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Living outside of the USA, and applying for visa from outside of the USA

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Filed: Country: Vietnam (no flag)
Timeline

Hello JFH,

Thanks for your super quick response.

1) She doesn't have any assets but her family has plenty. I believe they can sponsor us. But we will be having savings around 20k I'm not sure if that helps alone.

2) 6 months is pretty long time though but since we want to leave in summer of 2017 that's okay.

3) Being able to work immediately sounds amazing, however i'm not willing to wait for 12 months... Let's assume we got married in Turkey and applied for CR-1, can I live in the States with my wife, while our application takes place or do I have to be in Turkey? I actually don't mind staying home for 3 months since I'm a software programmer I can work anywhere.

1. Make sure that the US Embassy in Ankara accepts co-sponsors for the I-134 for the K-1 fiance visa. Some embassies will not accept a co-sponsor for the I-134. All embassies will accept a Joint Sponsor for the I-864 for the CR-1 spousal visa.

2. 6 months is on a good day. Being a male from a terrorist country means you will likely be put into Administrative Processing. You are unlikely to be here in 6 months.

3. Without an EAD, you can not work while inside the US. You can not come in on a K-1 and do any sort of work legally until you get your EAD. That's 90 days after you get marry and file to adjust status. While you may not mind staying at home for 3 months, the US Government will have a problem with you working illegally.

Neither me or my girl friend wants to wait that long. 12 -18 months is just a crazy talk :)

Well then K-1 seems to be most rationalist move in my situation.

One more question, where do we send the K-1 file?

12-18 months is the average.

Best of luck.

Edited by aaron2020
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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Colombia
Timeline

You've found the right forum. Visa Journey is unparalleled for finding information and advice to help you through the process.

I filed the original papers in my wife's case, and figured it would take around 6 months. I joined VJ a couple of months later and discovered it would take 12-18 months. In the end it took 13 months, exactly within the range that VJ said it would take. My advice:

1. Use the time before your desired date of immigration (summer 2017) well. That is, file immediately, whether it's K1 or CR1

2. Start thinking about less than perfect processing and how you would deal with immigration at a later date.

Good luck!

Marriage: 2014-02-23 - Colombia    ROC interview/completed: 2018-08-16 - Albuquerque
CR1 started : 2014-06-06           N400 started: 2018-04-24
CR1 completed/POE : 2015-07-13     N400 interview: 2018-08-16 - Albuquerque
ROC started : 2017-04-14 CSC     Oath ceremony: 2018-09-24 – Santa Fe

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Turkey
Timeline

1. Make sure that the US Embassy in Ankara accepts co-sponsors for the I-134 for the K-1 fiance visa. Some embassies will not accept a co-sponsor for the I-134. All embassies will accept a Joint Sponsor for the I-864 for the CR-1 spousal visa.

2. 6 months is on a good day. Being a male from a terrorist country means you will likely be put into Administrative Processing. You are unlikely to be here in 6 months.

3. Without an EAD, you can not work while inside the US. You can not come in on a K-1 and do any sort of work legally until you get your EAD. That's 90 days after you get marry and file to adjust status. While you may not mind staying at home for 3 months, the US Government will have a problem with you working illegally.

12-18 months is the average.

Best of luck.

1- Ankara accepts co-sponsors for the I-134. Your fiancee still needs to submit her I-134 along with her tax return, so hopefully she filed her taxes while in Turkey.

2- Turkey is definitely not a "terrorist country" (and I think it is quite unfair to label any country that way), you will not necessarily be in AP for long if you have all your documents and your relationship is bona fide. I have observed a few "males" from Turkey get processed recently for K-1 and CR-1 visas, and the 6 month timeline for the K-1 is not unrealistic.

3- When you enter US with a K-1 visa, you cannot work until you get married, file for AOS (and EAD/AP concurrently) and receive your EAD, which is the work permit. It will take at least three months until you get your work permit, depending on when you get married and file for AOS.

I would advise you to look into direct consular filing (DCF). I think you need to be residing as a married couple in the country for at least six months before you can file, but it takes a very short time compared to CR-1 and K-1, somewhere between 1 and 3 months I think, someone more knowledgeable can correct me on that.

Edited by cyanmavi

 

K-1, AOS, ROC, Citizenship timeline below:

Spoiler

 

Met in school summer of 2011, started dating May 2012, engaged June 2016

07/15/2016 - Sent K-1 visa documents                    04/20/2017 - Mailed AOS package                                              09/16/2019 - Mailed ROC package to wrong center

07/19/2016 - NOA1 (California Service Center)         04/23/2017 - AOS package delivered                                          09/19/2019 - Printed everything again and mailed it correctly

09/02/2016 - NOA2 (45 days)                                 04/29/2017 - AOS text and email notifications                             09/23/2019 - ROC Case Was Received

09/15/2016 - NVC case number assigned                 05/04/2017 - NOA1 received for AOS, EAD, AP                            12/02/2019 - Biometrics Appointment (Got notice late, missed appt)

09/29/2016 - Case is "Ready" at embassy                05/22/2017 - Biometrics taken                                                   12/09/2019 - Biometrics taken, walk-in

10/06/2016 - Got an interview date!                        06/14/2017 - Case is Ready to Be Scheduled for Interview            12/10/2019 - Fingerprint Review Was Completed

11/06/2016 - Scheduled the medical!                       08/03/2017 - Interview is Scheduled                                           04/22/2020 - Case Was Received At My Local Office

12/06/2016 - Medical done!                                    09/06/2017 - Interview time!                                                     05/22/2020 - New Card Is Being Produced

12/12/2016 - Interview done! Visa approved!            09/06/2017 - RFE for (lost) medical                                            05/26/2020 - Case Was Approved

12/16/2016 - Visa issued                                         09/19/2017 - New medical submitted (in person)                         05/30/2020 - Card Was Delivered To Me By The Post Office

12/19/2016 - Passport with visa, envelope in hand     09/26/2017 - New Card is Being Produced (online update)                                       (First class mail, tracking provided)                     

01/11/2017 - POE!!!                                               09/29/2017 - Received I-797 Approval Notice                                                  06/28/2020 - N-400 application window opens!

04/06/2017 - Married                                                                              Card Was Mailed to Me                                                 07/13/2020 - N-400 application submitted!

                                                                            10/04/2017 - Green card in hand!                                                                  11/23/2020 - Called for a service request

                                                                                                                                                       12/04/2020 - Biometrics scheduled online notice

                                                                                                                                                       12/31/2020 - Biometrics appointment

                                                                                                                                        06/24/2021 - Interview Notice (interview on 7/27/2021)

 

 

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Mexico
Timeline

Hello JFH,

Thanks for your super quick response.

1) She doesn't have any assets but her family has plenty. I believe they can sponsor us. But we will be having savings around 20k I'm not sure if that helps alone.

2) 6 months is pretty long time though but since we want to leave in summer of 2017 that's okay.

3) Being able to work immediately sounds amazing, however i'm not willing to wait for 12 months... Let's assume we got married in Turkey and applied for CR-1, can I live in the States with my wife, while our application takes place or do I have to be in Turkey? I actually don't mind staying home for 3 months since I'm a software programmer I can work anywhere.

If she lives with you in Turkey you can file for CR1 as Direct Consular Filing (DCF). My husband was living with me in Mexico (he was a resident in Mexico) and my CR1 visa was going to take like 3 months. It took more time because I scheduled the interview for months later.

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If she lives with you in Turkey you can file for CR1 as Direct Consular Filing (DCF).

No DCF in Turkey, as has already been mentioned.

For DCF to be available there needs to be a USCIS field office within the embassy in that foreign country.

You can find a list of such countries and offices here: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices

Turkey isn't on it.

Widow/er AoS Guide | Have AoS questions? Read (some) answers here

 

AoS

Day 0 (4/23/12) Petitions mailed (I-360, I-485, I-765)
2 (4/25/12) Petitions delivered to Chicago Lockbox
11 (5/3/12) Received 3 paper NOAs
13 (5/5/12) Received biometrics appointment for 5/23
15 (5/7/12) Did an unpleasant walk-in biometrics in Fort Worth, TX
45 (6/7/12) Received email & text notification of an interview on 7/10
67 (6/29/12) EAD production ordered
77 (7/9/12) Received EAD
78 (7/10/12) Interview
100 (8/1/12) I-485 transferred to Vermont Service Centre
143 (9/13/12) Contacted DHS Ombudsman
268 (1/16/13) I-360, I-485 consolidated and transferred to Dallas
299 (2/16/13) Received second interview letter for 3/8
319 (3/8/13) Approved at interview
345 (4/3/13) I-360, I-485 formally approved; green card production ordered
353 (4/11/13) Received green card

 

Naturalisation

Day 0 (1/3/18) N-400 filed online

Day 6 (1/9/18) Walk-in biometrics in Fort Worth, TX

Day 341 (12/10/18) Interview was scheduled for 1/14/19

Day 376 (1/14/19) Interview

Day 385 (1/23/19) Denied

Day 400 (2/7/19) Denial revoked; N-400 approved; oath ceremony set for 2/14/19

Day 407 (2/14/19) Oath ceremony in Dallas, TX

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Mexico
Timeline

No DCF in Turkey, as has already been mentioned.

For DCF to be available there needs to be a USCIS field office within the embassy in that foreign country.

You can find a list of such countries and offices here: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices

Turkey isn't on it.

When I posted my comment there was not another comment mentioning DCF. Now I read it and my comment is in second page and there are other mentions. Glad that more people commented. Thanks for adding info to my comment.

Regards.

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~~moved to what visa do i need from K1 process and procedures~~

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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  • 4 weeks later...
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Serbia
Timeline

CR1 does not usualy take 12-18months. It all depends on many things, but 10 months is more like it.

Unfortunetly no, Turkey does not have a USCIS office. You cannot DCF

CR1:

-10months

-Can work/study right away

-Can get your citizenship faster

-Cheaper fees

 

K1:

-6 months

-You dont get a SSN right away/cannot work

-Slower path to citizenship

-More expensive fees

Married 2014-08-31

Filed I130 2016-11-04

Delivered 2016-11-07

NOA1 2016-11-14

NEBRASKA SERVICE CENTER

NOA2 Waiting!!

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