How to Expedite Your US Immigration Spousal Green Card Sponsorship w/ Direct Filing at a US Embassy

Описание: How can you expedite the processing time when seeking a Green Card for your foreign national spouse or immediate relative? U.S. immigration and visa lawyer, Kyle Barella, explores this topic in our latest video series.

For eligible applicants, the answer could be direct filing with your local U.S. embassy or consular post abroad. Direct filing allows a U.S. citizen to request that their local U.S. consular post handle and adjudicate their spouse's sponsorship matter in-house, streamlining the process significantly.

Typically, a U.S. citizen would file a sponsorship petition for their foreign spouse with a domestic USCIS office in the United States. Upon approval, USCIS transfers the case to the National Visa Center (NVC). After reviewing the case, the NVC coordinates with the U.S. embassy that covers the applicant's jurisdiction to schedule an immigrant visa interview. This standard procedure can take upwards of 18 months to complete.

Alternatively, if you qualify for direct filing and it is approved by a U.S. consular post, the process could be completed in as little as 4 months (depending on the specific U.S. embassy or consulate). However, there are some conditions to consider. Not every U.S. citizen seeking to sponsor their spouse is eligible for this streamlined process. To qualify, the U.S. citizen petitioner must be residing legally abroad in the jurisdiction where the direct filing request is submitted. Additionally, the petitioner must meet one of the exceptional circumstances outlined by USCIS. Finally, the consular post where the request is submitted must grant approval to handle the case in-house.

If you're a U.S. citizen living abroad and believe you may be eligible for direct filing for your spouse's Green Card petition, we invite you to contact our U.S. immigration lawyer to assess your qualifications. With offices in London, Brussels, and Paris, Barella Global regularly represents U.S. citizens abroad with their spousal Green Card petitions. To learn more about Barella Global and our practice, please visit our website at www.barellalaw.com.