Do we have to move to America once IR-1 process is finished?

[Lenhey 5]

You are confused. You can travel outside any time during the 2 years of your conditional GC as long as you are spending more time in the US than out. Where did you get that idea? My husband traveled internationally for both business and pleasure while he had his conditional GC without any issues whatsoever.

Like I wrote earlier I must have misunderstood what I´ve read before and that I´m glad to have it cleared up.

[Sukie 1,463]

Ryan,

You have a little time to make some decisions. Your spouse will have six months from the date of her medical exam to enter the US. You are still waiting on NOA2, so there is about a 3-4 month process at NVC for you to go through, then a wait for an interview. So you are already at about a half-year out so far. Then you can delay entry to the US for another, say, 5 months. So you are now at about a year from today. Your spouse comes to the US and initiates her visa, returns to Japan, and can stay safely for another 5 months. But THEN, she must stay in the US for at least 6 or 7 months. An LPR cannot be out of the US for more than 6 months in a calendar year without getting a re-entry permit.

Perhaps that will give the two of you a chance to figure out what to do. If your spouse initiates her IR-1/CR-1 visa, and then stays out of the US for more than six months (without advance parole), her Green Card will be considered abandoned.

Good luck!

Sukie in NY

[kris&me 572]

not sure what 9 or 10 months you are counting but when visa is issued you must travel within 6 months of the medical exam

[NikLR 13,227]

Thank you for your replies!

How does one go about putting their IR-1 visa process on hold?

Thank you.

Once your i-130 petition is approved it will be sent to the National Visa Center. You can gradually send items to them, leaving up to a year between contact. This way you can drag out the process several years until you're ready to move. If you do not keep in contact your case will sent to the national records center. An approved i-130 does not expire. When ready you can send the, I-824 and fee to get the case reactivated.

[Sukie 1,463]

not sure what 9 or 10 months you are counting but when visa is issued you must travel within 6 months of the medical exam

The OP doesn't even have the NOA2 yet. If they have just submitted the I-130, they've got another 9-10 months until the interview.

The key, as you state above, is that the beneficiary must arrive in the US within 6 months of the date of the medical exam.

Sukie in NY

Edited July 9, 2016 by Sukie

[bigdog 376]

Find a plan that works for you and stick to it, there is no easy way to get this stuff done without one. Good Luck.

[ryanwmarks 1]

Just want to say thanks again for all the help. I suppose we will wait it out and move forward with each step at a pace that suits are near-future plans regarding careers, having kids, etc.

Thanks!

-Ryan