If you are a U.S. citizen and your Colombian wife or husband is outside of the United States, there are three stages of review that must take place before your spouse can receive an immigrant visa (also known as a Green Card).
Stage #1 - USCIS
The initial stage is by far the longest, consisting of a review by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Over the past few years, this first stage has taken around a year. Although USCIS reviews several aspects of the application during this stage, the main focus of the reviewing officer at this point is determining whether the relationship is real.
Stage #2 - NVC
Once the USCIS approves the application, it is reviewed by the National Visa Center (NVC), which sits under the Department of State. The NVC conducts several reviews during this stage, including a search for any criminal background and a review of the U.S. citizen’s financial standing. Recently, processing times for this stage can be as short as three weeks or as long as four months.
Stage #3 - Embassy
Following approval by the NVC, the application is sent to the US Embassy in Bogota. The wait time for the consular interview can also fluctuate, depending on the current availability of appointment times at the Embassy. It is key to work with an experienced attorney to ensure your expectations around processing times are current. Once the U.S. Embassy assigns the date and time of the consular interview, the applicant begins scheduling their medical exam and fingerprint appointment as well as preparing for their interview.
Standard cases filed in line with all requirements and guidelines that do not experience any unexpected delays may take about 18-22 months on average. However, each case has many variables, so it is important that you work with an experienced attorney to plan your green card process for your Colombian spouse.
Our attorneys are happy to help you with your immigration case for your Colombian spouse. Contact us!
USA Tel: 347-772-2188
Colombia Tel: 300-336-9681
Email: info@rrulegal.com
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