Upgrading F2A to IR1 Visa Questions

[AKKH 48]

Hi you all! 

I am scheduled to attend the oath ceremony on Dec 8th. However, we have been waiting for my wife's F2A visa interview in Beirut, Lebanon. I'm aware that I can fill out the form on NVC and send my naturalization certificate to upgrade my visa class to IR1. 

 

My questions:

1) Let's assume I submit the form on Dec 8th. How long does it take for upgrade? 

2) My wife's DQ date was on June 2020, does that qualify my case to expedite my visa? Should I expedite after I receive the confirmation from NVC or can I just write something in the same form? I applied for expedition in the past, but NVC replied that embassy cannot approve it because it's not fair to other applicants, though I see they're issuing 20-30 visas for IR1 and CR1 and only 3-10 visas for F2A per month. 

3) How late/soon could I receive an interview letter from NVC/embassy? This question is for people who did this (it'd be helpful to figure out when to expect anything from them after 1.5 year of waiting from NVC). Obviously, we don't want to slow down our process, and want to see our options. If anyone has any experience in the COVID/post-COVID era, please let me know! 

 

Thank you for your help!

[arken 4,197]

1. You can email NVC with the scan of the certificate to request F2A to IR1. may be few weeks for NVC to do that.

 

2. You can't expedite unless you have a valid reason to expedite. Upgrade to IR1 is not a valid reason to expedite.

 

3. The interview is all based on embassy backlogs, NVC can't do anything. 

[AKKH 48]

3 minutes ago, arken said:

1. You can email NVC with the scan of the certificate to request F2A to IR1. may be few weeks for NVC to do that.

 

2. You can't expedite unless you have a valid reason to expedite. Upgrade to IR1 is not a valid reason to expedite.

 

3. The interview is all based on embassy backlogs, NVC can't do anything. 

I appreciate your response.

 

2) Correct, our reason for expediting is not upgrading, but it is the long time that we've been waiting. Our case was completed ~1.5 year ago. Would that be a valid reason to expedite? Because I'm pretty sure that the embassy is interviewing/issuing visas for applicants who their case was completed after June 2020 for IR1 category. Basically could they put us in the front of the queue or we should wait even more? My concern is that if upgrading visa class would delay visa interview even further. 

 

Thanks!

[arken 4,197]

7 minutes ago, AKKH said:

but it is the long time that we've been waiting. Our case was completed ~1.5 year ago. Would that be a valid reason to expedite?

It's not just you but everyone so that's not a valid reason to expedite. Like i said, once it's upgraded to IR1, you may get the interview sooner if lots of IR1s are being interviewed at that embassy compared to F2A.

[Boiler 45,516]

You are not at a place where upgrading makes a difference.

[AKKH 48]

Hello everyone, 

Yesterday (Dec 8, 2021), I became a citizen and submitted my naturalization certificate and name change letter to NVC, so we'll see how it goes. 

I understand that pandemic has suffered the embassy a backlog, though the numbers for US embassy at Beirut didn't change much in terms of speed prior to covid. So I know people are in the line and waiting just us.

 

My real question (which I asked NVC as well) is when our visa upgrades to IR1, would everyone before us (Dec 8 2021) be processed in the queue first and then my wife will be interviewed or they look at the priority date/DQ'ed date in the queue. Hope that makes sense! NVC may not even answer that... but we'll see.

[Zams 3]

Hello AKKH. I was wondering if you had any updates. Did your spouse's category change to Ir1. Did they get an interview date yet. 

I'm in a similar position. My wife is becoming a citizen and I have been dq'd since Feb 2021. Want to know your experience. 

[AKKH 48]

4 hours ago, Zams said:

Hello AKKH. I was wondering if you had any updates. Did your spouse's category change to Ir1. Did they get an interview date yet. 

I'm in a similar position. My wife is becoming a citizen and I have been dq'd since Feb 2021. Want to know your experience. 

Hi. NVC upgraded it 2 weeks after I requested. But they haven’t scheduled an appointment yet.
2 months passed and nothing happened. 

 

We expedited through my congressman. No updates yet. 

[CPP 0]

On 12/9/2021 at 5:58 AM, AKKH said:

Hello everyone, 

Yesterday (Dec 8, 2021), I became a citizen and submitted my naturalization certificate and name change letter to NVC, so we'll see how it goes. 

I understand that pandemic has suffered the embassy a backlog, though the numbers for US embassy at Beirut didn't change much in terms of speed prior to covid. So I know people are in the line and waiting just us.

 

My real question (which I asked NVC as well) is when our visa upgrades to IR1, would everyone before us (Dec 8 2021) be processed in the queue first and then my wife will be interviewed or they look at the priority date/DQ'ed date in the queue. Hope that makes sense! NVC may not even answer that... but we'll see.

Hi @AKKH, when you submitted your naturalization certificate and name change certificate for upgrade was the signature on both documents exact match and was slight different. I submitted mine yesterday and didn’t pay attention that my signatures are slight different on both documents as i was bit nervous while signing on naturalization certificate. I am bit worried now if they will create any issue on this. Thank you in advance!

[AKKH 48]

44 minutes ago, CPP said:

Hi @AKKH, when you submitted your naturalization certificate and name change certificate for upgrade was the signature on both documents exact match and was slight different. I submitted mine yesterday and didn’t pay attention that my signatures are slight different on both documents as i was bit nervous while signing on naturalization certificate. I am bit worried now if they will create any issue on this. Thank you in advance!

Congrats for the citizenship.

For me, they were the same signatures, but of course they were not identical and were slightly different. I wouldn't personally worry about it as long as it's accurate and legible.

[CPP 0]

On 2/12/2022 at 7:01 PM, AKKH said:

Congrats for the citizenship.

For me, they were the same signatures, but of course they were not identical and were slightly different. I wouldn't personally worry about it as long as it's accurate and legible.

Hi @AKKH, Thank you for your response earlier. Just wanted to confirm you submitted certificates through Public inquiry form. Is that correct?

[AKKH 48]

1 hour ago, CPP said:

Hi @AKKH, Thank you for your response earlier. Just wanted to confirm you submitted certificates through Public inquiry form. Is that correct?

Not a problem. Yes submitted it on the Public Inquiry Form (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/ask-nvc.html). 

[Ayc610 10]

Hi @AKKH, I came across your post as I am in a similar situation - my husband recently became a USC and we followed the same process as you and contacted NVC to upgrade our case from F2A to IR1. 
 

I was wondering whether you have a sense of the level of backlog at your embassy? My case is being processed in Montreal, Canada, and they are actually quite up-to-date with IR1 interviews (as of Feb 2022, they were scheduling interviews for people who were DQ’d in Jan 2022). I’m not exactly sure how that translates to my case processing after the upgrade so wanted to check and see if you might be able to share more about yours. 
 

Thanks! 

[AKKH 48]

4 hours ago, Ayc610 said:

Hi @AKKH, I came across your post as I am in a similar situation - my husband recently became a USC and we followed the same process as you and contacted NVC to upgrade our case from F2A to IR1. 
 

I was wondering whether you have a sense of the level of backlog at your embassy? My case is being processed in Montreal, Canada, and they are actually quite up-to-date with IR1 interviews (as of Feb 2022, they were scheduling interviews for people who were DQ’d in Jan 2022). I’m not exactly sure how that translates to my case processing after the upgrade so wanted to check and see if you might be able to share more about yours. 
 

Thanks! 

Hi and hope you get your process done. I did have such a question and couldn’t get any useful answer, no one would answer that. 
 

IR1 is quick in Lebanon as well. But I don’t know if that’s for upgraded visa classes as well. Couldn’t figure it out honestly. 

We were waiting (as IR1) from Dec 2021 until March 2022 and finally we expedited our visa last week and they approved it next day (Lebanon’s situation is not very safe and I explained if I go to live there with my wife to get and give support, I may lose my job, and they accepted it. It was not my first try!). 

 

I emailed the NVC a few times asking if my DQ date has changed due to the upgrade and they never verified Yes or No. They said your case has been completed now and then they emailed that your case was qualified June 2020. Confusing emails! 

I would consider a bit of delay, but again, it could be different for you and go normally and fast! If it goes beyond the normal waiting time, I would certainly reach out to the NVC and ask. It never hurts to follow up and ask as many times as you need. Make sure you upgrade your visa right after his naturalization (and name change if necessary) as it is required. 
 

Best of luck. 

[Needhelpme 1]

Hello I am new here I need help.My husband applied  for my F2A visa when he was green card holder. Priority  date November  2020.He is going to attend citenzship  oath  ceremony  soon. Kindly share your personal  experience  how long it will take to get visa after upgrading  f2a to ir1. Thankyou 

Edited March 27, 2022 by Needhelpme
Correction