Removing conditions and out of country days

[R&OC 375]

Dear all,

 

my husband and I are trying to figure out a good way of dealing with our dual careers.

 

He petitioned my CR1 visa (not yet finalized but at NVC stage). He is in the military and I am a tenured professor. We have no idea where is next duty station could possibly be. It may even be in my "home" country and there is some likelihood that we may end up going back to where I already live.

 

So, with four kids, we currently depend on two incomes. With the CR-1 coming into the final stage we are scratching our heads to figure out what the best course of action is.

 

Keep the job in my home country and commute. My actual teaching load is manageable but I would still have to be present in 5 months a year and the research and grading can be done anywhere from the world. Luckily, as soon as I have the Greencard, I am going to file for a research sabbatical and stay in the US for ten months. By that time, we should know my husbands next duty station and I can either extend the sabbatical to a five year sabbatical, or alternatively continue working where I am already situated because my husband my be able to get orders in the vicinity, or find a job in the US (which I will eventually do anyway once his military career is over in 4 years).

 

I am concerned, however, that the stateside presence is not enough to remove conditions after two years. I will be on his next orders and I believe the military has exemptions for oversea orders BUT what are the rules if he gets transferred within the US? Is there anything we need to consider? What if I have to commute 5 months out of country and seven months a year inside the US for the next two years? Is that an option and be enough US presence? All our finances are mixed and mingled, our property is co-owned, will/testament/life-insurance etc is in our names together but the US presence makes me wonder if keeping my job is actually an option?

 

Would we be able to remove conditions? Keeping in mind that right after receiving the GC I would go into a sabbatical and spend about ten months in the US anyway (minus family parties such as weddings etc)...

 

We just don't want to make a mistake.

Edited February 22, 2018 by R&OC