Moving to the US

[David54321 18]

Hi,

My wife (Us citizen) and I are planning to move to the US in the future.
My CR-1 visa is at the NVC stage but we are slowing it down on purpose because I am not ready to make the move to the US yet.

I m in my 40's and I have a very good job here in Europe, my English is not fluent so I am not confident about finding a similar job in the US.
For whom has the experience, my question is: If we keep on with the visa process and I finally get approved, I understand that I have then 6 months to go to the US. This first trip will start my green card edition process but I can come back to Europe the same day if I want.  Then after, what is the delay to move definitely? I don't want to rush and I would like to move when I feel ready to, even if it is a couple of years after the green card Edition... Who has experience with that?

Thank you

David

[Redro 4,611]

1 hour ago, David54321 said:

Hi,

My wife (Us citizen) and I are planning to move to the US in the future.
My CR-1 visa is at the NVC stage but we are slowing it down on purpose because I am not ready to make the move to the US yet.

I m in my 40's and I have a very good job here in Europe, my English is not fluent so I am not confident about finding a similar job in the US.
For whom has the experience, my question is: If we keep on with the visa process and I finally get approved, I understand that I have then 6 months to go to the US. This first trip will start my green card edition process but I can come back to Europe the same day if I want.  Then after, what is the delay to move definitely? I don't want to rush and I would like to move when I feel ready to, even if it is a couple of years after the green card Edition... Who has experience with that?

Thank you

David

How long have you been married? 

If you enter the US before your 2 year wedding anniversary you'll only receive a 2 year GC and you'll need to remove conditions. So, you have to be in the US for that.

The next thing is you should not be outside of the US for more than 6 months at a time. 

@iwannaplay54 is the guru on how to maintain ties to the US when living abroad.

[iwannaplay54 985]

2 hours ago, David54321 said:

Hi,

My wife (Us citizen) and I are planning to move to the US in the future.
My CR-1 visa is at the NVC stage but we are slowing it down on purpose because I am not ready to make the move to the US yet.

I m in my 40's and I have a very good job here in Europe, my English is not fluent so I am not confident about finding a similar job in the US.
For whom has the experience, my question is: If we keep on with the visa process and I finally get approved, I understand that I have then 6 months to go to the US. This first trip will start my green card edition process but I can come back to Europe the same day if I want.  Then after, what is the delay to move definitely? I don't want to rush and I would like to move when I feel ready to, even if it is a couple of years after the green card Edition... Who has experience with that?

Thank you

David

Been there (slowing a visa down)
The date you take your medical sets the 6 month clock, not the date your visa is issued.  
How long have you been married?  More than two years?

 

Edited February 23, 2022 by iwannaplay54

[David54321 18]

Thank you guys for your responses. We are married since 2015 

I know about the 6 months period that starts after the medical. I am talking about after that period when I will have made my first trip to the US with the visa. I am wondering  If I can postpone easily my final move once I will get the green card? Like is visiting family twice a year enough to keep my green card for a couple of years?

 

[Dashinka 24,514]

1 hour ago, David54321 said:

Thank you guys for your responses. We are married since 2015 

I know about the 6 months period that starts after the medical. I am talking about after that period when I will have made my first trip to the US with the visa. I am wondering  If I can postpone easily my final move once I will get the green card? Like is visiting family twice a year enough to keep my green card for a couple of years?

 

Once you make your first entry with the IR1 visa, you are a GC holder (LPR), so the travel rules for an LPR apply.  Generally, you can enter, activate your GC and leave the same day and stay out of the US for up to 6 months.  If you plan to stay longer outside the US (six months to two years), you should apply for a re-entry permit which you can only do from inside the US and have to stay at least until you have your biometrics appointment.

 

Good Luck!

[Crazy Cat 41,894]

5 hours ago, David54321 said:

and I finally get approved, I understand that I have then 6 months to go to the US.

Normally, you have until UP TO 6 months after your medical exam.  It could also be fewer than 6 months after your medical exam.

[Crazy Cat 41,894]

1 hour ago, David54321 said:

Like is visiting family twice a year enough to keep my green card for a couple of years?

If you mean just making 2 short trips to the US a year, then, No.  That is not how maintaining residency works. 

[SteveInBostonI130 3,459]

The purpose of the IR1 visa is to become a US legal permanent resident.  It is fine to leave right away after entering to finalize the move, like selling a house, moving household items, etc.

 

It sounds like you want to just visit the US in the near future.  I suggest the ESTA or B2 visa for do that.  When you are close to making the move, complete the NVC stage, get the visa, and move.

[David54321 18]

1 hour ago, Crazy Cat said:

If you mean just making 2 short trips to the US a year, then, No.  That is not how maintaining residency works. 

Thank you, I  know it does not work like that. But I was wondering if some sort of flexibility was given for the first move. This website for

Diversity lottery says that there is flexibility for the first moving: https://www.the-american-dream.com/what-happens-if-i-dont-want-to-move-to-the-usa-right-away/

 

28 minutes ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

The purpose of the IR1 visa is to become a US legal permanent resident.  It is fine to leave right away after entering to finalize the move, like selling a house, moving household items, etc.

 

It sounds like you want to just visit the US in the near future.  I suggest the ESTA or B2 visa for do that.  When you are close to making the move, complete the NVC stage, get the visa, and move.

Thank you, I am very familiar with ESTA, thanks to it I have been visiting my in-laws for years.

 

To be more specific I want (would like) to move to the US with a  job proposition, and I believe it won't be easy for me to find "the" good job especially if I start looking while I don't have a GC...However, if I get my GC and then I start searching for a job in the US from Europe, it means I will be under time constraints and will have to move after a few months even though I did not find a good job ...

[Crazy Cat 41,894]

5 minutes ago, David54321 said:

Thank you, I  know it does not work like that. But I was wondering if some sort of flexibility was given for the first move. This website for

Diversity lottery says that there is flexibility for the first moving: https://www.the-american-dream.com/what-happens-if-i-dont-want-to-move-to-the-usa-right-away/

 

You posted this in the spousal visa area.  Spousal visa is not the same as a DV........  There is no "flexibility" for the first move associated with a spousal visa.

Edited February 23, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[David54321 18]

1 minute ago, Crazy Cat said:

You posted this in the spousal visa area.  Spousal visa is not the same as a DV........  There is no "flexibility" for the first move associated with a spousal visa.

I am applying for a spouse visa...I understand the rules are different ...

Thank you

[Crazy Cat 41,894]

5 minutes ago, David54321 said:

I am applying for a spouse visa...I understand the rules are different ...

Thank you

For a spousal visa, you have no more than 6 months from the date of the medical exam to enter the US.  You are free to immediately leave the US, but residency requirements must be met.  Good luck.

[aaron2020 11,651]

3 hours ago, David54321 said:

Thank you guys for your responses. We are married since 2015 

I know about the 6 months period that starts after the medical. I am talking about after that period when I will have made my first trip to the US with the visa. I am wondering  If I can postpone easily my final move once I will get the green card? Like is visiting family twice a year enough to keep my green card for a couple of years?

 

A green card is not a tourist visa. 

Visiting family in the US twice a year is NOT enough to keep your green card for a couple of years.   You would be violating the purpose of your green card and it could be revoked.  

A green card is for living in the US.  Once you get a green card, you will need to report your WORLDWIDE income to the US and it will be taxed.  You have to LIVE IN THE US WITH A GREEN CARD.  THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.  

 

If you are not ready to MOVE TO THE US, then keep your case at the NVC.  Update once a year to keep the case active.  

Google maintaining legal permanent residency.  You will see the requirements.  

Edited February 23, 2022 by aaron2020

[JeanneAdil 6,514]

3 hours ago, David54321 said:

Thank you, I  know it does not work like that. But I was wondering if some sort of flexibility was given for the first move. This website for

Diversity lottery says that there is flexibility for the first moving: https://www.the-american-dream.com/what-happens-if-i-dont-want-to-move-to-the-usa-right-away/

 

Thank you, I am very familiar with ESTA, thanks to it I have been visiting my in-laws for years.

 

To be more specific I want (would like) to move to the US with a  job proposition, and I believe it won't be easy for me to find "the" good job especially if I start looking while I don't have a GC...However, if I get my GC and then I start searching for a job in the US from Europe, it means I will be under time constraints and will have to move after a few months even though I did not find a good job ...

Total misconception 

your visa stamped at POE (entry to US) acts as a green card for a year and u can work immediately

your green card (when u get it ) will be for 10 years as u are over the "married for 2 year mark"

the green card will be mailed to the US address / not sent to Europe 

Not at all sure where that site comes from but even a dv lottery winner is expected to live in the US / the green card for these people must go thru a renewal process (ROC ) after 2 years and the person would need to show US residency and US income to support the ROC

the following site is for dv lottery winners and what USCIS says which is the REAL GUIDE

 

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card

 

If you are a conditional permanent resident, you cannot renew your two-year Green Card. Instead, you must file a petition to remove conditions 90 days before your Green Card expires, or you will lose your permanent resident status. Use our Filing Calculator to determine your 90-day filing date.

[mam521 2,063]

Something to keep in mind here, too.  For you to qualify, your wife will have to prove intent to re-establish domicile in the US.  In other words, you have to be committed to coming to the US.  Visiting is for visiting.  Spousal visas are for living and contributing to society in the US.  

 

I wouldn't be overly concerned about your English.  What you've written makes sense and there are many people in the US who do not write or speak English.  Your speaking skills will improve when you're immersed and don't have much of a choice but to speak English.  Many non-native English speakers apologize for their speech when it's completely unnecessary because their craft is often much better than they give themselves credit for.