466 days?

[allanr 4]

I'm about the start the CR1 visa process this coming week to move back with my wife to the USA.  If I read the graph on the other page correctly, it seems to be saying the average time to get the visa after the interview is 466 days?  I currently live in the Philippines, with my soon-to-be wife (getting married tomorrow but we've been together 4 years) and was under the impression that the  whole Visa process would take 6-12 months.  Does anyone have any experience with how long getting a CR1 is taking right now ?

Edited March 17, 2019 by allanr

[Muffinji 43]

That timeline is probably the safest estimate right now however, it’s not a definite thing because every case is individually assessed. Plus there is a possibility it might take longer. (Since processing time is recently just getting longer instead of shorter in the past year) 

 

However, I think you should consider and do some research to see if you qualify for DCF? Since you are living in the phillipines. 

Recently a member qualified for it and was sharing their story. 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/700807-cr1-dcf-visa-approved-03132019/

 

Edited March 17, 2019 by Muffinji

[Roel 7,191]

14 minutes ago, allanr said:

and was under the impression that the  whole Visa process would take 6-12 months.

 More like 12 to 14 months.

[allanr 4]

3 hours ago, Muffinji said:

That timeline is probably the safest estimate right now however, it’s not a definite thing because every case is individually assessed. Plus there is a possibility it might take longer. (Since processing time is recently just getting longer instead of shorter in the past year) 

 

However, I think you should consider and do some research to see if you qualify for DCF? Since you are living in the phillipines. 

Recently a member qualified for it and was sharing their story. 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/700807-cr1-dcf-visa-approved-03132019/

 

I'll go the DCF route..hopefully that makes things a little quicker.  

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

[JMPM 507]

DCF route  is like 1 month the last two people i saw on  here from the Philippines

 

[allanr 4]

Preparing my I-130 form now.  The instructions say to have proof of joint occupancy by showing proof of a joint bank account and having two names on the lease of where i live.  Since I'm just getting married now, of course I don't have that (although she's lived with me for years).  Hopefully that is not a hard and fast requirement.

[LilyJ 1,258]

3 hours ago, allanr said:

Preparing my I-130 form now.  The instructions say to have proof of joint occupancy by showing proof of a joint bank account and having two names on the lease of where i live.  Since I'm just getting married now, of course I don't have that (although she's lived with me for years).  Hopefully that is not a hard and fast requirement.

It is not. Any proof of an ongoing genuine relationship is acceptable (pictures, wedding receipts, plane tickets/stamps from visiting one another, etc). Many newlywed couples and/or couples that haven't lived together don't have those kinds of things and still get approved. However since you live together maybe you can add her to your lease?

[allanr 4]

1 hour ago, LilyJohansen said:

It is not. Any proof of an ongoing genuine relationship is acceptable (pictures, wedding receipts, plane tickets/stamps from visiting one another, etc). Many newlywed couples and/or couples that haven't lived together don't have those kinds of things and still get approved. However since you live together maybe you can add her to your lease?

I'll go ahead and try to set up a joint bank account and see about adding her to my lease as well.  Your answer is just what I'm looking for.  I have plenty of pictures and air travel itineraries for the last 4 years, as well as other personal information that links the two of us together.  Thank you.

[allanr 4]

On 3/17/2019 at 4:28 PM, Muffinji said:

That timeline is probably the safest estimate right now however, it’s not a definite thing because every case is individually assessed. Plus there is a possibility it might take longer. (Since processing time is recently just getting longer instead of shorter in the past year) 

 

However, I think you should consider and do some research to see if you qualify for DCF? Since you are living in the phillipines. 

Recently a member qualified for it and was sharing their story. 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/700807-cr1-dcf-visa-approved-03132019/

 

Just a FYI..went the DCF route.  It took two trips (and two flights to Manila) to the USCIS before they said my packet was complete.  Then it took over 7 weeks for a reply confirming approval of my I-130 petition.    Now I'm awaiting information about an interview date... things are certainly much slower than the person you linked ...but I never expected a one month approval... If things go smoothly and I have my wife's visa in the next 3-4 months, I'd be more than happy.

Edited May 27, 2019 by allanr

[JMPM 507]

1 hour ago, allanr said:

Just a FYI..went the DCF route.  It took two trips (and two flights to Manila) to the USCIS before they said my packet was complete.  Then it took over 7 weeks for a reply confirming approval of my I-130 petition.    Now I'm awaiting information about an interview date... things are certainly much slower than the person you linked ...but I never expected a one month approval... If things go smoothly and I have my wife's visa in the next 3-4 months, I'd be more than happy.

Congratulations. You're lucky. DCF is dead for future filers now.

[allanr 4]

On 5/27/2019 at 12:37 PM, JMPM said:

Congratulations. You're lucky. DCF is dead for future filers now.

That's interesting.  I heard the rumors that the Manila USCIS office was going to close in July,  so I called their hotline, which they surprisingly answered almost immediately. The person i spoke with said at this time (about 3 weeks ago) there were no firm plans to close the office, and things were still business as usual for the foreseeable future.  That might have changed since then.

 

I guess once you get the visa application approved,  the USCIS just hands over the documents to the embassy and they are out of the loop..so I should be safe moving forward.   That would be bad news for others here in the country.  There are probably more fiance visa applications filed here than anywhere else in the world.... A friend wants to do that in the next week or so.  He may be out of luck.