Possible ways to expedite the CR-1 visa

[Holly&Andreas 38]

55 minutes ago, type2error said:

hahahaha the USCIS misinformation line!! Thanks that makes me feel better. It was whoever picked up the USCIS hotline

I didn't call the line but we filed in April 2022, and at the beginning of April (this year) I checked the USCIS website for a case update and it said the estimated approval date had been extended by an additional 3 months. I was crushed. Then three days later I got the email that we had been approved. So if that's what the tier 1 agents use, I imagine it's not accurate for anyone. 

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

have u thought to do a student visa while waiting for the CR1

 

[type2error 7]

41 minutes ago, Holly&Andreas said:

I didn't call the line but we filed in April 2022, and at the beginning of April (this year) I checked the USCIS website for a case update and it said the estimated approval date had been extended by an additional 3 months. I was crushed. Then three days later I got the email that we had been approved. So if that's what the tier 1 agents use, I imagine it's not accurate for anyone. 

Thank you so much for sharing Holly (and congrats!). This gives me hope that things can come through faster. Best of luck with the next steps!

33 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

have u thought to do a student visa while waiting for the CR1

 

I've been on all sorts of visas before, including student, tourist, H1B, K1, etc. I don't think I can still apply for a student visa now that we filed I130?

[SalishSea 17,801]

46 minutes ago, type2error said:

Thank you so much for sharing Holly (and congrats!). This gives me hope that things can come through faster. Best of luck with the next steps!

I've been on all sorts of visas before, including student, tourist, H1B, K1, etc. I don't think I can still apply for a student visa now that we filed I130?

You could, but very unlikely it would be approved since you have a petition for an immigrant visa pending.

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

1 hour ago, type2error said:

Thank you so much for sharing Holly (and congrats!). This gives me hope that things can come through faster. Best of luck with the next steps!

I've been on all sorts of visas before, including student, tourist, H1B, K1, etc. I don't think I can still apply for a student visa now that we filed I130?

nothing wrong with trying

[manyfudge 285]

Are you going to work for a research institution?

I would look into getting a non-cap H1B visa then.  

Also, as you got married in May 2022, you may want to delay your green card (if you are able to get a non-cap H1B) until after your 2nd wedding anniversay.

Otherwise you'll looking at $$$ to remove conditions and a lot of paperwork and aggravation to remove conditions from a 2 year GC.

 

 

Edited April 18, 2023 by manyfudge

[Redro 4,611]

9 hours ago, type2error said:

I was married on a K1 visa but had to leave the US after the wedding in May 2022 due to my PhD program in the UK (again I want to thank all these people who helped me on VJ!). Currently, we are applying for the CR-1 visa and filed the I130 online in November 2022. I will be completing my PhD by the end of 2023 and have plans to pursue a NIH postdoctoral fellowship in the US. However, the fellowship requires a permanent residence status, which means I must obtain the visa by the end of 2023 or early 2024 to not lose this opportunity. Our service center for the visa is Vermont, and the average processing time is 14 months. Is it possible to get the visa before January 2024? If not, are there ways to expedite the process? I've read about "financial loss" as one of the possible reasons to make an expedite request, but not sure if I can make a strong case for it. 

 

Thank you for your help! 

Do you need to be a permanent resident/working visa for this fellowship or will F1 suffice? 
If you are going to a reputable, well known university you should have no issue obtaining a student visa.

You might be able to apply for a J1 visa for the process, too… but I’m not sure if that would come with a 2 year home country requirement/ your school needs to sponsor you and they don’t want to… 

https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/postdoc/faculty/international

ETA: there is always a chance you receive the visa before Jan 2024… my time at Vermont was 9 months (a lot quicker than the average USCIS stated time- I believe at that time it was 13 months…) 

Edited April 18, 2023 by ROK2USA

[Paula&David 24]

Hello there! 

I am in a similar situation with my pending I-130 (we sent it in September 3, 2022) and my future projects. I received an offer to start a PhD program with total funding but I have to start it in summer semester or in fall semester of this year (my future advisor needs me as fast as possible). I am going to apply for a student visa if (hopefully) my I-130 is not approved earlier (my case is in Potomac SC, sadly). 

I will tell how my process goes if you want to have a reference. 

 

Take care of yourself. 

[pushbrk 12,868]

10 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

But that eliminates the DCF option. 

The fact they filed six months ago eliminated the DCF option.

[Crazy Cat 41,810]

Just now, pushbrk said:

The fact they filed six months ago eliminated the DCF option.

Yea...I missed that.  Thanks.  

[type2error 7]

3 hours ago, manyfudge said:

Are you going to work for a research institution?

I would look into getting a non-cap H1B visa then.  

Also, as you got married in May 2022, you may want to delay your green card (if you are able to get a non-cap H1B) until after your 2nd wedding anniversay.

Otherwise you'll looking at $$$ to remove conditions and a lot of paperwork and aggravation to remove conditions from a 2 year GC.

 

 

Yes, I will be working in a research institution. Would my H1B visa be rejected too given my pending I130? Ah, that is good to know that it costs $$$ to remove conditions and a lot of paperwork etc. Sometimes you don't think about the next steps when struggling with the current process

[type2error 7]

2 hours ago, Paula&David said:

Hello there! 

I am in a similar situation with my pending I-130 (we sent it in September 3, 2022) and my future projects. I received an offer to start a PhD program with total funding but I have to start it in summer semester or in fall semester of this year (my future advisor needs me as fast as possible). I am going to apply for a student visa if (hopefully) my I-130 is not approved earlier (my case is in Potomac SC, sadly). 

I will tell how my process goes if you want to have a reference. 

 

Take care of yourself. 

Thanks for sharing, Paula! Unfortunately postdoc is more like a job so I won't be able to get a student visa. Let me know how it goes - best luck to you!

[Paula&David 24]

Just now, type2error said:

Thanks for sharing, Paula! Unfortunately postdoc is more like a job so I won't be able to get a student visa. Let me know how it goes - best luck to you!

Got it. Thank you and wish you the best with all your process. 

[type2error 7]

3 hours ago, ROK2USA said:

Do you need to be a permanent resident/working visa for this fellowship or will F1 suffice? 
If you are going to a reputable, well known university you should have no issue obtaining a student visa.

You might be able to apply for a J1 visa for the process, too… but I’m not sure if that would come with a 2 year home country requirement/ your school needs to sponsor you and they don’t want to… 

https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/postdoc/faculty/international

ETA: there is always a chance you receive the visa before Jan 2024… my time at Vermont was 9 months (a lot quicker than the average USCIS stated time- I believe at that time it was 13 months…) 

Thank you for sharing that! Your processing time is giving me more hope. It's unfortunately a NIH grant fellowship that's only open to PR. I don't think I can get it on student or J1 visa. 

[Boiler 45,444]

H1b is dual intent