Postpone date of entry in order to avoid having to remove conditions?

[pfroehlich2004 0]

My wife just got her CR-1 visa, and we were planning to head to the states together in August. However, as of September 16th, we'll have been married for 2 years, so if we postpone our travel by a month then we won't have to go through the whole lifting of conditions process.

How burdensome is the process? For someone in no particular hurry to get to the states, would it make sense to postpone travel by a month in order to not have to deal with any more immigration bureaucracy?

[JohnR! 5,495]

My wife just got her CR-1 visa, and we were planning to head to the states together in August. However, as of September 16th, we'll have been married for 2 years, so if we postpone our travel by a month then we won't have to go through the whole lifting of conditions process.

How burdensome is the process? For someone in no particular hurry to get to the states, would it make sense to postpone travel by a month in order to not have to deal with any more immigration bureaucracy?

She needs to enter the US on/before the expiration date on her visa. Are you sure it will still be valid on 9/16?

[Alaska2012 462]

If the visa is still valid then, go for it! If its not, get in touch with the embassy and see what they can do for you. They might be able to extend the visa. I know of a woman here in Sweden who managed to do it, but it was up to the embassy...

[pfroehlich2004 0]

She needs to enter the US on/before the expiration date on her visa. Are you sure it will still be valid on 9/16?

Yes, it's good until 9/20. Have you had conditions removed? Was it as aggravating as every other step of the immigration process or do they go easier on you once you're a permanent resident?

[JohnR! 5,495]

Yes, it's good until 9/20. Have you had conditions removed? Was it as aggravating as every other step of the immigration process or do they go easier on you once you're a permanent resident?

In this case, if you wait to enter after your second anniversary she should receive her 10-year gc.

If you decide to travel earlier and end up with a two-year gc, the process of ROC is not all that complicated. You will need to provide evidence that you are still married, and that being the case, the evidence needed is nothing any couple would not have anyway. I would say they do not go easier nor harder once you become a LPR. For the USCIS it is business as usual.

[atm 8]

In this case, if you wait to enter after your second anniversary she should receive her 10-year gc.

If you decide to travel earlier and end up with a two-year gc, the process of ROC is not all that complicated. You will need to provide evidence that you are still married, and that being the case, the evidence needed is nothing any couple would not have anyway. I would say they do not go easier nor harder once you become a LPR. For the USCIS it is business as usual.

You should be aware that the ROC process costs $590. Although the documentation required is not that complicated, it is still something that needs to be done: you need to collect joint leases, joint tax return transcripts, joint utility bill and credit card statements, joint bank statements joint insurance documents, photos, etc (all spanning the time since you entered the US at least). You will also need these if your spouse wishes to file for citizenship in the future.

Personally, if you don't have any pressing issues in the US, I would enter after the 2 year anniversary (but before the visa expires). I'd rather save myself the hassle! But obviously, it a personal decision for you and your wife....

Edited March 26, 2013 by atm

[It_takes_2 5]

I would wait. I just started the ROC process and currently the wait is about 9 months - though that's liable to chang at any moment. Avoiding the aggravation, however minimal, plus saving $590. I'd wait

Edited April 1, 2013 by It_takes_2

[bigdog 376]

I would wait. I just started the ROC process and currently the wait is about 9 months - though that's liable to chang at any moment. Avoiding the aggravation, however minimal, plus saving $590. I'd wait

Just don't let the visa expire.