How to Speed Up the CR-1 Visa Process and What to Know When Traveling with Your U.S. Citizen Child During the Application

[RUNA94 0]

Hi everyone, nice to meet you.

 

I’m married to a U.S. citizen and we have a baby who is under 1 year old.

Until recently, we were all living outside the U.S. due to my job and pregnancy. My husband was working fully remote at the time, but his job situation suddenly changed and he now has to work in-person in the U.S., so he had to move back alone.

 

I submitted the I-130 for a CR-1 visa in April 2024, and I really hope to join him in the U.S. as soon as possible because our son is growing up so fast.

 

I have a few questions:

 

1. Is there anything I can do to expedite the CR-1 visa process?

 

 

2. I’d like to visit the U.S. with our baby using ESTA so my son can spend some time with his dad. Is there anything I can do to reduce the risk of being denied entry at the border?Is there any risk entering the U.S. with my U.S. citizen child while my CR-1 visa is still being processed?

 

 

3. Would it be a problem if I visited the U.S. multiple times on ESTA while the CR-1 is still being processed?

 

 

 

Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[appleblossom 4,401]

Too late now, but it sounds as though you would have had grounds for a DCF application. You can ask for an expedite but doubt you’d qualify, only specific circumstances do and being apart from a loved one during the process is normal unfortunately. https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/expedite-requests
 

You can visit though, just make sure you don’t do it too often or for too long so you don’t run the risk of being refused entry. And hopefully it won’t be too much longer for you so you may only have time for one visit anyway. 
 

Good luck. 

Edited April 16 by appleblossom

[pushbrk 13,611]

19 hours ago, appleblossom said:

Too late now, but it sounds as though you would have had grounds for a DCF application. You can ask for an expedite but doubt you’d qualify, only specific circumstances do and being apart from a loved one during the process is normal unfortunately. https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/expedite-requests
 

You can visit though, just make sure you don’t do it too often or for too long so you don’t run the risk of being refused entry. And hopefully it won’t be too much longer for you so you may only have time for one visit anyway. 
 

Good luck. 

Correct.  Unfortunately this homework is best done before the exam.  While you may have had grounds to file directly with the Consulate in your country, you now probably don't have grounds for any kind of expedite.  Everybody's children grow up fast.  Nothing unique about your situation at this point.  At least not based on anything you wrote.