Ways to bring Ukrainian wife in to US while waiting for CR-1 Visa?

[Barry and Mila 5]

My wife and I were married in the US while she was here on a tourist visa. She is now back in Ukraine waiting for her CR-1. Currently paperwork is at NVC; I will shortly submit the DS-260.

She has asked me to check if there is any way she can come to the US and wait while her paperwork is processed, similar to the K-3 process. I think I know the answer, but I told her I would check in good faith and now I am doing so. Would appreciate any thoughts people have.

--Barry

[Boiler 45,486]

As she has a tourist visa she can visit.

Why did you simply not adjust her status?

[Ryan H 3,812]

***Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to Tourist Visas forum***

**Moderator hat off**

If her tourist visa is still valid, she can visit you, however, she would have to leave when her authorized stay expires.

[Barry and Mila 5]

She left before her tourist visa expired because she had to return to Ukraine for business reasons. Her tourist visa is no longer valid. Otherwise, yes even I could have figured out what to do :-).

This suggests to me that the thread still belongs in IR-1/CR-1 discussion forum, but naturally I'll defer to the wishes of the moderator.

[Boiler 45,486]

She can visit if we can get another tourist visa or just wait.

[Barry and Mila 5]

It's my understanding, based on other posts in other forums, that asking for another tourist visa is risky, expensive, and unlikely to succeed. She could be turned back at the border and we're out the money of the visa interview, the plane ticket, and of course the wasted time. Sorry, should have made it clear that I had considered that option. If, however, people think such a strategy might actually bear fruit, then I'd be curious to hear more.

[Boiler 45,486]

It's my understanding, based on other posts in other forums, that asking for another tourist visa is risky, expensive, and unlikely to succeed. She could be turned back at the border and we're out the money of the visa interview, the plane ticket, and of course the wasted time. Sorry, should have made it clear that I had considered that option. If, however, people think such a strategy might actually bear fruit, then I'd be curious to hear more.

Very unusual getting bounced at the POE with a fresh B Visa.

Can not remember seeing such a case for a legit visit.

Now getting a B is another matter, much easier it seems before you file to immigrate.

[RKD314 2]

If she applies for and is issued a B visa, then it should not be a problem. I really doubt that they'd turn her back at POE, other people on here have visited (it's a sticky on the forum I think) while in the IR-1/CR-1 process. It could depend though which stage of the process you're in; from what I've read on that thread, once you're through with the USCIS stage, and can show your NOA2, then visiting is not a problem.

My husband is a Ukrainian citizen who has a B visa valid until next year. It's looking unlikely that he'll have the IR-1 in hand until August or so. I have a job starting in June, so we plan to move to the US then. When asked at the border, he will explain that he is helping me move, and will then return for his visa interview (he will have a return ticket). We are already halfway through NVC, so he may even have an interview date by then. I think it will be fine, but I will update with how it goes.

[Barry and Mila 5]

Thank you, this is extremely helpful.