I130 current processing and wait times in Houston, TX

[Floopster 0]

Hi I'd like to know how long it takes, after filing an I130 to be able to go the the USA.

I have a husband and two minor children, and my father a USC is going to file an I130 for me and my family to live in Houston, Texas from the UK. How long does this whole process take, realistically what is the current backlog like in Houston?

Also I previously had a green card but Soon after recieving it (2006) moved to the UK and got married. Will this have any bearing on the i130 petition and/or is there anything that can done with the previous green card?

Thanks in advance!

[belinda63 2,981]

Your father is filing for a married child of a USC. This is category F3. The current wait is about 11 years. You can check the current visa bulletin here http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/law-and-policy/bulletin.html

Nothing can be done in regard to your prior green card as you abandoned it.

[Floopster 0]

Thanks @Belinda63

That's a really long wait! If I were to go to the states on an E2 visa and then apply for the I485 adjustment of status.. Would this be any quicker than the I130 petition?

[ChicagoSarah 127]

I don't know anything about the E2 visa, but it is a non-immigrant visa: http://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/e-2-treaty-investors

It states: All E-2 nonimmigrants, however, must maintain an intention to depart the United States when their status expires or is terminated.

I have no idea, but it sounds like there may be no route to adjust from a E2 to an immigrant/LPR status?

[jan22 2,898]

Thanks @Belinda63

That's a really long wait! If I were to go to the states on an E2 visa and then apply for the I485 adjustment of status.. Would this be any quicker than the I130 petition?

Whether you would qualify for an E2 would depend on your ability to convince the visa officer that you did not intend to immigrate to the US. To then file for Adjustment of Status could certainly cause some serious questions.

More importantly, it woud not shorten the time frme of getting a green card. The wait is because of the Congressional limits placed on certain types of visas (those that aren't immediate family of a US citizen petitioner, i.e., spouses, minor children, and parents). Even if you are in the states and file for AOS, you will not get approved until a visa number is available which is, as others have said, years away.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Thanks @Belinda63

That's a really long wait! If I were to go to the states on an E2 visa and then apply for the I485 adjustment of status.. Would this be any quicker than the I130 petition?

You might want to read this http://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/us-immigration/applying-green-card-e-2-visa.html concerning the E2.

[Floopster 0]

Thank you everyone for your replies- they are very much appreciated!