Getting a second visa

[curiousn 0]

Sigh... No, I don't really want to do this.

Anyway - situation is we just got our IR-1 and have until March to enter the US. Something has just come up which may mean that we can't make that deadline.

I've searched the forum but haven't found much. Does anyone have experience with how difficult it might be to get another visa later? In a way, I already know the process so that would make it easier; on the other hand, I don't know if they look at something like this badly.

Alternatively - is it possible to get an extention, perhaps?

Any thoughts welcome.

[MargotDarko 0]

Is it not possible to make a visit and then return until you're ready for the permanent move?

[curiousn 0]

I thought about it but there is the 'at least six months' requirement which I couldn't fulfil. Otherwise, it's entirely possible to visit.

I won't go into details but it's a family situation and IF this problem comes up (which we're not sure of yet) then that means that we have to stay in England for another 12-18 months. This may all be water under the bridge but I thought I'd do the research while we're waiting to find out exactly what's going on.

[MargotDarko 0]

I thought about it but there is the 'at least six months' requirement which I couldn't fulfil. Otherwise, it's entirely possible to visit.

I won't go into details but it's a family situation and IF this problem comes up (which we're not sure of yet) then that means that we have to stay in England for another 12-18 months. This may all be water under the bridge but I thought I'd do the research while we're waiting to find out exactly what's going on.

The visit to the US doesn't have to be at least six months. It could be just a couple weeks as long as you do something to establish residence there - even if it's just opening a bank account and using your parents' or other family/friend's address.

Having to stay in England for another 12 months would probably be okay if you were making several visits in between and doing things to establish residence. 18 months would be tricker but I imagine still possible. If you were found to have abandoned PR status, you would have to start all over again. But having been in England that long would at least mean you could apply directly through the USCIS office in London.

If the reason you would have to stay in England can be documented and shown at proof of why you haven't made the permanent move yet, that would help your case for delaying the actual move. If I were you, no matter what happened, I would make the attempt to use the visa and maintain PR status by traveling back and forth as much as feasible and keeping record of the reason why I had to stay in England for longer than planned.

[pushbrk 13,066]

Using the visa and doing all you can to maintain status is a far superior plan.

[curiousn 0]

Hmmm... thanks guys. So not much hope for a second one, you think? But am I correct in thinking that overall, I would have to be there six months out of the year?

Edited September 28, 2007 by curiousn