CR1 POE Help

[OuseyB 1]

Hi,

 

Lurked for a while put couldn't find the answer to my query. Hope somebody has some insights on the below. Please feel free to move this mods if its in the wrong place.

 

I'm a UK citizen married to a USC. We both live in Korea and used Seoul DCF. I now have my CR1 and we are working out the best approach for first entry.

 

The situation:

• I am applying for jobs in the US which I want to start mid-July
• My wife (the petitioner) is working in Seoul until mid-June and that's when we will be fully moving back stateside.
• I know that not having a stamped CR-1 or SSN will pose a challenge in accepting job offers and I know I won't necessarily get an SSN prior to mid-July if I enter mid-June
• I want to enter before then to get the ball rolling. I then want to return to Seoul to wrap up our lives here.
• Neither of us have any vacation days left due to some unexpected personal events so the most we can spare is a Friday-Sunday redeye to Honolulu
• Our permanent address in the US is in California.

 

Questions:

• In the I-130 we argued that my wife had never given up domicile and provided evidence. We had been gone less than 2 years so we submitted bank statements, credit cards, proof of frequent trips back to the US (4-5) and contract of employment showing it was temporary
• On the basis of above would my wife have to accompany me on my first entry?
• If I/we book a return flight from Seoul to Honolulu with only one day layover, are we likely to be challenged on our plans? Will I be rejected entry because I/we are not going on to California to 're-establish' residency (or does the bullet-point above make this a non-issue)

 

I guess we are trying to flex the system so that is why it feels a bit suspect. All for the right reasons....but still. Any advice on this approach would be appreciated. Would love to hear from people who did first entry alone, dropped in for a day just to activate, or DCF and entered.

 

All the best and thanks!

 

[OuseyB 1]

As an aside, if anyone comes across this thread looking for tips on DCF Seoul, I posted my experience as a reply in this thread.

 

[JFH 12,190]

Your wife must enter with you or before you immigrate. You cannot enter alone if she is not already in the USA. 

 

Where you enter is irrelevant. Any POE can be used. CBP won't see your ticket or know anything of your travel plans, unless you tell them. They will take the embassy pack from you, stamp your passport and send you on your way. Once you're in the country where you go is up to you. When I arrived last December my POE was Las Vegas and we had a few days in a hotel there before going to Washington state (and even that we went to Spokane first to see family members before finally getting to Seattle 10 days after I arrived). Perfectly fine. Many people have entered, activated their status and then returned to their previous home country to wrap up affairs, pack, ship, sell a house and so on. 

Edited May 11, 2017 by JFH

[OuseyB 1]

Thanks for your reply JFH. Really useful - sounds like a night on Oahu is the way to go before back to Seoul. I'm sure I can persuade my wife to come with me .
You mention that the CBP will not know my travel plans unless I tell them. Is this a question you were asked when you entered via Las Vegas?

Cheers!

[OuseyB 1]

Though I'm also reading that Guam might be an option. Pretty much half the price and less than half the travel time!

There seemed to be a lot of stories in 2014/2015 but I haven't seen any posts about successful entry via Guam POE in the last couple of years. Has anybody immigrated via Guam recently who could offer some tips/reassurance that this is a good way to go for a CR-1 activation?

 

Thanks!

[Soup Dragon 104]

There is no reason for CBP to ask future travel plans when you enter on your CR-1.  They will take the package, stamp your passport with the I-551 and then most likely someone will escort you to secondary inspection where you will get your fingerprints taken etc, and then you can go on your way.