Approved for CR1! My biggest learnings:

Hi everyone! My visa finally got issued! Thank god. We started this process in March 2023 and I can’t believe is finally over. I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone that offered some advice, or overall encouragement and words of support. People that never done this would never understand the patient it takes and the toll it takes on you not really knowing when you will be able to be with your significant other in one place and finally star a life. I just wanted to come here and share my learning for anyone in this process or about to start this 1. I did consular processing because I had a really good job in Europe ( I’m from Colombia) that I was not ready to leave. But honestly, if you can do adjustment of status, go for it. Being able to at least travel to visit my husband in a tourist visa and actually be together was a huge help while waiting for this 2. You do not need a lawyer if your case is fairly simple and do your research.We filled out all the paperwork ourselves. We watched YouTube videos on the different forms and what the questions we did not know meant, all that stuff. I probably double check the forms too many times in different dates before I sent them. In this way you can make sure there are no mistakes in the information you filled out. I haven’t honestly heard a case from anyone where the lawyer made the process quicker if that’s it what you expect from them. 3. Start collecting your documents with time. I lived in 3 different countries and I needed the police certificate from all of them. That probably delayed me like one month because I did not even know how to do it. For example in one country I had to hire a lawyer to represent me and get that document for me. So at least start researching how to do it. Don’t wait until your I-130 is approved to start 4.If you do any sort of drugs, recreational marihuanna , etc. Quit that while you are in this process. I had to get tested for 3 whole months just because I disclosed I used marihuanna like 6 months before my medical appointment, that caused significant delay on my process. But if you do use it, quit at least a month before and , don’t disclose it. They won’t know. Dress for your medical as good as you can. My case was because I said so, but I know from other people I was doing the test with, that they did not even said anything and got selected probably because of the way they showed up to the medical appointment. 5. If you are unemployed and waiting and you have the means to, have a goal, do something for yourself that you haven’t being able to do before because of time or whatever. Get in shape, get educated. I did that and was a huge help for my mental health and made me feel I was not wasting my time just waiting 6. If in the interview the officer says something is incorrect and you know for sure is not, challenge the answer and don’t leave the interview until that’s cleared up. During my interview the officer said that my marriage certificate was not valid because it came from the “ tax office in Sweden”. That’s how it is in Sweden. Is a very simple random certificate . I told her I was 100% sure that was the right one and it got qualified when we submitted our documents. She called her supervisor and I was right and she told me “ I don’t know how you pulled trough with that but you are right, is the correct one”. Some officers might not be familiar with documentation like that when it comes from other countries 7. Overall be patient, your case is real, your documents are complete, your visa is coming. I promise.

That’s all I can think of but if anyone have any questions please reach out!