Alex & Brit

9 hours ago, Greg C said:

Congrats! Did you receive an email letting you know there was a case update or did you just check on your own and happen to see that the interview had scheduled?

I happened to check on my own - I do it periodically during the day on the status checker.

I did, however, receive both an email and text message the next day.

Checked My USCIS today and have been scheduled for interview!

October 1st in St Louis. Surprised it's not Chicago but given my location in Illinois, it's about the same travel time either way.

Finally some progress. Looking at 19 months between submitting and interview!

On 7/12/2021 at 7:40 PM, keyuree1 said:

Is there anything I can do to speed up the process? I filed last year in May and still nothing. Just talked to someone who filed at the end of the October and has his interview scheduled already. It doesn't make any sense. Where is my file? Why wouldn't they process cases in order? So frustrating! 

You're telling me!

I filed last March and the last contact was my biometrics reuse at the end of December. I sent in an inquiry when my priority date hit and received back a letter saying that my case was pending and that they couldn't say how long it would be.

Filed March 1st, 2020.

"Things are taking longer than expected. You do not have to do anything at this time."

I don't often post but given the delays thought some ray of hope might be of use.

Checked online and my biometrics are being reused - they were last collected in 2014 when I removed the conditions from my Green Card.

Whoops, forgot about this thread!

From what the Embassy said at Interview for my CR1 it was a mistake, the K-3 should have been cancelled but wasn't.

Hi,

Been a pretty smooth process so far but the end is always the worst.

I had my interview on the 17th May and was approved, this interview was moved forward by the Embassy as my wife who is currently staying with me in the UK is having some recurring medical issues and we want to get back to the USA as soon as possible.

However, my passport and visa have yet to arrive. I have phoned the helpline a number of times and emailed the Embassy on Tuesday to try get some idea what the delay is, given the delivery is past the standard 7-10 business day processing.

Is there anything more we can do? We've already had to postpone our return by over a week and it looks like we may end up having to do it again, something that isn't cheap! Equally my wife's medical issue is getting no better.

Can we expect something next week (given it's a two day bank holiday)? Is there anyone we can pester to see what's happening?

Thanks in advance.

well, a K-3 will get you in the country,

but,

you still have to adjust status to obtain a green card and SSN, another 1100++ usd ..

time vs money, yes?

Exactly what we thought, thanks for the confirmation.

How long did it take for your I-130 and I-129F to be approved?

Both were approved in 193 days.

You are in a very rare situation where you actually have a choice. I expect our decision will ultimately be based on your need for speed. If you pursue the K3 visa, it is useless to also pursue the CR1 simultaneously. When the I-129F is at the Consulate and you choose to pursue it and obtain it, paying fees to NVC would end up wasted. You'll be reunited faster with the K3 but the immigrant will not be work authorized on arrival and you'll pay the $1,070 fee to adjust status after arrival.

Please help us understand how your I-129F managed to get through NVC. Did both petitions arrive the same day? If not, how far apart? Do you have an idea why? Were they both approved on the same day? Trying to determine if this is a fluke or an indicator of a procedure change at either NVC or USCIS. Please help.

We'd prefer the CR-1 to be honest, we're together in the USA on the VWP and can be here until mid-April. At that point we'll switch and go to the UK for a while (by which time the Visa should be sorted, if the NVC is speedy).

.

Both petitions were approved the same day, the K-3 never seemed to reach the NVC or at least was never given a case number before going to the Embassy. It seems odd to us, the K-3 is usually scrapped if they are received at the same time for the reasons stated - its pointless to have both valid.

We'll most likely cancel the K-3 in this case, the I-130 should encounter no problems and it makes sense to spend less money and gain more benefits. Time is important but money is more so!

Hi,

We applied for both an I-130 and a K-3 (this was before I saw it was no longer necessary). Both were approved on the same day and the NVC has received and assigned a case number for the I-130. However, we have received a letter from the US Embassy stating they have received the K-3 petition.

Is this worth persuing or should we focus on the I-130. we have a feeling the I-130 is more important, the K-3 will cost $350 to process and it seems pointless on top of the processing fees for the NVC.

Just want our thoughts on it confirmed by those more experienced.

Thanks

I'm currently visiting my wife in the US under the VWP with a pending visa, I had no problems at all with immigration.

I was asked if I had a return ticket and what my job was - which I've always been asked anyway and I made them aware I was awaiting a visa but wanted to visit and it was no problems. The Immigraton officer had already stamped my passport before hearing my answers!