Spousal Visas in the last 6 months

[Steve & Erma 33]

I am a month out from getting married to my Filipina bride and starting the process. I was wondering if those that have started the spousal visa process in the past 6-12 months how your progress is going?

 

Thanks for any info.

[Redro 4,602]

43 minutes ago, Steve & Erma said:

I am a month out from getting married to my Filipina bride and starting the process. I was wondering if those that have started the spousal visa process in the past 6-12 months how your progress is going?

 

Thanks for any info.

Have a look in this forum and read the updates in the monthly update threads.

You'll see the experience is not uniform. 

 

[Rubbertoe32 2]

We started in January and she will land here in the States in 2 weeks. The whole process took us about 9 months. I think ours was a little faster than the average. 

[Steve & Erma 33]

1 minute ago, Rubbertoe32 said:

We started in January and she will land here in the States in 2 weeks. The whole process took us about 9 months. I think ours was a little faster than the average. 

@Rubbertoe32Where are you in the states (service center used) and did you expedite? She is from the Philippines?

[Crazy Cat 39,641]

15 minutes ago, Steve & Erma said:

@Rubbertoe32Where are you in the states (service center used) and did you expedite? She is from the Philippines?

You are aware that geographical location is irrelevant to the spousal visa process.  USCIS decides which SC processes the petition. 

[Steve & Erma 33]

@Crazy CatI thought that the service centers were geographical... since I live in Idaho mine would go to California. But you are saying that is not the case...OK.

[Redro 4,602]

1 hour ago, Rubbertoe32 said:

We started in January and she will land here in the States in 2 weeks. The whole process took us about 9 months. I think ours was a little faster than the average. 

Did you file a K1 before getting married? 

I've noticed cases with an approved K1 (NOA2) have faster approvals if the couple switches to the CR1... 

Edited August 16, 2022 by ROK2USA

[RO_AH 1,625]

5 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

You are aware that geographical location is irrelevant to the spousal visa process. 

How can you say that? Are you saying that all processing centers and all embassy's process visa's at the same speed?

[AnnamaeRobert 11]

11 hours ago, ROK2USA said:

Did you file a K1 before getting married? 

I've noticed cases with an approved K1 (NOA2) have faster approvals if the couple switches to the CR1... 

Yes. We already had an approved K1 beforehand but we cancelled and abandoned if for the CR1 since our K1 hadn't moved in 2 years. 

[Steve & Erma 33]

1 hour ago, AnnamaeRobert said:

Yes. We already had an approved K1 beforehand but we cancelled and abandoned if for the CR1 since our K1 hadn't moved in 2 years. 

@AnnamaeRobertthat is probably why it didn't take as long as normal.

[Chancy 6,233]

21 hours ago, RO_AH said:

How can you say that? Are you saying that all processing centers and all embassy's process visa's at the same speed?

 

I think he meant that the petitioner's residence location is not a factor in determining which service center will process the petition.  At least from our experience that has certainly been the case as our I-130 was transferred to a service center which is not the closest to my spouse's residence.

 

[RO_AH 1,625]

2 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

I think he meant that the petitioner's residence location is not a factor in determining which service center will process the petition.  At least from our experience that has certainly been the case as our I-130 was transferred to a service center which is not the closest to my spouse's residence.

Tell me about it, I was stuck in Nebraska 😥

[Chancy 6,233]

11 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

Tell me about it, I was stuck in Nebraska 😥

 

When we filed, estimates said Potomac was the fastest while Nebraska was the slowest.  Our NOA1 listed Nebraska.  Sad.  After half a year, it flipped to Nebraska being the fastest and Potomac the slowest.  Then we called USCIS and were told our petition had actually been transferred to Potomac

 

[Redro 4,602]

On 8/17/2022 at 3:21 AM, RO_AH said:

How can you say that? Are you saying that all processing centers and all embassy's process visa's at the same speed?

First two steps are not country specific.

USCIS: Petition will go to random processing center (Nebraska, California, Potomac, Vermont or Texas)

NVC: Processing time is currently 71 days. But, if NVC rejects your documents you have to wait another year +/- 71 days. 

The only time country matters is after DQ when you wait for interview letter. 

 

@Steve & Erma

One thing I would do while waiting was check the immigration timelines for the service center I was at... as you have not filed yet you don't know the service center. 

Additionally, if you file online there is a chance your first NOA1 will not reflect the real service center your petition is at... 

You'll probably only know your real SC after your petition is approved. 

Unless you have an approved K1 on file- expect to wait a minimum of 10 months until the I-130 is approved. If it is faster CONGRATS! But, it could take a year or so...

Here are the latest NOA1-NOA2s for The Philippines:

https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op6=All&op66=All&op7=Philippines&op1=i&op2=&dfile=No&op3=5&op4=1&op5=5%2C6%2C8%2C10%2C11%2C13%2C14%2C15%2C16%2C17%2C18%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C25%2C26%2C27%2C28%2C108%2C110%2C111%2C208%2C210%2C211&cfl=0

 

As you can see first stage ranges from 3 months to just under a year. 

[Randy12572 0]

We started my wifes case in Jun '21 I-130 was approved Jun '22 NVC DQ'd Aug '22 just waiting for interview