Should I enter on the day of my 2nd year anniversary? (Also when my medical expires)

[KrishnaBanana 8]

I just finished my interview at the US Embassy in the Philippines yesterday, and the interviewer said everything looks good and he'll recommend it for approval (plus 2 weeks to process the visa. My medical expires (he said, but not sure if it's accurate because the clinic said Oct 30th?) on November 2nd, which is our 2-year wedding anniversary.

 

Does it make any difference if I enter the US exactly on that date? Will my CR-1 visa be converted to IR-1? Not sure if it's worth delaying my flight and pushing it to the edge. I could fly in on November 1st and arrive on November 2nd in the US. Though that's technically a day after November 2nd in the Philippines and I don't know if that makes a difference.

 

What's the downside of just keeping the CR-1 visa?

 

Thanks in advance

Edited September 23, 2020 by KrishnaBanana

[payxibka 10,047]

10 minutes ago, KrishnaBanana said:

I just finished my interview at the US Embassy in the Philippines yesterday, and the interviewer said everything looks good and he'll recommend it for approval (plus 2 weeks to process the visa. My medical expires (he said, but not sure if it's accurate because the clinic said Oct 30th?) on November 2nd, which is our 2-year wedding anniversary.

 

Does it make any difference if I enter the US exactly on that date? Will my CR-1 visa be converted to IR-1? Not sure if it's worth delaying my flight and pushing it to the edge. I could fly in on November 1st and arrive on November 2nd in the US. Though that's technically a day after November 2nd in the Philippines and I don't know if that makes a difference.

 

What's the downside of just keeping the CR-1 visa?

 

Thanks in advance

Most important is you enter before the expiration of the visa.  Your visa will not convert but your entry status will.  Downside is having to remove conditions in 2 yrs.  

Edited September 23, 2020 by payxibka

[KrishnaBanana 8]

2 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Your visa will not convert but your entry status will.  Downside is having to remove conditions in 2 yrs.  

Thanks for the quick reply. I don't think I mind having to remove conditions if it's an easy process, lol.

 

Mostly looking to see if I should push my luck and enter on November 2nd. Not sure what would happen if they have issues with my medical expiring on that day as well.

Edited September 23, 2020 by KrishnaBanana

[Just Paul 4,595]

You need to enter before your visa expires.   That is usually 6 months after the medical is done.  However there was a 1 month extension that the consulates were allowing. 

 

I think that is still the case,

[payxibka 10,047]

Just now, KrishnaBanana said:

Thanks for the quick reply. I don't think I mind having to remove conditions if it's an easy process, lol.

 

Mostly looking to see if I should push my luck and enter on November 2nd. Not sure what would happen if they have issues with my medical expiring on that day as well.

They won't have issues if your visa is still valid.   The risk is fligjt delays that might cause you to miss the entry window 

[KrishnaBanana 8]

Ahh got it. I guess I'll figure it out when I get the visa in the mail.

 

In case I do enter on our 2-year anniversary, is there anything I need to tell officers at the port of entry? Or do they determine that on their end and I don't need to do anything?

[Troy B 224]

2 minutes ago, KrishnaBanana said:

Thanks for the quick reply. I don't think I mind having to remove conditions if it's an easy process, lol.

 

Mostly looking to see if I should push my luck and enter on November 2nd. Not sure what would happen if they have issues with my medical expiring on that day as well.

 

as for easy process or not,  read the guide here

if your visa expiration is after November 2nd,  I would suggest waiting to ensure you enter the USA on or after the 2nd.

Then again,  I am lazy/smart (depending on how you want to look at that).  If you get sent the wrong card, you can get is exchanged.  Might be worth it mention to the agent that you just passed your 2 year anniversary, to try to avoid that hassle.

[Just Paul 4,595]

2 hours ago, KrishnaBanana said:

Or do they determine that on their end and I don't need to do anything?

Nothing to do.   You can mention it at the POE but it is pretty much automated.   If you do get a CR-1 green card you can have it fixed for free.

[retheem 568]

11 hours ago, KrishnaBanana said:

Ahh got it. I guess I'll figure it out when I get the visa in the mail.

 

In case I do enter on our 2-year anniversary, is there anything I need to tell officers at the port of entry? Or do they determine that on their end and I don't need to do anything?

Nothing really you will have to do. It will automatically be converted

[Orangesapples 1,954]

18 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

You need to enter before your visa expires.   That is usually 6 months after the medical is done.  However there was a 1 month extension that the consulates were allowing. 

 

I think that is still the case,

Back in the the day, my visa was valid for 6 months after the interview, not the medical. I was surprised after what I had read on vj, I don't know if they made an error or it was supposed to be that way. 

 

OP, while ROC is not the worst thing you can go through, I'd rather avoid it. It's expensive and the wait is getting longer. But I don't know if it's worth it potentially having the flight delayed and the visa expired before entry. I'd say wait to see when your visa is valid until before you purchase your ticket. 

[Ben & Katy 168]

21 hours ago, KrishnaBanana said:

I just finished my interview at the US Embassy in the Philippines yesterday, and the interviewer said everything looks good and he'll recommend it for approval (plus 2 weeks to process the visa. My medical expires (he said, but not sure if it's accurate because the clinic said Oct 30th?) on November 2nd, which is our 2-year wedding anniversary.

 

Does it make any difference if I enter the US exactly on that date? Will my CR-1 visa be converted to IR-1? Not sure if it's worth delaying my flight and pushing it to the edge. I could fly in on November 1st and arrive on November 2nd in the US. Though that's technically a day after November 2nd in the Philippines and I don't know if that makes a difference.

 

What's the downside of just keeping the CR-1 visa?

 

Thanks in advance

If you can come in sometime after your second anniversary just do it.  ROC is becoming an 18+ month process.  Don't put yourself through that if you don't have to.  

[peachouille 200]

39 minutes ago, Ben & Katy said:

If you can come in sometime after your second anniversary just do it.  ROC is becoming an 18+ month process.  Don't put yourself through that if you don't have to.  

Agreed, try to avoid ROC as much as possible. And the fees for that are rising to $760 in October with no guarantees they won't rise again in the next couple of years.

[Madufor Uzoma A 10]

once your visa is out dont mind about your medicals i did what you just want to do now is good you enter on the 3rd so you can get 10 years good luck

[KrishnaBanana 8]

Thanks for all the responses! I'm still waiting on my visa and crossing my fingers. I don't know if I can request it to be extended to be after Nov 2nd (or how to do it), and I agree that flight delays are a risk, so not really sure what to do. I haven't booked a flight yet and will wait to get my visa. Will update here.

 

Also, I did my medical on June 1st, so it hasn't even been 6 months since then. But they required me to take a sputum test and now my medical expires 60 days after or something. It's all confusing.

Edited September 27, 2020 by KrishnaBanana

[KrishnaBanana 8]

UPDATE: Got my passport today and looks like they extended it to another day. It expires the day after our anniversary. I still feel like it's risky though.