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minadent

Green Card holder's spouse visa

By minadent in Bringing Family Members of Permanent Residents to America

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minadent Apprentice

minadent   1

Posted
Filed: Other Country: Egypt
 Timeline
Posted

Hello  every body, 

I am a green card holder and I want to apply for my wife.

How long does it take to get the visa? I read somewhere that it takes up to 2 years!!

Should I be physically present inside USA  during these 2 years?

Thanks

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geowrian Grand Master

geowrian   22,335

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

Yes, F2A is currently taking about 2 years. Maybe a little longer now.

 

You don't need to by in the US the entire time, but you must maintain your US residence to maintain your Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status. Travel abroad over 1 year has a presumption that it is abandoned. Cumulative travel over 6 months may raise suspicion of having abandoned residence.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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zilchfox Community Regular

zilchfox   296

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

You can do a bit of math too, see if it's more beneficial to file as a U.S. citizen (if you qualify to apply for that yourself), as U.S. citizens get priority over LPRs who sponsor their spouses.

03-19-2021: Officially an American Citizen 🇺🇸 Entire journey from initial K-1 Visa filing to Naturalization took 5 years, 8 days.

You can see my complete timeline by clicking here.

 

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geowrian Grand Master

geowrian   22,335

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

To add some more detail to the above, you can file now as an LPR. If you become a USC, you can "upgrade" your petition at NVC to an immediate relative visa, which has no waiting period for a visa number to become available (only processing time).

Edited by geowrian

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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minadent Apprentice

minadent   1

Posted
Filed: Other Country: Egypt
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

I got my green card a month ago. what I need to know is if I should be inside USA until my wife get her visa. If I should not, should I stay for a certain period of time inside USA in the 2 years?

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geowrian Grand Master

geowrian   22,335

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted
Just now, minadent said:

I got my green card a month ago. what I need to know is if I should be inside USA until my wife get her visa. If I should not, should I stay for a certain period of time inside USA in the 2 years?

From my post above:

"You don't need to by in the US the entire time, but you must maintain your US residence to maintain your Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status. Travel abroad over 1 year has a presumption that it is abandoned. Cumulative travel over 6 months may raise suspicion of having abandoned residence."

 

Extended travel abroad right after getting your green card will likely raise suspicion of not actually having the US as your residence.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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Tracy-->NY Collaborator

Tracy-->NY   40

Posted
Filed: FB-1 Visa Country: Barbados
 Timeline
Posted

How did you receive your green card?  What category?

 

My Journey

Priority Date: July 24, 2007 (EAC)

AOS fee paid: February 2013

Request embassy change: May 2013

Son born: September 2013 (added to petition March 2014)

Interview: March 17, 2015 (Joint sponsor needed)

Joint sponsor documents submitted: April 27, 2015

Visas approved and issued: April 30, 2015. Had to return to embassy to do oath for son :)

Visa in hand: May 5, 2015 (two working days after issued)

IV fees paid: August 10, 2015

POE: JFK - September 10, 2015 (one day before visa expiry date - No hassle)

Returned to Barbados: September 28, 2015

Green cards: October 5, 2015 :dancing:

Entered US permanently: March 22, 2016

Applied for SSNs: March 28, 2016 (didn't tick box on DS-260)

SSN received: April 4, 2016;

Learner's permit: April 7, 2016 (in NY you also have to do 5-hour class);

Driver's License: July 13, 2016 (on first try) :dancing:

Husband's Journey (F2A)

Married: September 2015

I-130 sent: October 8, 2015 (via USPS)

Priority date: October 9, 2015 (WAC)

Petition approved: March 8, 2016 (5 months to the date of receipt) :)

NVC Welcome Letter: May 13, 2016
AOS documents sent: August 8, 2016
Case complete: September 14, 2016 (the waiting continues:clock:).

Interview:  October 5, 2017 (Approved - Issued following day :))

Visa in hand:  October 12, 2017

POE:  October 13, 2017

Green card:

SSN:

 

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Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   43,419

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted
36 minutes ago, minadent said:

I got my green card a month ago. what I need to know is if I should be inside USA until my wife get her visa. If I should not, should I stay for a certain period of time inside USA in the 2 years?

Why did your wife not get her GC when you did?

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

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minadent Apprentice

minadent   1

Posted
Filed: Other Country: Egypt
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted (edited)
38 minutes ago, Dee elle said:

As previously stated, you must maintain your LPR status.... read the information on maintaining your status as an LPR

I heard that I should be working inside USA and filing taxes to be able to apply for her. Is that true?

Edited by minadent
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geowrian Grand Master

geowrian   22,335

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted
2 minutes ago, minadent said:

I heard that I should be working inside USA and filing taxes to be able to apply for her. Is that true?

For the I-864 (Affidavit of Support) you need to fill out for her, you must make at least 125% of the federal poverty level for your household sized. You can only include income that will continue from the same source after returning to the US (which generally means working within the US). You must file the last 3 years of taxes and present the most recent year's tax return, or provide an affidavit stating why you weren't required to file (i.e. you weren't an LPR yet). If you don't meet the financial requirements, you need a joint sponsor (USC or LPR living in the US) to also complete an I-864 for her.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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