nikpatel

Hi all,

Just wanted to add an update here:

- Fri 5/12 -- Visa interview passed, Wife was told she would have the visa in 7-10 working days

- Fri 5/12 -- CEAC Visa Status site shows a status of "Ready" (no change) but that the case was last updated on 5/12

- Thu 5/18 -- CEAC Visa Status site still shows a status of "Ready" (no change) but the case was now last updated on 5/18

- Fri 5/26 -- CEAC Visa Status site shows a status of "Issued" but the blurb below the status states that it is still processing

- Tue 5/30 -- CEAC Visa Status site shows a status of "Issued" and the blurb below states that it should be received in 5 business days and provides a tracking link (link is broken; I think it's a Loomis link that is no longer used)

- Wed 5/31 -- Tracking information received, scheduled to be delivered on Thursday via Express Post

- Thu 6/1 -- Visa packet received!  Everything appeared to be in order and correct, so no additional contact needed with the US Consulate

- Thu 6/8 -- Wife is scheduled to cross the border

Will update with dates on when her Social Security and Green Card is received as well if folks would like.  Hope our experience is helpful to those out there!

Our status changed to 'Issued' last Friday, but the blurb underneath the status said it was still in processing.

This morning the status was still 'Issued' but the blurb changed to reflect that we should receive it within 5 business days.  That said, we still have not received an e-mail or text notification that it has been mailed out (with tracking info).

Today is officially 10 business days and 18 days overall since the interview.  Hoping that it's delivered by the end of the week, but still no confirmation that it's been sent out, so I'm holding off on buying a ticket for my wife to fly to the States.

4 hours ago, fnycarchc said:

Hi there!  I was wondering if you had received notification of the Visa being issued?  We were there Friday morning for the interview and were approved, however, the officer said the medical had the wrong expiration date on it so they would have to get it sorted out with the doctor.  The officer also said not to expect any delay in getting the Visa in hand and my husband should have it in two weeks.  The status changed from Ready to "Administrative Processing" on Friday and there has been no activity since.  I know it is only Tuesday, but, the Administrative Processing has me concerned!  The officer kept my husbands passport and did not issue a 221g.

 

Just curious to see if any others went through this and see if you had received your passport yet nikpatel.

 

Thanks

Interesting, and good to know.  Thanks for sharing lloy0076!  We are at 8 business days now without an update or a text/e-mail notification, so hoping to see something soon!

Thanks for the response, NovaSprings!  Hoping my wife can get her visa before next weekend and she can spend Memorial Day (one of the few holidays I get off of work) as a true resident!

Anyone else's experiences are more than welcome here; the more data points we all have the better.  I'll make sure to update the thread when I have updates to share.  =)

Hi all!

Happy to share that my wife's visa interview (IR1-CR1) in Montreal was successful and they told her that the visa would be granted!  Have a question regarding the timeline moving forward:

- Fri 5/12 -- Visa interview passed, Wife was told she would have the visa in 7-10 working days

- Fri 5/12 -- CEAC Visa Status site shows a status of "Ready" (no change) but that the case was last updated on 5/12

- Thu 5/18 -- CEAC Visa Status site still shows a status of "Ready" (no change) but the case was now last updated on 5/18

How is the case being updated but the status remaining the same?  I just want to understand what status messages I should be looking for, what they all mean, and what the timeline looks like moving forward.

I should note that while the status says "Ready" the paragraph below it says that "Your case is ready for you to schedule an interview...." which doesn't make any sense since the interview has already occurred.

Any help/clarification here would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks in advance!

Nik (& Vanisha)

PS -- Just wanted to say thank you to all of the wonderful contributors in this community.  We all collectively help to keep one another sane.  Love the way that people of all backgrounds come together here!  =)

Hi all,

Just received confirmation that my marriage certificate is in the mail! =) Getting all of my documents together for the I-130 and had one quick question for which I've read/heard different things:

Whilst we are in the IR-1 / CR-1 Visa process, is my Canadian citizen wife allowed to enter the US at all? There's a wedding she was planning on attending in late November, but she'd only be in the US for 7-10 days. I've heard that it's allowed, it's not allowed, and that it depends entirely on the Customs / Border Patrol Agent. Can anyone shed any light on this for me? Just want to make sure before she buys airline tickets.

Thanks!

Thanks for the info regarding immigration fraud!

Regarding my 2nd question (whether a "Record of Solemnization" can be used when filing my I-130), I found some information on the following thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/21700-marriage-license-in-ontario-canada/

That said, it seems unclear as to what the most efficient way of doing this is. Should I submit the record of solemnization and include a note explaining how long it takes Ontario to provide a marriage certificate (and then send the certificate as soon as we get it)? Should I wait until we have the certificate to submit anything?

The real question here ultimately is -- should we get married somewhere else where we can get the marriage certificate faster? (i.e., the US)

Appreciate the help/advice you all are giving me! I am planning on traveling to Canada in a week's time and want to make sure that I go about this in the correct way.

Hi all:

I had a phone consultation with an immigration lawyer today, and he told me that the fastest way would be for my fiance to come to the states (he said to buy a roundtrip ticket and pack light), we get married, then she stays here instead of going back and we file for an adjustment of status and she'll get something within 4 months (and then she can get a work permit a few months later).

This doesn't seem entirely legal, however, so I'm hesitant to pursue this path. Can anyone confirm that this is a viable/legal method?

For financial reasons, we may decide to stick with the route where we get married and she stays in Canada and continues to work there whilst the spousal visa is being filed. I know that it doesn't matter where we get married (US or Canada), but there are significant delays in how long it takes us to get our official marriage certificate depending on where we get married. If we get married in Canada it takes a few months to get our marriage certificate, but we do receive a certificate of solemnization immediately. Can I start the spousal visa process with the certificate of solemnization, or do I need the official marriage license first?

Thanks!

Will any complications arise if my fiance finds a job in the US (and the company is willing to sponsor her) whilst the spousal visa process is going on? She's actively looking for a job here, but I just want to make sure that filing for the IR1/CR1 spousal visa won't interfere or delay her ability to come to or work in the US.

Thanks!

Thanks for the quick response everyone!

I have read some of the guides on this site and have been a little confused by them. The Comparison of Marriage Visas page http://www.visajourney.com/content/comparesays that the approximate time to get an IR1/CR1 visa is 16 months, but when you scroll down to read the specifics states that it's a 7 month process.

It seems like doing the IR1/CR1 Spousal visa makes the most sense to me. Here's my understanding of how it breaks down:

1. My fiance and I get married (wherever).

2. I file I-130 with the USCIS.

3. The USCIS approves then forwards to the NVC.

4. The NVC approves then forwards to the US Consulate in Canada.

5. The US Consulate in Canada approves and my fiance is granted a visa.

6. My fiance comes to the US and immediately becomes a LPR and gets her Green Card sent in the mail. She can start looking for work immediately.

^ This process takes roughly 7 months once I file the I-130.

Please correct me if I've misunderstood something.

Hi all:

First off, thanks to the community of folks here who give their time, effort, and understanding to make this process simpler for those of us who feel lost by it all!

I am a US citizen living in California. My fiance is a Canadian citizen living in Toronto. We would like to live together (in the US) as soon as possible with her being able to legally work in the US but are not sure the best and/or fastest method to do this. Should we file for a K1 fiance visa or get married first and then file for an IR1/CR1 visa?

Which method allows her to come to the US (and stay in the US) faster?

Which method allows her to look for a job and work in US faster?

If we should get married, does it matter where we get married?

Also, we are planning to do a traditional wedding ceremony (religious, not legal) in Italy this October, and I want to make sure that us traveling out of country during this process won't be an issue.

Please advise. Thank you kindly!