Is it possible to request for an interview in a country other than that of your residence?

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

I am in Canada and Montreal embassy is super backed up, such that wait times are in the order of 9 months to more than a year.

 

Is it possible to request an interview in another country that is not backlogged? Seems logical to enable sharing of workloads between embassies...

[Crazy Cat 41,770]

No.  Consulate shopping is normally not allowed.  Normally, you must have legal residence to interview in a given country.

[Just Paul 4,595]

13 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

Is it possible to request an interview in another country that is not backlogged?

Only if the beneficiary has legal residency in that 3rd country.  In our case we were living in Mexico and we filed the week Mary obtained her permanent residency card there.

[Crazy Cat 41,770]

What countries are not backlogged?   

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

16 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

What countries are not backlogged?   

Singapore! Alas, I no longer reside there, although I did for a decade...

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

8 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

Singapore! Alas, I no longer reside there, although I did for a decade...

The general rule is that one must apply for visas (immigrant or non-immigrant) at the embassy in the country where they have the most ties.

 

However, as a resident of Singapore, my mother (resident of India) successfully applied for a B1/B2 visa in Singapore back in 2017. It took a day! She was only on a visitor visa in Singapore at the time.

 

The Singapore US consulate is super fast... IR1/CR1s get their interview within days of NVC case complete status.

Edited May 25, 2021 by From_CAN_2_US

[Crazy Cat 41,770]

5 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

The general rule is that one must apply for visas (immigrant or non-immigrant) at the embassy in the country where they have the most ties.

Do you have link to a source for that?  I have never seen that....

Edited May 25, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

6 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Please show me a link to that. 

This is what the US Consulate of Singapore advised me over the phone when I asked them the question back in 2017 before I applied for a B1/B2 visa there for my mom.

 

They didn't commit that she would be successful in Singapore and advised she should apply where she has the most ties - which is India. But I took the chance, because it would be so difficult to travel to the consulate for my mom (she didn't live in any city that had a consulate), and because it would take too long to process in India. It worked!

 

Not saying it would work for me with IR1/CR1 now when I do not have residency in Singapore anymore. I can request it from NVC, but it would likely get denied...

Edited May 25, 2021 by From_CAN_2_US

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

2 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

 

 

Edited May 25, 2021 by From_CAN_2_US

[payxibka 10,045]

44 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

This is what the US Consulate of Singapore advised me over the phone when I asked them the question back in 2017 before I applied for a B1/B2 visa there for my mom.

 

They didn't commit that she would be successful in Singapore and advised she should apply where she has the most ties - which is India. But I took the chance, because it would be so difficult to travel to the consulate for my mom (she didn't live in any city that had a consulate), and because it would take too long to process in India. It worked!

 

Not saying it would work for me with IR1/CR1 now when I do not have residency in Singapore anymore. I can request it from NVC, but it would likely get denied...

A visit visa can be applied for at most any consulate very easily and you are dealing with the NIV unit.  This is  not the same for a petition based visa which is applied via the IV unit.  Apples and oranges 

[N&M's 1]

5 hours ago, Lucky Cat said:

No.  Consulate shopping is normally not allowed.  Normally, you must have legal residence to interview in a given country.

I am considering getting a remote work visa in another country (Bahamas, Dubai etc) this would allow us to be together for a year. 1.) would this be consider temporary residency for my spouse as he would be with me? 2.) would he have to fly back if interview came up during that time or could we request to move it...

[payxibka 10,045]

43 minutes ago, N&M's said:

I am considering getting a remote work visa in another country (Bahamas, Dubai etc) this would allow us to be together for a year. 1.) would this be consider temporary residency for my spouse as he would be with me? 2.) would he have to fly back if interview came up during that time or could we request to move it...

The residency status is his status,  not yours..  What visa will he have? 

Edited May 26, 2021 by payxibka

[N&M's 1]

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

The residency status is his status,  not yours..  What visa will he have? 

He would have the visa through me as a dependent.  I would apply for us in one application.

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

1 hour ago, N&M's said:

He would have the visa through me as a dependent.  I would apply for us in one application.

As I understand, OP is USC and the OP’s husband is the applicant for IR1/CR1.

 

If you both move to Bahrain/ UAE, you on work visa, husband on dependent, residence of both you and your husband would change to Bahrain/ UAE. Your husband would then be eligible to request for the interview at the consulate in Manama/ Dubai.

 

A couple of things to consider. 1) OP would need to prove domicile in the US or rather intent to move and reside in US (others here would be able to give more info). 2) Additionally, OP would have to provide Police clearance for Bahrain/ UAE.
 

I grew up in Bahrain! Lived there 15 years. Hope you enjoy your time there should you choose to move there.

[Just Paul 4,595]

2 hours ago, N&M's said:

I am considering getting a remote work visa in another country (Bahamas, Dubai etc) this would allow us to be together for a year. 1.) would this be consider temporary residency for my spouse as he would be with me? 2.) would he have to fly back if interview came up during that time or could we request to move it...

Sounds doable but remember that 1) the interview location depends on where the beneficiary has residence at the time of the interview - so it can change from the time of the initial petition and 2) that this usually requires additional police certificates and vetting