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Rempert13

IR-1/CR-1 and travel to the US

By Rempert13 in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

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Rempert13 Rookie

Rempert13   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Hi Everyone,

We are just in the process of filing our IR-1/CR-1, we were married Nov 23/13 and i'm back in Canada....waiting! Aren't we all!! I was wondering if anyone could confirm if I am able to travel to the US to visit while it's being processed. I know I saw it somewhere that I am not able to (can't find that now) but I just wanted to confirm that I am not....however hoping that maybe I could visit!

Thanks

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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,810

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

You can visit during the process, just bring evidence of ties to Canada in case you are asked from them by CBP. However, there is no guarantee you will be admitted to the US.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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islandbabes Explorer

islandbabes   12

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Jamaica
 Timeline
Posted

You can, I entered on December 25th. Just be truthful to the officer and do not volunteer extra info. I filed May last year and have travelled to the US twice since that.

USCIS:

Marriage (if applicable): 2012-08-10

I-130 NOA1 : 2013-05-10

I-130 RFE : 2013-12-17

I-130 RFE Sent : 2013-12-30 (they lost his picture)

I-130 Approved : 2014-01-13

NVC:

NVC Received : 2014-02-21

Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : 2014-03-10

Pay AOS Bill : 2014-03-10

Submit DS-261 : 2014-03-10

DS-261 form reject- under review: NVC keeps saying the form is incorrect. They made an error for two months re this form.

Checklist 1 AOS : They wanted 2013 even though we filed before the end of tax season

Receive IV Bill : 2014-05-23

Pay IV Bill : 2014-05-23

Send IV Package : 2014-05-26

Checklist 2 AOS : 2014-06-06 Issue with resubmitted I-864 form - did not auto populate one of the numbers

Requested Expedite : 2014-07-11

Case Completed at NVC : 2014-07-18

Consulate Received : 2014-07-25

Embassy:

Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : 2014-07-29

Medical : 2014-07-31

Interview : 2014-08-08 - APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

POE Miami: 2014-09-09

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Steven and Alice Explorer

Steven and Alice   30

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

You should be able to travel. I am on mat leave and I came down with my infant son to US back in Nov and we are staying till Mar (end of mat leave). Just make sure you make ties to Canada. I have my employer wrote a letter stating I am still employed and will be returning end of Mar. If you have lease and such, bring those too. The officer did ask a lot of questions. He asked me three times what's my relationship to my husband (which I found very odd) and how we met.

Our IR-1 Timeline

05/15/2013: Mailed I-130 to Phoenix Lockbox

05/20/2013: I-130 delivered

05/21/2013: NOA1 Priority Date

05/24/2013: Cheque Cashed and received text with MSC number (Initial Review)

06/03/2013: Received Hardcopy NOA1

12/12/2013: Transferred to another office

12/13/2013: Transferred to local office

01/16/2014: NOA2 EMail Notice

01/29/2014: Transferred to NVC

03/16/2014: Notice from NVC

12/16/2014: Paid AOS Fee and submitted DS-261

01/05/2015: Called NVC and DS-261 was incomplete, gave information and wait for IV bill to be generated

01/06/2015: Paid IV Fee

01/16/2015: Submit DS-260 and emailed documents for both AOS and IV

02/18/2015: 2 False checklists received

02/20/2015: Received Confirmation/60 DAY EMAIL

03/14/2015: Received approval letter from NVC (dated Mar 10) regarding "Request for Earlier Priority Date".. which we never did such a thing

03/27/2015: Day 70 - 6.30-7.30 PM EST .... infamous 3n/as appeared!!!!!! CC confirmed by rep at 9:20 PM EST!!

04/22/2015: Received interview letter (email)

04/25/2015: In transit

04/30/2015: Medical

05/14/2015: Interview..APPROVED... ceac said ISSUED!!

05/21/2015: Visa in hand

07/23/2015: POE at YYZ

08/31/2015: Applied for SSN at local office

09/11/2015: Rec'd SSN and GC

FP1Km4.png

Our citizenship Timeline

08/27/2018 Applied online/NOA Date

09/17/2018 & 10/04/2018: Biometric appointment

05/30/2019: Interview.. APPROVED

06/20/2019: Oath Ceremony

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gwenstar Collaborator

gwenstar   66

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

As a Canadian you are allowed to visit the US for up to 6 months without a visa. If you are in process of getting the CR-1 visa, it is the same deal....just have proof you are returning to Canada - evidence of ties like job letter, lease, so on like mentioned above.

Always be honest and friendly and you shouldn't have problems. My husband has been back and forth many times, always had his proof/evidence & copy of I-130 app, but has never been questioned or asked to show documentation. It all depends on the border agent, but seems as though most of them are pleasant and don't give you a hard time.

s-event.png s-event.png
IR-1/CR-1 Visa : National Benefits Center NVC Received: 2014-01-08
Consulate : Montreal, Canada NVC Case Number: 2014-02-07
Marriage : 2013-02-22 Paid I-864 Bill: 2014-02-13
I-130 Sent : 2013-03-16 Sent I-864 Docs: 2014-02-14
I-130 NOA1 : 2013-03-20 Paid IV Bill: 2014-03-03
Trans. to NSC : 2013-11-05 Sent IV Docs: 2014-03-04
I-130 NOA2: 2013-12-16 Submitted DS-260: 2014-03-06

Case Complete 2014-03-21

Interview & APPROVED 2014-05-08

POE 2014-06-21

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islandbabes Explorer

islandbabes   12

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Jamaica
 Timeline
Posted

Can you please tell me what all you had to tell /present for them to give you visa

Hi

I have had my visa for a few years prior to beginning the CR1/ I130 process.

USCIS:

Marriage (if applicable): 2012-08-10

I-130 NOA1 : 2013-05-10

I-130 RFE : 2013-12-17

I-130 RFE Sent : 2013-12-30 (they lost his picture)

I-130 Approved : 2014-01-13

NVC:

NVC Received : 2014-02-21

Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : 2014-03-10

Pay AOS Bill : 2014-03-10

Submit DS-261 : 2014-03-10

DS-261 form reject- under review: NVC keeps saying the form is incorrect. They made an error for two months re this form.

Checklist 1 AOS : They wanted 2013 even though we filed before the end of tax season

Receive IV Bill : 2014-05-23

Pay IV Bill : 2014-05-23

Send IV Package : 2014-05-26

Checklist 2 AOS : 2014-06-06 Issue with resubmitted I-864 form - did not auto populate one of the numbers

Requested Expedite : 2014-07-11

Case Completed at NVC : 2014-07-18

Consulate Received : 2014-07-25

Embassy:

Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : 2014-07-29

Medical : 2014-07-31

Interview : 2014-08-08 - APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

POE Miami: 2014-09-09

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NikLR Grand Master

NikLR   13,227

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Hi Everyone,

We are just in the process of filing our IR-1/CR-1, we were married Nov 23/13 and i'm back in Canada....waiting! Aren't we all!! I was wondering if anyone could confirm if I am able to travel to the US to visit while it's being processed. I know I saw it somewhere that I am not able to (can't find that now) but I just wanted to confirm that I am not....however hoping that maybe I could visit!

Thanks

I visted my husband 3 times after marriage, twice while doing the petition. Some people live in border towns and visit every weekend. Bring proof of your ties to Canada in case you are asked about it, like a return ticket, a letter from your employer, proof of school enrollment, your lease, rental agreement, or mortgage, bills etc... You don't need to volunteer this stuff, just have it if they ask. Be truthful, polite, and friendly. I always said I was visiting my husband and it generally brought about more questions like where he worked and I worked and how we met. Honestly it was pretty easy but there are horror stories obviously in the Canada forum. Most of the time though, most of us don't have any issues.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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Rempert13 Rookie

Rempert13   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Thanks everyone! What a relief to find out that I can visit! Obviously my husband will visit me but it would be nice to visit him too....make the waiting a little more bearable!!

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fcat Community Regular

fcat   79

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

Ive been back and forth 6 times in the last 11 months while our petition was in, haven't had a single problem or any extra/unusual questioning,

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pigpug Rookie

pigpug   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Japan
 Timeline
Posted

I'm thinking about travelling to the US on VWP too while our case is at NVC.

I read many successful stories but how about failed stories?

Would like to know how the conversation with the CBP went and what the cause of entry denial was.

Anyone?

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Cambridge2011 Contributor

Cambridge2011   3

Posted
Filed: Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

I relied on that information and didn't see my husband for a while. Decided to go just before Christmas no problems with immigration at all! Asked if I had a return ticket, when I had last been in the USA, when I had last seen my husband, and a couple of other questions and that was it!

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USCHE Contributor

USCHE   3

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Argentina
 Timeline
Posted

We (husband, son and I) traveled to the US for vacation on December 19/20 - We didn't have any problems and were not even questioned when we entered in Miami. The officer was very very nice. My husband has a tourist visa that he obtained before we underwent this process. Best of luck!

Started dating: August 24, 2007 heart.gif

Married: June 5, 2010

Baby: May 5, 2013 goofy.gif

Filed I 130: November 15, 2013

USCIS

NOA 1: November 21, 2013 (hard copy December 4, 2013)

NOA 2: July 8, 2014

NVC

Case Number assigned: July 8, 2014

AOS Fee Paid: July 9, 2014

IV Cover page received: September 16, 2014

IV Fee Paid: September 16, 2014

DS 260 filled out online and confirmation received: October 13, 2014

Checklist cover letter received: November 4, 2014

Documents sent: November 11, 2013

Documents received at NH: November 13, 2014 (Sent with attn. to DR not CMR)

Note: We filed with the Chicago Lockbox as we cannot do a DCF here in Argentina. dry.png

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