Converting CR1 to IR1 on 2-year anniversary

[Jon & Ygritte 178]

If I travel to the US on the day of our 2 year anniversary, can I then convert my CR1 visa to IR1 visa at port of entry, or do I have to wait til the day after our 2 year anniversary? My husband thinks there's a risk convertion to IR1 won't be approved on the very day of our anniversary.

[JFH 12,190]

You don’t convert the visa. It’s the same visa but you will receive a 10-year GC in the mail instead of a 2-year one. 

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

24 minutes ago, Jon & Ygritte said:

If I travel to the US on the day of our 2 year anniversary, can I then convert my CR1 visa to IR1 visa at port of entry, or do I have to wait til the day after our 2 year anniversary? My husband thinks there's a risk convertion to IR1 won't be approved on the very day of our anniversary.

I agree with your husband. Make it one or two days later to be 100% sure. There was a guy who applied at 2:00 AM on the first day that he become eligible to apply for citizenship. It took them a year to his application and they denied it. 

[geowrian 22,337]

It should be fine, but why create any extra opportunity for a mistake?? Wait a couple days and make your life easier.

[Jon & Ygritte 178]

We got married on my birthday, so I was looking forward to immigrate on that day and celebrate it with him, but I don't want to take any risk of missing out on a 10 year green card instead of a 2 year one of course.

[JFH 12,190]

27 minutes ago, Jon & Ygritte said:

We got married on my birthday, so I was looking forward to immigrate on that day and celebrate it with him, but I don't want to take any risk of missing out on a 10 year green card instead of a 2 year one of course.

We were in a similar position. We married on my husband’s birthday so it would have been nice to emigrate on his birthday/our second wedding anniversary but we didn’t even get the visa until a few months later. It could be the same for you - the process speeds up and slows down all the time so it’s hard to predict when you will have the visa in your hands.  

[Jon & Ygritte 178]

2 minutes ago, JFH said:

We were in a similar position. We married on my husband’s birthday so it would have been nice to emigrate on his birthday/our second wedding anniversary but we didn’t even get the visa until a few months later. It could be the same for you - the process speeds up and slows down all the time so it’s hard to predict when you will have the visa in your hands.  

I do hope we get the visa before mid-March though! We have PD July 19th...

[carmel34 3,622]

11 hours ago, Jon & Ygritte said:

I do hope we get the visa before mid-March though! We have PD July 19th...

Once Nebraska approves your petition (I feel so badly for you having to wait almost a year already and we''re done-- the visa was issued yesterday), it goes SO much faster--it took four months for us from NOA2 to the visa being issued.  So if your petition gets approved in July, you could have the visa in hand by November or December if all goes smoothly at NVC and consulate abroad.  I guess what you're thinking of doing is delaying US entry until your March 2020 2nd wedding anniversary to avoid ROC--of course that's up to you, but I would rather be living together for those four months and file the paperwork for ROC but you'll have to decide what's best for your situation.  My husband's visa was just approved but he wants to wait two months before moving to the US in order to wrap up his affairs in Brazil, every situation is different, some get the visa and want to immigrate immediately and get on the first flight to the US.  I will say this--once the visa is issued, waiting a couple of months, or in your case maybe four months until your 2-year wedding anniversary, does not seem so difficult anymore since you're then in control of the process and the date you choose to immigrate.  The shift of control to you makes a huge difference in reducing the emotional pain of being apart.  Good luck, you're almost at the end of this long wait to finally be together!  Hopefully you've had a chance for lots of visits.

[Jon & Ygritte 178]

3 hours ago, carmel34 said:

Once Nebraska approves your petition (I feel so badly for you having to wait almost a year already and we''re done-- the visa was issued yesterday), it goes SO much faster--it took four months for us from NOA2 to the visa being issued.  So if your petition gets approved in July, you could have the visa in hand by November or December if all goes smoothly at NVC and consulate abroad.  I guess what you're thinking of doing is delaying US entry until your March 2020 2nd wedding anniversary to avoid ROC--of course that's up to you, but I would rather be living together for those four months and file the paperwork for ROC but you'll have to decide what's best for your situation.  My husband's visa was just approved but he wants to wait two months before moving to the US in order to wrap up his affairs in Brazil, every situation is different, some get the visa and want to immigrate immediately and get on the first flight to the US.  I will say this--once the visa is issued, waiting a couple of months, or in your case maybe four months until your 2-year wedding anniversary, does not seem so difficult anymore since you're then in control of the process and the date you choose to immigrate.  The shift of control to you makes a huge difference in reducing the emotional pain of being apart.  Good luck, you're almost at the end of this long wait to finally be together!  Hopefully you've had a chance for lots of visits.

Thank you. It helps hearing the experience of those ahead of us. My husband is coming to visit this month for the third time in a year, this time bringing his two sons who have never been to a foreign country before! I'm planning to spend two months this fall in the US. So we are spoiled with being able to see each other a lot. We also talk on the phone every day for 2-3 hours. We've been in a long distance relationship since 2005, so it is so nice to finally be close to living together.

Edited June 15, 2019 by Jon & Ygritte

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

You married 3/2018 and applied 7/2018

looking to about 12 months for interview puts pretty close to NOA2 now

and an interview before end of this year

since the visa must be used within 6 months of the medical exam ,  cutting things close

the travel would have to be on or after March 2020 , medical would need to be after the 16th of September 

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[Zack36 22]

Well my wife's visa class was CR1 but NVC changed it to IR1 yesterday.since we have been married for over two years now,still didn't interview her yet.since her interview got canceled due to covid19 back in April.her new interview date is in October of this year.so lucky for us NVC changed her Visa class from CR 1 to IR 1.

[Chancy 6,241]

15 hours ago, Zack36 said:

Well my wife's visa class was CR1 but NVC changed it to IR1 yesterday.since we have been married for over two years now,still didn't interview her yet.since her interview got canceled due to covid19 back in April.her new interview date is in October of this year.so lucky for us NVC changed her Visa class from CR 1 to IR 1.

 

Case conversion from CR1 to IR1 happens automatically for all applicants who have been married to their petitioner for more than 2 years before their visa is issued.  Also, CR1 visa holders can get a 10-year green card if they enter the US after their 2nd wedding anniversary before their visa expires.

 

[Zack36 22]

5 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

Case conversion from CR1 to IR1 happens automatically for all applicants who have been married to their petitioner for more than 2 years before their visa is issued.  Also, CR1 visa holders can get a 10-year green card if they enter the US after their 2nd wedding anniversary before their visa expires.

 

Yeah but I was just sharing cause I have read some posts on here,where some couple were married for over two years and by the time they got interviewed.they were still classified as CR 1 after entering the US.

[geowrian 22,337]

5 minutes ago, Zack36 said:

Yeah but I was just sharing cause I have read some posts on here,where some couple were married for over two years and by the time they got interviewed.they were still classified as CR 1 after entering the US.

Mistakes happen. But they can be fixed via an I-90.