Confused by contradictory info. How long does the IR-1/CR-1 take really?!??

[Budapest 0]

Online I've seen current processing times reported as 14-15 months, 7-10 months, 12-46 months (?), etc. Wildly varying estimates. Visajourney's own info says ~500 days, but is that the average for both green card petitioners and US citizen petitioners? I am a US citizen.

What is the ACTUAL current wait time, from start to finish, for a US citizen married to a foreign spouse?

[AdamG 2]

the official time from UCSIS for IR/CR1 is 13 months.. we filed January 2023 and are waiting for I-130 approval still (I am a US Citizen)   based on trends it looks like we may get ours in December which would be 11 months

[Crazy Cat 39,591]

15 minutes ago, AdamG said:

the official time from UCSIS for IR/CR1 is 13 months.. we filed January 2023 and are waiting for I-130 approval still (I am a US Citizen)   based on trends it looks like we may get ours in December which would be 11 months

That is not correct.  USCIS does not estimate times for visas.  That estimate is for only the I-130 processing.   You can easily add 6 months to that number.

Edited November 27, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[mam521 1,778]

16 minutes ago, AdamG said:

the official time from UCSIS for IR/CR1 is 13 months.. we filed January 2023 and are waiting for I-130 approval still (I am a US Citizen)   based on trends it looks like we may get ours in December which would be 11 months

That's for I-130 approval.  You still have to go through DOS for the DS-260 approval after that, plus medical and interview. 

 

18-24mo is pretty accurate, start to finish, and will be dependent on the beneficiary's Consulate workload.  

Edited November 27, 2023 by mam521
Add more info

[Crazy Cat 39,591]

1 hour ago, Budapest said:

What is the ACTUAL current wait time, from start to finish, for a US citizen married to a foreign spouse?

18 months or so is a reasonable average estimate from filing to interview.  However, other factors can come into play pushing that time to around 24 months. Right now, per other VJ members, the average is 583 days (19+ months).

Edited November 27, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[nastra30 2,041]

Op. Yes, estimates will vary; I'm not sure what you are expecting. Estimates vary at USCIS, estimates vary at consulates 

There many variables involved. Like service center, background checks, embassies, documents, etc etc. Just for USCIS alone estimates will also vary. Check here.

https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

 

[powerpuff 5,970]

*** Topic moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports ***

[Boiler 43,692]

1 hour ago, AdamG said:

the official time from UCSIS for IR/CR1 is 13 months.. we filed January 2023 and are waiting for I-130 approval still (I am a US Citizen)   based on trends it looks like we may get ours in December which would be 11 months

But that is just part of the process, I know CDJ has loooong waits and Hungary will most likely be quicker.

 

None of us are prescient, well if I was I would be doing the Lottery or heading for Las Vegas, so my guess is 18 months for simple cases at 'normal' Consulates up to 24 months elsewhere.

[top_secret 2,102]

The reason that estimates vary wildly without any obvious rhyme or reason is because actual outcome times vary wildly without any obvious rhyme or reason.  It is completely true that there are normal cases that have finished in just 9 months or less and it is also completely true that there are normal cases have taken 3 years or more.  Sometimes with no outwardly obvious difference in the cases.  Anyone claiming they can make an accurate prediction in advance is not being truthful.  You could make guesses based on the experience of others but that is no guarantee your case would be the same.

[Crazy Cat 39,591]

21 minutes ago, top_secret said:

It is completely true that there are normal cases that have finished in just 9 months

Outside of a DCF, I haven't seen that in a long time......

[guyintex 6]

4 hours ago, Budapest said:

Online I've seen current processing times reported as 14-15 months, 7-10 months, 12-46 months (?), etc. Wildly varying estimates. Visajourney's own info says ~500 days, but is that the average for both green card petitioners and US citizen petitioners? I am a US citizen.

What is the ACTUAL current wait time, from start to finish, for a US citizen married to a foreign spouse?

CR-1 (spouse) time (Thailand)

It varies from country to country and how long it takes you to get the paperwork complete. I am an experienced IT guy and I was able to negotiate the websites and complete my paperwork quickly.  My income is well with the requirements and there are no legal issues.  I am a naturalized US citizen petitioning for my Thai wife. In my case since married for less than 2 years I will  be receiving a CR-1 and converting to an IR-1 4 months after that.

I-130 process was 335 days.

Visa interview will be 1/18/2024 which is  127 days from when the I-130 was approved. 

Total time from beginning I-130 until Visa interview will be 462 days.

It should be 1-2 weeks more after the interview (if successful) to get my wife's passport returned to her with the visa attached to it.

 

So, in summary for me total time will be about a year and 5 months if the interview goes well this January. 

Edited November 27, 2023 by guyintex

[Troy B 223]

3 minutes ago, guyintex said:

CR-1 (spouse) time (Thailand)

It varies from country to country and how long it takes you to get the paperwork complete. I am an experienced IT guy and I was able to negotiate the websites and complete my paperwork quickly.  My income is well with the requirements and there are no legal issues.  I am an naturalized US citizen petitioning for my Thai wife. In my case since married for less than 2 years I will  be receiving a CR-1 and converting to an IR-1 4 months after that.

I-130 process was 335 days.

Visa interview will be 1/18/2024 which is another 127 days from when the I-130 was approved. 

Total time until interview will be 462 days.

It should be 1-2 weeks more to get my wife's passport returned to her with the IR-1 visa attached to it if all goes well. 

So, in summary for me total time will be about a year and 5 months if the interview goes well this January. 

Based on what I have read here, i would suggest (if you aren't already thinking it) waiting until you have been married for 2 years before she comes to the US would save a bunch of headache later on when changing from CR to IR.

 

For reference the case for my wife's i-130 took 350 days to be approved (originally submitted 2021/08/31).

[guyintex 6]

Yeah, I considered waiting 6 months or so, but was errr.. over-ruled.

[mam521 1,778]

46 minutes ago, guyintex said:

Yeah, I considered waiting 6 months or so, but was errr.. over-ruled.

Work harder to push to enter 1 day after that 2 year anniversary...it will REALLY simplify your life and save you guys some time and money.  4mo after this long - a blip in time!