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What is the range of time the Fiancee and Spousal VISA with US immigration are taking now days? Which is faster the Fiancee VISA or the Spousal VISA in the USA. Understand that begining July the US Embacy in Bogota will no longer porcess non resident spousal VISAS.

... in response to Fiancee and Spousal VISA processing time..., posted by elcolombiano on Jun 5, 2003

How long does the K3 VISA take?

... in response to Fiancee and Spousal VISA processing time..., posted by elcolombiano on Jun 5, 2003

The spousal visa used to be quick.You could get it 2 weeks after first applying for it at t embasy in Bogota if you had all your papers right.That got extended to 4-5 weeks I am told and now they will not accept the application at the Embassy after June 27.Unless you have some sort of Colombian residncy,or perhaps another reason they will accept,you have to file it here in the states.The problem is you have to get married before you can apply for it.So you could get married and then wait several months for her to get her visa.Considering that the fiancee visa is probably better.
It takes 4-9 months depending on your processing center but then you can bring her here without being separated again.
BUT - - -   if you can beat the June 27 filing the spousal visa is much easier and quicker.You need to get married in Colombia and get a marriage certificate beore you file.She come in to the country as  temporary permanent resident.She can get her SS card and green card right away.You have to file an application in 2 years and go in for an interview.It was a 15 miniute deal,the only time I had to do anything with the INS here.My wife is now a permanent resident and could become a citizen in 2 years(5 years total here).

Pete

... in response to You have 22 days left if you want the fa..., posted by Pete E on Jun 5, 2003

Hey Pete,

I think is someone is married to an American, he/she can get her/his citizenship in 3 years. This 3-year wait stars the date she gets her/his conditional residence stamped on her/his passport. The 5-year wait is for the people who gained their residence by other means.

... in response to Re: You have 22 days left if you want th..., posted by Georgina on Jun 6, 2003

When we were leaving the interview for the AOS to conditional resident the INS officer told us 3 years from that day she would be eligible to apply for citizenship. So all of the time it took waiting for the interview did not count (11 months after filing here in Denver)

... in response to Re: You have 22 days left if you want th..., posted by Georgina on Jun 6, 2003

Georgina,
We went in for my wifes interview to go from temporary permanent resident to permanent resident in Sept. 2002.She had been here 30 months at that point.The initial approval is 2 years but they give you a one year extension while they are considering the permanent residence status.
I asked about citizenship,the agent gave us the form and said it would take about 2 1/2 years from then to get citizenship,which would be 5 years total.Could she have applied before that?I don't think so,she was still on temporary permanent residence status.
It may be a matter of processing times and not minimum times also.
My wife would like to sponsor her brother to come here on a relative visa.We were told she could do that when she became a citizen.But the wait time for a brother or sister interview is running 10 years.So it would be 12 1/2 years total before he could come.

Pete

... in response to Re: Re: You have 22 days left if you wan..., posted by Pete E on Jun 6, 2003

Hi Pete,

Normally, a spouse of a U.S. citizen only has to wait 3 years after obtaining permanent residency before applying for naturalization, like Georgina mentioned.

http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/services/natz/Special.htm#spouses

The 2 years of conditional permanent residence status does count toward the 3 years. To find out when your wife is eligible to apply, the starting date for the 3 years eligibility is shown on her green card where it says “Resident Since:  ”. If it is already 3 years from that date, she should be able to apply now. See the BCIS Web site for application procedures and eligibility.

After she applies for citizenship, you can figure on about a 6-9 month wait until she takes the oath. 12-1/2 years is a long time, but the wait for a brother or sister from the Philippines has been running about 23 years.

Ray

... in response to Residency Requirements, posted by Ray on Jun 7, 2003

Ray,
3 years after the 2 year conditional period is correctI think.It checks with what the INS told us.

Pete

... in response to Re: Residency Requirements, posted by Pete E on Jun 7, 2003

n/t

... in response to Re: Residency Requirements, posted by Pete E on Jun 7, 2003

Pete,

The 3 years includes the 2-year conditional residence, not in addition to it.

What is the date on her green card? That's when her permanent residence started.

http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/services/natz/faq.htm#q5

Ray

... in response to Fiancee and Spousal VISA processing time..., posted by elcolombiano on Jun 5, 2003

The spousal visa used to be quick.You could get it 2 weeks after first applying for it at t embasy in Bogota if you had all your papers right.That got extended to 4-5 weeks I am told and now they will not accept the application at the Embassy after June 27.Unless you have some sort of Colombian residncy,or perhaps another reason they will accept,you have to file it here in the states.The problem is you have to get married before you can apply for it.So you could get married and then wait several months for her to get her visa.Considering that the fiancee visa is probably better.
It takes 4-9 months depending on your processing center but then you can bring her here without being separated again.
BUT - - -   if you can beat the June 27 filing the spousal visa is much easier and quicker.You need to get married in Colombia and get a marriage certificate beore you file.She come in to the country as  temporary permanent resident.She can get her SS card and green card right away.You have to file an application in 2 years and go in for an interview.It was a 15 miniute deal,the only time I had to do anything with the INS here.My wife is now a permanent resident and could become a citizen in 2 years(5 years total here).

Pete

... in response to You have 22 days left if you want the fa..., posted by Pete E on Jun 5, 2003


This is breaking news for me and quite disheartening.
I am set to meet a woman I have been conversing with in Santa Marta, Colombia--- June 22, and will be there for about a week.

I have "known" her for all of 5 months. She wants to marry me SOOOOON. I have pretty strong feelings for her too. But, I can't be too sure until I meet her.

In any case, let's just say when I get there-- that the stars are aligned and the magical dust lands on my head indicating to me that I should marry this woman.

What exactly would I have to do to get things done before the deadline of June 27?

Do I bring all the important paperwork, get a marriage certificate, and then later send my woman to Bogota?

Or is it TOO late for any of this, and just opt to go the fiancee' route?

Thanks,

Henry Andre'

... in response to Re: You have 22 days left if you want th..., posted by hwalker7 on Jun 7, 2003

Arriving on 6/22 you would have to decide to marry her,marry her,get a Colombian marriage cetificate and show up in Bogota on 6/27 with all the paperwork you need.To get the marriage certificate you are supposed to have a visa to marry her from a Colombian counsolate in the US.I have heard notaries will give you the certificate without this if you pay up for it,but there might be other problems not having it.
And you would have to marry her within 3 days of meeting her.Not a good idea.If you hit it off with her I would start working on a fiance visa.It will take 4-12 months dpending on which state you live in.

Pete

... in response to Probably too late, posted by Pete E on Jun 8, 2003


Pete,

Thanks for the response. I'm out here in the great Northwest-- Seattle, Washington.

So, I would do business with the Nebraska Service Center.

If I file, say in the beginning of July, is it probable that she could be with me by some time in December?

Thanks,

Henry Andre'

P.S. 12 months would be nearly intolerable :(

... in response to Fiancee and Spousal VISA processing time..., posted by elcolombiano on Jun 5, 2003

Mine took 6.5 months from start to finish (K-1) using the Texas Service Center which at this point is the slowest. Vermont is the fastest a few months.

... in response to Fiancee and Spousal VISA processing time..., posted by elcolombiano on Jun 5, 2003

I just posted a follow up to this thread below, maybe applicable here

http://www.planet-love.com/wwwboard/latin/messages/42696.html

... in response to Fiancee and Spousal VISA processing time..., posted by elcolombiano on Jun 5, 2003

[This message has been edited by Michael B]

I'm on day 136 of the K-1 and the incompetent fools still haven't even given the 2nd NOA, over on another internet group, there are people pushing 200 days--these aren't 'problem' cases like they didn't do their paperwork right or have a criminal history, just regular cases that BCIS 'hasn't gotten around to' yet. Meanwhile, of course, the 'expediated' H1-B's and TPS's and Vermont service center K-1's and K-3's are still getting 30 days or less service, and the illegals are still getting free medical treatment, schools and subsisdized housing with MY tax money. There is absoultly no excuse for the US government to be treating us this way and (in case you can't tell) I'm plenty mad about it--just don't know what to do about it--anybody got any ideas?

... in response to Re: Fiancee and Spousal VISA processing ..., posted by Michael B on Jun 5, 2003

hey mike
my fiance was issued her visa stamp today. I started this process NOV 15, 2002. She will be here this time next week. I know the feeling I can tell you that when you finally get approval it moves very fast. 6 weeks from the 2NOA on average. Good luck

... in response to Re: Fiancee and Spousal VISA processing ..., posted by Michael B on Jun 5, 2003

Hi Michael,

Actually the K-3’s are not processed at Vermont. All K-3’s & K-4’s go through the Missouri Service Center.

A guy on another forum just got his K-3 petition approved through Missouri in less than 3 weeks, so at the moment, the K-3 spousal option should be faster than the fiancée visa for most all cases, except maybe for Vermont K-1’s.

Most of that other stuff you were ranting about I agree with. Another guy just got his K-1 approval through Nebraska and it took 194 days! The system sucks, but it's all worth it in the end.

Ray