Married almost 2 years. Start now or wait?

[WheretoBegin 0]

My wife and I will be married 2 years this May.

I understand there are certain advantages to waiting for the 2 year anniversary.

I'm wondering if we can start the process now, since it takes months to get everything approved or should we wait for the 2 year date then start the process?

We live in Vietnam. I have lived and worked overseas for the past 3 years. Paid taxes.

No job in America but can establish a place to live. She has many relatives in the U.S.

We have a new born baby together. Duel citizenship (U.S. and Vietnamese).

Any advice on the best way to proceed would be much appreciated.

[icv21 110]

Start now it will take around a year anyways so the 2 years will be passed

[NikLR 13,227]

As long as you have been married for 2 years when the beneficiary moves to the USA with their visa (since this process is normally about a year long) then you miss out on the removal of conditions. As long as you've been married for over a year, by all means, start the process.

[j&ana 363]

Does vietnam allow Dcf filing if so you could do that.Since that is a faster process you could wait longer.you have domicile estsblish you will just need income from usa.but you can use a joint sponsor.If unable to do Dcf you should file now or you will be waiting an extra 6 months it will be hard for the visa to be complete by may from now

[NikLR 13,227]

Countries that may provide DCF here: http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices Vietnam is not one of them.

[WheretoBegin 0]

Start now it will take around a year anyways so the 2 years will be passed

A year? I was under the impression it would be about 3 or 4 months.

[WheretoBegin 0]

Does the process have to take place while she is in her native country? As a Vietnamese citizen does she have to do all the interviews and such in Vietnam?

I ask because I'm a teacher and could get a job working in one of the countries that have a DCF.

I can easily work in China and bring her along. China is one of the countries with a DCF.

Edited December 14, 2014 by WheretoBegin

[j&ana 363]

I think you both will have to be residence in china for awhile before you could do DCF if so that would kinda of defeat the purpose of doing DCF. It is possible if eveytbing goes right and your petition is approve fast the visa could be approved in about 6 months but most likely closer to a year. 3 or 4 months very unlikely

[NikLR 13,227]

A petition takes from 3-12 months. The NVC takes from 2-6 months. Plus the time frame from NVC to interview day.

[j&ana 363]

A petition takes from 3-12 months. The NVC takes from 2-6 months. Plus the time frame from NVC to interview day.

Actually I got my petition approved in 59 days of course my is for Philippines. They are still expediting some petitions from there. But another member filing for his wife in Vietnam had his petition approve in 22 days. So while 6 months is probably unlikely it is not impossible

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/526387-is-this-normal-fast-noa1-noa2/

Edited December 14, 2014 by j&ana

[NikLR 13,227]

Actually I got my petition approved in 59 days of course my is for Philippines. They are still expediting some petitions from there. But another member filing for his wife in Vietnam had his petition approve in 22 days. So while 6 months is probably unlikely it is not impossible

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/526387-is-this-normal-fast-noa1-noa2/

If couples are living together abroad, there often is an unofficial auto expedite if the case goes to Vermont or California.

IN GENERAL for couples not living together abroad and without a purposeful expedite reason, you rarely see a less than 3 month wait on the I-130. I've seen Philippine I-130s take 18 months. Other people were getting approved left, right, and centre but a few cases from there take a really long time.

[j&ana 363]

If couples are living together abroad, there often is an unofficial auto expedite if the case goes to Vermont or California.

IN GENERAL for couples not living together abroad and without a purposeful expedite reason, you rarely see a less than 3 month wait on the I-130. I've seen Philippine I-130s take 18 months. Other people were getting approved left, right, and centre but a few cases from there take a really long time.

The op stated that him and his wife are living together in Vietnam so if their petition gets sent to Vermont

or California then a fast approval is possible. I do agree most petitions take a while.I was just trying to show the op that it is possible to get a fast approval. If I learn one thing from this process USCIS has no set ways of doing things. The service centers process petition differently. I think each adjudicator working there also have there own way of looking at a petition. My point was that the op should file now. He might get lucky and have everything approve around or close to his may anniversary If not hopefully he will not have to wait much longer . If he waits till may to file he is wasting 5 or 6 months time

[j&ana 363]

If couples are living together abroad, there often is an unofficial auto expedite if the case goes to Vermont or California.

IN GENERAL for couples not living together abroad and without a purposeful expedite reason, you rarely see a less than 3 month wait on the I-130. I've seen Philippine I-130s take 18 months. Other people were getting approved left, right, and centre but a few cases from there take a really long time.

The op stated that him and his wife are living together in Vietnam so if their petition gets sent to Vermont

or California then a fast approval is possible. I do agree most petitions take a while.I was just trying to show the op that it is possible to get a fast approval. If I learn one thing from this process USCIS has no set ways of doing things. The service centers process petition differently. I think each adjudicator working there also have there own way of looking at a petition. My point was that the op should file now. He might get lucky and have everything approve around or close to his may anniversary If not hopefully he will not have to wait much longer . If he waits till may to file he is wasting 5 or 6 months time

[biaobiao 40]

File now... If you get your approval fast or not... Most likely your wife CAN or will enter usa after your 2nd anniversary.

[NikLR 13,227]

Oh i agree.. I already stated the OP should file now. You can always slow down the process but you can never speed it up unless there is someone getting deployed or is dying.