It would be faster to file directly with the local consulate.

@louis how long will that take?

That depends on the particular consulate. But if I wasn't already 6.5 months in (processing time for my service center is 6.5-8.5 months), I'd withdraw my petition and refile at my local consulate.

Local consulate files directly and skips the NVC stage, which itself is three months. I didn't originally file at the consulate because we were in Russia and it's closed. Many others were/are not accepting I130s because of the pandemy. But things are opening up. We're in North Macedonia now and could file if we wanted.

@louis my lawyer told me that we still have to file I-130 with the USCIS, wait for approval before to gets transferred to NVC then the consultate. doesn’t seem to be an option to apply directly at London consultate

That may be the case in London, depends if they're accepting or not. But if you have an urgent matter, uscis policy book says petitioner can take their case directly to the consulate, and if the consular officer believes it's urgent and warrants immediate processing, then they can process it immediately. But that's only for urgent cases. If it's not urgent, it'll depend on if your local consulate is accepting I130s at this time.

@lous they closed their field office uscis permanently in July 2020 :(

No. I'm not talking about the overseas uscis offices. The consulate itself.

@louis i understand! london previously had a uscis but not anymore. We can’t submit our application directly with consulate. Have to get approval with uscis first!

hi, have you decided to go though the consular processing?

I’m also an lpr petitioning for spouse in the uk

@gileymoultrie we split up so not anymore !