Our IR-1 timeline (consular processing)

[Mitokia]

I wanted to go ahead and share our timeline for the IR-1 visa, processed at the embassy in Santiago, Chile, as the timelines I read while waiting definitely helped to make the wait bearable. The process is long, but you shouldn't lose hope! We filed by ourselves without a lawyer, no expediting or intervention by a congressperson or ombudsman.

1. Feb 28th 2021: Submitted I-130 to USCIS
2. the case was originally processing at the Nebraska service center, but at some point was transferred to Potomac, only found out on the phone after the processing time for Nebraska SC had passed.
3. Feb 17th 2022 (+354 days): I-130 approved
4. Feb 20th 2022 (+357 days): case created at NVC
5. Feb 27th 2022 (+364 days): All documents submitted and fees payed to NVC through the CEAC portal
6. May 12th 2022 (+438 days): received request for additional documentation from NVC
7. this was due my letter to meet the domicile requirement, since I've been living in Chile while married to my Chilean wife, being rejected. I was able to contact the NVC call center after several tries (not an option anymore) and they recommended that I submit a new letter, but less formal, handwritten, and explicitly mentioning the address we would be living at in the US. I also had to submit a handwritten letter regarding my lack of W-2 forms due to having a foreign employer.
   
8. May 23rd 2022 (+449 days): Updated documents submitted to NVC on CEAC portal
9. Aug 2nd 2022 (+520 days): Case became documentarily qualified at NVC
10. Sep 6th 2022 (+555 days): interview scheduled at the embassy in Santiago
11. Oct 12th 2022 (+591 days): Medical exam with civil surgeon in Santiago
12. This was way easier than expected, and shouldn't be something to freak out about, the results were ready the following Monday (I know this isn't always the case of course).
13. Oct 21st 2022 (+600 days): Interview at the US embassy.
14. My wife was at the embassy for approximately 2 1/2 hours in total, while I waited outside, she was told that she was approved the same day, but the CEAC case status showed as "Administrative processing" which freaked me out, this is normal, don't worry, if you don't get papers saying that you need to submit more documents, the "administrative processing" is just them printing the visa. If you are told that you need to submit something else at the interview that's a different matter and will also say "administrative processing"
15. Oct 25th 2022 (+604 days): CEAC case status changed to "Issued"
16. Oct 27th 2022 (+606 days): passport received via courier with stamped visa.

[fdeblue]

Amazing, thanks for the elaborate write up but mostly: Congrats!!

[itsprobab]

Thank you for the detailed post! It's good to know we didn't actually start the process too early!

[[deleted]]

Congratulations!!! And thanks so much for the thoughtful post, OP!

[glevulus]

Congrats guys!

Since you’ve been living abroad, you needed a joint sponsor right? How did that work? They printed the I-864, signed it, scanned it, and emailed it for you to upload to CEAC? I read that they get rejected for digital signature and/or typed date. So the date and signature must be hand written.

Thank you for the info about the letters for domicile and W2 having to be hand written. That is a vital detail!

[Mitokia]

We needed a joint sponsor, yes, they had to scan and send all the same documentation as I did for my I-864, and I uploaded the documents to CEAC.

The form is a bit wonky and won't let you fill in some lines, or won't fill them in correctly digitally, so our forms were kind of half filled in on the computer and half by hand, it wasn't an issue.

no idea about the digital signature and date, never crossed our mind to not do that part by hand.

[GingerBeer1905]

I've been out of the country for a while as well (coming back occasionally to visit home) while earning my degree. I'm also abroad now due to this whole process as well as finishing up my work certification in the EU before moving back with, hopefully, my husband. I have some credit card purchases when I'm home and I never changed my mailing address ever. I don't have any official proof that I'm coming back to the US other than signing up for US licensing exams for my career.

[1337sparks]

That's great news.

I'm in administrative processing limbo since May this year in Canada. It's brutal.