Spouse overseas for long time, how do I bring her here?

[VisaVee2k13 0]

Hello all,

Would appreciate any input or knowledge / advice anyone on here may have on my situation:

My wife came here a few years ago on a spousal Visa (she got her conditional green card which is good for 2 years). But before the 2 years was up and we file for Adjustment of Status, she had to go visit her family due to her father's illness (he got cancer). So she ended up staying there a long time (her father just recently passed away), but being in Syria, the turmoil over there made things very diffucult as she could not leave the country (most of her town got destroyued by gov't and some of her family members got killed as well).

So my question is, how do I get her over here now, what would we need to do, since her Green Card is expired - would we need to do the whole process all over again just like we did when we petitioned and get her over here originally?

Thanks much for any advice you can offer!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Either start over from scratch, or look into the "returning resident visa," which is for people that lost residency through no fault of their own.

[Boiler 45,519]

SB1 Visa

[Marco&Bettina 502]

OP, I'm sorry to hear about what happened to her family. Good luck.

[VisaVee2k13 0]

SB1 Visa

So what is teh 'SB1' Visa? Thanks!

[Boiler 45,519]

Either start over from scratch, or look into the "returning resident visa," which is for people that lost residency through no fault of their own.

This one.

[VisaVee2k13 0]

Thanks, I will try to go the route of the SB1, which I'm assuming would be faster....do you think I need to hire a lawyer for this? Or can it be done without one?....I also have to find out if the US Embassy is actually still open and operational in Damascus (Syria).....

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

It can be done without a lawyer if you are able to follow instructions and interpret them literally. Consulates in Syria are closed, I think cases are being rerouted to Jordan.

[Boiler 45,519]

You need the Conulate, it isn't.

[VisaVee2k13 0]

Oh so you are saying the consulate is closed, but the embassy is not?....is there a diffence?....routing to Jordan is great, it works good for me actually, don't have to risk my life going into Syria, that would not be good these days.....

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I'm pretty sure everything is closed, the US even expelled the Syrian ambassador and closed the Syrian embassy in the US as well.

You don't have to go to the interview.

I am pretty sure things are going through Jordan, but all the info you need will be on the appropriate embassy/consular webpages. Good luck.

[Boiler 45,519]

I thought it was Lebanon, a 10 second google would conform either or.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I thought it was Lebanon, a 10 second google would conform either or.

Yep, and I don't want extra homework, even 10 secs worth

[VisaVee2k13 0]

Thanks everyone, you have been so helpful, much appreciated.

[Mark88 183]

You can find good information on a SB-1 visa here:

http://germany.usembassy.gov/visa/iv/visacategories/returning_residents/

If you read more sources, it does seem these SB-1's are pretty hard to get though. You will probaly have to go through the whole green card process again.