Touring Visa while Pending i-130 spousal visa (biometric/medical) question

[Olusola 26]

Hi, all,

I'm a US citizen with veteran status (not sure if it matters), and I will be getting married this year. 

I plan to do a court wedding with my fiance in October and I would like to file a I-130 immediately, to begin her process coming to the US.

But I also want to get her a touring visa immediately after we get the marriage certificate in October because I'd like for her to visit the US and see if she'd like it, and to check out the schools and work opportunities to be prepared.

I also want her to start getting some digital certifications while we wait for her permanent residence visa to process.

 

However, my question is, would we be able to  request for her biometric and medical appointments to be done in the US? We know the interview would have to be done in Nigeria, but is it  possible to schedule biometrics and medical in the US so she doesn't have to come back to Nigeria for them while using her tourist visa?

 

Also, if anyone from Nigeria has undergone the same process, I'm curious about your timelines and process and speed. Thanks.

[Crazy Cat 41,893]

1.  Medical, etc. MUST be done in country of the interview- Nigeria.

2.  Current wait time for a tourist visa interview in Lagos is 760 calendar days.

The chances of a B2 visa, even if she had an interview, are extremely slim.  Getting a B2 visa after having displayed immigrant intent is very, very unlikely.

Veteran status is not considered.  Unfortunately, nothing in the legal US immigration system is fast, fun, easy, or efficient. 

Edited July 18, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[powerpuff 6,712]

8 minutes ago, Olusola said:

However, my question is, would we be able to  request for her biometric and medical appointments to be done in the US? 

No, that is not possible.

 

8 minutes ago, Olusola said:

But I also want to get her a touring visa immediately

For the record, you can’t “get” her a tourist visa. She has to get a tourist visa on her own merits and by presenting strong ties that would compel her to return to Nigeria.

 

Current wait time for a tourist visa in US consulate in Abuja is 850 days and Lagos 760 days.

Edited July 18, 2022 by powerpuff

[Crazy Cat 41,893]

One more thing:  The spousal visa process takes about 2 years.  No visitor visa would allow a person to remain n the US that long. 

[arken 4,197]

37 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

2.  Current wait time for a tourist visa interview in Lagos is 760 calendar days.

 

37 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

Current wait time for a tourist visa in US consulate in Abuja is 850 days and Lagos 760 days.

 

 

44 minutes ago, Olusola said:

But I also want to get her a touring visa immediately after we get the marriage certificate

Just so you and your wife to be prepare for what's coming ahead, for the above reasons, it seems she might be able to enter US on an immigrant visa faster than on a visitor visa. 

Edited July 18, 2022 by arken

[Boiler 45,538]

Is this somebody you have met?

[Olusola 26]

13 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Is this somebody you have met?

Yes, I've met and I've spent time here with her. Visited twice already and will visit a 3rd time before the wedding but have known for years.

[dwheels76 5,468]

7 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

One more thing:  The spousal visa process takes about 2 years.  No visitor visa would allow a person to remain n the US that long. 

It's 2 years just waiting from DQ to interview expect 3 to 3 1/2.

[dwheels76 5,468]

8 hours ago, Olusola said:

Hi, all,

I'm a US citizen with veteran status (not sure if it matters), and I will be getting married this year. 

I plan to do a court wedding with my fiance in October and I would like to file a I-130 immediately, to begin her process coming to the US.

But I also want to get her a touring visa immediately after we get the marriage certificate in October because I'd like for her to visit the US and see if she'd like it, and to check out the schools and work opportunities to be prepared.

I also want her to start getting some digital certifications while we wait for her permanent residence visa to process.

 

However, my question is, would we be able to  request for her biometric and medical appointments to be done in the US? We know the interview would have to be done in Nigeria, but is it  possible to schedule biometrics and medical in the US so she doesn't have to come back to Nigeria for them while using her tourist visa?

 

Also, if anyone from Nigeria has undergone the same process, I'm curious about your timelines and process and speed. Thanks.

The visitor visa calendar is in July 2024 now so that's the soonest appointment is available.. Then there's the likelihood of being approved is slim.

The process from filing to interview expect 3 years and more.The back log now just waiting for interview from DQ at NVC to interview assigned is 16 to 20 months. It's 8 months to over a year wait for approval at USCIS. No short thing.
I would plan the wedding in 9ja or any other 3rd country that Nigerians don;t need Visas.

 

Also biometrics are done at the interview. And medical must be done in country of interview.

[Olusola 26]

So is it better to do a fiance visa at this point because...that's insane

[dwheels76 5,468]

Just now, Olusola said:

So is it better to do a fiance visa at this point because...that's insane

Fiance about 2 to 3 years. Not much faster.

 

[Olusola 26]

Hopefully this isn't every case because that's insane and we can't afford to wait that long. I don't know if citizenship or immigration filing history would matter. This is madness. 

[Crazy Cat 41,893]

3 minutes ago, Olusola said:

Hopefully this isn't every case because that's insane and we can't afford to wait that long. I don't know if citizenship or immigration filing history would matter. This is madness. 

It is a matter of many people already waiting in line ahead of you. 

[dwheels76 5,468]

1 minute ago, Olusola said:

Hopefully this isn't every case because that's insane and we can't afford to wait that long. I don't know if citizenship or immigration filing history would matter. This is madness. 

no the wait is the wait. The world including Immigration is still recovering you know. Most of the K1's for Nigeria filed last year and just getting approved but now waiting at NVC for case#'s. The backlog is real and great .

What you mean by Immigration filing history? What's that?

[Boiler 45,538]

10 minutes ago, Olusola said:

Hopefully this isn't every case because that's insane and we can't afford to wait that long. I don't know if citizenship or immigration filing history would matter. This is madness. 

I would have said 18 months but none of us have a crystal ball and only time will tell

 

There are past issues that can complicate matters certainly. Very much depends what they are.