JD2

I don't want to hijack the OP's post to make it about K-3s. So this is the last I'll say. Even if there's a 1% chance that it might help, I would do it given it's no cost. The Lawfully data shows there may be that 1%. Also, if he had applied for the K-3 from the start, he could have done inquiry on the I-129F months ago rather than waiting til Sept. Expecting an individual to voluntarily not do something when others are is absurd. Congress created this mess. Just because Congress is a mess too doesn't shift the burden onto individuals. It's perfectly legal to apply whereas expedites are a bit different. I would not do an expedite without a valid reason. But @Joshimrahman, if you have a valid expedite reason, I'd do that too, in addition to the K-3, congressman, and inquiry. I would try everything you can that is cost free, then proceed to a mandamus lawsuit if those don't work by this Winter. Also, please fill out your timeline.

Then Congress should make a change. It's not an individual's responsibility to forgo an immigration benefit. When my spouse was abroad, I did whatever I could with no regrets and I'd do it again. I filed for K-3 and my I-130 was approved in roughly 2 months and so did my brother for his wife and she also got approved in roughly 2 months. I don't know if it was the K-3 or not but Lawfully had data that showed K-3 I-129Fs are denied much faster than all I-130s, which implies their corresponding I-130s were approved much faster than I-130s overall. This was in 2022 so it may not hold now and I wish we had better, more detailed data. But, I have no ethical qualms about filing an I-129F and I'd tell my friends/family to do it if they were filing.

Yea, sure. I-129Fs for K-3 visas are causing these backlogs. Sure... I believe that.

All it costs is 30 minutes and some paper. I'd shoot my shot if I were in OP's position.

Per the processing times on USCIS.gov. 50% of immediate relative I-130s are completed in 14.8 months, 80% in 17 months, and 93% in 22 months. You can file an inquiry on Sept. 18, 2025. You can try also applying for a K-3 visa. It's a long shot but some think it encourages them to do the I-130 faster. It's also free and takes less than 30 minutes. I would file the I-129F for a K-3, do an inquiry after Sept. 18th, and contact congressman. If no approval by Nov., I'd sue.

Fill out your timeline. 50% of cases were completed in 14.8 months (per USCIS Historical Average Processing Times). 80% of cases were completed in 17 months (per USCIS Processing Time). And 93% in 22 months (Per the Inquiry Date). But, that's the past. May not reflect the future but it's all we have.

Yes. My spouse traveled on an endorsed CR-1 after briefly being in the USA. One thing I'd give you a heads up about: when my spouse entered, they stopped physically stamping the CR-1 visas. They "digitally endorsed" it apparently. But, on the return flight back to the US after her 1 month trip abroad, United counter agents did not know about that so gave a hard time. They asked for proof that spouse had entered the US on a CR-1. Luckily spouse was able to show original flight ticket arriving in USA, departing ticket, SSN card, and driver's license (with recent issue date). Try your best to ask for a physical stamp on the CR-1 and if they don't give it to you, make sure you collect SSN, drivers license, etc. to prove you entered on the CR-1. United airline gave issues but CBP was a breeze.

My spouse can apply for N-400 this winter. After citizenship, if file an I-130 for sibling in India, would that I-130 affect the sibling's ability to get nonimmigrant work visas (most likely L visa)? Or, since it is such a long wait, does it not affect it? Sibling does not want to move to the US anytime soon but he wants to be able to work for 3-5 months at a time for his company's US location and then return. Sibling's spouse also has no interest in moving anytime soon. Sibling's spouse owns a business with half a dozen locations over there. Don't know if this is relevant but sibling has a B1/B2 with Global Entry and has traveled several times to the US and has never overstayed or violated the visa.

So, did he have to get a waiver?

Congratulations! Very happy for you. What exactly was the reason for the denial of the first visa? You could explain further? And, why were people skeptical? I'm just curious.

Bring whatever you have just to be safe. The officer may look at some of it, all of it, or none of it. In our case, the officer looked through our wedding photos and that's all. Don't forget updated I-864 and I-864 supporting docs in case it's been a long time since you were DQ'd and you've filed new taxes since then.

Did your wife sign the I-130A?

The interviewer basically asked our entire story. How did we meet? Where? Where did I propose? Do both families like the marriage? She asked about a couple pieces of evidence that we brought. One was a photo collage of my recent birthday party and the officer asked the beneficiary to name the people in the photos. The other was an affidavit from our interior designer. She asked about various projects we did with the designer. One thing I was perplexed by was the officer asked why were y'all using a dating app. The officer looked older but not that old. Online dating is very common among millennials and I never really had a particular reason other than why not try it? She said we should expect the new GC in a few weeks.

We had our interview and the 10 year Green Card was approved. Now just waiting for it in the mail.

Maybe just get the 2nd dose? If you travel internationally in the future it might benefit and the side effects were nothing for my wife.

Question the surgeon or maybe just find a new one?

My wife had a 2nd dose of MMR. She voluntarily completed all her doses at the local health department. A second dose is indicated in special situations. In her case it was frequent international travel. You can see the adult schedule, including special situations, on the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-notes.html#note-mmr

So a friend of mine and his wife, both residents and citizens of India, had B1/B2s. Several years ago she visited the US while pregnant and the baby came early and was born here. Recently, she tried to visit and was turned around in Abu Dhabi and her B1/B2 was cancelled. CBP asked a lot about her medical bills. A few weeks later, her husband gets an email from State Dept. informing him his B1/B2 is also cancelled. They thought they had paid all her bills but remember there was a social worker that helped reduce the cash pay costs and maybe the hospital wrote off some amount. Questions: 1. Would it be helpful to do a FOIA with CBP and/or the State Dept.? 2. If she finds some medical bills that were indeed written down, if they pay them, could they get a new B1/B2? How likely is getting a new one, assuming they pay all their bills? 3. One of their parents becomes a US citizen soon, if they file an I-130 for them, I'm guessing that'd hurt their chances of a new B1/B2. But if the chances are already slim, should they go ahead and file?

2024 or 2023 + IRS Form 4868

We could've submitted Dec. 1st but didn't get it in until Dec. 11th. I have this feeling that had we gotten it in earlier, we would have made it before the new policy and gotten approved without interview.

I was searching the Visa Journey I-751 timelines. I sorted by NOA1 (newest first to oldest last) looking for the last timeline that had an I-751 only (non-combo) interview and it must have been a very long time ago because I gave up.

Was there a change in policy requiring interviews? I thought almost all joint I-751s were not interviewed?

Today spouse got a 2nd "We have taken an action on your case" email. Logged in and saw "Interview scheduled" status change and an interview letter under documents. National Benefits Center 12/11/24 - I-751 NOA1 1/22/25 - Biometrics 1/22/25 - Active Review 3/19/25 - “We have taken an action on your case” email 4/9/25 - “We have taken an action on your case” email & Interview Scheduled

Just do that. Don't F around with something so important.

There was a Feb. 2025 filer who was approved 🤯