Time for expidited processing - husband in Russia

[kobosky 17]

I am a USC and filed an I-130 with NOA1 date 11/12/13 and I-129F with NOA1 date 11/26/13. My husband is a citizen of Democratic Republic of Congo and is studying in Russia. Since the uprising in Ukraine and rising tensions between Russia and the USA things have gotten really bad for my husband. He won't even tell me whats going on because he's too afraid. He can't leave the house alone for fear of being beaten or killed. He was beaten up in November when I went to visit and he told me that was mild. I called the UCICS customer service line to change my address (I moved) and i also asked the agent about what would happen if my husband had to flee from Russia and how that would affect the processing. They offered to put an expidite request in for the i-129F based on Humanitarian grounds. How long does it take to find out if the expidite has been granted? Once granted how long usually until approval? I just want my husband safe. thanks.

[li_09 40]

Sorry to hear what your husband is going through. You usually find out within a week if your expedite request has been approved which just means you fit the criteria they will review your case. Then it could take up to 45 days to get the petition approval. They say 45 days but it hardly ever takes that long. Maybe 3 weeks at the most.

Good luck

[Penguin_ie 5,999]

Did you submit any evidence? Usually, with an expedite request, you will be required to send evidence of why it is needed- oin your case that would be doctor's certs from when he was beaten up, newspaper articles about riots in his local area etc.

[kobosky 17]

they took the request over the phone and did not ask for any evidence. i have my husband working on statements from his Black schoolmates on all the times they have been beaten and he's looking for a video of one of the students from his dorm being killed. i don't even know where to send things when i get them. he doesn't have medical records because he's afraid to go to the hospital. I'm a Dr. and when he was beaten when i was there I treated him. luckily he didn't need x-rays or more invasive tests.

[aaron2020 11,651]

An expedite is unlikely when your husband has an alternative - returning to his home country, the DRC.

[kobosky 17]

He's very close to graduating from his University. Once that happens I don't want him to stay longer. If he does go back to Congo before the immigration process goes through what do we need to do so that processing happens through Congo and not through Russia ?

[Ryan H 3,857]

He's very close to graduating from his University. Once that happens I don't want him to stay longer. If he does go back to Congo before the immigration process goes through what do we need to do so that processing happens through Congo and not through Russia ?

If he returns to DR Congo before your file reaches the NVC, then you would inform the NVC of his current location and that the file would need to be sent to Kinshasa and not Moscow.

Edited March 12, 2014 by Ryan H

[kobosky 17]

thanks.

[kobosky 17]

just revived Noa-2 for both the I-130 and I-129F today! I'm so happy. I don't know if they processed the expedite or if it would have been approved now anyway but I'm just thankful it's approved.

[matt.aljubori 1]

Congradts

[klz 2]

I submitted expedite request late Jan and it took < 6 working days for NVC to approve. Here is what I did, hope it helps.

Send email to NVCExpedite@state.gov explaining why you are requesting for expedited processing. I encourage you to attach any supporting documentation / evidence that support your case. It helps if your PD is current. NVC then forwards this information to embassy and it is upto embassy / consular general to accept or reject expedite processing. NVC notifies you via email, and of course you can keep calling to find out the status, if expedite requested was accepted or rejected.

If accepted, then NVC then transfers your file to Embassy. From this point, forward all your dealings will be directly with embassy and they pick up the processing from where you left off at NVC. You then need to contact Embassy to schedule appointment (medical, biometric & consular interview).

[pushbrk 13,499]

He's very close to graduating from his University. Once that happens I don't want him to stay longer. If he does go back to Congo before the immigration process goes through what do we need to do so that processing happens through Congo and not through Russia ?

Unfortunately what "you want" is not really a criteria USCIS considers in the petition process. If he leaves Russia before he has the spouse visa, simply notify the National Visa Center, once they get the case. They'll then do the transfer.