F2B approved but how long of a wait at NVC?

[TempunAlex 7]

Hello everyone I have a bit of a pickle here and need help figuring it out. 

In October 2017 my father applied for me through an I-130 for Unmarried son over 21. We made a case inquiry about it in 2021 and my father just received a letter stating our case would be expedited since it is now outside of normal processing time (been abou 66 months). I called USCIS and they indeed confirmed this and that we would have news within a week. 

 

Fast foward to 2022 and my fiance and I decied to apply for a I-129F (K1) in August. 

If my case were to get approved for the I-130 would I still have to wait a very very, very long time at NVC to get processed? or does getting expedited at USCIS for an I-130 also expedite you at NVC? 

I want to know because if that's the case it would be best to stick with the K1 for speed in processing rather than have to wait another 1-2 years more for NVC for my I-130.

 

My second question is, if my father were to change his status from PR to Citizen would that speed up the process at NVC in any way? He's been studying for it and might take the exam soon.

Any input is greatly appreciated!

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

10 minutes ago, TempunAlex said:

or does getting expedited at USCIS for an I-130 also expedite you at NVC? 

No.  Visa number availability cannot be expedited.  In the April Visa Bulletin, F2B cases filed as of Sept 22, 2015 are just now getting available visa numbers.  

Edited March 23, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

Even if your K1 was approved before the I-130, you still have to go through NVC, medical exam, visa appointment and interview and visa approval.

And that would just grant you entry to the US.

 

Then you need to marry, go through adjustment of status and wait again to be granted a conditional green card. And two years after approval you must go through removal of conditions, wait more and finally get the 10 year GC.

 

Stick to the I-130 your dad filed. You would get your green card without the extra hassle the K1 would bring. 

Edited March 23, 2023 by Allaboutwaiting

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

7 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Even if your K1 was approved before the I-130, you still have to go through NVC, medical exam, visa appointment and interview and visa approval.

And that would just grant you entry to the US.

 

Then you need to go through adjustment of status to be granted a conditional green card. And two years after approval you must go through removal of conditions.

 

Stick to the I-130 your dad filed. 

Makes sense...., depending..Hopefully, they won't  start retro-grading the F2B category.  

Edited March 23, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[TempunAlex 7]

1 minute ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Even if your K1 was approved before the I-130, you still have to go through NVC, medical exam, visa appointment and interview and visa approval.

And that would just grant you entry to the US.

 

Then you need to go through adjustment of status to be granted a conditional green card. And two years after approval you must go through removal of conditions.

 

Stick to the I-130 your dad filed. 

Right, but the priority date for NVC has been stuck in 2015 for a year now. That means that I would have probably a 2-3 year more wait before I can even travel to the US. With my K1 I'd be there end of this year and just waiting for my green card (Before anyone starts saying I can't work etc, We already know this and I have plenty of money saved to accommodate my lack of financial support to the household) 

 

If my Father were to become a Citizen would I get faster processing at NVC? 

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

4 minutes ago, TempunAlex said:

If my Father were to become a Citizen would I get faster processing at NVC? 

The F1 visa availability date is 01DEC14...a year or more longer wait than F2B category.

Edited March 23, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Boiler 45,449]

Expediting the approval of the I 130 has no impact on how quickly you will get a visa. The I 130 needs to be approved before your PD is current but you have some time for that.

 

Currently being the child of a LPR is quicker, that can change.

 

Any particular reason you are going for a K1, it has many issues.

[Boiler 45,449]

4 minutes ago, TempunAlex said:

Right, but the priority date for NVC has been stuck in 2015 for a year now. That means that I would have probably a 2-3 year more wait before I can even travel to the US. With my K1 I'd be there end of this year and just waiting for my green card (Before anyone starts saying I can't work etc, We already know this and I have plenty of money saved to accommodate my lack of financial support to the household) 

 

If my Father were to become a Citizen would I get faster processing at NVC? 

End of the year may be optimistic.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

12 minutes ago, TempunAlex said:

Right, but the priority date for NVC has been stuck in 2015 for a year now. That means that I would have probably a 2-3 year more wait before I can even travel to the US. With my K1 I'd be there end of this year and just waiting for my green card (Before anyone starts saying I can't work etc, We already know this and I have plenty of money saved to accommodate my lack of financial support to the household) 

 

If my Father were to become a Citizen would I get faster processing at NVC? 

F1 preference is a year behind F2B.

 

And no one can guarantee you'll be done with K1 by the end of the year. 

 

In addition, money is not the only issue with a K1. You won't be able to travel abroad until AP or the conditional GC is approved. And believe me, having to gather evidence, pay hefty fees - that will likely increase- and wait for who knows how long for something you could have gotten if you went another route, is more stressful than what you imagine now. 

 

A K1 is not just sitting and waiting for a GC.

Edited March 23, 2023 by Allaboutwaiting

[TempunAlex 7]

Just now, Boiler said:

End of the year may be optimistic.

It's not optimistic, I'm in dosens of K1 visa groups on facebook and other places where we have data miners. USCIS is processing over 1000 cases a week for the past 4 weeks. They're already going through Feb 2022 cases. We even have excel sheets with updates on % of cases approved per month and what is left. August 2022 is going to be processed sometime in July/August at this pace and NVC is taking no more than 45 days to process and send over to embassy (depending on embassy). There's not that many "Issues" with a K1 other than not being able to work until your Greencard is approved and mailed to you which is also dropping in wait time lately. Seeing most K1 filers get it in about 4-6 months. 

 

How come every time I ask a question in this forum, people start going off the rails trying to beat on others  saying "Oh that's bad, you shouldn't have applied to that" instead of actually just giving concrete answers to the questions asked. 

6 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

The F1 visa availability date is 01DEC14...a year or more longer wait than F2B category.

so Unmarried over 21 for Citizens falls under the F1 category? I didn't know that, I thought F1 was for students for some reason.

[Boiler 45,449]

The questions asked certainly suggested you did not understand the process so not unreasonable to assume you did not know the issues with the K1.

 

There is no way of knowing for certain future processing times, I hope I am wrong with my estimate.

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

8 minutes ago, TempunAlex said:

There's not that many "Issues" with a K1 other than not being able to work until your Greencard is approved and mailed to you which is also dropping in wait time lately. Seeing most K1 filers get it in about 4-6 months. 

Not exactly.

 

K-1        

•     More expensive than Immigrant Visa    
•     Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    
•     Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 6-8 months)    
•     Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 6-8 months)    
•     Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    
•     Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.
•     A K-1 might be a better choice when 18-21 year old children are immigrating also
•     In some situations, marriage can affect certain Home country benefits, making a K-1 a better choice   
•     A denied K-1 is sent back to USCIS to expire

    

Immigrant visa

•     Less expensive than K-1    
•     No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
•     can immediately travel outside the US    
•      is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
•      receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
•     Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.
•      has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.

 

 

Edited March 23, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[TempunAlex 7]

14 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Not exactly.

 

K-1        

•     More expensive than Immigrant Visa    
•     Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    
•     Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 6-8 months)    
•     Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 6-8 months)    
•     Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    
•     Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.
•     A K-1 might be a better choice when 18-21 year old children are immigrating also
•     In some situations, marriage can affect certain Home country benefits, making a K-1 a better choice   
•     A denied K-1 is sent back to USCIS to expire

    

Immigrant visa

•     Less expensive than K-1    
•     No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
•     can immediately travel outside the US    
•      is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
•      receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
•     Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.
•      has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.

 

 

I think "Issues" depend on each individual. None of those listed would be an issue for us. Including filing more paperwork for AOS. I've always wondered why people find it an issue to not be able to travel for 8 months. What's the purpose of applying to go live in the US if you just want to travel outside the country immediately after getting into it to live with your partner. They're not really issues, they're more like small hiccups depending on the person.

 

Also I have a BoFA account in the US and it was very easy to open with foreign documentation through my fiance but I don't even use the account. 

 

Anyway, moderator may close the thread, I came here asking for 1 thing and it turned into something different completely. The forum is not very welcoming because of all the people trying to 1 up each other constantly in  posts. 

 

Hope the best to you all.

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

3 minutes ago, TempunAlex said:

I've always wondered why people find it an issue to not be able to travel for 8 months. What's the purpose of applying to go live in the US if you just want to travel outside the country immediately after getting into it to live with your partner.

You haven't been around here long.  There are a lot of people who have valid (sometimes URGENT) needs to return to home country. Happens a lot. Good luck on your journey. 

Edited March 23, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

8 minutes ago, TempunAlex said:

The forum is not very welcoming because of all the people trying to 1 up each other constantly in  posts. 

Your question about expediting at NVC was answered accurately.  Other members read these threads.  Some might not be aware of the differences between an immigrant visa and a K-1. or the limitations of a K-1.  Good luck.

Edited March 23, 2023 by Crazy Cat