How Long Does USCIS Take to Process a Visa Application?

Immigration to US involves a long procedure and it is handled by the governmental agency called US Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS.

USCIS Forms and Processing Times

In order to get the visa or green card, an applicant has to submit an application at the American Consulate abroad or at an USCIS office within the US. You can get these forms from USCIS and other government websites or through private agencies that help applicants with the forms – completing and filing the forms for a fee. At times, the help of an attorney may be required to fill forms that are complicated.
Forms filed within the US have to be sent to the locations specified in the filing instructions. It is usually the USCIS Service Center having jurisdiction over your place of residence. Once you send your complete application package to USCIS, you will receive a 13-character Application Receipt as proof of your application being accepted, within 30 days of filing the application. The receipt number usually begins with WAC, LIN, EAC, or SRC. This number is important because it proves that USCIS has received your form and it is under processing. Moreover, this number is of immense help to you for checking your visa status.

Checking Your Case Status

To check your status, you can go to “Case Status Online” on the official website of USCIS and enter your application receipt number in the website. “Processing Times” tab on the “Case Status Online” page of the website is for general information about processing times and also for those who are yet to receive a number and want to get an idea about how much time is taken by USCIS to process applications. The time taken for processing applications varies from person to person, because it completely depends on the category under which you have applied and the Service Center of USCIS, where you have filed your application.
In case you do not get any notification from USCIS even after 30 days of submission, you can call them at their toll-free number between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. – local time. The customer care executives will assist you with your queries and guide you.
An applicant or a representative, like a lawyer or agency, etc., can also create an account at the USCIS website. This account enables you to receive automatic updates regarding your case status. The service to both types of accounts are similar, with the only difference being the aspirant’s representatives can use internal tracking numbers for their office use, as they have to check the status of many applicants at the same time.
Recently the facility of text message alerts on US mobile phones has been added. You will receive alerts when your case gets updated for processing. This facility is being extended to applicants as well as their representatives. However, the standard rates for messaging or other charges may apply for this service.
The aspirants as well as their representatives can receive the status updates of the case via e-mail as well. From so many given options, it is quite obvious that checking of the application status is important, more so because every candidate’s application is not processed within the same time frame.

USCIS 751 – What is The USCIS 751 Form?

The USCIS 751 is actually a form that can be used as a petition by any person who is a conditional permanent resident of the U.S. and who is married a U.S citizen, for the purpose of removing the conditionality of their status. The petition is referred to as Form I-751 and is filed for approval with the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), thereby acquiring the name USCIS 751.

The Relevance of USCIS 751

The filing of I-751 form with the USCIS is applicable to those who are already permanent residents of the U.S. but the status of the residency is conditional and valid for only 2 years. This is because they have sought to become U.S. citizens through matrimony with a U.S citizen. Such individuals can appeal to the USCIS to lift all the conditions on their resident status. Likewise, the USCIS 751 can also be filed on behalf of eligible, dependent children of conditional permanent residents.

Eligibility Criteria for Filling the I-751 Form

In order to be eligible to fill the USCIS 751 form, an individual must fit into at least one of the following criteria:

• He/she should still be married to the person through whom the conditional status was attained. In this situation, a joint petition must be filed by the conditional resident and his/her resident spouse.
• He/she married a U.S citizen in good faith, but the spouse died soon after that.
• He/she married with clear intentions, but the alliance got terminated later due to divorce.
• He/she married in good faith and is still married but has been subjected to physical/psychological abuse by his/her U.S citizen spouse.
• If his/her status is terminated, the consequences would be dire on him/her and would cause immense hardship for them.

The Apt Time to File Form 1-751

There also exist certain limitations on when this form should be filed. For instance, if it is to be filed jointly by the applicant and his/her U.S citizen spouse, it must be done within 90 days before completion of second and final year of the conditional residency.

Alternatively, if a conditional resident’s marriage terminates and he/she is to file Form I-751 alone with the appropriate justification, it should be done in the period between the day that the conditional permanent status was awarded and any time before the 2 year expiration date.

In case the petition is not filed within the 2 years of conditional resident status, their status will be deemed illegal and may result in deportation.

What is the Fee for Filing This Form?

The current fee is $505.00 for filing of Form I-751 with the USCIS. An additional $85 needs to be paid by each applicant as a fee for biometric services extended by the USCIS in this matter. The USCIS informs the applicants about the exact place to go to for biometrics after they pay the entire fee amount. The payments can be made either through a check or a money order of the entire amount.

How Long Does USCIS Take to Process a Visa Application?

How Long Does USCIS Take to Process a Visa Application?

Immigration to US involves a long procedure and it is handled by the governmental agency called US Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS.

USCIS Forms and Processing Times

In order to get the visa or green card, an applicant has to submit an application at the American Consulate abroad or at an USCIS office within the US. You can get these forms from USCIS and other government websites or through private agencies that help applicants with the forms – completing and filing the forms for a fee. At times, the help of an attorney may be required to fill forms that are complicated.

Forms filed within the US have to be sent to the locations specified in the filing instructions. It is usually the USCIS Service Center having jurisdiction over your place of residence. Once you send your complete application package to USCIS, you will receive a 13-character Application Receipt as proof of your application being accepted, within 30 days of filing the application. The receipt number usually begins with WAC, LIN, EAC, or SRC. This number is important because it proves that USCIS has received your form and it is under processing. Moreover, this number is of immense help to you for checking your visa status.

Checking Your Case Status

To check your status, you can go to “Case Status Online” on the official website of USCIS and enter your application receipt number in the website. “Processing Times” tab on the “Case Status Online” page of the website is for general information about processing times and also for those who are yet to receive a number and want to get an idea about how much time is taken by USCIS to process applications. The time taken for processing applications varies from person to person, because it completely depends on the category under which you have applied and the Service Center of USCIS, where you have filed your application.

In case you do not get any notification from USCIS even after 30 days of submission, you can call them at their toll-free number between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. – local time. The customer care executives will assist you with your queries and guide you.

An applicant or a representative, like a lawyer or agency, etc., can also create an account at the USCIS website. This account enables you to receive automatic updates regarding your case status. The service to both types of accounts are similar, with the only difference being the aspirant’s representatives can use internal tracking numbers for their office use, as they have to check the status of many applicants at the same time.

Recently the facility of text message alerts on US mobile phones has been added. You will receive alerts when your case gets updated for processing. This facility is being extended to applicants as well as their representatives. However, the standard rates for messaging or other charges may apply for this service.

The aspirants as well as their representatives can receive the status updates of the case via e-mail as well. From so many given options, it is quite obvious that checking of the application status is important, more so because every candidate’s application is not processed within the same time frame.

How to Check Your USCIS Case Status

Whenever you apply for US immigration, it gives you a unique case number to your application that is filed with the USCIS. You can always check your USCIS case status  online with the help of the case number mentioned on the receipt that you get. Visa applications such as, H1B visa, Green Card applications similar to, I-140, I-485, AOS, I-130, Advance parole, EAD andCitizenship, Green card Renewal etc. Every single of these applications get a receipt number so that you could track your USCIS case status at the USCIS website. In recent times the USCIS overhauled its web site to make it stress-free for you to use, so that the more crystal clear the web site is it will be more available to applicants.

Check Your USCIS Case Status

Always double-check that your case is presently in a pending state with USCIS if you are about to check your USCIS case status. In case you filed for an immigrant visa and your case has been accepted and reassigned to the National Visa Center or NVC, or your U.S. embassy, the web site will not be able to get a hold of it and you will not see any updates. After the Department of Homeland Security directs a candidate or suitor a warning of receipt, it consists a receipt number. It should be shown in the form on the upper left corner. And to be more specific, the receipt number is a 13-digit series minus dashes.

You need to go to the case status page in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services web site to track you USCIS case status. Type in uscis.gov in your browser’s search bar and hit enter. Now on the main page, you will see a triangulation tariff on the left side. Right below the section “After I File” you need to click on “Check My Case Status.” After you click on the mentioned links, you will see a status pointer with a text arena on the lateral. The status pointer may show the following options;

• Post Decision Activity (action once the approval or rejection of your case)
• Testing and Interview
• Request for Evidence (when there is a document missing, not enough evidence, etc.)
• Initial Review
• Decision (decision of your case)
• Acceptance (when comprehensive application is received)
• Document Production or Oath Ceremony (for example green card, employment authorization card, naturalization)

In order to view the status of your case, enter your receipt number (as explained above) in the text field given there. You need to key in all characters and numbers, but do not use any spaces or dashes. Now click on “Check Status’ when you are done entering the receipt number. The USCIS custom page will show up the status of your case in a few seconds. It will also focus in vivid design where your appeal or application is next to. For instance, if the loop directly above “Acceptance” is stressed, it means that your comprehensive appeal or application file has been received. Now look beneath the graphic in order to view the text report regarding your case. It will concisely describe the status of your case and request you to denote to the info shown.

USCIS and Filing Fees

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a division within the Department of Homeland Security. Formerly known as the INS, the USCIS is responsible for managing immigration and naturalization issues, as well as directing services that are in charge of promoting national security.
Officially, the USCIS came to fruition in 2003, after the INS was disbanded and all its services were moved to the newly formed division, the USCIS. The majority of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ budget consists of revenue collected from filing fees for processing immigration forms. The office of citizenship is included in the USCIS which aims at disseminating information about US citizenship and providing enough study materials relating to the US history and civics tests.
As mentioned before, the INS changed into the USCIS in the year 2003. The INS became very ineffective following scandals that took place in the year 2001. When the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) came into being, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services took over immigration service functions as well as US immigration and customs enforcement functions.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services executes a lot of tasks and ensures that the security of the nation is safeguarded with their service. The stated mission of the USCIS includes:

• Providing national security services
• Improving customer service by guiding applicants in all aspects of US immigration
• Efficiently clearing immigration cases without having a backlog
• Developing solutions to all immigration related issues.

In addition, the USCIS is responsible for reviewing immigrant visa petitions and naturalization applications, providing immigration services and benefits, assessing refugee and asylum claims, providing Employment Authorization Documents (EAD), and granting permanent residency and citizenship to the most eligible foreign nationals.
Recently it has been reported that there was a surge in applications due to the backlog in naturalization applications, Form N400, Application for Naturalization. The number of applications received in 2007 was three times the number that the USCIS ordinarily received. This was probably due to an increase in applications prior to the impending rise in the filing fee for Form N400. As a result, the USCIS increased the number of working hours as well as providing enough staff in order to alleviate the backlog. Interestingly, after the filing fee for Form N400 went up, the number of naturalization applications dropped by 80%.

US Fiancé Visa- Get Your Fiancé Into the US Permanently

K-1 visa, which is the fiancee visa, is issued to those aliens who are outside the US and wish to enter for the purpose of marriage to a US citizen. The US citizen should file Form I-129 F, Petition for Alien Fiancée with the USCIS.
A fiancé(e) is one who is engaged or contracted to be married. The marriage should be legally possible according to laws of the state in the US where the marriage will take place. Applicants are required to have met in person within the past 2 years from the date of filing. Some exceptions may apply to the requirement of having met in person during the preceding two year. For example, it may be contrary in some traditions for a man and woman to meet before marriage.

Form I-129 F, Petition for Fiancé

The first step in getting the US fiancé visa, is filing Form I-129 F, Petition for Alien Fiancée, which the American citizen has to file along with the necessary documents at the nearest USCIS office having authority in the area of residence of the US citizen.
Once the petition is approved, the USCIS will send it to the National Visa Center to begin with the processing, which would be later sent to the Embassy or Consulate in the country where the fiancé(e) lives. The fiancé(e) should then apply for a K-1 visa at this consulate. Generally, the validity period of this approved petition is four months, which can be further extended by the Consular Officers if the processing of the US fiancé visa application is not complete.
After all the submitted documents are verified, the officer at the Consulate will notify the foreign fiancé about the scheduled interview. On clearing the interview, the fiancé will be issued a single entry US fiancé visa valid for 3 months, within which the petitioner (the US citizen ) and the alien fiancé should get married.
After marriage, the foreign spouse has to apply for adjusting status to conditional permanent resident. After completing two years of marriage, the citizen and his/her spouse should file a Form I-751 to remove the conditions on the residence.
The US fiancé visa process is a long one and the time limit cannot be stated exactly, as every immigration office takes different times to process the application. It depends on the number of applications received.

Overview of the US Fiancé Visa Process

1. US citizen files a Form I-129, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) with the USCIS office that serves the area where he or she lives.
2. Once the USCIS approves the petition, USCIS will notify the U.S. embassy or consulate in the fiancé(e)’s country.
3. The fiancé(e) will then apply for a K-1 visa that U.S. embassy or consulate
4. The fiancé(e) will then enter the US with K-1 visa status and has 90 days to marry the U.S. citizen.
5. After marriage, the K-1 visa holder changes status by applying for legal permanent residency (”Green Card“).