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furenchitoasto

To file overseas or while in the US?

By furenchitoasto in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

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furenchitoasto Newbie

furenchitoasto   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Japan
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Hello!

I'm a US citizen married to a Japanese woman. Started dating in 2007, lead to marriage in Dec 2009, all in Japan. I've recently secured a job in Hawaii which will start mid-June. Of course, I want to bring my wife along, but I know we must file for a CR-1 visa. I will go to Hawaii first and while we're waiting for her visa to be approved, she will continue to live in Japan.

My question is this: Should I file the I-130 while I still live in Japan with her? Or should I start the process when I move to Hawaii by myself? Reason I'm asking is because if I file in Japan, but then move to Hawaii, I'm afraid something may be delayed due to my change of address...

Any help or advice would be GREATLY appreciated. I've seen the help you've been able to give others, so I look forward to what you have to say. Thank you in advance!!

Edited by furenchitoasto

08/2007: Started dating
12/2009: Married

USCIS

06/06/2012: Mailed I-130 application to Chicago Lockbox
06/08/2012: I-130 Received
06/11/2012: NOA1 via E-Mail
06/18/2012: NOA1 via Post
06/18/2012: NOA2: Approved (7 days from NOA1 to NOA2)

NVC

07/26/2012: NVC Received
07/26/2012: Case number/IIN
10/25/2012: Case Complete
11/05/2012: Interview Scheduled

US Embassy Tokyo

11/13/2012: Medical
12/17/2012: Interview
12/20/2012: Visa in hand

01/14/2013: POE Honolulu

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canadian_wife Grand Master

canadian_wife   1,791

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Nothing will be delayed. Send the petition to the US as per the directions, that way you won't waste any time.

Have an address in the US to receive mail until you are in Hawaii

Good luck

USCIS
August 12, 2008 - petition sent
August 16, 2008 - NOA-1
February 10, 2009 - NOA-2
178 DAYS FROM NOA-1

NVC
February 13, 2009 - NVC case number assigned
March 12, 2009 - Case Complete
25 DAY TRIP THROUGH NVC

Medical
May 4, 2009

Interview
May, 26, 2009

POE - June 20, 2009 Toronto - Atlanta, GA

Removal of Conditions
Filed - April 14, 2011
Biometrics - June 2, 2011 (early)
Approval - November 9, 2011
209 DAY TRIP TO REMOVE CONDITIONS

Citizenship

April 29, 2013 - NOA1 for petition received

September 10, 2013 Interview - decision could not be made.

April 15, 2014 APPROVED. Wait for oath ceremony

Waited...

September 29, 2015 - sent letter to senator.

October 16, 2015 - US Citizen

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JNEKG Explorer

JNEKG   4

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Australia
 Timeline
Posted

As you have been married since 2009 you will file for an IR1 visa instead of CR1. It's best to file from Japan if you are legally residing there as there is an unofficial auto expedite queue. Those USC's residing abroad with their spouses seem to get their petitions approved quickly. We got ours approved in 8 days.

You won't delay your case.

Good luck to you and your wife.

USCIS Stage - 10 days total from package received to approved

03/09/12 - I-130 package sent

03/12/12 - package received

03/14/12 - NOA1 received via email

03/22/12 - APPROVED - NOA2 received via email - USC living abroad (8 days)

03/27/12 - NOA2 received in mail

NVC Stage - 34 days from case number to case complete - including messy RFE

04/17/12 - Case has arrived at NVC

04/27/12 - Case number received (25 days from approval)- sent DS3032 via email

05/02/12 - AOS bill received via email

05/03/12 - AOS bill paid via portal & DS3032 accepted

05/04/12 - IV bill received and paid. AOS bill appears as PAID.

05/05/12 - IV bill appears as PAID. Still waiting on replacement marriage certificate.

05/11/12 - DS230 and I864 packages (without marriage cert) sent to joint sponsor before being forwarded to NVC

05/16/12 - marriage cert sent direct to NVC

05/17/12 - I864 and DS230 sent to NVC overnight via fedex - received 05/18/12

05/25/12 - checklist for original marriage and divorce certificates - marriage certificate delivered to NVC

05/30/12 - divorce certificate delivered to NVC

05/31/12 - AOS package accepted - thrilled!

06/01/12 - CASE COMPLETE!!!!!! (email received)

06/07/12 - Interview Date Assigned

06/08/12 - emailed Sydney IV to request earlier appointment - approved 07/03/12

07/11/12 - INTERVIEW DATE - APPROVED

10/06/12 - POE LAX (then onto Seattle)

121 DAYS FROM PETITION TO APPROVAL

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furenchitoasto Newbie

furenchitoasto   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Japan
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for the quick responses! I'll try and get it out as soon as possible then.

Another quick question, on Line 18 of the I-130, "Address in the US where your relative intends to live," I haven't found a place yet as I'll be staying at a friend's place the moment I get into Hawaii. After a week or so, I should be securing a place of my own. Do you think putting down my friend's address would be fine for now? Or should I put a relative's address who lives in a different state?

08/2007: Started dating
12/2009: Married

USCIS

06/06/2012: Mailed I-130 application to Chicago Lockbox
06/08/2012: I-130 Received
06/11/2012: NOA1 via E-Mail
06/18/2012: NOA1 via Post
06/18/2012: NOA2: Approved (7 days from NOA1 to NOA2)

NVC

07/26/2012: NVC Received
07/26/2012: Case number/IIN
10/25/2012: Case Complete
11/05/2012: Interview Scheduled

US Embassy Tokyo

11/13/2012: Medical
12/17/2012: Interview
12/20/2012: Visa in hand

01/14/2013: POE Honolulu

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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,791

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

Thanks for the quick responses! I'll try and get it out as soon as possible then.

Another quick question, on Line 18 of the I-130, "Address in the US where your relative intends to live," I haven't found a place yet as I'll be staying at a friend's place the moment I get into Hawaii. After a week or so, I should be securing a place of my own. Do you think putting down my friend's address would be fine for now? Or should I put a relative's address who lives in a different state?

Using the friend's address at this point in time will be fine, you are not beholden to it as circumstances can and do change.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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JNEKG Explorer

JNEKG   4

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Australia
 Timeline
Posted

We don't have a place either so we just listed - To Be Determined

USCIS Stage - 10 days total from package received to approved

03/09/12 - I-130 package sent

03/12/12 - package received

03/14/12 - NOA1 received via email

03/22/12 - APPROVED - NOA2 received via email - USC living abroad (8 days)

03/27/12 - NOA2 received in mail

NVC Stage - 34 days from case number to case complete - including messy RFE

04/17/12 - Case has arrived at NVC

04/27/12 - Case number received (25 days from approval)- sent DS3032 via email

05/02/12 - AOS bill received via email

05/03/12 - AOS bill paid via portal & DS3032 accepted

05/04/12 - IV bill received and paid. AOS bill appears as PAID.

05/05/12 - IV bill appears as PAID. Still waiting on replacement marriage certificate.

05/11/12 - DS230 and I864 packages (without marriage cert) sent to joint sponsor before being forwarded to NVC

05/16/12 - marriage cert sent direct to NVC

05/17/12 - I864 and DS230 sent to NVC overnight via fedex - received 05/18/12

05/25/12 - checklist for original marriage and divorce certificates - marriage certificate delivered to NVC

05/30/12 - divorce certificate delivered to NVC

05/31/12 - AOS package accepted - thrilled!

06/01/12 - CASE COMPLETE!!!!!! (email received)

06/07/12 - Interview Date Assigned

06/08/12 - emailed Sydney IV to request earlier appointment - approved 07/03/12

07/11/12 - INTERVIEW DATE - APPROVED

10/06/12 - POE LAX (then onto Seattle)

121 DAYS FROM PETITION TO APPROVAL

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