My situation is weird, please someone HELP ! Question about POE and IR1

[constanzelabest 1]

Hi Folks, ok I'm gonna explain our situation right now.

My husband works in Afghanistan and he has his leave in september in the states, I'm french, so i bought my plane tickets to be with him during his leave, since i didn't see him in 6 months.

Turns out the NVC just told me my interview in Paris for the CR1/IR1 visa will be right in that time that I'll be in the states. We are thinking of sending me on a quick 2 days round trip there to be at the interview, but then the hard part is that they're gonna send the visa about a week later, and I'll still be in the US.

So, my question is, can a friend of mine send me that visa package to the US where i will be as a tourist, and then leave the states to Mexico (we live close by) and then come back to the states showing my package to the customs. Also, is that better to fly in or can we just drive through the border as a POE ??

Is that legal ? Did anyone else do that ?? any advices ??

thanks

[Mike&Lin 39]

You will surrender your passport at the interview so they can insert the visa so you won't be able to travel until they return it.

[Boiler 43,433]

Simpler for him to go with you and get it all done and then come back with all the paperwork.

[Ian H. 207]

Unfortunately, like the above poster said, you won't be able to come back because they keep your passport. You would have to stay in Paris until the visa is issued. Maybe it's possible you can request an expedite, if possible, and have it issued faster, but that would depend on that being a possibility and if they have to do administrative processing. If they do administrative processing, I don't know if they issue the passport back the same day. I've heard stories of people getting their visas the same day, but that really depends on the case and how busy the consulate is.

[dwheels76 5,461]

Hi Folks, ok I'm gonna explain our situation right now.

My husband works in Afghanistan and he has his leave in september in the states, I'm french, so i bought my plane tickets to be with him during his leave, since i didn't see him in 6 months.

Turns out the NVC just told me my interview in Paris for the CR1/IR1 visa will be right in that time that I'll be in the states. We are thinking of sending me on a quick 2 days round trip there to be at the interview, but then the hard part is that they're gonna send the visa about a week later, and I'll still be in the US.

So, my question is, can a friend of mine send me that visa package to the US where i will be as a tourist, and then leave the states to Mexico (we live close by) and then come back to the states showing my package to the customs. Also, is that better to fly in or can we just drive through the border as a POE ??

Is that legal ? Did anyone else do that ?? any advices ??

thanks

No one but you can pick up your Visa. You can drive or fly through POE.That's no matter but you have to go to interview and pickup your Visa package and passport your self.

I know of people who had prior things to do after interview and they got their passport back and just mailed in passport when they got to destination but they still had to go and pickup in person.

[J&N071213 57]

I'm not sure if it is, but it sounds illegal since your visa is issued in Paris. Also as stated above they keep your passport until you receive your package and the visa is stapled inside your passport. Wouldn't your tourist visa to the US be cancelled when your CR1 is approved?

[Boiler 43,433]

I assume she is using the VWP, when I did mine you got the Visa then and there but seems more normal now to get in int he mail a week or so later.

[constanzelabest 1]

Oh I didn't know they would keep my passport ! does anybody know how long it takes to have it back ? is it through regular mail ? Does it come with the visa ? And also, any tips on where to ask to postpone my interview then ?? I can't spend another 6 months without seeing my husband when he'll leave again for afghanistan. I HAVE TO be with him in september.

[Dave&Roza 748]

Oh I didn't know they would keep my passport ! does anybody know how long it takes to have it back ? is it through regular mail ? Does it come with the visa ? And also, any tips on where to ask to postpone my interview then ?? I can't spend another 6 months without seeing my husband when he'll leave again for afghanistan. I HAVE TO be with him in september.

Call or e-mail the Embassy in Paris and reschedule the interview to a later date. That way you can be with your husband and then decide when you want to enter the US. All Embassies are different, but my wife was able to pick up her visa the next day, but it ended up being two days later as they had problems with the visa printer.

Good luck,

Dave

Edited July 30, 2014 by Dave&Roza

[MUXAGIRL 69]

How about your husband comes to stay with you in Paris during his vacation? Is that a possibility? It is not a guarantee that your visa will be approved on the day of your consular interview, they might run administrative processing. But if it is approved the same day, you will get your passport with visa back along with the visa packet in about a week.

I am sorry, but one can not have it all during US immigration :-(

[Boiler 43,433]

Or a new passport.

[NikLR 13,220]

Oh I didn't know they would keep my passport ! does anybody know how long it takes to have it back ? is it through regular mail ? Does it come with the visa ? And also, any tips on where to ask to postpone my interview then ?? I can't spend another 6 months without seeing my husband when he'll leave again for afghanistan. I HAVE TO be with him in september.

The visa is in the passport. You can call or email the embassy in Paris to try and reschedule. Should only take a week or two to get everything back after approval. But you can check in your regional forum or the timelines. Don't forget to check the embassy page and reviews.

Is your husband in the military?

[constanzelabest 1]

The visa is in the passport. You can call or email the embassy in Paris to try and reschedule. Should only take a week or two to get everything back after approval. But you can check in your regional forum or the timelines. Don't forget to check the embassy page and reviews.

Is your husband in the military?

I don't want to say it's impossible for him to come to France instead but we would have to eat a LOT of money, both our round trip plane tickets (and adding the one to France then), the shows we plan to go to, the hotels etc..and all the stuff we had to do on the house. It would be really better if I could postpone the interview. I sent the embassy an email yesterday, but still no news :/ ... I hope we can make it work !

[constanzelabest 1]

The visa is in the passport. You can call or email the embassy in Paris to try and reschedule. Should only take a week or two to get everything back after approval. But you can check in your regional forum or the timelines. Don't forget to check the embassy page and reviews.

Is your husband in the military?

oh and my husband is a government contractor, he works for the army but doesn't have the military status.

[NikLR 13,220]

He is domiciled in the USA though?