Switching from K1 to CR1

[KaitlinL 9]

Hi guys,

I know this is a common topic and it's something I've been considering recently, so I guess I just wanted some further insight. 

 

My fiancé and I are currently 6 months (July21 filers) into our i-129f, meaning we still have roughly another 10 months to go for our approval (Oct estimated approval).

 

I'm seeing that the wait time for for CR-1 Visa is roughly 10 months right now, so it's been on my mind about switching, so I can avoid the whole AOS. 

Is the timeline really 10 months right now for a spousal, and are they all processed in California as well? Because when I check the processing times they're all roughly the same at all the service centers, with the exception of Vermont which is 16 months, and I would hate for mine to be sent there and have added even more time. 

[Crazy Cat 41,810]

Your timeline indicates you have already submitted the I-130.  Is that correct? 

[KaitlinL 9]

1 minute ago, Crazy Cat said:

Your timeline indicates you have already submitted the I-130.  Is that correct? 

Sorry, I have not! It's still just the I-129F that we filed in July 21'. I just changed that in my timeline to see if it would give me an estimated approval for an I-130 if we were to get married and file this month. 

[Crazy Cat 41,810]

12 minutes ago, KaitlinL said:

Sorry, I have not! It's still just the I-129F that we filed in July 21'. I just changed that in my timeline to see if it would give me an estimated approval for an I-130 if we were to get married and file this month. 

Did you file the I-129f in 2021 or 2022?

[Boiler 45,445]

As far as anybody can tell they seem to be taking the same sort of time

[KaitlinL 9]

3 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Did you file the I-129f in 2021 or 2022?

July 2022! God sorry, I keep putting the wrong numbers. So we're about 6 months into the process now for the I-129F.

 

I'm just worried about starting over and potentially adding a significant amount of time to our waiting process. But if it only comes down to a month or two, it'll end up being worth it since I'll be able to travel and work right away. 

[Crazy Cat 41,810]

Just now, KaitlinL said:

July 2022! God sorry, I keep putting the wrong numbers. So we're about 6 months into the process now for the I-129F.

 

I'm just worried about starting over and potentially adding a significant amount of time to our waiting process. But if it only comes down to a month or two, it'll end up being worth it since I'll be able to travel and work right away. 

If you switch, it will, likely, take about 18 months or so for the spousal visa to be issued, imo. Per other VJ members, that is the current average from filing an I-130 to spousal visa interview:

 

[KaitlinL 9]

9 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

If you switch, it will, likely, take about 18 months or so for the spousal visa to be issued, imo. Per other VJ members, that is the current average from filing an I-130 to spousal visa interview:

 

Oh wow, I didn't realize it was taking that amount of time. From my understanding, the approval for a CR-1 Visa was around the 10-12 month mark. Is it just the interview process after the approval that is taking a significant amount of time? 

 

But I guess if that's the case, it's probably not worth starting over with the spousal visa instead.

Edited January 11, 2023 by KaitlinL

[Crazy Cat 41,810]

2 minutes ago, KaitlinL said:

Oh wow, I didn't realize it was taking that amount of time. From my understanding, the approval for a CR-1 Visa was around the 10-12 month mark. Is it just the interview process after the approval that is taking a significant amount of time? 

The NVC process can take several months after the I-130 is approved. In total, the VJ average is 18 months from filing the I-130 to visa issue.  But, as you said, you would immediately become a green card holder.

[SalishSea 17,801]

6 hours ago, KaitlinL said:

Oh wow, I didn't realize it was taking that amount of time. From my understanding, the approval for a CR-1 Visa was around the 10-12 month mark. Is it just the interview process after the approval that is taking a significant amount of time? 

 

But I guess if that's the case, it's probably not worth starting over with the spousal visa instead.

The petition (I-130) approval is just part of the CR-1 process.   The submission and approval of documents to NVC and waiting for an interview (Montreal wait times can be long) is the other.   Start to finish, it would be 1.5-2 years by the time you could get married, get certified copies of the MC etc.   
 

So no measurable savings in overall time, but yes, you wouldn’t have to AOS or wait to work or travel once in the US.

 

And no, not all I-130s for CR-1s are processed at the CSC.   They are distributed to all the service centers via the top-secret algorithm known only to a select few at USCIS.

[SteveInBostonI130 3,432]

8 hours ago, KaitlinL said:

Oh wow, I didn't realize it was taking that amount of time. From my understanding, the approval for a CR-1 Visa was around the 10-12 month mark. Is it just the interview process after the approval that is taking a significant amount of time? 

 

But I guess if that's the case, it's probably not worth starting over with the spousal visa instead.

 

The K-1 would be about similar as well.  If you see that the I-129F takes about 10 months, then the entire K-1 would be about 13-15 months to the K-1 visa in hand.

 

I-130 is about 10 months for approval, about 18 months total to the CR1 visa in hand.

[Jordanian Bride 268]

9 hours ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

 

The K-1 would be about similar as well.  If you see that the I-129F takes about 10 months, then the entire K-1 would be about 13-15 months to the K-1 visa in hand.

 

I-130 is about 10 months for approval, about 18 months total to the CR1 visa in hand.

The I-129F takes 15 months now, not 10. 

[Geraldin 22]

7 hours ago, Jordanian Bride said:

The I-129F takes 15 months now, not 10. 

maybe its special for them, because they are currently 6 months into i-129f

[madmanmike 191]

On 1/12/2023 at 5:42 PM, Jordanian Bride said:

The I-129F takes 15 months now, not 10. 

15 months just to NOA2. Then another wait of 2-6 months for interview.