expat and the i-130

[cc78 3]

Hi, i'm just trying to figure out how this process is going to work! we are getting married in July. I have a UK passport and live in the Cayman Islands. My fiance is in the USA. I work as a teacher and finish my contract next July and therefore hope to move to the USA next summer. We are a bit confused about the interview process, especially as i'm an expat. My fiance spoke to his local immigration office and they said something about the interview being in the USA but i can't find anything online that would suggest this. We are thinking that the interview will be overseas. However, I don't have a US consulate in my place of residence - Cayman Islands, therefore will i be expected to travel to the UK for an interview as it's my place of citizenship? I also read that after the interview if they have not made a decision it can take another 60 days. It also says not to arrange travel as after the interview they will keep your passport for 2 weeks then send it back via courier. I will need to travel back to Cayman for work, as a teacher i have no vacation days outside school holidays.  will the form let you put an overseas address when you register with the US embassy in London?  can you request to travel back to your country of residence and then courier your passport to London and have it sent back to Cayman?... has anyone else experienced this? any help or advice will be much appreciated! 

[ASMS 86]

Hi,

the CR-1/IR-1 visa is for people already married and is a process that usually takes 12 months (sometimes less, sometimes more, but that is the average), I'm mentioning that since I'm confused about what kind of visa you want to apply.

 

The only way the interview takes place in the US. is if you are for adjustment of status. But in the case of the CR-1/IR-1, the interview is overseas as you said.

In your case, Cayman islands it does has a US. consular office, but not an embassy. I know for non-inmigrant visas the US. Embassy in Kingston (Jamaica) process for residents and citizens of Cayman islands, but since CR-1/IR-1 is an immigrant visa I'm not sure, so probably the interview would be in UK.

[ASMS 86]

About returning to Cayman islands without passport, I don't know if US. embassy send passports overseas, but more important and

not quite sure about, I think you need your passport to travel back there.

I know CI is British overseas territory, but seems only Canadians can travel there without a passport (correct me if I'm wrong).

[cc78 3]

Thanks, yes we will be married when we apply for the visa. i will have 12 months left on my contract after the wedding so hopefully it will work out!  Yep the consular in Cayman just deals with emergency issues such as births and deaths. I know i need my passport to travel back to cayman, but as i'm a resident here i've had to fedex my passport to London for renewal before and they have sent it back via fedex. i just wondered if that was something the US embassy would consider knowing that i'm a resident overseas? i guess we will find out! 

[ASMS 86]

55 minutes ago, cc78 said:

Thanks, yes we will be married when we apply for the visa. i will have 12 months left on my contract after the wedding so hopefully it will work out!  Yep the consular in Cayman just deals with emergency issues such as births and deaths. I know i need my passport to travel back to cayman, but as i'm a resident here i've had to fedex my passport to London for renewal before and they have sent it back via fedex. i just wondered if that was something the US embassy would consider knowing that i'm a resident overseas? i guess we will find out! 

Got it!

you still tried to call the consulate? just to know if they have an advice in this case.

Why don't you try to call both embassies, call the one in Jamaica if is easier for you to have your interview there, ask them if they issue this kind of visas for residents in CI, and If they don't, then ask in the one in UK about your passport question.

[cc78 3]

thanks! yep, i'll try to make a few calls again next week, i will let you know if i manage to figure anything out! 

[Ryan H 3,812]

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