Improving the Spousal & Fiancee Visa Processes

[DaveSana 13]

The spousal and fiancee visa processes can be complicated, confusing, tedious, lengthy, costly, and frustrating.

 

If you had the ear of a high ranking official in the State Department, what clear, positive advice, suggestions, and improvements would you like to share with them?

 

Positive, pro-active responses would be most appreciated and helpful.
 

Cheers,

 

Dave

 

 

Edited February 3, 2017 by DaveSana

[Ontarkie 14,279]

~~Moved to General Immigration, from CR1 P&P - As the OP is not asking for help on any of the processes for either visas.~~

[Marco&Bettina 502]

24 minutes ago, DaveSana said:

The spousal and fiancee visa processes can be complicated, confusing, tedious, lengthy, costly, and frustrating.

 

If you had the ear of a high ranking official in the State Department, what clear, positive advice, suggestions, and improvements would you like to share with them?

 

Positive, pro-active responses would be most appreciated and helpful.
 

Cheers,

 

Dave

 

 

Not trying to detract from the feedback you're requesting, but you do realize this new state department is pretty much anti-immigration right? I mean, they are highly interested in immigration reform but they're not exactly trying to make the changes that will make the process any less painful for any of us. How high ranking is this official?

[chel0524 82]

This is something that I've often thought about.  I think the best option would be to let the intending immigrant live here in the U.S. with their spouse or fiancée.  Register them and keep tabs on them while completing the paperwork here.  Go ahead and get them authorization to work while here.

[chel0524 82]

Just now, Marco&Bettina said:

Not trying to detract from the feedback you're requesting, but you do realize this new state department is pretty much anti-immigration right? I mean, they are highly interested in immigration reform but they're not exactly trying to make the changes that will make the process any less painful for any of us. How high ranking is this official?

I wouldn't call them anti-immigration at all.  They have no problems with people coming here legally.

[jeffkadrliktorr 99]

35 minutes ago, chel0524 said:

I wouldn't call them anti-immigration at all.  They have no problems with people coming here legally.

Yeah, tell that to the LEGAL visa holder & green card holders who were detained/deported last weekend. Also, the 7 entire countries that have been banned from the US. I've been telling myself it's just the illegal immigrants they have a problem with, but it's so not true at all.

Edited February 3, 2017 by jeffkadrliktorr

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Honestly I'd get rid of the fiancé visa or make it more difficult to obtain, I cannot count the amount of people on here who lament that their k1 arrived and it was fraudulent or they get a taste of the country and leave.  Keep the spousal visa, but for a premium cost allow entry and in country adjustment.  However with safety measures I highly doubt that they would do that.  

 

I also would get rid of the categories for siblings and adult children.

Edited February 3, 2017 by Transborderwife

[Ryan_Chialien 15]

Make the fiance visa only for people who can't easily get a tourist visa to come here.  A tourist visa that lets you enter the country takes nothing to get.  My wife is from Taiwan and no tourist visa is needed to come here for 90 days.  A fiance visa takes 6 months and a lot of money to accomplish the same thing. It's an unnecessary process for anyone unless they are from a country where tourist visa's can't be obtained.   The rule should be changed so that marriages and AOS can occur from tourist visa's.  It would reduce a lot of load in the immigration system if a large portion of K1's weren't needed.

 

Be more clear about the police certificate requirement in the K1 process.  It's not that clear what it is an how to get it in the information provided by the embassies. In some cases it is nearly impossible to get.

 

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

  Close the loophole that lets people adjust from non immigrant visas without proper vetting and proof of support.  Make it one ( consular ) process for all family petitions.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

5 minutes ago, NigeriaorBust said:

  Close the loophole that lets people adjust from non immigrant visas without proper vetting and proof of support.  Make it one ( consular ) process for all family petitions.

I'm not going to get into the whole aos vs consular processing debate, but wouldn't this just exacerbate wait times?

[Kastrs 723]

1 hour ago, Marco&Bettina said:

Not trying to detract from the feedback you're requesting, but you do realize this new state department is pretty much anti-immigration right? I mean, they are highly interested in immigration reform but they're not exactly trying to make the changes that will make the process any less painful for any of us. How high ranking is this official?

I was thinking the same thing

 

Also having done both a K1 and CR1, I do not find the process to be overly complex, costly, or slow in general. 

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

1 minute ago, Transborderwife said:

I'm not going to get into the whole aos vs consular processing debate, but wouldn't this just exacerbate wait times?

  Actually it should clean up the lines and eliminate the preferential process for people with VWP or B visas.  It question was about streamlining the average process  which may make some shortcuts go away to benefit the average person.  

[Kastrs 723]

10 minutes ago, NigeriaorBust said:

  Close the loophole that lets people adjust from non immigrant visas without proper vetting and proof of support.  Make it one ( consular ) process for all family petitions.

I agree with this

 

It is very frustrating to me that I know people who had their SO enter using the VWP marry and adjust (all planned)

[Transborderwife 4,666]

1 minute ago, NigeriaorBust said:

  Actually it should clean up the lines and eliminate the preferential process for people with VWP or B visas.  It question was about streamlining the average process  which may make some shortcuts go away to benefit the average person.  

Well without debate, I'm grateful for the option to AOS in my situation as I've told on here before.  I respectfully disagree with you.

[NikLR 13,227]

Either make intent either mean something, or remove AOS from non-immigrant visas unless necessary (medical reasons for example.)  This means more work for the USCIS to actually vet people and losing money from all the AOS which would make the AOS more expensive I think.  

Remove family categories of siblings and married/unmarried adult children.  

 

Either allow USC children derivatives or remove it from the LPR category.

 

No more joint sponsors unless extenuating circumstances (again more vetting and evidence needed, likely a cost increase.)