Jason and May

The announcement is on their webpage; though, there is lots of speculation as to why the increase. Everyone, it seems, is hoping for a new X-ray machine, but no one seems to be holding their breath, except for all the people who are now talking about rushing for advanced medical to try to avoid the increase. 😕

I don't know, man. I don't think any of us will make any guesses, educated or otherwise, that are the answer. What I do see, though, is a massive disparity between immigrant and nonimmigrant issuance numbers. In 2023, USEM issued 249, 644 nonimmigrant visas compared to 173,371 issued in 2022, and also compared to the 30,491 immigrant visas issued in 2023. Nonimmigrant visas issuances went up 44% from 2022. Immigrant visa issuances also went up 43.14%. But, then, nonimmigrant visas have always been a priority, despite the Department of State's words of: "The guiding principle on which we have based immigrant visa prioritization is that family reunification is a clear priority of the U.S. Government’s immigration policy, a priority is expressed in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Specifically, the Department’s prioritization relied on clear direction from Congress that the Department must adopt a policy of prioritizing immediate relative visa applicants and K-1 fiancées of U.S. citizens, followed by family preference immigrant visa applicants." It's difficult to see prioritization here. It's also difficult to believe in any backlog talk. If there is a backlog, then USEM probably shouldn't be back to cranking out the same number of immigrant visas they always have but pumping out 12,000 and 14,000 tourist visas monthly.

Relatively speaking, the IR category is doing just fine. Sort of. When we can say 60 times more IR1s than CR1s were issued in Feburary 2024, that sounds like a lot. But 1 CR1 was issued while 67 IR1s were issued. So it's really not a lot. IR5s are what are being processed. To reduce the backlog, as I've understood it. So in February, nearly 400 IR5s were issued, while that 1 CR1 was issued and 67 IR1s. March? 5 CR1s. 55 IR1s. And over 400 IR5s. That's the reality. So, yes, I do agree, spousal visas as a whole are not fairing quite well. But fairly consistent single-digit CR1 numbers are pretty bleak for the CR1 folks, as all indications point towards if you get married and petition, that oft-quoted 24 to 30-month timeframe from petition to visa in hand is pretty spot on these days. Nothing is efficient. And you just...wait your turn. Except. You kind of don't in a way. Because if you're a CR1 and IR1s get auto expedited and you miss the cutoff by, say, 3 weeks before your visa converts, you're probably now waiting that much longer, because all those auto expedited IRs need interviews, baby, and now....? Just keep waiting. For your turn. A lot of people say they prefer IR1 to avoid the messy and costly RoC, but, for me, I would have gladly walked through RoC with my wife just to have her here with me. I can navigate the immigration system and rules, and we can pay the fee. It wouldn't be so bad if I could have continued going back and forth every 6 months. But in my situation, I can't go back right now because of work, so it will be a year or more before we see each other again. If her visa is issued by this fall, anyway. My point is I agree. It's a logistical nightmare. And many people are exhausted and kind of nearing a breaking point right now. It's unfortunate at best.

There really aren't ever any updates, per se. Aside from the Department of State's bulletins, which have seemed for the last two years to tout their pride in the massive number of tourist, student, and employment visas issued worldwide. If you follow timelines here on VJ, that can give you a little bit of an idea. And the monthly visa statistics. My wife is DQ August 2023. She did not get an interview letter this month. The latest DQ date of August 2023 I am aware of receiving a regular CR1 interview letter is August 3, 2023. That doesn't mean no later dates got them; I'm just not aware of it from here on VJ or other groups I'm a member of. IRs appear to be the hot visa type right now for processing, trying to clear the backlog. I suspect next month we will see visa statistic numbers from USEM for May 2024 that will be something like 11,000 tourist visas issued, maybe 150 IR1s, and probably something like 8 or 10 CR1 visas. Numbers like that seem to be the average for the past couple of years.

From the members who've been through it, this was helpful! What the PHILS website has written was a bit confusing to me. Thank you for the replies!

Question regarding documents for interview, specifically CENOMAR and PSA Advisory on Marriage. The PHILS USEM pre-interview checklist is a bit confusing. It states, in part, “if you are single” to bring a CENOMAR, but then also says the CENOMAR is needed for CR1/IR1 interviews. It also says “if you are married” to bring an advisory on marriage. It appears a CENOMAR will detail past marriages and annulments, but the PSA help page says if you are married and request a CENOMAR, PSA will send you an advisory on marriage. What are the actual documents needed? TIA

We’re CR1, DQ 08/24/23. No IL. No CEAC update. I’m sure we will continue waiting until at least next month, if not longer. I predicted about 12 months, give or take, from DQ until IL, and probably not an interview until fall. I was hoping I was wrong, but that would fit the 30 month or so time frame from petition to visa, and our case seems to have been stagnated at about that pace. I’ve seen one post from a CR1 with DQ in early August. The rest I have seen posting that received ILs were IR5s. So, it seems like less CR1 movement and more working on the backlog of IRs, frankly. But as you said, who knows? 🤷🏽‍♂️

I was hoping with regular interview letters going out last month to cases DQ through July for CR1s that maybe we'd see my wife's IL in May. Looks like that might not happen, as it's been radio silence. She was DQ August '23. Who knows, though. USEM has been sending out ILs kind of sporadically, and there's a lot of May left. So, I guess we'll see. At this point, I no longer hold my breath. She could get an interview letter tomorrow, or not until December. Nothing makes any sense. Nothing at all.

I appreciate you answering. Thank you. We have tried to put together a comprehensive packet, so to speak. I’ve been to visit 5 times over just about 2 years. Lots of pictures together, with her family, evidence of the travel and so on. I think we may be well covered in the bonafides. The lack of comprehensive evidence and official explanation for her deportation has always concerned me a little, though. I’m glad there’s evidence of no criminal conviction in the country, but, holy cow, trying to get any kind of report to provide an official explanation and documentation was like turning water into wine. Thanks again for answering! 🤙🏾

Were you able to obtain an actual police report? My wife was detained and eventually deported from Jordan. We were able to obtain a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction, but we were unable to obtain a police report or any report at all. I’m a bit concerned about this come interview time, but we’re also just rolling with this and will address it if it needs addressed. Though, I’m curious about your situation.

CR versus IR has never mattered to me. I understand the dynamics, and everyone's perspectives and personal feelings on how they choose to approach their journeys, I can absolutely respect. In our situation, we prefer being together. The additional hassles and expenses should she have immigrated sooner was, in our situation, of zero consequence. That said, at this point, the only positive I can ferret out of this mess in Manila is that we're obviously going to end up bypassing that, however unintentionally. I appreciate your advice, nonetheless.

We're CR1, going on 8 months since DQ. Given the IR expedites that just happened, we expect another 3 to 6 months, at minimum, for my wife to receive an interview letter while USEM works through the IR interviews, unless they substantially increase the number of CR interviews they do monthly. We will convert to IR1 on June 3.

I have flown back and forth to Phils many times. I flew EVA once, and I never used them again. I will always, without hesitation, pay more for Korean Air or ANA. The entire flight experience, from the seating to the storage to food to the flight paths are just--leagues--better. In my opinion. To your question: I did not experience and have not heard of EVA gate agents being any more or less versed in entry and exit requirements than any other airline. In that respect, they in fact seemed very on task and knowledgable.

It's certainly easy enough to look up visa statistics and compare issuances of certain visa types, as another poster did. Once you do that, the reality is stark: The K3's not dead, but it's not really alive either. Viability is there. As CCat mentioned, there's no harm in filing. If it's approved and that's what you wanted, awesome. If not, there's no negative effect on processing either.

In all the various groups, I’ve seen only IRs posting they received notice of expedite. I suspect USEM is working through the IR backlog. Which is bad news for CRs. Because, given the wildly low ratio of IR/CR interviews monthly compared to B, F, E, and even H categories, it will likely be another 3 to 6 months before anyone starts seeing ILs in numbers of any consequence, as USEM works its way through this current en masse request. I guess the good news is twofold: i) the backlog will be reduced slightly, and ii) those of us weeks away from IR conversion will be IR by the next time they request en masse, if they do so again.

Moving forward for some. Peeps who will IR1 in 2 weeks or 2 months will still be waiting another 2,4,6 months to get an interview letter. But at least this will move the queue forward. There is that. And on the unselfish side, it’s good for those who have been waiting years to be together at home.

Would be great if they did another mass of auto expedites, but I wonder why you received this and all these other cases from May forward are waiting in queue. I wonder if it is the IR2. Or maybe we’ll start seeing a number of posts the next couple of days or weeks similar to yours. Weird. Weird but awesome for you guys! Congratulations! 🥳🤙🏾

I would absolutely upload to CEAC and have the beneficiary take the most current tax year information. Prior to the tax filing deadline the IO might or might not request it; however, USEM does explicitly state, “…a photocopy of the sponsor’s most recent IRS transcript, or most recent tax return and any relevant W-2s, if the transcript is unavailable.” It would be very unfortunate to have any further delay due to unpreparedness. As mentioned in USEM’s interview information quoted above, photocopies of these documents are acceptable. No wet signature is necessary.

We’re only at 7 months post DQ. I fully expect she will not be in the U.S. until at least winter 2025. Unreasonable delay at 1 year or more post DQ? Interesting quandary, maybe, given the flexibility of TRAC criteria combined with the Department of State mandating embassies and consulates worldwide to prioritize non-immigrant visas. Welcome to the United States. (But are you really welcome, tho…?)

I saw those tourist visa stats. After I read your post I went to check the nonimmigrant stats just to see. The Department of State sure is proud to be reuniting families, they say. 🙄

Nothing to be concerned or infuriated about here. 😑 I’ve come to a point where I’ve decided I prefer not to spend 4k or more a retainer and writ, and so I’m (at my own discretion in some ways) powerless over this issue. And so I just wait. Until 2025, it appears. 🤷🏽‍♂️

The irony of the Department of State's proud end-of-year summary detailing the number of tourist, employment, and student visas approved, which was a seemingly astronomical amount, and then--tongue-in-cheek--in fine print trying to convincingly state they also proudly reunified an unprecedented number of families.... The month before I saw that press release, I had noted USEM approved something like 13,000 tourist visas, 51 CR1 visas, and just over 100 IR1s (I think those were the November 2023 stats). I'm in a Rod Serling screenplay, playing some dude who's simultaneously baffled but also not even a little bit surprised.

I saw that on their page. Well said about the embassy. Daft indeed....

Either they caught up preternaturally quickly, or responses to inquiries are all over the place....

I haven't heard of anyone receiving any interview letters for CR or IR whatsoever. What I have seen is this email I attached. Speculation is that wait times for interview wait times from DQ have lengthened from the previously oft-quoted 6 to 9 months to 12+ months from DQ. That said, no one seems to know much of anything. It's all been "I've heard," guesswork, and speculation. At least from my perspective, based on what I've seen. If you are able, save for a trip to see your wife, because you likely will need that renewal and time together during this time, while the Department of State continues to prioritize student, employment, and tourist visas, and USEM continues to quote "significant backlogs" of CR and IR cases (as top_secret mentioned above), which is probably true.