How long does it take to get CR/IR spouse visa? Will I be able to apply for work visa without a job offer ?

[Gim0820 0]

My husband (US citizen) and I just got married outside of US, but haven’t filed for spouse visa yet. I heard filing for naturalization is best and fast. But how long will the process take? Because I really want to work in US. It’s hard to get an employment based or work visa as well without a job offer. Is there any other way that I can work legally in US? 

Edited October 25 by Gim0820
Misspelling

[Boiler 45,743]

A US Citizen does not need to naturalise.

 

EB2 NIW would allow you to immigrate without an Employer.

[powerpuff 6,744]

*** Thread moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures ***
 

You're not eligible to file for naturalization.

 

He needs to petition you for a spousal visa. Takes about 18-24 months.

[OldUser 6,999]

7 hours ago, Gim0820 said:

My husband (US citizen) and I just got married outside of US, but haven’t filed for spouse visa yet. I heard filing for naturalization is best and fast. But how long will the process take? Because I really want to work in US. It’s hard to get an employment based or work visa as well without a job offer. Is there any other way that I can work legally in US? 

You cannot naturalize right now.

 

The path is:

 

CR-1 visa => Green Card => Removal of conditions => Naturalization.

 

It can take at least 5 years for you to become a citizen. 6-7 years is a more realistic estimate.

 

You can work while on Green Card. Most of the jobs in the US don't require you to be a US citizen.

 

So... You're looking about 2 years from day of CR1 filing to actually start working in the US, because it takes 1.5-2 years to get visa, enter the US and get Green Card.

 

You cannot skip any of the steps in the path I showed and become a US citizen without paperwork and wait.

Edited October 25 by OldUser

[h02ejmajja 57]

If your husband (US citizen) files for your spouse visa, and you receive it, you can work from day 1 of entering the United States. This is the fastest way for you. 

[OldUser 6,999]

1 hour ago, h02ejmajja said:

If your husband (US citizen) files for your spouse visa, and you receive it, you can work from day 1 of entering the United States. This is the fastest way for you. 

Still takes 1.5-2 years. Fast in USCIS terms, but much slower compared to many people's expectations.

[Melancholic Mage 115]

4 hours ago, OldUser said:

Still takes 1.5-2 years. Fast in USCIS terms, but much slower compared to many people's expectations.

 

I can vouch for this. Filed I-130 shortly after marriage and it took 1 year and 6 months for me to enter the USA as a LPR. This was without any RFE's and pretty much a smooth process with no catches, so I was possibly one of the faster visa applicants.

 

And yes, it shocked me since I wasn't prepared at all by how long it would take.

 

Also, side note, while the 'working immediately' on a CR-1/IR-1 visa is true, it's far from realistic. For example, you need to open a bank account for wages, get a driving license and insurance on a vehicle, then a vehicle itself to actually travel to said job. And this is before you've even applied for any openings, not to mention the hurdle of possible grade transcripts to ones US employers can understand. 

 

Just be aware that no immigration route is easy by any means. Legal ones, anyway.