CR1 Couples Timeline includes IR1 and K3 Visas

K3/CR1/IR1 Spouse partner processing times have varied throughout the years.

From 2023 to 2024 we are seeing an average waiting time of between 18 months to 24 months for Americans petitioning spouses from the Philippines.

Other Countries such as Western Countries could go much faster half the time, yet plenty of other Countries with high visa fraud, government issues, wars, were taking two years and longer.

Currently, if you’re petitioning a spouse from the Philippines in 2023.

Wait times are going to be 18 to 24 months on average due to extreme vetting, plus with many of the US Embassies worldwide are still dealing with major backlogs due to the two years of pandemic..

CR1 Couples Timeline

Here is a realistic timeline view that covers from mid-2023 to 2024.

1. USCIS will be pretty much sitting on your I-131 Application for about 10 to 12 month
   
   
2. Next, the (NVC) National Visa Center will have it for another 6 to 8 months
   
   
3. The US Embassy in Manila will sit on it for 2 to 3 months possibly longer.

Resources from USDS:

Many other services will tell you shorter time frames as a method to give you what you want to hear and to get your business!

 

The above numbers are correct, make no mistake about this primarily due to the heavy vetting.

CR1 Couples Timeline

Timeline review from start to finish:

CR1 Couples Timeline

• NOA1 – 1 to 2 weeks your receipt acknowledging that USCIS got your application.
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• NOA2 – 10 to 12 months USCIS notifies you by mail that there ready to get started on your case.
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• NVC Notice – The National Visa Center takes over and communicates with you through email.
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• US Consulate or Embassy – in a 2 to  3 month period to follow creates your case number and interview appointment.
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• Visa granted – 7 to 14 days after your interview you will receive the visa.
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• Green card – 4 to 6 weeks upon your arrival on US soil you will get your green card.

CR1 Couples Timeline

More Detailed of Events:

1st. NOA1 is your I-797C Notice of Action Receipt. You’ll get a text message or email notification within a week of USCIS receiving your I-130 application.

 

Followed by another week of getting the USPS delivery in the mail.

2nd. NOA2 is your I-797 Notice of Action Approval Letter which the sponsor will receive an email notification followed by USPS deliver of the approval letter.

 

All this may not happen for 10 to 12 months later. The notification lets you know that you’re i-130 application is being forwarded to NVC.

3rd. The National Visa Center NVC could take another 6 to 8 months to research also known as vetting on you and you’re spouse.

 

When this is completed they will notify the sponsor and beneficiary by email with instructions located in an attached letter from the US Department of State.

 

4th. The NVC will forward your I-130 application to the US Embassy Consulate of the country where your spouse would be attending for their interview?

 

This process can go on for another 2 to 3 months? The process is to create your spouse with a “CASE NUMBER” and they are also collecting information from the Country at which you’re spouse is a Citizen.

 

During this time frame, the medical and interview will also be scheduled.

 

5th. Once a CR1/IR1 or K3 Visa has been approved, the U.S. Consulate routinely takes up to 7 and 14 days to create the Visa and deliver it to the recipient’s address of choice.

 

After the visa is in the hands of you’re spouse they will now be able to prepare for their trip to the United States to reunite with you.

 

6th. As soon as the CR1 Spouse visa has been delivered the US Sponsor must then send payment to the US Department of State for the 2-year Conditional residence card so that one month after you’re spouse has arrived on US soil they will receive the permanent resident card in the mail.

 

If you are an IR1 Spouse you would receive a 10-year permanent resident card in the mail.

CR1 Couples Timeline

The CR1/IR1 is normally a simple yet very time consuming visa to get.

 

Filing of the I-130 requires accurate information together with supporting documents according to the couples case?

Not everyone has the same type of case and therefor USCIS will assess what each couples needs?

At some point USCIS will pass your application of to the National Visa Center where it will get processed by the USDHS and then a decision is made whether to approve or deny the couple?

It’s often times unclear when the State Department begins to communicate with the couple and for some the process of dealing with the US government can become stressful,

 

and is often difficult to understand what items they are asking for as many couples send in the required items yet get notified that it wasn’t the right documents?

If you feel like your up against a wall, then we encourage you to give us a call or contact us by going here: