa approved for them personally? Also, would my foreign spouse be able to travel and visit me in the USA and vice verse when the CR1 visa is in process? 

[debbiedoo 2,339]

12 -16 months on average

 

if you are from a VWP country or can get a tourist visa they can visit here. you can always visit them there

[DGF 730]

Things have really slowed down lately and how long it takes is highly dependent on a lot of factors that are out of your control (what service center you get, what country your spouse is in, etc). I have seen cases take anywhere from 8-24+ months, though most seem to fall around 16-20 months. We'll be at around 22 months by the time we expect to have the visa in hand. 

The foreign spouse can visit if they are from a VWP country or have a tourist visa (but they will need to have this before submitting the I-130 as it becomes incredibly hard to get one approved with a pending spouse visa). You can also visit them. Keep in mind that both of you can be denied entry to your spouse's respective country as it is at the discretion of the border guard. If the foreign spouse is denied entry into the US, there is no impact on the application other than having to disclose the denial. It is only if they are given a ban that it will impact the application.

Edited January 30, 2020 by DGF