To expedite or not

[Veronica S. 2]

Hi! I would like to run our situation to get your input: We filed i130 from outside the US PD March 21st 2024 and my petitioner USC just received a job offer in the US. Considering the current processing times ( IR1 ) do you think it is worth it requesting an expedite processing at this point? Pros / cons? Thanks for reading and happy Friday

[Crazy Cat 43,356]

Yes.  You could request a USCIS expedite as well as an expedite from NVC.  There are no guarantees, but it costs nothing.

 

Pros:  It might be effective

Cons: None

Edited Friday at 11:29 AM by Crazy Cat

[Dashinka 25,341]

I agree, you can request an expedite as it will not cause any issues.  Keep in mind expedites if approved do not necessarily mean immediate.

 

Good Luck!

[Veronica S. 2]

Ok then I guess we will give it a shot. Our case is at CSC and I have seen some Feb approvals in the last few days, that doesn't mean much though as there are also Dec cases waiting. 

[Dashinka 25,341]

20 minutes ago, Veronica S. said:

Ok then I guess we will give it a shot. Our case is at CSC and I have seen some Feb approvals in the last few days, that doesn't mean much though as there are also Dec cases waiting. 

Keep in mind that submitting an expedite request at USCIS (CSC) does not mean the expedite will continue through the entire process.  If the expedite is approved at USCIS, you will need to submit another expedite request at the NVC stage after you submit all the required documents, and then again at the consulate.

 

Good Luck!

[KMG 194]

2 hours ago, Veronica S. said:

Ok then I guess we will give it a shot. Our case is at CSC and I have seen some Feb approvals in the last few days, that doesn't mean much though as there are also Dec cases waiting. 

You could be approved soon. The other thing is that in March 24 cases, close to, if not over, a million cases were filed because of the fee changes the following month. I imagine it will take them a while to make it through the whole month.

 

Usually, when you see cases ahead of yours still waiting, it is because that case has a cause for further investigation.

 

With that you can still try to expedite.

Edited Friday at 02:17 PM by KMG

[Veronica S. 2]

Thanks for all the valuable answers and input!

[mam521 2,406]

Food for thought - I know you don't want to be separated (none of us do), but your petitioner will have to prove intent to establish domicile anyway.  If the job offer is lucrative enough, it might be worth it for your partner to take the job, register a US income, and set up house for you to arrive to, irrespective of whether an expedite is accepted or not.  It could potentially make other parts of the journey easier.  

[Veronica S. 2]

6 minutes ago, mam521 said:

Food for thought - I know you don't want to be separated (none of us do), but your petitioner will have to prove intent to establish domicile anyway.  If the job offer is lucrative enough, it might be worth it for your partner to take the job, register a US income, and set up house for you to arrive to, irrespective of whether an expedite is accepted or not.  It could potentially make other parts of the journey easier.  

We were planning to stay with my MIL that is single and owns a big house ( 4br/3bth ) just so we could find something to either rent or buy. We have a teenage son that will be enrolled in school most likely ( he has dual citizenship ). He always kept his bank accounts and used my MILs domicile for everything. I suppose that if we are required to show some kind of proof on paper we could sign a sublet contract or similar. (?)

[mam521 2,406]

1 minute ago, Veronica S. said:

We were planning to stay with my MIL that is single and owns a big house ( 4br/3bth ) just so we could find something to either rent or buy. We have a teenage son that will be enrolled in school most likely ( he has dual citizenship ). He always kept his bank accounts and used my MILs domicile for everything. I suppose that if we are required to show some kind of proof on paper we could sign a sublet contract or similar. (?)

That would work.  But the issue will become the Affidavit of Support.  Has he been filing his US income tax?  Do you guys have a co-sponsor already? 

[Veronica S. 2]

3 minutes ago, mam521 said:

That would work.  But the issue will become the Affidavit of Support.  Has he been filing his US income tax?  Do you guys have a co-sponsor already? 

yeah he has been filing taxes for the last 3-4 years or so, I am not sure he meets the minimum requirement with his income as he ahs been mainly freelancing, but we have assets ( investment account, property ) and I guess his salary offer should help and if needed his MIL will co sponsor. I think we have most things covered ( hopefully ). 

[appleblossom 3,779]

It may not make much of a difference now with the I-130 but the wait for an interview can vary between short (1-3 months) to very long (2+ years) depending on your consulate. So that's when you’ll absolutely want to try for an expedite if it’s one with a longer backlog. 

 

Best of luck. 

[Veronica S. 2]

4 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

It may not make much of a difference now with the I-130 but the wait for an interview can vary between short (1-3 months) to very long (2+ years) depending on your consulate. So that's when you’ll absolutely want to try for an expedite if it’s one with a longer backlog. 

 

Best of luck. 

We are in Buenos Aires, I think historically is not too bad with interview times, but with the new administration I am not sure how things are being handled. So I guess we will give it a shot.

[KMG 194]

3 minutes ago, Veronica S. said:

We are in Buenos Aires, I think historically is not too bad with interview times, but with the new administration I am not sure how things are being handled. So I guess we will give it a shot.

My husband and I are in the NVC stage right now, about to submit our paperwork this week. That takes about 2 weeks for approval, and then about a 2-3 month wait at the embassy.  I have not seen any changes here in Honduras with the embassy.  Rumor has it is not the interviewers jobs being cut, it is the people who work in other areas that have been labeled as unnecessary, for embassy function.  I think it is rarely safe to measure how long it normally takes for the embassy.

 

We have settled on the fact that we may be separated for about a month or two, but it is imperative I find work ASAP, and hopefully before is appointment.