Spousal or Fiance Visa

[sarahv07 0]

My fiance and I have originally planned to get married first in the Philippines, and then I apply for spousal visa, after I apply my citizenship, which is on Sept this year.

However, people have been telling me that spousal visa will take years to be approved and that fiance visa is the best option. Can someone please enlighten me? Which is the best route in your opinions? Thank you!

[aleful 1,905]

hi

first of all, LPR cannot file for fiancé visas, you would have to wait until you become a USC, then file for the fiancé visa

if you marry and file for her, it only takes over a year now, not years like it used to be

it's up to you

[sarahv07 0]

Yes I am aware of that. I will apply for fiance visa once I become a citizen..

My problem is whether to purse our wedding on April, or cancel it. :/

[B & G 200]

If you have spent money on the wedding in April might as well got through with it. File for your spouse while you are still a LRP and when you become a citizen upgrade your petition. By that time hopefully USCIS will have improved their processing times.

Extra bonus of filing for a spousal visa instead of K1 is cost less, no AOS and a green card upon arrival unto the US.

[sarahv07 0]

Thank you!

Will my marriage affect my naturalization at all?

How long does Spousal Visa usually take?

[B & G 200]

Thank you!

Will my marriage affect my naturalization at all?

How long does Spousal Visa usually take?

I don't think that marriage affects your naturalization. But i am not 100% sure. Maybe someone else on VJ can chime in on this one.

Right now, spousal visas are taking well over a year to be approved. This is because of a backlog that was created. USCIS is stating that they are trying to fix it, so hopefully by the time you become a citizen it would have been reduced to normal processing times, which are around the 10-12 months.

If you file your I-130 while you are still a LRP, it will be adjusticated within 6 months give or take. So thats one hurdle you can overcome while you wait for your citizenship. Once you naturalize, upgrade your petition and move one to NVC and then US Embassy, usually takes about 5 months.

My times are approximate, so give or take a month or so on all of them.

[sarahv07 0]

Oh alright. Thank you! I don't know why people are telling me that it would take him 2-4 years to get here if we go on the Spousal Visa route.

Another question.. how much money do I have to shell out during the first step of I-130?

[B & G 200]

It takes 2-4 years if you remain a LRP throughout the whole process. The times I have mentioned above are once your become a US citizen.

The fee for filing the I-130 is at $420.00, plus postage costs of your husband sending you signed forms and any costs for translations if you choose to use a service. Otherwise if you are fluent in both languages you can do the translations yourself.

For more details about the actual filing of the I-130, ask around in the Phillippines forum. Those guys are experts when it comes all PH things.

Edited January 20, 2014 by B & G

[sarahv07 0]

Yeah, I will definitely apply for my citizenship no matter what happens. For some reason people here keep telling me that it will take me years if I go on spousal visa route, even with citizenship.

Thank you so much for your help.

[dens 5]

My fiance and I have originally planned to get married first in the Philippines, and then I apply for spousal visa, after I apply my citizenship, which is on Sept this year.

However, people have been telling me that spousal visa will take years to be approved and that fiance visa is the best option. Can someone please enlighten me? Which is the best route in your opinions? Thank you!

Lets go down to fiance visa this must be a citizen to be eligible, right now as a LPR you cant do nothing both op so if you go for fiance then you should get citizenship first and will take atleast a year including "oath taking"then another year or so to process for fiancee.

Another opt if you marry her then few days later file a petition your case will go under cr1 spousal visa less than 2 years and these process will take atleast 15 months if it doesnt get RFE(USCIS) or Checklist(NVC).processing change time to time due of too much back logs.

Or if you like to remain as an LPR and go back marry her then file for her as F2A spouse of immigrant permanent resident so these will take 2 years to get approved then wait another couple months for her visa to become current..

[sarahv07 0]

Thank you. So in your opinion, it would take us about 15 months of waiting if we do take the spousal route? thank you.

[B & G 200]

Thank you. So in your opinion, it would take us about 15 months of waiting if we do take the spousal route? thank you.

When are you eligible to apply for citizenship?

[slowlyman 118]

Yeah, I will definitely apply for my citizenship no matter what happens. For some reason people here keep telling me that it will take me years if I go on spousal visa route, even with citizenship.

Thank you so much for your help.

Where are you being told this?

[sarahv07 0]

slowlyman - That was a typo. I had just woken up when I posted that. I meant people that I know, not the people in this forum.

When are you eligible to apply for citizenship?

September 28 of this year. So three months prior to that, right?

[slowlyman 118]

slowlyman - That was a typo. I had just woken up when I posted that. I meant people that I know, not the people in this forum.

Ah, yes backyard lawyers. Stop listening to friends and co-workers. You'll better info here.