How long to get an interview (and other stages)

[unknownusername]

My wife is non-Chinese, we live in China (I am employed here). For various reasons we have to plan out the timetable for our application process as best we can. So I wanted to confirm rough time frames for what I understand to be the various stages:

 

Stage 1 - We filed the I-130 in Beijing and were told it takes "3 months" for them to process it and send to Guangzhou. But I saw a post online from one applicant that had it processed in 10 days. Another person online said 1 month. So is the "3 months" the standard answer and actually it's more like one month?

 

Stage 2- Once GZ receives the case, how long does it usually take for them to issue a case number?

 

Stage 3 - Once we have the GZ case number and can submit the DS260, roughly how long before we're told we can book an interview (assuming no problems of course)

 

Stage 4 - After we are approved to book an interview, how long does it usually take to get the interview? I read someone said 3.5 months - that was a year ago. Any recent experience?

 

Stage 5 - After the interview, how long does it take to get the passport back (I read 2 weeks).

 

Thank you!

[Randy W]

2 months to a year. They are not very cooperative as far as those who need more detail.

[unknownusername]

Thanks. In your reply, (2-12 months) are you referring to stage 4 (booking the interview after DS160 filing is approved) - or all 5 stages?

 

You see, because my wife is Japanese, Beijing CIS told us we could do the process/interview there instead (fly there from Beijing for the interview). So I'm trying to see if the process is faster in Japan than in China (my hunch is that there are many more applicants from China so it'll be faster in Japan, but I have no data to back that up; I'm asking about Japan times on other forums.)

Edited March 6, 2017 by unknownusername (see edit history)

[Randy W]

 

Thanks. In your reply, (2-12 months) are you referring to stage 4 (booking the interview after DS160 filing is approved) - or all 5 stages?

 

You see, because my wife is Japanese, Beijing CIS told us we could do the process/interview there instead (fly there from Beijing for the interview). So I'm trying to see if the process is faster in Japan than in China (my hunch is that there are many more applicants from China so it'll be faster in Japan, but I have no data to back that up; I'm asking about Japan times on other forums.)

 

 

 

 

2 to 4 months is more typical for a DCF filing (you did a Direct Consular Filing in Beijing). Longer if CCP issue are involved (Communist Party), which I'm sure your Japanese wife won't have issues there).

 

That's filing to interview.

 

I don't know how long it takes in Japan, but I doubt you'd pick any time up by transferring there.

Edited March 6, 2017 by Randy W (see edit history)