Why do Spouses wait longer than Fiances?

[ZA_35 48]

This is a serious question, I want to know why Fiances can get into the US (through the CSC) in 6 months and that is pretty much unheard of when it comes to a legally married Spouse?

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

This is a serious question, I want to know why Fiances can get into the US (through the CSC) in 6 months and that is pretty much unheard of when it comes to a legally married Spouse?

I hate to burst your bubble, but in 2012/2013 I-130s were being processed much more quickly than I-129Fs on average. Almost everyone who filed when I did had an approved I-130 in under 6 months, in fact of the hundreds of petitions filed around mine that I tracked via their receipt numbers, the majority were approved in under 3 months.

Processing times for petitions ebb and flow, it is hard to predict which will be the fastest.

[ZA_35 48]

I hate to burst your bubble, but in 2012/2013 I-130s were being processed much more quickly than I-129Fs on average. Almost everyone who filed when I did had an approved I-130 in under 6 months, in fact of the hundreds of petitions filed around mine that I tracked via their receipt numbers, the majority were approved in under 3 months.

Processing times for petitions ebb and flow, it is hard to predict which will be the fastest.

I don't mean to be rude but I am talking about the current situation. I'm glad those people got in quickly, there's no need to "burst my bubble".

Edited March 18, 2015 by ZA_35

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

I don't mean to be rude but I am talking about the current situation. I'm glad you got in quickly, there's no need to "burst my bubble".

I didn't. My original I-130 took around 7 or 8 months to get approved. My second one was quicker, I conglomerated the two on my timeline. My first I-130 went to NBC to CT to DK to CT to VSC and then back to CT.

My point is that there is no global decision at USCIS to process I-129Fs faster, despite what you think is some current policy. It changes all the time.

What would be most helpful would be a campaign to remove I-129Fs for a whole variety of reasons, not the least of which is that people don't seem to be able to file AOS in a responsible manner, but that then AOS clogs up the system even more.

[Pitaya 2,576]

I hate to burst your bubble, but in 2012/2013 I-130s were being processed much more quickly than I-129Fs on average. Almost everyone who filed when I did had an approved I-130 in under 6 months, in fact of the hundreds of petitions filed around mine that I tracked via their receipt numbers, the majority were approved in under 3 months.

Processing times for petitions ebb and flow, it is hard to predict which will be the fastest.

Agree.

When we initially sent our fiancee petition in, the processing service centers were the VSC and CSC. Our paperwork was routed to the CSC. At that time, the CSC was often viewed as a black hole, with little to no processing occurring there. In contrast, the VSC was processing up a storm. The processing times do seem to ebb and flow. Predicting the fastest processing center might be akin to picking six lucky lottery numbers.

YMMV.

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[Dualie 185]

The K1 visa is not considered an immigration visa, where the CR1/IR1 is. Therefore K1 petitions don't go through the scrutiny that the immigrant visas do. They do all that at AOS after entry into the US, for more fees of course. That is why K1 visas are usually quicker. TSC is a different story of course.

[JohnR! 5,495]

In addition to that there shouldn't be an option to AOS stateside for CR/IR. If the beneficiary should change his/her mind after entering the the US on a non-immigrant visa, s/he should go back home and do the process like everyone else. That IMHO is even more unfair than the disparity in processing times.

I didn't. My original I-130 took around 7 or 8 months to get approved. My second one was quicker, I conglomerated the two on my timeline. My first I-130 went to NBC to CT to DK to CT to VSC and then back to CT.

My point is that there is no global decision at USCIS to process I-129Fs faster, despite what you think is some current policy. It changes all the time.

What would be most helpful would be a campaign to remove I-129Fs for a whole variety of reasons, not the least of which is that people don't seem to be able to file AOS in a responsible manner, but that then AOS clogs up the system even more.

[Pheebs1201 269]

CR-1 gets a two year green card upon entry, whereas K1's have to AOS.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

If I-130s could do some of this process stateside it would be nice. Why can't our spouses attend interviews here and let the embassies check the backgrounds over there. That would be nice.

Edited March 18, 2015 by Janelle2002

[TBoneTX 42,990]

One post removed for being unnecessarily assaultive and another for condoning illegal intent. Thread moved from CR-1 Process forum to General Immigration Discussion forum.

[yuna628 9,525]

I didn't. My original I-130 took around 7 or 8 months to get approved. My second one was quicker, I conglomerated the two on my timeline. My first I-130 went to NBC to CT to DK to CT to VSC and then back to CT.

My point is that there is no global decision at USCIS to process I-129Fs faster, despite what you think is some current policy. It changes all the time.

What would be most helpful would be a campaign to remove I-129Fs for a whole variety of reasons, not the least of which is that people don't seem to be able to file AOS in a responsible manner, but that then AOS clogs up the system even more.

If I-29Fs were removed hypothetically, how then could a foreign citizen marry their American fiancé? There would be no legal grounds for them to at all. Unless of course something was tweaked so that, IO's stopped insisting that you are barred from marrying on the VWP (which of course would still require AOSing).

Would it not be better to just have a few service centers that *only* handle I-129Fs and I-129F AOSers? That way other service centers could focus on spousals?

[ZA_35 48]

If I-29Fs were removed hypothetically, how then could a foreign citizen marry their American fiancé? There would be no legal grounds for them to at all. Unless of course something was tweaked so that, IO's stopped insisting that you are barred from marrying on the VWP (which of course would still require AOSing).

Would it not be better to just have a few service centers that *only* handle I-129Fs and I-129F AOSers? That way other service centers could focus on spousals?

You can't get engaged to someone without meeting them and then hopefully spending time together falling in love. Us Citizens can get married to their Fiances almost anywhere. Including the US itself. Yes, your fiance can enter on B1/B2 Visa, get married to you, then leave and apply for the I-130. That's what I did. Perfectly legal.

Edited March 18, 2015 by ZA_35

[ZA_35 48]

CR-1 gets a two year green card upon entry, whereas K1's have to AOS.

Fair enough but your AOS is done IN THE US with your SPOUSE. Not in your home country. So there is a big difference.

[yuna628 9,525]

You can't get engaged to someone without meeting them and then hopefully spending time together falling in love. Us Citizens can get married to their Fiances almost anywhere. Including the US itself. Yes, your fiance can enter on B1/B2 Visa, get married to you, then leave and apply for the I-130. That's what I did. Perfectly legal.

Get married almost anywhere? Not in the UK they can't.

What I'm saying is, there is no legal basis for a foreign fiancé to marry in the United States without the framework of the I-129F in place unless they waffle a bit with the VWP and AOS. That's what the K1 is there for. B1/B2 are hard to get for some individuals. Having the VWP for many countries pretty much locks you out of getting a B1/B2.

[ZA_35 48]

Get married almost anywhere? Not in the UK they can't.

What I'm saying is, there is no legal basis for a foreign fiancé to marry in the United States without the framework of the I-129F in place unless they waffle a bit with the VWP and AOS. That's what the K1 is there for. B1/B2 are hard to get for some individuals. Having the VWP for many countries pretty much locks you out of getting a B1/B2.

If you have trouble getting a B1/B2, then you certainly won't get a K-1 Visa.

Are you telling me a USC cannot marry a UK citizen in the UK or anywhere else?