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Interview for consular processing compromised due to Coronavirus

By Fr0210 in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

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Fr0210 Contributor

Fr0210   4

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: France
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Hi everyone, 

 

I am actually at the last step of my immigration process through a CR1 visa, the interview at the consulate of US in Paris, FRANCE (consular processing). The problem is that I am at the moment in the United States under a tourist visa to spend time with my wife and kids during this crisis. My interview is scheduled for the 15th of July 2020 but I do not know if it is gonna be possible for me to even get out of the US to go to France do my interview. Also, even if I succeed doing this, I am not sure I can even come back on the US territory without problems. 

 

Do you think it is possible to request my interview to be here in the US due to the coronavirus and the risks I am exposing my family to ? If yes, I am suppose to re-enter US under the CR1 visa to then get my green card (last and final step), how do you think will that turn out to be ? 

 

I hope I made myself clear enough in this weird situation, 

Thank you for your answers. 

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Crazy Cat Grand Master

Crazy Cat   41,845

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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Posted (edited)

No, it is not possible to complete your interview here.  Visa interviews never take place inside the US.    You will have to postpone your interview until you can travel to France.  After your visa is issued in France, you will, normally, have 6 months from the completion of your medical exam to enter the US.

 

There are no US consulates inside the US.

Edited by Lucky Cat

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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Fr0210 Contributor

Fr0210   4

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: France
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6 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

No, it is not possible to complete your interview here.  Visa interviews never take place inside the US.    You will have to postpone your interview until you can travel to France.  After your visa is issued in France, you will, normally, have 6 months from the completion of your medical exam to enter the US.

 

There are no US consulates inside the US.

Hi, 

 

My interview has already been rescheduled as an expedite in order for me to try to do the travel and suddenly the numbers about coronavirus rose again... I just hope I can do the whole travel then. Thank you ;)

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Crazy Cat Grand Master

Crazy Cat   41,845

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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1 minute ago, Fr0210 said:

Hi, 

 

My interview has already been rescheduled as an expedite in order for me to try to do the travel and suddenly the numbers about coronavirus rose again... I just hope I can do the whole travel then. Thank you ;)

Unfortunately, it is impossible to even speculate as to when travel restrictions will be completely lifted........Good luck.  I hope it works out for you.....

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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portorusa Rising Star

portorusa   431

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: France
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Posted

Under the same circumstances my French husband was forced to do AOS from the United States. We did not want to take a risk of him traveling to France in the pandemic to finish his Consular Processing nor did he want to overstay his ESTA.

Be careful not to overstay your tourist visa.

Good luck!

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Fr0210 Contributor

Fr0210   4

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: France
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14 minutes ago, portorusa said:

Under the same circumstances my French husband was forced to do AOS from the United States. We did not want to take a risk of him traveling to France in the pandemic to finish his Consular Processing nor did he want to overstay his ESTA.

Be careful not to overstay your tourist visa.

Good luck!

Hi, 

 

wow i hope for you the AOS does not take too long. Did you ask for it to be expedite ? 

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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,812

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
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Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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SalishSea Grand Master

SalishSea   17,829

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: New Zealand
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Posted
13 hours ago, Fr0210 said:

Hi, 

 

My interview has already been rescheduled as an expedite in order for me to try to do the travel and suddenly the numbers about coronavirus rose again... I just hope I can do the whole travel then. Thank you ;)

Why did you request an expedite and then leave France?

12 hours ago, Fr0210 said:

Hi, 

 

wow i hope for you the AOS does not take too long. Did you ask for it to be expedite ? 

Not really a thing.  AOS will take about a year.

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payxibka Grand Master

payxibka   10,045

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
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15 hours ago, Fr0210 said:

I am not sure I can even come back on the US territory without problems. 

 

Spouse of a US citizen is exempt from travel restrictions back into the USA 

YMMV

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geowrian Grand Master

geowrian   22,337

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

Option 1 is to just do the interview abroad. You cannot interview for a visa in the US.

 

Option 2 is to abandon consular processing and file for AOS. Depending on local field office, expect anywhere from several months to 18+ months.

Given the backlogs due to COVID closures + a possible 2/3 furlough of staff coming soon, timelines are a major question. I would not expect anything anytime "soon".

 

Personally, I'd go with option 1. As bad as the travel is, you're likely talking about waits measured in single digit weeks versus double digit months. Cost-wise, it's not a major difference (AOS alone would be $1225), and the ability to work may offset that many times over.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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Sego Contributor

Sego   31

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: France
 Timeline
Posted

Hi,

 

Why are you not able to go back to France ? I am thinking there is flights between USA and France even if less than usual. And once you have your visa in hand because it is a spousal visa you will be able to enter the US just fine I think.

 

Good luck with your interview

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