CR1 to IR1 - Entering USA 2 Years after marriage

[Karan Mehta 8]

Hi All,

 

Background - 

 

I married a US citizen on 17th Dec 2017 and my visa got approved in Oct 2019 and got a CR1 stamp on my passport. After reading online (mainly this forum), I realised that entering the USA after 2 years of marriage can be a good aid to get CR1 converted to IR1. Keeping this in mind, I entered the US on 23rd Dec 2019. At POE, after immigration the officer told me that I will be getting CR1 and I should come back in 2 years with my spouse for renewal. I informed the officer that I am entering after 2 years and 6 days of my marriage and thus I should be given an IR1 status instead. He was a bit surprised at first and then started looking for IV documents online. After 10-15 min of searching, he was able to locate the Marriage Certificate and told me he found it and then started entering notes for next 7-10 minutes in the system. I asked him, if he is changing from CR1 to IR1, he said he cant do that and is adding relevant notes and assured me that I will get IR1. But I had to travel back to India for some reason and due to Covid got stuck there. In the meantime, Green card came but the packet got lost by my spouse. So I applied for the lost GC (I-90) in Aug '20 upon my return to the US. I received a Green Card within 2 months (last week precisely) but I found that I was issued a CR1 Category GC instead with an expiry of Dec 2021.

 

Current Situation - 

 

I reached out to USCIS who told me that I should file I-90, write a letter stating the error and put in my original green card along with marriage certificate copy and send to USCIS office in Phoenix, Arizona. Yesterday, I sent a next day delivery to USCIS at the express delivery address with the I-90 (signed), Letter explaining the mistake, and Marriage certificate copy which was received by USCIS today morning.

 

Questions - 

 

1. Has anyone done this in the past? If yes, what was your experience? Kindly let me know all the details.

2. How much time did it take for USCIS to take a decision?

3. Did they ask for any additional documentation after receiving this packet?

4. How were you tracking this case? As this is not an online form but an offline (without fee) I-90?

5. Did you eventually get the IR1 Green Card? If yes, in how much time?

6. I need to get an extended I-551 stamp on my passport. What should I do for that?

 

Please add anything relevant you may have for me to keep in mind and act accordingly and proactively. And what should I expect in next few days/weeks/months?

 

Thanks a lot. I love this forum as these are all real-life experiences which the community shares with each other and these are extremely helpful.

 

Regards,

Karan

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to General Immigration-Related Discussion.

[HRQX 4,145]

3 hours ago, Karan Mehta said:

I received a Green Card within 2 months (last week precisely) but I found that I was issued a CR1 Category GC instead with an expiry of Dec 2021.

Do you still have this recent card in your possession? If so, you don't need I-551 stamp for the next ~13 months.

[Karan Mehta 8]

@HRQX - no I don’t have the physical green card with me as we have to send the original to USCIS as thats a requirement

[HRQX 4,145]

37 minutes ago, Karan Mehta said:

@HRQX - no I don’t have the physical green card with me as we have to send the original to USCIS as thats a requirement

In that case, I-551 stamps are only issued inside of the US. When do you plan to return to the US?

[Karan Mehta 8]

6 hours ago, HRQX said:

In that case, I-551 stamps are only issued inside of the US. When do you plan to return to the US?

Hi,

 

I am in Houston, Texas. I was actually very interested to know about the process that happens when you send the documents to convert to IR1 and if someone has done that and what happens next (any real experience). 
 

For the stamp, I read somewhere later that I’ll have to call USCIS and get an appointment a month before. I am clear on that now. Thank you!

[Karan Mehta 8]

@Darnell, @John & Rose, @Amica Nostra, @bcking, @OriZ, @jg121783, @Soloenta, @Anh map, @Novembro, @Abies, @eieio, @carmel34, @Not a Tailor, @LilyJ, @Hotter Otter, @Dianalorena @mallafri76, @LoveMyTico, @David & Zoila, @Duke & Marie, @Mr&Mrs G., @KierenHby, @JBMG, @nastra30, @Kaylara, @CanAm1980, @Tofu, @Steffy Stef, @SusnOwen, @T&S_MTL

[Karan Mehta 8]

On 10/22/2020 at 9:17 PM, Karan Mehta said:

Hi All,

 

Background - 

 

I married a US citizen on 17th Dec 2017 and my visa got approved in Oct 2019 and got a CR1 stamp on my passport. After reading online (mainly this forum), I realised that entering the USA after 2 years of marriage can be a good aid to get CR1 converted to IR1. Keeping this in mind, I entered the US on 23rd Dec 2019. At POE, after immigration the officer told me that I will be getting CR1 and I should come back in 2 years with my spouse for renewal. I informed the officer that I am entering after 2 years and 6 days of my marriage and thus I should be given an IR1 status instead. He was a bit surprised at first and then started looking for IV documents online. After 10-15 min of searching, he was able to locate the Marriage Certificate and told me he found it and then started entering notes for next 7-10 minutes in the system. I asked him, if he is changing from CR1 to IR1, he said he cant do that and is adding relevant notes and assured me that I will get IR1. But I had to travel back to India for some reason and due to Covid got stuck there. In the meantime, Green card came but the packet got lost by my spouse. So I applied for the lost GC (I-90) in Aug '20 upon my return to the US. I received a Green Card within 2 months (last week precisely) but I found that I was issued a CR1 Category GC instead with an expiry of Dec 2021.

 

Current Situation - 

 

I reached out to USCIS who told me that I should file I-90, write a letter stating the error and put in my original green card along with marriage certificate copy and send to USCIS office in Phoenix, Arizona. Yesterday, I sent a next day delivery to USCIS at the express delivery address with the I-90 (signed), Letter explaining the mistake, and Marriage certificate copy which was received by USCIS today morning.

 

Questions - 

 

1. Has anyone done this in the past? If yes, what was your experience? Kindly let me know all the details.

2. How much time did it take for USCIS to take a decision?

3. Did they ask for any additional documentation after receiving this packet?

4. How were you tracking this case? As this is not an online form but an offline (without fee) I-90?

5. Did you eventually get the IR1 Green Card? If yes, in how much time?

 

 

Please add anything relevant you may have for me to keep in mind and act accordingly and proactively. And what should I expect in next few days/weeks/months?

 

Thanks a lot. I love this forum as these are all real-life experiences which the community shares with each other and these are extremely helpful.

 

Regards,

Karan

 

Apologies for tagging again - the previous one got submitted in error. Request you to look into my concerns

 

@Darnell, @John & Rose, @Amica Nostra, @bcking, @OriZ, @jg121783, @Soloenta, @Anh map, @Novembro, @Abies, @eieio, @carmel34, @Not a Tailor, @LilyJ, @Hotter Otter, @Dianalorena @mallafri76, @LoveMyTico, @David & Zoila, @Duke & Marie, @Mr&Mrs G., @KierenHby, @JBMG, @nastra30, @Kaylara, @CanAm1980, @Tofu, @Steffy Stef, @SusnOwen, @T&S_MTL

 

 

 

[Karan Mehta 8]

On 10/22/2020 at 9:17 PM, Karan Mehta said:

Hi All,

 

Background - 

 

I married a US citizen on 17th Dec 2017 and my visa got approved in Oct 2019 and got a CR1 stamp on my passport. After reading online (mainly this forum), I realised that entering the USA after 2 years of marriage can be a good aid to get CR1 converted to IR1. Keeping this in mind, I entered the US on 23rd Dec 2019. At POE, after immigration the officer told me that I will be getting CR1 and I should come back in 2 years with my spouse for renewal. I informed the officer that I am entering after 2 years and 6 days of my marriage and thus I should be given an IR1 status instead. He was a bit surprised at first and then started looking for IV documents online. After 10-15 min of searching, he was able to locate the Marriage Certificate and told me he found it and then started entering notes for next 7-10 minutes in the system. I asked him, if he is changing from CR1 to IR1, he said he cant do that and is adding relevant notes and assured me that I will get IR1. But I had to travel back to India for some reason and due to Covid got stuck there. In the meantime, Green card came but the packet got lost by my spouse. So I applied for the lost GC (I-90) in Aug '20 upon my return to the US. I received a Green Card within 2 months (last week precisely) but I found that I was issued a CR1 Category GC instead with an expiry of Dec 2021.

 

Current Situation - 

 

I reached out to USCIS who told me that I should file I-90, write a letter stating the error and put in my original green card along with marriage certificate copy and send to USCIS office in Phoenix, Arizona. Yesterday, I sent a next day delivery to USCIS at the express delivery address with the I-90 (signed), Letter explaining the mistake, and Marriage certificate copy which was received by USCIS today morning.

 

Questions - 

 

1. Has anyone done this in the past? If yes, what was your experience? Kindly let me know all the details.

2. How much time did it take for USCIS to take a decision?

3. Did they ask for any additional documentation after receiving this packet?

4. How were you tracking this case? As this is not an online form but an offline (without fee) I-90?

5. Did you eventually get the IR1 Green Card? If yes, in how much time?

 

Please add anything relevant you may have for me to keep in mind and act accordingly and proactively. And what should I expect in next few days/weeks/months?

 

Thanks a lot. I love this forum as these are all real-life experiences which the community shares with each other and these are extremely helpful.

 

Regards,

Karan

 

 

Hey All - Request you to look into my queries above and share your best knowledge on the subject and questions

 

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[Darnell 8,478]

Sorry, I have nothing to add - you're in a process I know nothing about . 

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

The I90 should fix it... according to their site it takes around 6mths to fix but looks to be more like 3-4mths they’re currently processing late July 2020 for GC fixing.. 

 

you should have a stamp in your passport in the mean time that can be used to prove IR1 status and ability to work 

[Karan Mehta 8]

On 10/23/2020 at 11:18 AM, Duke & Marie said:

The I90 should fix it... according to their site it takes around 6mths to fix but looks to be more like 3-4mths they’re currently processing late July 2020 for GC fixing.. 

 

you should have a stamp in your passport in the mean time that can be used to prove IR1 status and ability to work 

Hey @Duke & Marie thank you for a prompt response. I wanted to ask you on which website are you able to track this information about timelines? Like you mentioned currently the processing is July 2020, where do I see it myself?

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

36 minutes ago, Karan Mehta said:

Hey @Duke & Marie thank you for a prompt response. I wanted to ask you on which website are you able to track this information about timelines? Like you mentioned currently the processing is July 2020, where do I see it myself?

https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

 

the dates gives them plenty of room to delay and usually process per minimum or faster than advertised.. 

Edited October 23, 2020 by Duke & Marie

[Karan Mehta 8]

On 10/23/2020 at 12:53 PM, Duke & Marie said:

https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

Hey @Duke & Marie - thank you for sharing the link, I am able to see what you were referring to. I hope my situation has a similar timeline as I have filled an Offline I-90 form (without fees). And with the documentation, they have to make a call to convert the GC to IR1. 

[Soloenta 2,218]

You just got some great information from Duke & Marie congratulations on that.

I have read in the past it's an easy fix, this is one of the few thing that didn't happen to us.  You won't need it but good luck and please keep us informed.  😊 👍