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AmericaninLondon

Travel after receiving CR-1/IR-1 Visa without activating

By AmericaninLondon in Working & Traveling During US Immigration

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AmericaninLondon Rookie

AmericaninLondon   0

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Timeline
Posted

I am a US citizen living in London with my husband.  He has his visa interview for a CR-1 (will be an IR-1 when we enter) in about a month and if this goes well and it's issued (fingers crossed), we plan on moving about 6 weeks after that.

 

Situation is, if/when we are approved for his visa, he will need to travel to the US before entering with me on our official move day (the day he turns over his packet/gets his visa stamped).  It will be a turnaround trip of 2 nights only to take an exam and he'll then return to the UK (to his job) for another few weeks before we officially move.  Is this going to be an issue?  We could provide a letter from his job (resignation letter with end date), working rota showing he's got surgeries scheduled, lease end date being later, proof of exam, short hotel stay and tickets for our actual move date (where he'll travel with me and our newborn), etc?

 

 

 

 

AstroCanada Community Regular

AstroCanada   206

Posted
Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted
5 minutes ago, AmericaninLondon said:

I am a US citizen living in London with my husband.  He has his visa interview for a CR-1 (will be an IR-1 when we enter) in about a month and if this goes well and it's issued (fingers crossed), we plan on moving about 6 weeks after that.

 

Situation is, if/when we are approved for his visa, he will need to travel to the US before entering with me on our official move day (the day he turns over his packet/gets his visa stamped).  It will be a turnaround trip of 2 nights only to take an exam and he'll then return to the UK (to his job) for another few weeks before we officially move.  Is this going to be an issue?  We could provide a letter from his job (resignation letter with end date), working rota showing he's got surgeries scheduled, lease end date being later, proof of exam, short hotel stay and tickets for our actual move date (where he'll travel with me and our newborn), etc?

From what I understand:

1) He won't be able to enter the US without activating his green card.  Once the visa is issued, that's the only way he can enter the US.

2) It's not a problem if he enters, leaves, and comes back.  They will stamp his visa and the endorsement makes that function as his temporary green card.  

I-130

May 14, 2016: Sent I-130 Package to Chicago Lockbox

Oct 21, 2016: NOA2 Notice by App (LIN)

 

NVC

Nov 8, 2016: NVC Received

Nov 16, 2016: Case Number Assigned

Nov 18, 2016: DS-261 submitted and AOS fee paid

Dec 5, 2016: NVC Scan Date

Dec 6, 2016: NVC 3 N/A and Case Complete on Phone [1 day later!]

Dec 13, 2016: NVC CC e-mail

Jan 23, 2017: Interview...Approved!

 

Removing Conditions

Nov 2, 2018: Sent I-751 to Arizona Lockbox 

March 3, 2020: Approved by CSC

 

N-400

Feb 2, 2020: File N-400 online

Feb 25, 2020: Biometrics

 

 

TabeaK Proficient

TabeaK   517

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

Won't work. Once a visa is in the passport, the ESTA is null and void.

K1 time line

 


I-129F sent: 12/23/2014
NOA-1: 12/29/2014
NOA-2: 06/05/2015 (158 days)
NOA-2 hardcopy: 06/11/2015 (6 days post NOA-2, 164 days total)
Sent to NVC: 06/16/2015 (11 days post NOA-2, 169 days total)
NVC receive: 06/25/2015 (20 days post NOA-2, 178 days total)
NVC case no: 06/30/2015 (25 days post NOA-2, 183 days total)
NVC left: 07/02/2015 (27 days post NOA-2, 185 days total)
Case Ready: 07/07/2015 (32 days post NOA-2, 190 days total)
submitted DS-160, paid visa fee.: 07/21/2015 (46 days post NOA-2, 204 days total)
Packet 3 sent: 07/25/2015 (50 days post NOA-2, 209 days total)
Pack 4 received: 07/30/2015 (55 days post NOA-2, 214 days total)
Medical: 09/17/2015 Interview: 09/23/2015 (108 days post NOA-2, 268 days total)
Interview Result: Approved Administrative Processing: 09/23/2015
CEAC Status Issued: 09/24/2015
Visa in hand: 09/28/2015
POE: 12/29/2015 Wedding: 01/11/2016


AOS Time Line

 

AOS package mailed: 01/13/2016
AOS package received: 01/20/2016 (day 1)
AOS NOA-1 text/email: 01/23/2016 (day 3), actual NOA-1 date 01/22/2016 (day 2)
AOS Fingerprint fee received: 01/22/2016 (day 2)
AOS check cashed: 01-25-2016 (day 5) Got 6 month NJ driver's license: 01-25-2016
3x NOA-1 hardcopies: 02/03/2016 (day 14)

Biometrics letter: 02/05/2016 (day 16) Biometrics appt (Elizabeth, NJ): 02/17/2016 (day 28)

EAD and AP approved email/txt: 03/29/2016 (day 67)

GC approval email/text: 04/04/2016 (day 74)

I-797 for I-765/I-131 in mail: 04/04/2016 (day 74)

EAD/AP delivered: 04/05/216 (day 75)

GC card being mailed status update: 04/07/16 (day 77)

GC received: 04/11/16 (day 84 post AOS NOA-1)

DONE WITH USCIS FOR 21 MONTHS!

ROC Window opens: 01/04/2018

 

ROC Time Line
ROC package mailed to Vermont 01/04/2018
ROC package received at Vermont 01/08/2018 (day 0)
Check cashed: 01/16/2018 (day 8 )
NOA-1 date: 01/09/2018 (day 1)
NOA-1 received: 01/16/2018 (day 8 )
Biometrics notice received: 02/09/2018 (day 32)
Biometrics appointment: 02/23/2018 (day 46)
Received 18-month extension letter: 08/13/2018 (day 209)
ROC Approved: 03/09/2019 (day 425)
Card Received: 03/16/2019  (day 432)
  • 4 weeks later...
AmericaninLondon Rookie

AmericaninLondon   0

Posted
Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Thought I'd update on this as I haven't found any clear answers anywhere else.  We had our interview and it was successful.  Very simple and streamlined process at the London Embassy.  We asked the agent about traveling round trip after approval and before activating (as I couldn't go with him due to my pregnancy stage) and he was clear that he could NOT.  Simply put, the next time my husband enters the US it must be with me (as I am his sponsor; this does NOT apply to sponsors that are already in the US) as the visa MUST be activated at that time.

KierenHby Experienced

KierenHby   899

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

Makes sense.  Once IR\CR1 is approved, he's no longer eligible for ESTA. 

USCIS

January 16, 2015 I-130 Mailed, Chi lockbox January 20, 2015 Priority Date, January 21, 2015 NOA1 notice date, Assigned VSC, January 23, 2015 Check Cashed, electronically March 5, 2015 NOA2

NVC

March 27, 2015 NVC received April 6, 2015 Case#, IIN# assigned April 8, 2015 Paid AOS + IV fee Invoices May 5, 2015 AOS + IV package submitted May 11, 2015 Scan Date

June 11, 2015 DS-260 submitted June 25, 2015 False checklist (for ds260).. hello? June 30, 2015 Answered checklist Aug 5, 2015 Escalated to Supervisor review Aug 13, 2015 Case Complete

Consular

Sept 10, 2015 Interview Scheduled Sept 11, 2015 P4 Letter received Sept 21, 2015 file In transit from NVC Sept 23, 2015 file at Embassy

Sept 28, 2015 Medical Oct 14, 2015 Biometrics Oct 15, 2015 Interview (Approved) Oct 19, 2015 IV visa Issued Oct 23, 2015 Passport Pickup

POE

Nov 2, 2015 Entered the US Nov 16, 2015 Applied for SSN, walk-in Nov 20, 2015 Social Security Card recd Jan 15, 2016 GC received

 
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