I (US citizen) married my Ecuadorian wife (who received a BS in North Carolina after living there with a student visa for 4 years) in NC in May 2015. We lived in Germany for 6 years and now live in Spain but want to move back to the US if we get a jobs there (currently applying). My wife has a B1/B2 tourist visa valid until 2031. What is the quickest and cheapest method for both of us to move and start working in the US? Does it decrease the waiting time or cost if we were married in the US 7 years ago?
Based on my research it seems like Direct Consular Filing is the best approach, and this website estimates it to take 7-18 months and costs $1,200. Is this correct? I also read that it's possible to expediate this process but the rules are vague. If we both get job offers with starts dates sooner than 7 months would this allow us to expediate it?
I also thought about moving there together if I get a job and adjusting her status to a green card. However, that same website says this would take 21-38 months and costs $1,760. Is this really correct? If so, then it would be cheaper and better to keep living abroad until the process is complete but it seems paradoxical at face value.