expedited request for kids school?

[bd08 0]

My oldest kid will start 1st grade in Japan April 2024, and will continue until we leave. 

The school in the US will start in August, but the earliest estimate for being in the US is October or later.

The oldest is very attached to mom and doesn't want to leave her, so going ahead isn't a good option.     

 

Is there a way to expedite the visa so we can arrive together before the August start time for my kids school?

 

I'm assuming that an expedited request will be denied.   Just hoping I'm missing something.

Im worried that he might have problems if he starts school late and doesn't have time to adjust.

 

would my wife getting accepted into a program at a college or university help?

[Pinkrlion 2,716]

Attending school is not a reason to expedite your case. 

[bd08 0]

19 minutes ago, Pinkrlion said:

Attending school is not a reason to expedite your case. 

I already know that.  I guess I need to re-phrase the question.

 

Is there any way to arrive together before August of 2024? 

 

looks like my only options are to either take my kid early kicking and screaming, or wait for his moms visa, and have him start school late with a language that he has very little practice with outside of home. 

 

trying to figure out if there are other options.

[milimelo 4,477]

Homeschool, virtual school.

[Boiler 45,482]

You can ask, it is free to do so.

[bd08 0]

35 minutes ago, milimelo said:

Homeschool, virtual school.

thank you, I didnt think about that.  It will probably have to be some kind of virtual school since im working full time and cant home school. 

 

8 minutes ago, Boiler said:

You can ask, it is free to do so.

true,  and I might.   Not entirely sure what evidence I would submit. 

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

People move and have their children transfer school routinely, regardless of immigration: job transfer, be closer to family, get away from snow, etc.  I had to transfer schools in Feb when my parents moved from LA to FL.

 

It is not normally seen as an exceptional circumstance for an expedite.

 

When did you file the I-130 for your wife?  I assume your children are USC's and have been processed under CRBA?

[bd08 0]

41 minutes ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

People move and have their children transfer school routinely, regardless of immigration: job transfer, be closer to family, get away from snow, etc.  I had to transfer schools in Feb when my parents moved from LA to FL.

 

It is not normally seen as an exceptional circumstance for an expedite.

 

When did you file the I-130 for your wife?  I assume your children are USC's and have been processed under CRBA?

I filed October 2022.  most estimates put us around October of 2024 for the US.   

 

Transferring isn't the big issue.   The issue is language.  my wife and I speak English to our kids, and they understand us, but outside everything is Japanese, and they talk in Japanese.  They aren't use to speaking English 24/7,  and having them start school late will only make the language problem more obvious.       

[davidvs 337]

Are there international schools nearby that teach in English?

[Redro 4,611]

3 hours ago, bd08 said:

I filed October 2022.  most estimates put us around October of 2024 for the US.   

 

Transferring isn't the big issue.   The issue is language.  my wife and I speak English to our kids, and they understand us, but outside everything is Japanese, and they talk in Japanese.  They aren't use to speaking English 24/7,  and having them start school late will only make the language problem more obvious.       

Which estimates are you looking at? 

 

Do you know where you are moving? Most schools have ESL programs for students. You can reach out to your school district and give them a heads up before you move to the US. 

TBH your kid is probably going to have issues if the start school on time or if the start school a little late. You have the choice of moving with your kid to the US so they can start the school year with their peers OR you can wait for your wife’s visa and have the family move together so they have emotional support. 
there are no perfect solutions.
But, there is always a chance your wife receives her visa before August 2024. Estimates are just that… when we were at Vermont we were looking at 13.5 months to approval but it only took 9 months… then NVC sped up by a few weeks… so we moved several months before we expected to… 

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

5 hours ago, bd08 said:

I filed October 2022.  most estimates put us around October of 2024 for the US.   

   

 

 

I would use the timeline function here on VJ to get a new estimate. 

 

I believe it will be more likely than not that your wife will get her visa before Oct 2024.  There's a good chance to get it by July or Aug 2024.  This does depend on the complexity of your case, any RFEs, and how quickly and accurately you submit documents to NVC.

Edited April 30, 2023 by SteveInBostonI130

[bd08 0]

4 hours ago, davidvs said:

Are there international schools nearby that teach in English?

ive looked into international schools, and it might be an option.  the nearest one is about an hour away, and only has a couple classes in english. its a possability, and ill look into it more.

 

3 hours ago, ROK2USA said:

Which estimates are you looking at? 

 

Do you know where you are moving? Most schools have ESL programs for students. You can reach out to your school district and give them a heads up before you move to the US. 

TBH your kid is probably going to have issues if the start school on time or if the start school a little late. You have the choice of moving with your kid to the US so they can start the school year with their peers OR you can wait for your wife’s visa and have the family move together so they have emotional support. 
there are no perfect solutions.
But, there is always a chance your wife receives her visa before August 2024. Estimates are just that… when we were at Vermont we were looking at 13.5 months to approval but it only took 9 months… then NVC sped up by a few weeks… so we moved several months before we expected to… 

i have been looking at the visajourney timeline. 

I will be living with family and already know the school that they will be going to.  sent a message to the school, but haven't heard anything yet. 

1 hour ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

 

 

I would use the timeline function here on VJ to get a new estimate. 

 

I believe it will be more likely than not that your wife will get her visa before Oct 2024.  There's a good chance to get it by July or Aug 2024.  This does depend on the complexity of your case, any RFEs, and how quickly and accurately you submit documents to NVC.

ill update my timeline here. 

[top_secret 2,417]

It took my stepdaughter about a month to go from basic English, to speaking exactly like all the rest of her Southern California peers (cringe). Young children have an uncanny ability to pick up language and adapt almost effortlessly.  I'm convinced we spent way more time worrying about how she would adapt to joining a very different school system than she did.  Just go all in on the new school, all at once, as soon as possible.  The kid will be fine with it.

[igoyougoduke 1,656]

2 minutes ago, top_secret said:

It took my stepdaughter about a month to go from basic English, to speaking exactly like all the rest of her Southern California peers (cringe). Young children have an uncanny ability to pick up language and adapt almost effortlessly.  I'm convinced we spent way more time worrying about how she would adapt to joining a very different school system than she did.  Just go all in on the new school, all at once, as soon as possible.  The kid will be fine with it.

 i agree. my kids picked up learning English in a matter of months and they no longer have Russian accent. Parent worry about things that kids dont bother. They have lifetime to make mistakes and this is probably the last thing to worry about language issues 

[retheem 564]

17 hours ago, bd08 said:

My oldest kid will start 1st grade in Japan April 2024, and will continue until we leave. 

The school in the US will start in August, but the earliest estimate for being in the US is October or later.

The oldest is very attached to mom and doesn't want to leave her, so going ahead isn't a good option.     

 

Is there a way to expedite the visa so we can arrive together before the August start time for my kids school?

 

I'm assuming that an expedited request will be denied.   Just hoping I'm missing something.

Im worried that he might have problems if he starts school late and doesn't have time to adjust.

 

would my wife getting accepted into a program at a college or university help?

Try and expedite. You miss 100% of the chances you do not take