CR-1 Approved - Questions About Traveling

[vic23 0]

I filed for my wife's Cr-1 visa through DCF and it was approved very quickly. We know have her passport with the Visa on it but I have a few questions about traveling to the US. I wanted to travel these upcoming months. We've been living in Peru and are going to move the US. I wanted to travel in say March for a few weeks or maximum a month, and then come back to Peru to get our stuff here in storage and then travel back to the US in June-July for our final move. Would we be able to do this? Or does my wife have to stay in the US? Thank you for all your help!

[bigdog 377]

Personally I would travel, move to US and once you get the green card their are no issues traveling and don't think I would in and out of the US before the green card arrives. Be sure to look at max allowable times to be out of the US and max time out at one time. The initial green card is good for two years.

[NikLR 13,232]

The only way big dog's plan would work is if you travel to the USA before her 6 months are up (from the medical date.) Otherwise she will need to get a new medical exam.

In the next year she needs to spend more time IN the USA than out of it, but yes you can travel as soon as you POE. That is the great part about the CR1 visa.

[pushbrk 13,213]

I filed for my wife's Cr-1 visa through DCF and it was approved very quickly. We know have her passport with the Visa on it but I have a few questions about traveling to the US. I wanted to travel these upcoming months. We've been living in Peru and are going to move the US. I wanted to travel in say March for a few weeks or maximum a month, and then come back to Peru to get our stuff here in storage and then travel back to the US in June-July for our final move. Would we be able to do this? Or does my wife have to stay in the US? Thank you for all your help!

I see no issues with your plan as long as there is a reliable address to mail the green card. Usually the green card arrives within a month but if it doesn't, the stamp in the passport will suffice for re-entry. Be sure to enter the USA before the visa expiration date. (May or may not have anything to do with the date of the medical.)

The only way big dog's plan would work is if you travel to the USA before her 6 months are up (from the medical date.) Otherwise she will need to get a new medical exam.

This is misleading. She needs to travel before the visa expires, which may or may not have anything to do with the date of the medical exam. If she doesn't travel before the visa expires, she'll need a new visa, not just a new medical exam.(Not all IV units tie the visa expiration to the medical exam.)

Edited February 23, 2013 by pushbrk

[NikLR 13,232]

This is misleading. She needs to travel before the visa expires, which may or may not have anything to do with the date of the medical exam. If she doesn't travel before the visa expires, she'll need a new visa, not just a new medical exam.(Not all IV units tie the visa expiration to the medical exam.)

True enough! Montreal uses the medical date, but not every consulate would do that. Point taken.