AndrewHarnett

How long does it take on average for start of visa application to the end? And what sort of costs will it incur?

NC Penguin

Andrew,

Please look for the US Embassy in London's website. This should be a starting point for information about the visa process for you to move legally to the US with your wife.

Also, please read the US Marriage Based Visas forum on British Expats. You can read and learn about US/UK couples based in the UK who are in the process of applying for the I-130 visa.

If you can't find answers to your questions from either source described above, it'd be most appropriate for you to post to that US Marriage Based Visas forum.

Pulaski

Around six months is commonly quoted as the likely time for a straight forward application through the London embassy.

It took me six months back in 2001, but I sat delayed returning the first set of forms that the embassy sent me for a month, so I suppose I could have got a visa in five months, and I have seen some peolle say that they got a visa in as little as four months.

I think that it cost me about $370, $300 or so for the application, and $70 for the visa to be issued, all billed to my credit card in USD.

NC Penguin

There is really no average time for getting the I-130 by DCF at the US Embassy in London.

Firstly, it all depends on the USC and spouse's personal circumstances. e.g. criminal record, previous marriages (either party), medical history, children included in the application.

Other factors that could extend the time it takes for the UKC to be given an interview date are failure to collect relevant documentation in a timely manner. Some documents required for the I-130 take longer than others to be received. You'll read all about this on the US Marriage Based Visas newsgroup.

I was the recipient of an I-130 visa through DCF in London in Sept 01. The whole process took us 4.5 months. It would've been less if we'd sent back some documents to the US embassy sooner.

Pulaski

Which is why I said "for a straight forward application" - i.e. an application without any of the complicating factors that you mentioned.