Having a prior visa help shorten processing times?

[jboltz03113 26]

My wife has completed two J-1 visa programs (1st was where we met, 2nd was in my hometown) prior to submitting i-130. She was given soc # on her first J-1. 

 

We didn't want to rush things & get married while she was on her J-1. We did not file for adjustment of status & she is currently back in Spain (consular processing). 

 

Recently got our NoA1 from Texas.  Wanted to confirm my hunch that if her info is in the system from her prior visas, it might shorten processing time?

 

Anyone else had a similar experience?

 

 

[Just Paul 4,591]

7 minutes ago, jboltz03113 said:

if her info is in the system from her prior visas, it might shorten processing time?

 

No, It does not affect the I-130 processing time in a major way.  The I-130 triggers a background check on the petitioner to determine that the Petitioner is able to apply for the benefit and that the parties are eligible (not married to someone else for I-130),

 

Once it gets to the Consulate it is more about the beneficiary.   

Edited July 6, 2019 by Paul & Mary

[Crazy Cat 39,226]

No, there are no shortcuts.......immigration requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and money........plan on 12-18 months from filing to visa in hand.

[Loren Y 2,732]

I agree with other posters, J1 is not an immigrant style visa, where now you are planning on a  immigration visa. Background check and other processing will be more strict I would think.

[Ryan H 3,790]

1 hour ago, jboltz03113 said:

  Wanted to confirm my hunch that if her info is in the system from her prior visas, it might shorten processing time?

 

No

[pushbrk 12,106]

2 hours ago, Ryan H said:

 

No

Not to be contrary, because I agree.  To clarify though, what you are referring to as processing time is not really processing time at all. It's waiting in line for your turn.  "Processing time" meaning the time an actual human is doing something connected to "adjudicating" (deciding to approve) your petition is measured in minutes.  It might save a minute or two or it might not.

[geowrian 22,335]

Don't expect it to be any faster.

Arguably, it can make things slower overall (potentially more of a history to review to ensure no past violations or resulting inadmissabilities).

[Nitas_man 3,100]

13 hours ago, jboltz03113 said:

My wife has completed two J-1 visa programs (1st was where we met, 2nd was in my hometown) prior to submitting i-130. She was given soc # on her first J-1. 

 

We didn't want to rush things & get married while she was on her J-1. We did not file for adjustment of status & she is currently back in Spain (consular processing). 

 

Recently got our NoA1 from Texas.  Wanted to confirm my hunch that if her info is in the system from her prior visas, it might shorten processing time?

 

Anyone else had a similar experience?

 

 

Probably lengthen the time not shorten it

[Amadia 711]

Your hunch would be wrong since nothing fast is happening at Texas.... 🙄

[JFH 12,189]

As mentioned before, the amount of time it takes to receive the NOA2 (petition approval) is not spent processing the petition. USCIS does not spend 6-8 months working on your petition. It spends all that time languishing in a filing cabinet or on a  shelf waiting for someone to adjudicate it. Remember that the I-130 is your petition, not your wife’s visa. So they are looking for completely different things and it is worked by completely different people than those who approve or deny visas. The actual processing of the average petition takes between 15 minutes and an hour, I’ve heard from someone who works at a USCIS service center. 

 

Each visa application is assessed on its own merits. A CR-1 serves a completely different purpose from a J-1 and has completely different criteria. The previous J-1s will have no impact on her current application. 

[Crazy Cat 39,226]

Just a little side fact:  At the end of the 1st quarter of FY 2019, there were more than 1.5 MILLION petitions (I-130s)  waiting to be adjudicated.......

[SB5130 88]

23 hours ago, jboltz03113 said:

My wife has completed two J-1 visa programs (1st was where we met, 2nd was in my hometown) prior to submitting i-130. She was given soc # on her first J-1. 

 

We didn't want to rush things & get married while she was on her J-1. We did not file for adjustment of status & she is currently back in Spain (consular processing). 

 

Recently got our NoA1 from Texas.  Wanted to confirm my hunch that if her info is in the system from her prior visas, it might shorten processing time?

 

Anyone else had a similar experience?

 

 

No. 

 

I had 2 prior U.S. visas. 1 B-1 visa where I stayed for 2 weeks. I got another B-1/B-2 Multiple Entry visa. I had not overstayed in all of my US visits. When the time came for me to apply for my K-1 visa, I don't feel it helped shortened my processing time. 

 

My I-129f was approved within 3months when the average at that time was 2 to  4 months. 

My AOS was approved within 10months. 

 

There are lots of folks that I personally know of that didn't have any US visa prior and yet they have their case approved sooner than mine. 

[streanor 405]

I'm afraid not from my experience, I had a previous J-1 and O-1 visa and was on the slower side of average waiting for my K-1 visa. 

 

Good Luck!