JayFromTexas

People here were successful in getting a transfer to Almaty several months ago, but I haven't heard of any successful transfers in the past 3-4 months. It is my understanding that they are primarily accepting IR-5 transfers, but not IR/CR1/K1 transfers. It certainly won't hurt to try. Let us know how you make out.

I concur

Roy, I sent you a PM

We haven't done the interview yet. It should be happening soon. As several have said and it is time to stop worrying about it, IT IS A NON-ISSUE. Your bigger problem is getting a tourist visa. It will be difficult, if your fiance' doesn't already have hers.

No, not several years for a K1. That prediction was unnecessarily scary. Yes, there have been a few K1 cases take more than 2 years, but it is pretty rare. K1 cases are taking about 18 months from the time you file your application to the time she has her interview and gets her visa. Before Covid several years ago, K1 cases progressed much more quickly than spouse visas, but now, they are taking about the same amount of time or maybe a little bit quicker for the K1. My wife is a Russian citizen and we are almost done. I filed a I130 in March of 2023 and we should be done in the next 60-90 days, so our timeline will have been about 16 months. I've seen spouse cases take longer than that and a few even shorter than that. I haven't monitored K1 cases as closely, but in general they progress at about the same pace. You asked if a CR1 would be better and I think most here would say yes. I know I think a CR1 is better. For these reasons: 1) Your wife, if desired, can work in the U.S. when she arrives, otherwise it could be several months to a year before she is allowed to work 2) You don't have to go through the lengthy K1-CR1 Adjustment of Status (AOS) process (I think we will have to adjust from Cr1 to IR1, but I haven't researched that step, yet. I am under the impression that CR1 to IR1 is a much simpler and easier process, but not sure.) 3) It is cheaper to get a CR1 visa, compared to a K1 4) CR1 cases seem to carry more weight with consulates, if you decide to transfer your case away from Poland. We requested a transfer to Bangkok and it was accepted. Literally 4 days before ours was accepted, a person I know requested a transfer for his K1 case and they were denied There are other reasons for going with CR1, but I can't remember them of the top of my head. Regarding Poland, it IS possible to get there. Several do it every month. But it is a hassle. You've got to get a Schengen in another country like Spain or Hungary and travel their first and then travel to Poland from there. The Schengen Visa you get will be very time limited, like 2 weeks and sometimes it takes longer than 2 weeks to complete the interview process in Warsaw. Most of that time is due to you waiting to get your girl's passport back, after the interview. Good luck!

I should have added, my wife got her tourist visa before got engaged and has visited me several times while the IR/CR1 process has been going on. She had no issues entering the US.

Yes, you can visit on a tourist visa and it is unlikely that you'll have any issues with border patrol. Getting a tourist visa might be a challenge, especially since you're so far along in the immigration process.

I agree with almost everything you wrote including considering Hungary and Spain as countries to target for the Schengen, but I've read several posts that it doesn't take several months. I know of a couple men with Russian fiancé's who got a Hungarian Schengen within 2-3 weeks. They all used a service and were located in either St. Petersburg or Moscow. I don't know about the availability of such services elsewhere in Russia.

What if I usually don't file my taxes until later in the year? I own 2 businesses and it takes time to prepare everything to do my taxes. If our interview is in June and if I filed an extension, but haven't filed my 2023 tax return, is that ok?

It is perfectly fine. My wife visited me on her tourist visa before we were married and after we were married with zero issues. You can absolutely marry while your fiancé visits you, as long as she leaves and doesn’t overstay her visa. My wife and I chose to marry online, but we could have married here with no issues. Good luck with your new life!

Based on the fact that F2a processing times are currently ~ 36 months and the date the PD becomes current is now 41 months, it is likely that he will be covered under CSPA, correct? Assuming the timelines remain the same, which they won't of course, but it helps understand the math by using current timelines.

VERY helpful. Thank you.

Thank you very much for answering my question. I appreciate it.

Thank you for your help. Reading your link it says, If you are applying for a Green Card based on one of the categories above, you are eligible for CSPA consideration if either your qualifying Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, or one of the following underlying forms was filed or pending on or after Aug. 6, 2002 And the Form I130 is one of the following underlying forms. This says, "Filed", not approved. This makes me think that as long as my wife files an I130 for her son before he is 21, he won't age out. Is that not the case?

I see that I may be referring to the NOA2 stage incorrectly for an I130 application. So again, I was told that as long as the I130 has been approved by USCIS by the time they are 21, they don't age out.