Applying For a Spouse Visa – What You Need to Know

Applying for a spouse visa is a long process. There are many steps, including submitting forms to USCIS and attending an interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Immigration officials scrutinize spouse relationships more than others. They want reassurance that the marriage is real and that it will not lead to fraud.

Preparation

A spouse visa is a type of immigrant visa that allows you to live in the UK as a permanent resident with your partner. To qualify, you must meet the requirements and provide evidence of a genuine and subsisting marriage. In addition to a marriage certificate, you’ll need to provide additional proof, such as joint bank accounts, travel documents from your trips together, receipts for money transfers and wedding photos.

The first step in the process is filing Form I-130 to sponsor your partner. This is followed by an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your partner’s country of origin and submission of all required fees. This phase is often the longest and most complex. Depending on your case, it can take up to 37.5 months to receive a decision from USCIS. To avoid delays, you should work with a highly experienced immigration attorney. To discuss your specific situation, contact RapidVisa today.

Filing

If you are a US citizen or permanent resident and plan to bring your foreign spouse to the United States, the process starts with filing a visa petition. This is usually done at the US Embassy or Consulate in your foreign country of residence. The petition requires you to prove that the marriage is genuine. This is generally done by submitting financial documents, joint bank accounts, travel documentation, receipts for money transfers and wedding photos.

If there are children, they must also be included in the application and undergo a medical exam and background checks, as well as pay any necessary fees. The cost of these fees can vary widely depending on the country and complexity of the case.

Once the petition is approved, the National Visa Center (NVC) will forward the case to the embassy in the foreign spouse’s country of origin. They will send further instructions, including information about scheduling and paying the medical exam.

Biometrics

In a biometrics appointment, USCIS or the consulate collects the intending immigrant’s photo, fingerprints and other physical characteristics. In most cases, this is done at the Application Support Center (ASC) listed on the biometrics appointment notice.

Unlike a password or badge, biometric data can’t be forgotten, stolen or exchanged. It is unique to the individual, so it provides a high level of security and accuracy.

USCIS may also check the intended immigrant’s background for grounds of inadmissibility, such as criminal activity or past immigration violations that could make them ineligible to enter the United States. In these cases, a lawyer can help the intending immigrant to seek a waiver of inadmissibility.

Applicants should attend their ASC’s biometrics appointments as scheduled unless the location is not convenient. If they can’t attend, they should call their ASC to request a new appointment and should bring their original appointment notice and receipts with them. In some cases, family members can be invited to join the applicant at the biometrics screening.

Interview

The interview process is the final stage in spouse visa processing. It is conducted by a consular officer at the US Embassy or Consulate abroad. In general, the interview lasts for ten minutes or less. The officer will ask the beneficiary questions related to their marriage, and they may also be asked some biometrics questions.

During the interview, the immigrant will be required to give ink-free fingerprints. They will also be required to bring any original civil documents or their translations (as per NVC instructions). They will also have to read a pamphlet on Rights and Protections in the United States.

The current average total wait time for a spouse visa is 17 months. However, this can vary greatly depending on the couple’s circumstances. Boundless can help you pay your government fees over time, so you can get started sooner and be assured that your case is approved or your money back. Learn more about how we can help you with your immigration case here.