Faster or easier processing for EU citizens?

[Laura+Tom 2]

You could have the 'easiest' case in the world but all it takes is for your name to be the same as, say for example, someone on the FBI's most wanted list and they need to clear that up before they continue. There are 1000's of criminals out there and 1000's of petitions out there so there is bound to be some hit's on names (innocent ones) alone.

[Shad and Dani 3]

My Fiance is a UK citizen, living in Sweden. I am USC from CA.

Filed July 27 2007

Waited aug, sept, oct, nov, dec, Jan 2008 , feb, march, april, may, june,

RFE's long long wait

Interviewed in July of 2008 (1 year of waiting)

Denied

Filed Waiver after months of getting all documents together

IF we are approved by April, 2009, it will be 1 year and 9 months

EU citizens get NO break. at least not that I can see!

It seems that beneficiaries living abroad are facing longer wait times. I might look in to getting married in the UK and filing an I-130. Just a thought.

[KimandRuss 0]

It's not really because a case is 'easier' than another... Russell and I have known each other for 11 years, plenty of documentation, no criminal history, no common names, no issues whatsoever. We are just all put through security checks.

If a check comes up with anything... you are at the mercy of those doing the checks...which often takes time. Some much, much longer than others. The file is then put aside until those checks are complete.

As I stated, you may think there is nothing in your background that warrants this additional wait, and you may be right, but it doesn't stop them from making sure. Many can argue that the system is flawed and that the checks take too long ...and they are most likely right but we have to remember that this is all in the interest of protecting the Country from those who wish to manipulate the immigration system and/or cause harm to the United States. Not to say your fiance is one of those people...but how do the rest of us know for sure unless it's checked?

The fault ultimately lies with those who have caused harm to the U.S. and that is where anger should be directed.

[Bulgarican 0]

:)

I don't know about easier processing for EU citizens but I don't understand what do they mean by easy cases. Some couple know eachother for years, have plenty of documents, photos, etc to prove their relationship and they are still on the back of the line, waiting 6+ months. How to they define who is an easy case and who is not? But anyway I guess asking all those questions won't help us getting approved any faster so we better gather all the patience we have and wait for them to make a move. Good luck to all of you and specially to my coutry mates from Bulgaria. I really wish all of you get approved as soon as possible so they can get to us (November filling) A bit selfish but hey we are all impatient

[Badgerella 5]

I don't buy the "first come, first serve" immigration policy. It's pretty obvious that someone from Canada is processed faster than someone from the middle east.

Any opinions or experiences?

I'm not from the middle east, but our application was processed (a lot) faster than some from wherever else in the world. USCIS stage, at least.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I know that our K-1 took 9 months to process when the average was 6. Applicants from Russia, England, Germany, France and England were all being approved while our "Canadian" application was still waiting. They don't discriminate processing times based on the country of application, however there are other good points mentioned here that could impact processing time. Canadians don't get off any easier than anyone else while waiting.

[Gemmie 142]

It's a common misconception about E.U files.

We were approved after 4.5 - 5 months of waiting and some other UK filers are still waiting past the 6 month mark. Meanwhile, I see plenty of filers from the Phillipines being approved quickly.

Best thing to do is forget about priviledges of citizenship/nationality. Most people in the E.U didn't think it was likely they would be turned away at the US border either based on where they were from, but many are. I still hear people in the UK talking about the special relationship between the US and UK and how it should work in our favour, but no. It's all about the US laws, not the relationship between countries.