Attending interview for CR-1 / IR-1 visa abroad

[Ashlyyynnnn 17]

I am in the process of my CR-1 / IR-1 visa application and am hoping to do some travelling before entering the US with my husband. I'm Australian and am currently living her in Australia, but does anyone know if it's possible to attend the interview for my visa at a foreign consulate? I don't want to have to wait around here for my interview if I can avoid but can't find any information on whether or not it's okay to do spouse interviews in a country other than your own. Any help is greatly appreciated!

[aleful 1,905]

hi

 

not unless you live there legally in that country. you can't have your interview in a country you are visiting

 

if you are legally living in another country, you can change the consulate for interview. if not it will be in the country of origin

 

 

[Ashlyyynnnn 17]

Thank you for the response aleful! Does having a live / work visa for the country qualify as legally living there?

[shumway1756 304]

Even if it is possible because of "living" in another country, it's a pain and causes lengthy delays to have the case transferred to another embassy. They don't just e-mail it to their counterparts. So sticking with the embassy it's already been assigned to is the best way to go.

[Ashlyyynnnn 17]

9 minutes ago, shumway88 said:

Even if it is possible because of "living" in another country, it's a pain and causes lengthy delays to have the case transferred to another embassy. They don't just e-mail it to their counterparts. So sticking with the embassy it's already been assigned to is the best way to go.

Thank you. Will it still add extra time if we're still only in the I-30 NOA1 stage? I don't recall designating a consulate in the forms (though I may have done and just forgotten) yet but I guess they'll probably go off my address.

[shumway1756 304]

1 minute ago, Ashlyyynnnn said:

Thank you. Will it still add extra time if we're still only in the I-30 NOA1 stage? I don't recall designating a consulate in the forms (though I may have done and just forgotten) yet but I guess they'll probably go off my address.

That I'm not sure of, perhaps someone more knowledgable can chime in. Your case hasn't gotten to the NVC yet, but once they receive it they're going to automatically assign the appropriate embassy and I don't know of a way to adjust at this point. I'm sure there's a way but I don't know of it. I'm also not 100% sure your case will qualify to be moved. Even though you have the live/work visa, you're not living there, you're just visiting. They don't move cases to another embassy to accommodate vacation schedules. But I reserve the right to be wrong on this. I'm sure some other fine VJ'ers will jump in here and help fill the gaps.

[Ashlyyynnnn 17]

1 minute ago, shumway88 said:

That I'm not sure of, perhaps someone more knowledgable can chime in. Your case hasn't gotten to the NVC yet, but once they receive it they're going to automatically assign the appropriate embassy and I don't know of a way to adjust at this point. I'm sure there's a way but I don't know of it. I'm also not 100% sure your case will qualify to be moved. Even though you have the live/work visa, you're not living there, you're just visiting. They don't move cases to another embassy to accommodate vacation schedules. But I reserve the right to be wrong on this. I'm sure some other fine VJ'ers will jump in here and help fill the gaps.

Thanks for that. I was just trying to be brief with my initial post but the plan ideally would be to move to France for a while so I would be living there. My hopes is that I can graduate from university here in October and then move to France and live there for as long as I can before the visa happens. But I understand it might be a pipe dream!

[NikLR 13,220]

If you have a work visa (so you are legally residing in that country) it can be transferred.  Obviously it creates a delay in the NVC stage as they have go assign you a new DOS number.  Make sure you get a police certificate before you leave. 

[Ashlyyynnnn 17]

13 minutes ago, NikLR said:

If you have a work visa (so you are legally residing in that country) it can be transferred.  Obviously it creates a delay in the NVC stage as they have go assign you a new DOS number.  Make sure you get a police certificate before you leave. 

Okay great thanks for the info. Guess now just have to weigh up my options!

[pushbrk 12,105]

1 hour ago, NikLR said:

If you have a work visa (so you are legally residing in that country) it can be transferred.  Obviously it creates a delay in the NVC stage as they have go assign you a new DOS number.  Make sure you get a police certificate before you leave. 

Correct.  Usually takes a couple EXTRA weeks for NVC to deal with a change of Consulate.  Do get the Aussie police report before you leave.

[Neran 0]

it can be done actually my wife is a petitioner and in Thailand on tourist visa and ive my interview this following week CR1 cat DCF 

Edited June 20, 2018 by Neran