The answer depends on where you are REALLY resident. If you are a resident in the USA, and spending a few months in the Phil on a tourist visa, then you should submit your petition to USCIS, in the USA.

If you have taken up PERMANENT residence in the Phil. (you will need to prove it). Then you can apply directly to the US Embassy. This is called a direct consular filing.

The process for Philippines Fiancee or Spousal visas, recently is moving along nicely and I have seen couples get their visas in as fast as 5 to 8 months.

The preparation of the petition is more complicated than just completing forms at DMV for a drivers licence. In addition to filling in the forms correctly, you must also submit a lot of supporting documents, like birth certificates, divorce decrees, etc. Plus convincing proof that the relationship you have is “bone fide”. It is pretty unlikely that you would have carried all of that with you on your trip to the Phil, so probably you will have to return to the USA in order to complete the petition package.

As a matchmaker, I believe that “what is meant to be, will be”. So it is not a big deal that you will have to wait a few extra months before you submit the petition. Important is that you do a proper job the first time. This is how to bring her to the USA the fastest.

Tags: bone fide relationship, CR-1, Philippines, spousal visa, Spousal Visas

I do not know what your husband is referring to when he says “he will … present his passport at the US embassy”. If you were not yet married, then I would imagine he is talking about going to the embassy, and asking them to provide him a document saying “he is single”, which often is needed for a foreigner to marry in China.

Since your husband is not living in China, he will not be asked or required EVER, to visit the US Embassy.

The process to apply for a CR-1 starts in the USA. A petition called the I-130 will be completed by your husband. When he sends this to the US government, he MUST provide many, many documents. Some are used to prove identity and citizenship. Some are used to prove that you have a real marriage.

One documentation will be for your Husband to prove he is a US Citizen. Normally he will attach a copy of his birth certificate or passport (every page).

So when he starts the application, he will (MUST) include the documents, and MAIL them in to Immigration.

No trip to China. No visit to the Embassy is needed. No birth certificate required. He has his passport. That is all the proof needed.

Tags: CR-1, I-130, spousal visa, Spousal Visas, uscis

How long after submitting and I-129 fiance visa to immigration, will we find out when my fiance’s interview is?

First Homeland Security/FBI reviews your petition. This takes from 2 to 6 months.

Then they send the case to the consulate nearest to your Fiancee. Some consulates work faster than others. If he is in Philippines the process is very fast, with interviews arranged as fast as 3 to 5 weeks after Homeland Security approves. If he is in Vietnam it may be 2 to 4 months later.

Once he attends his interview the decision to grant the visa is made “on the spot”. If granted he gets his visa in a few days usually. Sometimes the consulate officer wishes to avoid confrontation, and does not tell denied applicants they are denied, instead telling them to come back later to obtain the results.

Tags: Fiancee Visas, Green Card, I 129F, I-130, I-485, Spousal Visas