Possible to put CR1 process on hold?

[rad1182 1]

Hi all. I’m trying to gather some info to make an informed decision.

 

I’m the US citizen and we started my wife’s CR1 journey in Nov 2022. She was DQ’d in Nov 2023 and we’ve been waiting for an interview since (heck of a backlog at the Abu Dhabi embassy).

 

Anyhow, my wife has an opportunity for a promotion at her current role in Abu Dhabi. I’m able to work remotely from anywhere in the world. And she can sponsor me so I can easily get residency in the UAE. 
 

If we decide that we instead want to live long-term in the UAE, what happens with her CR1 case? Does it just get cancelled? Ideally we’d like to keep the case open and just postpone or delay it if possible, leaving the opportunity to move to the US sometime in the future. We’re so far along in the process that I’d hate to have to start all over again in the future. 
 

Thanks in advance for your input.

[C1322 6]

There’s no putting the case on hold. You either complete it, or put a stop to it. I would allow your new situation to materialize before making a decision over the CR1. 

[OldUser 7,647]

2 hours ago, C1322 said:

There’s no putting the case on hold. 

I don't believe this is true.

 

Looping @Crazy Cat in

 

[KMG 152]

2 hours ago, rad1182 said:

Hi all. I’m trying to gather some info to make an informed decision.

 

I’m the US citizen and we started my wife’s CR1 journey in Nov 2022. She was DQ’d in Nov 2023 and we’ve been waiting for an interview since (heck of a backlog at the Abu Dhabi embassy).

 

Anyhow, my wife has an opportunity for a promotion at her current role in Abu Dhabi. I’m able to work remotely from anywhere in the world. And she can sponsor me so I can easily get residency in the UAE. 
 

If we decide that we instead want to live long-term in the UAE, what happens with her CR1 case? Does it just get cancelled? Ideally we’d like to keep the case open and just postpone or delay it if possible, leaving the opportunity to move to the US sometime in the future. We’re so far along in the process that I’d hate to have to start all over again in the future. 
 

Thanks in advance for your input.

I do believe there is a way to place it on hold, but I am going to call @Crazy Cat- who I think might know the answer.

Just now, OldUser said:

I don't believe this is true.

 

Looping @Crazy Cat in

 

Haha.. that was the first person I thought of!

[Crazy Cat 42,361]

I would contact NVC and inform them that you want to hold the case.  In theory, they can hold the case there  indefinitely as long as you contact them once a year.  There are cases in which this has been done.

 

 

Note: Had this been a K-1, it could NOT be stopped at NVC. 

Edited 20 hours ago by Crazy Cat

[Family 4,249]

2 hours ago, rad1182 said:

Hi all. I’m trying to gather some info to make an informed decision.

 

I’m the US citizen and we started my wife’s CR1 journey in Nov 2022. She was DQ’d in Nov 2023 and we’ve been waiting for an interview since (heck of a backlog at the Abu Dhabi embassy).

 

Anyhow, my wife has an opportunity for a promotion at her current role in Abu Dhabi. I’m able to work remotely from anywhere in the world. And she can sponsor me so I can easily get residency in the UAE. 
 

If we decide that we instead want to live long-term in the UAE, what happens with her CR1 case? Does it just get cancelled? Ideally we’d like to keep the case open and just postpone or delay it if possible, leaving the opportunity to move to the US sometime in the future. We’re so far along in the process that I’d hate to have to start all over again in the future. 
 

Thanks in advance for your input.

You need to make contact by email once a year with NVC while it’s still w them . Log into CEAC , they say say is sufficient. But you should send a request to delay interview via Ask NVC …say one year in advance.

2. If they schedule w Abu Dhabi,  you email and request one year delay . Most cases they tell you to reschedule after you miss the interview. But as long as you email back and forth once a year, you can delay it a few years w no problem.

[pushbrk 13,127]

Last two posts are correct.  Good thing you don't already have an interview date.  NVC will hold indefinitely with proper contact.

5 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

 

Note: Had this been a K-1, it could NOT be stopped at NVC. 

 

Correct.  K1 cannot be stopped at NVC, but it can be held at the Consulate at their discretion if given a reason and they believe the applicant and petitioner are still seeking the visa.  Not applicable to this case, of course.

[C1322 6]

7 hours ago, OldUser said:

I don't believe this is true.

 

Looping @Crazy Cat in

 

There’s below but option, but not to be confused with putting the case on hold per se. 

 

Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 203(g) provides that the Secretary of State shall terminate the registration (petition) of any alien who fails to apply for an immigrant visa within one year of notice of visa availability. The petition may be reinstated if, within two years of notice of visa availability, the alien establishes that the failure to apply was for reasons beyond the alien’s control. Therefore if you do not respond to notices from the NVC within one year you risk termination of your petition under this section of law and would lose the benefits of that petition, such as your priority date.

[Crazy Cat 42,361]

2 hours ago, C1322 said:

Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 203(g) provides that the Secretary of State shall terminate the registration (petition) of any alien who fails to apply for an immigrant visa within one year of notice of visa availability.

There are countless examples where NVC has informed applicants that they must contact them once a year.....not that they must complete the visa within a year.   There are also examples where couple held their cases at NVC for years....by contacting NVC once a year. 

[FromTheHills 16]

That's interesting. So if it's being held at NVC then when they restart then it's waiting for the embassy again from scratch right? No way to have it held at the embassy?

[Crazy Cat 42,361]

2 minutes ago, FromTheHills said:

That's interesting. So if it's being held at NVC then when they restart then it's waiting for the embassy again from scratch right? No way to have it held at the embassy?

Only at their discretion.  If the case gets to the consulate and they refuse to hold it, the entire case could be in jeopardy of a restart.  The NVC process, on the other hand, allows lengthy holds and delays.

[pushbrk 13,127]

4 hours ago, FromTheHills said:

That's interesting. So if it's being held at NVC then when they restart then it's waiting for the embassy again from scratch right? No way to have it held at the embassy?

Nobody suggested holding the case at the Embassy.  This case doesn't have an interview date yet.  It can be held at NVC as already described.