CR-1 travel policy clarification

[swbkrn 0]

Hello All,

First please excuse the lack of a timeline (lost my hard drive and am slowly reconstructing everything from a backup).

My question: My wife received her CR-1 Visa status in July 2010 in CDJ.

• Strangely, it had an expiration date of December 8, 2010 typed in (on the passport insert page along with her USCIS photograph and other information, Alien Registration number, etc).
  
• Additionally, there was a manual stamp on the facing page with the letters "admitted CR-1 June 12, 2012" hand-written by a US Customs Agent.
  

Upon returning from Mexico, we pointed out the typed December 8, 2010 expiration date and the stamped and handwritten June 12, 2012 to the US Customs and Immigration agent who then became very animated and said, "We are the ones who make those decisions! The date you need to care about is June 12, 2012"

So...we are a little confused.

To further complicate the matter, USCIS very quickly sent us the I-551 green card in August. Unfortunately, they misspelled the name. We submited and I-90 and later received a I-797C NOA to appear on December 8, 2010 for biometrics.

Because the December 8 date was the same as the expiration date of the passport visa, we wrongly assumed they were going to provide the corrected green card and update her passport.

We were wrong. They said the new green card would be mailed (no firm date) and that we should set up an appointment with an InfoPass for any questions related to the passport insert and the expiration date.

My question(s):

1. Does the issuance of a correct I-551 green card and the hand written June 12, 2012 passport stamp overrule the expiration date on the passport?
   
2. Why would they provide a CR-1 visa passport insert which is only good for 6 months?
   

[canadian_wife 1,829]

The visa is good for 6 months, so yes - the expiration date on the visa should be about 6 months. That means the beneficiary has 6 months to travel to the US. There is a 6 month expiration on the visa because the visa is for people who want to move to the US to be with their spouse, not for people who are thinking about it. You should be able to settle your affairs in your home country and move to the US in 6 months.

Once she entered the US, she got a I-551 stamp in her passport which acted as her temporary green card, which wouldn't be needed after her physical green card was issued. This stamp typically will be good for 1 year. This stamp is the one you need until you get the physical green card

The physical green card should have an expiration date on it. 90 days before that date (assuming you got a Cr-1 visa) you must file for Removal of Conditions.

Good luck

[Wayne and Claudia 40]

The visa is good for 6 months, so yes - the expiration date on the visa should be about 6 months. That means the beneficiary has 6 months to travel to the US. There is a 6 month expiration on the visa because the visa is for people who want to move to the US to be with their spouse, not for people who are thinking about it. You should be able to settle your affairs in your home country and move to the US in 6 months.

Once she entered the US, she got a I-551 stamp in her passport which acted as her temporary green card, which wouldn't be needed after her physical green card was issued. This stamp typically will be good for 1 year. This stamp is the one you need until you get the physical green card

The physical green card should have an expiration date on it. 90 days before that date (assuming you got a Cr-1 visa) you must file for Removal of Conditions.

Good luck

ditto

[swbkrn 0]

Thanks all. Your explanations were clear and I understand that we need to wait for the green card. Actually, for someone who owned their home in Mexico City and had a good job there, 6 months can go quickly if one is trying to move years of their life to the US. But she did it. Now that she is here in the US, I wanted to make sure that there was nothing to prevent her from returning to Mexico to visit friends and family whenever she wanted to. It is an important part of her life and, now, mine.

Thanks again for the feedback.