Military spouse intending to accompany husband overseas , not on orders

[Asiula 15]

I came to use in February 2017 on K1 visa. I got my conditional GC on March 6th 2018. My husband is a military and recently got an assignment for a year in Europe. This is an unaccompanied assignment so family is not on orders. However we plan to go together as a family from many reasons : my husband can live off base, I don’t work ( I haven’t been working since I moved here), we have a 3 month old baby,m and I don’t have any other family here. 

My question Is : how will year long stay abroad affect my return to USA? Do I need reentry visa although I am accompanying us military although I am not on orders? Will I still be able to apply for citizenship after 3-5 years? 

 

I am inply afraid i will how problems with reentering USA after a year long stay abroad. Also the planned return is in October 2019 ( my GC expires in March 2020).

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

7 minutes ago, Asiula said:

I came to use in February 2017 on K1 visa. I got my conditional GC on March 6th 2018. My husband is a military and recently got an assignment for a year in Europe. This is an unaccompanied assignment so family is not on orders. However we plan to go together as a family from many reasons : my husband can live off base, I don’t work ( I haven’t been working since I moved here), we have a 3 month old baby,m and I don’t have any other family here. 

My question Is : how will year long stay abroad affect my return to USA? Do I need reentry visa although I am accompanying us military although I am not on orders? Will I still be able to apply for citizenship after 3-5 years? 

 

I am inply afraid i will how problems with reentering USA after a year long stay abroad. Also the planned return is in October 2019 ( my GC expires in March 2020).

 

Unsure of exactly what you will need to re-enter the US, definately a re-entry permit as you will be outside the US for more than 6 months.

 

Also, yes it will affect you timeline for citizenship as you will have to make up that time out of the country. Most likely will have to wait til 4-5 years at that point instead of the 3 years.

 

Have to make sure you have proper documentation or even visit back to the US otherwise you could be seen as having abandoned your residency.

 

Just "following" someone in the military doesn't give you any privilege. As former military myself, without you on the orders, everything you choose to do is on you, cost wise and all. Not to sound harsh; but that is the reality of being with someone in the military.

 

 

Edited August 23, 2018 by Ben&Zian

[Crazy Cat 41,984]

I would think getting a re-entry permit would be a wise action to take.....

[kris&me 572]

Are u sure this is a deplorment that allows u to follow?

do u live in base housing?  if so,  i would not give it up

i know it can be lonely here but what u plan sounds risky and will affect naturalization later and possible reentry now 

others wlll know as i am no expert on reentry but i hope u consider all things

my son was 12 years in the service and many deploments his wife could not follow

also pay is cut if military houses and feeds the service man by his share for these 

[TNJ17 1,329]

Definitely gonna need reentry permit or they’ll consider you abandoned your GC. It will also add a year to your citizenship eligibility. Make sure you get everything you need to come back before you leave because then you’ll be stuck having to apply for CR1. 

[debbiedoo 2,339]

honestly, i would stay put.

 

if youre not on the orders, nothing is guaranteed and you jeopardize future naturalization.

 

stay put, make friends and make a new psuedo family to keep you company and support you emotionally while he is gone.

 

welcome to being a military wife

 

 

[Asiula 15]

2 hours ago, kris&me said:

Are u sure this is a deplorment that allows u to follow?

do u live in base housing?  if so,  i would not give it up

i know it can be lonely here but what u plan sounds risky and will affect naturalization later and possible reentry now 

others wlll know as i am no expert on reentry but i hope u consider all things

my son was 12 years in the service and many deploments his wife could not follow

also pay is cut if military houses and feeds the service man by his share for these 

Thank you for your input. The only reason why the assignment is unaccompanied is that the base personnel has been reduced. The school has been closed so anyway not many people decide to go for a full assignment with a family. We will live outside base - my husband’s position doesn’t require living on base. His boss confirmed that there won’t be any problem with bringing family ( there are some military people with families on “extended visit”).

I just checked the reentry permit conditions - so I have to apply for this if I am going to stay abroad over a year.  And now we talked with my husband that waiting longer for naturalization is not a big problem. Before moving here I didn’t consider to be a citizen, just wanted to share life with my husband. But as we have a baby - I would like to have the same status as my son. 

[Asiula 15]

2 hours ago, TNJ17 said:

Definitely gonna need reentry permit or they’ll consider you abandoned your GC. It will also add a year to your citizenship eligibility. Make sure you get everything you need to come back before you leave because then you’ll be stuck having to apply for CR1. 

Thank you very much for an advise. It seems if I stay abroad less than a year I don’t need reentry permit. Just my naturalization will take longer. 

[Asiula 15]

3 hours ago, missileman said:

I would think getting a re-entry permit would be a wise action to take.....

Considering the reentry permit. Probably I wouldn’t need it if I stay abroad less than a year. We are leaving in October and return early October next year.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

4 hours ago, kris&me said:

Are u sure this is a deplorment that allows u to follow?

do u live in base housing?  if so,  i would not give it up

i know it can be lonely here but what u plan sounds risky and will affect naturalization later and possible reentry now 

others wlll know as i am no expert on reentry but i hope u consider all things

my son was 12 years in the service and many deploments his wife could not follow

also pay is cut if military houses and feeds the service man by his share for these 

She has already stated that it is an unaccompanied tour which means they will not be on orders at all. 

[Roel 7,192]

4 hours ago, Asiula said:

Considering the reentry permit. Probably I wouldn’t need it if I stay abroad less than a year. We are leaving in October and return early October next year.

I'd get reentry permit anyway. Being away for a year, can give USCIS enough reason to doubt your residency. 

 

And since you're not in orders they will treat you like any other green card holder who might have abandoned residency. 

[Roel 7,192]

Just wanted to add - you might want to start working on that reentry permit ASAP - since you need to get it before you leave US.

Edited August 24, 2018 by Roel

[Crazy Cat 41,984]

7 hours ago, Roel said:

I'd get reentry permit anyway. Being away for a year, can give USCIS enough reason to doubt your residency. 

 

And since you're not in orders they will treat you like any other green card holder who might have abandoned residency. 

Exactly.........

[CEE53147 559]

IMO, with an infant you really need to consider the availability of services and supplies when there are not family support services readily available. Consider especially where you will find a pediatrician, a child care center , full service exchange, ...

 

Many individuals remain at home while their military spouses are deployed or are on unaccompanied tours. The military on many bases is like a large extended family in both crisis and for fun activities.

[Asiula 15]

1 hour ago, CEE53147 said:

IMO, with an infant you really need to consider the availability of services and supplies when there are not family support services readily available. Consider especially where you will find a pediatrician, a child care center , full service exchange, ...

 

Many individuals remain at home while their military spouses are deployed or are on unaccompanied tours. The military on many bases is like a large extended family in both crisis and for fun activities.

There are local services I can use ( I.e hospital) so I am not worried about well being of my baby.  Moreover I am SAHM so I don’t need a child care. Currently we don’t live on base.