Hello, My spouse recently got his IR1 visa from the embassy. Can I who is the petitioner and US Citizen spouse travel with my husband to the USA?

[Happylovelife111 2]

Hello 

 

Hello,

My spouse recently got his IR1 visa from the embassy. Can I who is the petitioner and US Citizen spouse travel with my husband to the USA? We would like to be together and want to make sure no issues were to exist it if we traveled together 

[powerpuff 6,122]

Yes. Actually you must enter either before your spouse or with your spouse, not after. 

[Mike E 11,730]

When you both  land in the USA, you will both be pressured by airport employees to

 

* use the kiosks. Refuse. If the beneficiary uses a kiosk the immigration visa won’t be properly endorsed.  

* go in separate lines.  Refuse.  As noted by @powerpuff you must enter the USA together. 

 

In general you  both  need to approach passport control together in the visitor line.  
 

There will be people chiming in that  they were able to go together in the citizen line.  That’s wonderful for them but that is not universal  practice  across all airports and all CBPOs. A CBPO in the citizen line might not be trained on processing an IR-1.  Or might not have a working finger print reader.    So unless you want to get barked at by CBP, comply.

[hunny&me 271]

In IAH airport (Houston, TX), we were asked to line at US Citizen together.  At immigration, the officer explained that a next level will need to process for my husband (beneficiary).  So, I was processed, then an escort lead him to another counter (same area that was empty, and another officer came in), and I waited at exit (before heading down).  All was good, he was not questioned, just a stamp for CR-1.  He met me at Exit and we both exit out (escalator) the immigration floor.

Edited November 7, 2022 by hunny&me

[Mike E 11,730]

1 hour ago, Mike E said:

 There will be people chiming in that  they were able to go together in the citizen line.   

As predicted … 

7 minutes ago, hunny&me said:

In IAH airport (Houston, TX), we were asked to line at US Citizen together.

At SFO we were asked the same and I refused. 
 

7 minutes ago, hunny&me said:

  At immigration, the officer explained that a next level will need to process for my husband (beneficiary).  So, I was processed, then an escort lead him to another counter (same area that was empty, and another officer came in), and I waited at exit (before heading down).  All was good, he was not questioned, just a stamp for CR-1.  He met me at Exit and we both exit out (escalator) the immigration floor.

Whereas in the visitor line at SFO the CBPO who processed us knew exactly what to do with a K-1 visa, and stamped my fiancée’s visa right there. Then he then sent us to baggage claim without a secondary. We stayed together the entire time. 

[Happylovelife111 2]

5 hours ago, hunny&me said:

In IAH airport (Houston, TX), we were asked to line at US Citizen together.  At immigration, the officer explained that a next level will need to process for my husband (beneficiary).  So, I was processed, then an escort lead him to another counter (same area that was empty, and another officer came in), and I waited at exit (before heading down).  All was good, he was not questioned, just a stamp for CR-1.  He met me at Exit and we both exit out (escalator) the immigration floor.

I am also landing at IAH Houston Airport 

[Chancy 6,235]

*** Moved from IR1/CR1 Process & Procedures to Moving to the US forum -- topic is about POE procedures after the visa process ***

 

[TBoneTX 43,604]

26 minutes ago, Happylovelife111 said:

IAH Houston Airport 

In my experience, the CBP agents here are highly knowledgeable of all visa types.

[Jordanian Bride 268]

8 hours ago, Mike E said:

* use the kiosks. Refuse. If the beneficiary uses a kiosk the immigration visa won’t be properly endorsed.  

What are kiosks and why won’t the IV be properly endorsed?

[Lil bear 3,897]

33 minutes ago, Jordanian Bride said:

What are kiosks and why won’t the IV be properly endorsed?

1. Automated entry process where you use your passport. No CBP Officer involved

2.,The visa foil must be physically stamped and dated by the CBP Officer so it becomes the evidence  of LPR status for 12 months .. while waiting fir the physical card. Kiosks don't do this 

[Jordanian Bride 268]

10 hours ago, Lil bear said:

1. Automated entry process where you use your passport. No CBP Officer involved

2.,The visa foil must be physically stamped and dated by the CBP Officer so it becomes the evidence  of LPR status for 12 months .. while waiting fir the physical card. Kiosks don't do this 

Oh wow, thanks for the warning. That’s really important. What should one say if they’re being pressured to use the kiosks?

[Lil bear 3,897]

3 hours ago, Jordanian Bride said:

Oh wow, thanks for the warning. That’s really important. What should one say if they’re being pressured to use the kiosks?

Thank you but I am immigrating. The Consulate told me to use the visitor line 

[leeen21 27]

Is the process any different if my husband and stepchildren would be traveling with me in my car across the border?

 

I live on the Texas side, and they live on the Mexico side, so it would make the most sense for us to travel in the vehicle. Does that make a difference? Would there be any advantage to walking?

 

(We are still a long way off from that day, but I like to picture what will happen when that day finally comes )

[Mike E 11,730]

13 minutes ago, leeen21 said:

Is the process any different if my husband and stepchildren would be traveling with me in my car across the border?

 

I live on the Texas side, and they live on the Mexico side, so it would make the most sense for us to travel in the vehicle. Does that make a difference? Would there be any advantage to walking?

 

(We are still a long way off from that day, but I like to picture what will happen when that day finally comes )

I would park on the U.S. side,

walk into Mexico,

pickup the family and walk into the U.S. as a group.  The new immigrants will likely have to leave the car and given the volume of vehicle traffic at the U.S. / Mexico border, finding a place to park the car at the check point could be a challenge. 

[leeen21 27]

17 minutes ago, Mike E said:

I would park on the U.S. side,

walk into Mexico,

pickup the family and walk into the U.S. as a group.  The new immigrants will likely have to leave the car and given the volume of vehicle traffic at the U.S. / Mexico border, finding a place to park the car at the check point could be a challenge. 

Good point. Thanks for the advice!

 

I've also read that the immigrant needs to have enough luggage that it's obvious they're moving. Is that true? Would one or two suitcases per family member be considered sufficient?