CR1 Visa Abroad - But No USCIS office

[Don4593 1]

Hello, 

We live in Russia. I am an American citizen, my fiance is a Russian citizen. As I understand, if you live abroad you can take all documentation to the USCIS office in your country. However, the USCIS office in Russia closed in February 2019. I've read conflicting things on what I need to do. One website says I need to send it to Lockbox in Chicago. I am not sure what that means. How long does this take? I read from here before that if you do it abroad at a USCIS office, it's generally quicker, like 2-3 months as opposed to 7-10 months. Another method I read was to use a different USCIS office in Europe, I believe the one that services Russia is located in Athens. 

So, which is it? How long does the lockbox method take if I live abroad?

Thanks

[payxibka 10,044]

9 minutes ago, Don4593 said:

Hello, 

We live in Russia. I am an American citizen, my fiance is a Russian citizen. As I understand, if you live abroad you can take all documentation to the USCIS office in your country. However, the USCIS office in Russia closed in February 2019. I've read conflicting things on what I need to do. One website says I need to send it to Lockbox in Chicago. I am not sure what that means. How long does this take? I read from here before that if you do it abroad at a USCIS office, it's generally quicker, like 2-3 months as opposed to 7-10 months. Another method I read was to use a different USCIS office in Europe, I believe the one that services Russia is located in Athens. 

So, which is it? How long does the lockbox method take if I live abroad?

Thanks

Local filing for spousal visas ended when they closed the office in Moscow.   Filing at the stateside lockbox, you will experience the same timing as every one else who files stateside 

 

Filing abroad will require exceptional circumstances but only for a spouse visa

Edited June 18, 2019 by payxibka

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

6 minutes ago, Don4593 said:

Hello, 

We live in Russia. I am an American citizen, my fiance is a Russian citizen. As I understand, if you live abroad you can take all documentation to the USCIS office in your country. However, the USCIS office in Russia closed in February 2019. I've read conflicting things on what I need to do. One website says I need to send it to Lockbox in Chicago. I am not sure what that means. How long does this take? I read from here before that if you do it abroad at a USCIS office, it's generally quicker, like 2-3 months as opposed to 7-10 months. Another method I read was to use a different USCIS office in Europe, I believe the one that services Russia is located in Athens. 

So, which is it? How long does the lockbox method take if I live abroad?

Thanks

~Moved to What Visa Do I Need as OP is unsure~

 

You're referring to DCF, but that has been slowly going away from alot of countries lately. 

 

First is this your fiance or spouse? If fiance, you file for the I-129f, eventually being the K-1 fiance visa. If you're married, you file for the I-130 for spousal (CR-1 visa). Look at the guides on the top of this page under the "guides" tab. Plan a head, don't rush into it, take time and make sure everything is well planned out especially financially.

 

K-1 visa processing is taking anywhere from 6-9 months to process, and CR-1 is about 12-14 probably. Timelines vary a bit though.

Edited June 18, 2019 by Ben&Zian

[payxibka 10,044]

3 minutes ago, Ben&Zian said:

~Moved to What Visa Do I Need as OP is unsure~

 

You're referring to DCF, but that has been slowly going away from alot of countries lately. 

 

First is this your fiance or spouse? If fiance, you file for the I-129f, eventually being the K-1 fiance visa. If you're married, you file for the I-130 for spousal (CR-1 visa). Look at the guides on the top of this page under the "guides" tab. Plan a head, don't rush into it, take time and make sure everything is well planned out especially financially.

 

K-1 visa processing is taking anywhere from 6-9 months to process, and CR-1 is about 12-14 probably. Timelines vary a bit though.

Good catch.  I129f have never been accepted abroad

Edited June 18, 2019 by payxibka

[Don4593 1]

12 hours ago, Ben&Zian said:

~Moved to What Visa Do I Need as OP is unsure~

 

You're referring to DCF, but that has been slowly going away from alot of countries lately. 

 

First is this your fiance or spouse? If fiance, you file for the I-129f, eventually being the K-1 fiance visa. If you're married, you file for the I-130 for spousal (CR-1 visa). Look at the guides on the top of this page under the "guides" tab. Plan a head, don't rush into it, take time and make sure everything is well planned out especially financially.

 

K-1 visa processing is taking anywhere from 6-9 months to process, and CR-1 is about 12-14 probably. Timelines vary a bit though.

Hmm, that just seems crazy to me that I can't bring my (future) wife to the states for over a year. Anyways, we've been looking into relocating (not to the U.S.), how would this situation be impacted if we lived in a country with a USCIS office, but she is not a citizen of?

[NikLR 13,220]

2 minutes ago, Don4593 said:

Hmm, that just seems crazy to me that I can't bring my (future) wife to the states for over a year. Anyways, we've been looking into relocating (not to the U.S.), how would this situation be impacted if we lived in a country with a USCIS office, but she is not a citizen of?

You'd both need to be legal residents. 

[payxibka 10,044]

2 hours ago, NikLR said:

You'd both need to be legal residents. 

And married,  I129F petitions have never been accepted abroad 

[NikLR 13,220]

20 minutes ago, payxibka said:

And married,  I129F petitions have never been accepted abroad 

True story

[Crazy Cat 39,591]

2 hours ago, Don4593 said:

Hmm, that just seems crazy to me that I can't bring my (future) wife to the states for over a year.

Crazy?  Maybe....Normal? Absolutely!  The immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, PATIENCE, and money....  Nothing regarding immigration is fast.  I strongly urge you to study and learn the information in the guides section of this web site.....you'll need it.

 

EDIT:  and properly filling in your time line will great aid in receiving accurate answers to your questions........good luck.

Edited June 19, 2019 by missileman

[geowrian 22,336]

5 hours ago, Don4593 said:

Hmm, that just seems crazy to me that I can't bring my (future) wife to the states for over a year.

Join the crazy club. That is the norm that many here have gone through.

 

5 hours ago, NikLR said:

You'd both need to be legal residents. 

By the time they'd have the 6+ months of legal residency needed, there's a strong chance of them no longer accepting I-130s. They've been tending to do so around 60 days prior to closing with the other offices,

[Don4593 1]

Could we just apply for a normal tourist visa then since that is the whole point of us going there anyways?

[payxibka 10,044]

2 minutes ago, Don4593 said:

Could we just apply for a normal tourist visa then since that is the whole point of us going there anyways?

Of course, normal qualifications apply 

[geowrian 22,336]

12 minutes ago, Don4593 said:

Could we just apply for a normal tourist visa then since that is the whole point of us going there anyways?

So you just wanted to visit? Then a CR-1 was never a proper course. That's an immigrant visa...for immigrating to the US.

[Don4593 1]

Wait, really? We can just get tourist visa then? That's quite a bit of a relief. She applied 3 times previously and was denied - would us becoming husband and wife change anything?

[Crazy Cat 39,591]

19 minutes ago, Don4593 said:

Could we just apply for a normal tourist visa then since that is the whole point of us going there anyways?

Are you saying that your intent is not to reside in the US?