SusieQQQ

From when she becomes a citizen and files: - mom and dad will be the processing time (uscis processing plus NVC processing + wait time to get appointment in Mexico) Maybe 2-3 years, maybe less if the Mexico queue backlog improves - yes, sibling visa for Mexico is currently 22 years, see category F4 in table 1 https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2022/visa-bulletin-for-august-2022.html No, there is no way to speed it up. Hypothetically your parents in law could also file for her older sister eventually but because she is married, they will have to be citizens first, so above 2-3 years + 5 years to naturalize+ the wait time for F3 category, which (same doc as above) is actually even longer than F4. So that’s not cutting any corners. For the younger sister parents could file for under 21 child once they are LPRs, that’s F2A in the doc and the current wait is 3 years - so that is a faster option for the younger sister, but not in any way “fast”. There is no way the younger sister can come with them at first either, so would she stay with the older sister? If her sister or sister’s spouse have good degree/experience they could get a sponsored work visa, but at only 20 years old I’m guessing it’s too soon to be thinking about that for the older one much less the younger one. Maybe a future option if they are on good career paths.

Here’s the “how to” https://www.uscis.gov/forms/explore-my-options/us-citizen-petition-for-a-preference-relative-to-become-a-lawful-permanent-resident

^ this

I’m not sure why you addressed this to me. All I did was point out that a visa is not yet available to the OP. They can’t give anyone an appointment before their priority date is current.

But actually not, and I should have figured out last night that the poster is protected by CSPA.

WAIT Sorry, i should have picked this up last night. Your mom applied when you were under 21? Your birth date is Nov 13 2000? Then you are not F2B. You were filed as F2A because it was before you turned 21, and because the priority date has been current for Philippines ever since she applied and your case has been approved while F2A is still current, you are actually protected under the child status protection act, CSPA, and your age has been frozen under 21. This means you are not F24, you are F22 (or possibly F2x) and actually you are eligible for a visa now. (Excepting wait time for NVC processing and scheduling interview). You need to contact NVC and tell them you are protected under CSPA and they need to move your category back to F2A, and allow you to file documents now (you need to file ds260 within a year of approval to remain protected by CSPA). NVC should be doing this CSPA calculation automatically but we have seen a good number of cases on here where they don’t. CSPA calculator https://www.***removed***/cspa-calculator/ description of CSPA, the relevant section for you is “CSPA for Family and Employment Preference and Diversity Visa Immigrants” https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/child-status-protection-act-cspa

Your country specific instructions are here, and yes they list required prenatal records https://in.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/birth/report-birth-abroad/

I’m not sure you actually read my answer and the link being as you have asked the same questions again. Anyway… Well, being from Philippines is an issue. If you look at the link I gave you, F2B visas are only available for cases filed before October 2011. In all likelihood you will have more than a decade to wait. Best just to get on with your life now and when it happens eventually, it happens. you have to remain single as long as your mother is only a LPR, or you lose eligibility. If she becomes a citizen, then you can stay in the green card queue if you get married, but then you change categories and probably add close to another decade on to your wait. Doesn’t matter. Priority date matters. As you have already been told.

If you’re F24 - you are over 21 son or daughter of a green card holder, correct? When did your mother file the petition (priority date)? That’s the important date. Visas are currently available for most countries, for F2B (F24) for petitions filed before 22 September 2015. (If you are from Mexico or Philippines the wait is much longer.) You need to watch the visa bulletin every month for an idea of when yours will be available: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2022/visa-bulletin-for-august-2022.html table A shows when your visa will be available table B will give you an idea when you will be asked to pay fees etc (usually 6m-1 year before a visa will be available) also bear in mind there is a long backlog from covid at some embassies and it can take time to get an interview even once your priority date is current.

My reading of the Dept of State manual is that you can still get this sorted out after she is admitted, because you were married before she enters the US: https://fam.state.gov/fam/09FAM/09FAM050201.html 9 FAM 502.1-1(C)(2) Derivative Applicants/Beneficiaries Derivatives – Overview: A spouse or child acquired prior to the principal applicant’s admission to the United States or adjustment of status to that of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), or a child born of a marriage which existed prior to the principal applicant’s admission to the United States as an immigrant or adjustment of status, who is accompanying or following to join the principal, should be accorded derivative status under INA 203(d). … (2) Following-to-Join: … (b) Spouse or Child Acquired Prior to Admission of Principal Applicant: A spouse or child acquired prior to a principal applicant’s admission to the United States is entitled to derivative status and the priority date of the principal applicant, regardless of the period of time which may elapse between the issuance of a visa to or admission into the United States of the principal applicant and the issuance of a visa to the spouse or child of such applicant and regardless of whether the spouse or child had been named in the IV application of the principal applicant….

I’m not sure why you relied on a third party without checking with the consular official, considering she had direct access to him during the interview. Yes, it’s possible they’re not replying because from their point of view there is no point unlocking. You can try contact - with proper details, not just an unlock request which may not make sense to them: - via the live chat or phone number links on this page https://www.ustraveldocs.com/np/np-main-contactus.asp

Beloved dingo gave the link - I just commented on it!

I know of one person recently who got an EAD in 58 days so for that anyway it does seem to be working… on a sample size of 1 anyway lol

You presumably only got married after her visa interview as well, not just after DS260 submission, but your wife surely must have known by then she was going to marry you? Didn’t she ask the interviewing officer what the process would be to add her soon-to-be husband to the case during her interview?

It seems to me that the visa interview has already been held, seeing as she has a visa. I'm guessing that's why you can't reopen the DS260. Not sure what the options are now to add you before she goes - you'll need your own interview at the embassy either way, whether you are able to FTJ or whether she has to separately sponsor you. Seems to me you really need someone to respond to you from the embassy at this stage, but I don't think requesting to open the DS260 is the way to do it.

It only changes to issued when they actually print the visa. In some consulates that still takes days after verbal approval.

Exactly - the electronic record is there forever plus being refused entry for immigrant intent has zero impact on being granted an immigrant visa. Of course it would be a problem if they attempted any future non immigrant visas.

It seems they should accept that, according the DoS reciprocity table - customary marriages are listed under the exceptions. See below, but also please make sure you read the full marriage certificate section in the link. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Nigeria.html Alternate Documents: For marriages under Native Law and Custom, a Registration of Marriage Certificate is sometimes issued by the Local Marriage Registrar after presenting a court affidavit as provided for by the Registration of Customary Marriage bylaws. Exceptions: The vast majority of customary marriages will have no written record.

This ^^ it often makes sense to stay a LPR when petitioning a spouse with derivatives.

All “actively reviewing” means is that it is somewhere between receipt and approval. CSC is currently taking 64.5 months to process this category https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/ It is currently taking 7-8 years for a visa to become available for an over 21 child of LPR. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2022/visa-bulletin-for-august-2022.html It will literally be years before you hear anything. (PS I am assuming you have posted in correct forum and your father is an LPR. The above timelines are actually slightly longer for over 21 children of citizens.)

The interview letter is based on the entry form.

Read again, she said her mom wanted to bring her (op’s) uncle.

Well that explains it, your priority date is not yet current. F4 visas are currently only available to cases filed before 22 March 2007. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2022/visa-bulletin-for-august-2022.html unfortunately everything slowed down dramatically during covid which would explain why you were DQ so long ago but still not yet current.

I believe it’s very easy to get married in Gibraltar as a tourist, maybe investigate that (not sure about the cousin thing) if the distance isn’t an issue.

I’m assuming it’s obviously F4 because the difference in grandmother’s name makes zero difference for a B visa. Worst case they’ll ask for other evidence to support the sibling relationship, if they can’t reconcile the birth certificates. Ensure your mom knows it will likely be at least 15 years before your uncle can come.