URGENT: IR-1 POE Without My Spouse???

[Suze1 366]

Not sure what option you think is best, but here are some more thoughts if Option #1 seems to be where you are leaning -

 

If money is really tight, and you must reach American soil proper, and you want to be as economical as you can, consider this -

Book the least expensive round trip flight to anywhere in America for your wife, for arrival at least the day before you are due to arrive.

Once you arrive, she can return to UAE immediately with the return portion of the ticket.

It seems to me you do not have to fly to the same city, or even the same day, as your wife, as long as she is in the US WHEN you arrive. I think that is all that matters. 

And try to change your wife's original existing flight to America to a date after which your child can travel.

 

Just trying to be helpful here....since thinking under times of such duress can be more than challenging.

Best wishes to you and the family,

 

Suze1

 

Edited February 8, 2020 by Suze1

[Timona 4,208]

2 hours ago, Siwady said:

Thank you all for all the great responses and ideas.

 

Our current plan is for both of us to buy tickets through the pre-clearance in Abu Dhabi. Go as early as we can, I go in first and see how it goes with the CBP Officer, if he asks about my wife, I will explain the situation and show him all the proof I have. If he agrees to let me through, my wife will cancel her trip and go back to my daughter, if not, she'll follow me on the spot and both of us travel to the US then she boards the next flight back.

 

It's so crappy that I have to let my wife spend around 40 hours of flights and airports, just to prove that we are actually moving to the US as a family.

 

Guess you gotta do what you gotta do. Better than having to go through the application process all over again. Especially that my UAE visa has already been cancelled since we were supposed to leave the country 2 days ago

 

I see a problem with the above. What happens after you explain your situation, he refused to barge then you're like, " Ooo well, my wife's in line behind me anyway." Won't it look questionable that you're trying to game/ cheat the system? 

[Timona 4,208]

I don't know much about pre-clearance. But should you manage to pre-clear solo in Abu-Dhabi, doesn't one have to go through CBP in US too being that they're not US citizens? I passed through CBP at IAH. Nonetheless, if that's so, regardless of whether you had been pre-cleared, what happens when CBP in US questions why your wife didn't tow along with you? 

 

My advice, if you manage to pre-clear solo in Abu-Dhabi, just make sure you have a note in the system to help you,  should you be questioned in US. 

 

Hopefully, your plan works. But thinking about it, an individual gets a ban for overstaying even by one day. They'll tell you it's your fault and you shouldn't have booked your flight last minute. Your situation is akin to this. The Visa was issued 6 months ago, therefore, it was your own doing to stay all this while there. This is probably the reason as to why they have already refused to extend your visa (This was said humbly. Don't take it that I was being rude).

 

My best advise: get the cheapest flight for your wife tomorrow and stop wasting the little days you still have trying to find a loophole. Time.isnt your friend at the moment. Let her travel, rest a day and go back to Abu-Dhabi. Immediately she lands in Abu-Dhabi, take off a few hours later. Trying to play Tom and Jerry game with immigration might burn you significantly. 

 

Edit-and since you already cancelled your Abu Dhabi visa, don't forget to get a new one for her. 

 

Tell us how it goes. 

Edited February 8, 2020 by Timona

[Suze1 366]

@Timona If his wife is a US Citizen she will not need a visa for Abu Dhabi, unless something has changed recently in UAE, as far as I recall when last there? 

 

Before booking anything, speak with the authorities on the ground, to find out/confirm as much as possible. Do not wait till the day-of to find out what might happen. What will likely happen is likely find-out-able right now. 

See my earlier comment.

[NikLR 13,232]

5 hours ago, Suze1 said:

Not sure what option you think is best, but here are some more thoughts if Option #1 seems to be where you are leaning -

 

If money is really tight, and you must reach American soil proper, and you want to be as economical as you can, consider this -

Book the least expensive round trip flight to anywhere in America for your wife, for arrival at least the day before you are due to arrive.

Once you arrive, she can return to UAE immediately with the return portion of the ticket.

It seems to me you do not have to fly to the same city, or even the same day, as your wife, as long as she is in the US WHEN you arrive. I think that is all that matters. 

And try to change your wife's original existing flight to America to a date after which your child can travel.

 

Just trying to be helpful here....since thinking under times of such duress can be more than challenging.

Best wishes to you and the family,

 

Suze1

 

It would cost money to get the name on the ticket changed.  Most airlines are pretty picky about that.  But it may be a cheaper charge than a whole ticket so it doesn't hurt to look into for sure! 

 

5 hours ago, Timona said:

I don't know much about pre-clearance. But should you manage to pre-clear solo in Abu-Dhabi, doesn't one have to go through CBP in US too being that they're not US citizens? I passed through CBP at IAH. Nonetheless, if that's so, regardless of whether you had been pre-cleared, what happens when CBP in US questions why your wife didn't tow along with you? 

 

My advice, if you manage to pre-clear solo in Abu-Dhabi, just make sure you have a note in the system to help you,  should you be questioned in US. 

 

Hopefully, your plan works. But thinking about it, an individual gets a ban for overstaying even by one day. They'll tell you it's your fault and you shouldn't have booked your flight last minute. Your situation is akin to this. The Visa was issued 6 months ago, therefore, it was your own doing to stay all this while there. This is probably the reason as to why they have already refused to extend your visa (This was said humbly. Don't take it that I was being rude).

 

My best advise: get the cheapest flight for your wife tomorrow and stop wasting the little days you still have trying to find a loophole. Time.isnt your friend at the moment. Let her travel, rest a day and go back to Abu-Dhabi. Immediately she lands in Abu-Dhabi, take off a few hours later. Trying to play Tom and Jerry game with immigration might burn you significantly. 

 

Edit-and since you already cancelled your Abu Dhabi visa, don't forget to get a new one for her. 

 

Tell us how it goes. 

Pre-clearance IS the CBP.  It's going through customs and immigration before you travel.  Most Canadian airports have it which is why I'm pretty familiar with it. The OP already knows where the mistakes were made.  We don't need to beat a dead horse. 

[Suze1 366]

8 minutes ago, NikLR said:

It would cost money to get the name on the ticket changed.  Most airlines are pretty picky about that.  But it may be a cheaper charge than a whole ticket so it doesn't hurt to look into for sure! 

What name change on what ticket are you referring to?

(Yes, they are definitely picky about changing a name.)

[NikLR 13,232]

18 minutes ago, Suze1 said:

What name change on what ticket are you referring to?

(Yes, they are definitely picky about changing a name.)

If the wife uses his return ticket?

[Suze1 366]

15 minutes ago, NikLR said:

If the wife uses his return ticket?

Not at all!!!

 

1) She buys the cheapest new round trip ticket to any place in the US proper (cheapest ticket to US) with arrival before him (at least with enough time for the system to reflect her presence in the US before his arrival).

2) He uses his existing ticket to fly to the US as scheduled.

3) She uses that same ticket she has to return to UAE AFTER her husband arrives.

4) She also would change the date of her existing ticket to leave UAE at a time after doctors think the baby can travel.

 

No name changes anywhere.

 

She just needs to be in the US when he arrives. That says she/they can shop for the cheapest ticket to ANY US location. It does not need to be where they planned on ending up.

SHE JUST NEEDS TO GET TO AMERICA FIRST.

And then she returns with the same ticket.

 

And then uses the date-changed original/existing ticket (if possible) to finally return to the US, when the baby is good to travel.

 

Edited February 9, 2020 by Suze1

[NikLR 13,232]

6 minutes ago, Suze1 said:

Not at all!!!

 

1) She buys the cheapest new round trip ticket to any place in the US proper (cheapest ticket to US) with arrival before him (at least with enough time for the system to reflect her presence in the US before his arrival).

2) He uses his existing ticket to fly to the US as scheduled.

3) She uses that same ticket she has to return to UAE AFTER her husband arrives.

4) She also would change the date of her existing ticket to leave UAE at a time after doctors think the baby can travel.

 

No name changes anywhere.

 

She just needs to be in the US when he arrives. That says she/they can shop for the cheapest ticket to ANY US location. It does not need to be where they planned on ending up. JUST GET TO AMERICA FIRST. And then she returns with the same ticket.

And then uses the date-changed existing ticket (if possible) to finally return to the US, when the baby is good to travel.

 

Ah I understand better now.  Thank you for explaining! 

[Suze1 366]

Sure thing, @NikLR

You guys/gals do a FABULOUS job of helping folks.

Cheers.

[Timona 4,208]

52 minutes ago, Suze1 said:

@Timona If his wife is a US Citizen she will not need a visa for Abu Dhabi, unless something has changed recently in UAE, as far as I recall when last there? 

 

Before booking anything, speak with the authorities on the ground, to find out/confirm as much as possible. Do not wait till the day-of to find out what might happen. What will likely happen is likely find-out-able right now. 

See my earlier comment.

@Suze1 Apparently you do need a Visa now. He also mentioned he was an expat. 

[Suze1 366]

"You do need a Visa now."...you say.

Who is YOU? US citizens, which the wife is? 

US citizens now need a visa to the UAE? Really? When did that happen?

And expat can be from any country. Not sure how that matters, actually.

 

He leaves and does not return. SHE, the US Citizen wife, returns, WITHOUT NEED FOR A VISA, as far as I recall.

 

Edited February 9, 2020 by Suze1

[Timona 4,208]

58 minutes ago, NikLR said:

Pre-clearance IS the CBP.  It's going through customs and immigration before you travel.  Most Canadian airports have it which is why I'm pretty familiar with it. The OP already knows where the mistakes were made.  We don't need to beat a dead horse. 

I wasn't trying to beat him. Apologies to him if it comes out as such. 

 

I passed through Dubai and was still screened at IAH. Anyway, no worries.

[Suze1 366]

6 minutes ago, Timona said:

I wasn't trying to beat him. Apologies to him if it comes out as such. 

 

I passed through Dubai and was still screened at IAH. Anyway, no worries.

 

This reflects our experience....rafiki yangu.

 

https://www.uae-embassy.org/services-resources/visas-passports-travel-uae

Visas & Passports for Travel to the UAE

US citizens with a US passport that is valid for more than six months do not need to obtain a visa prior to entry to the UAE if the duration of their visit will be less than one month. This includes US citizens with visas or entry stamps from other countries in their passports.

 

SUZE1

FROM UAE

Edited February 9, 2020 by Suze1

[Timona 4,208]

6 minutes ago, Suze1 said:

"You do need a Visa now."...you say.

Who is YOU? US citizens, which the wife is? 

US citizens now need a visa to the UAE? Really? When did that happen?

And expat can be from any country. Not sure how that matters, actually.

 

See what I read below. He had mentioned his immigrant Visa was issued 5 months ago. Maybe the USC wife has been there all that while and as such, needed a UAE visa. She would still need UAE visa if she comes back to take care of the child past 1 month (as per attached).

 

An expat can be from any country. Yes. But are you gonna reside in another land without proper documentation? Maybe the OP isn't a UAE citizen and that was the reason why he had those visa that he said he has already canceled.