Which is Faster in 2023: Fiance Visa or Spouse Visa?
If you're a US citizen looking to bring your significant other to the United States as soon as possible, you're probably feeling a mix of fear, worries, anxiety, and heartache caused by missing your loved one. The thought of being separated from the person you care about most can be incredibly difficult to bear. Luckily, there are two different types of visas that can help you bring your significant other to the US: the fiancé visa and the spouse immigrant visa. But which one is faster?
In the past, the fiancé visa, also known as a K-1 visa, was generally considered faster than the spouse immigrant visa, also known as a marriage-based immigrant visa. However, due to backlogs and delays from COVID-19 that continue to impact the immigration system, the processing times for both types of visas have changed significantly. As a result, the normal processing time for both the spouse and fiancé visas can now range from 2 to 3 years.
Because of these extensive delays, it's important to be aware that both the fiancé visa and the spouse immigrant visa may take a considerable amount of time to process. In many cases, the processing times have become similar, and it can be challenging to predict which process will be faster.
However, there are still some situations where a fiancé visa should be used. For example, if the US citizen is disabled or otherwise unable to travel overseas, if the US citizen and fiancé cannot legally marry in the fiancé's home country, or if family or cultural practices don't allow the fiancé to travel to the US before marriage. In such cases, it's imperative to consult with an immigration attorney to determine the best option for your unique circumstances.
It's important to note that processing times for both types of visas can change often, and the information provided here may not reflect the current processing times at the time you read this article. Given the substantial delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it's highly recommended to consult an immigration attorney who can provide the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding processing times for your specific situation.
In conclusion, due to the backlogs and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, both the fiancé visa and the spouse immigrant visa now have extended processing times, typically ranging from 2 to 3 years. It's crucial to consult with an immigration attorney to determine the best option for your unique circumstances and to stay informed about any changes in processing times.