Urgently need some help regarding IR1 visa

[DrHoff 0]

I live in the UK with my American husband and have been granted an IR1 immigrant visa. We plan to travel together to the US in September. I have just been offered a job interview in America, which I need to attend next month. Can I travel alone and enter the US alone for the first time with my immigrant visa? Is it okay I will only be staying for 48 hours? Can anyone advise me on this? Thank you so much in advance!

[JFH 12,189]

Does anyone know if I can I 'visit' once the IR1 has been granted? Or does my first entry have to be for immigration purposes? I have a job interview that they want to fly me in for but it's well before our actual official moving date...

Your first entry will be your official immigration. Once you have the visa you can't go as a visitor. However, with a CR-1 you are able to come and go as you please and can spend up to 6 months of the year outside of the country.

So what some of us are doing (myself included), is going there for a short trip to activate the visa before it expires, returning to the home country and then making the "full move" at a later point.

[Seppi 6]

I live in the UK with my American husband and have been granted an IR1 immigrant visa. We plan to travel together to the US in September. I have just been offered a job interview in America, which I need to attend next month. Can I travel alone and enter the US alone for the first time with my immigrant visa? Is it okay I will only be staying for 48 hours? Can anyone advise me on this? Thank you so much in advance!

The US Embassy & Consulates UK website says: "You may not enter the United States to take up residence ahead of the U.S. Citizen petitioner." (their emphasis). The important phrase here may be "to take up residence", but I would seek further clarification - perhaps via their "contact us" online form?

[DrHoff 0]

Thanks for the advice JFH! Is it going to be a problem that I'm travelling alone - we can't afford for my husband to come along (he lives in the UK with me currently and I got the visa through marriage to him as he is a US citizen)? They'll send my greencard to the address of my in-laws so will it be acceptable that they send it on to me here in the UK? Apologies for all the questions! My mind is melting right now!

[Ischnura 285]

If you can't go can they not conduct your interview via skype or other video chat client?

[NikLR 13,220]

No when the visa is activated the USC must be entering or already in the USA.

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

Above answers are correct.

However, you are allowed, after immigrating with the visa and activating the greencard (you will get a stamp in your passport to act as temp greencard, and the physical one will be mailed to your US address given), to return abroad to wrap things up for up to 6 months. So one option may be to lengthen your visit a bit, and have your USC spouse come with you- use it not just for the job interview, but also to look at houses and the general area you will be living etc.

[JFH 12,189]

Thanks for the advice JFH! Is it going to be a problem that I'm travelling alone - we can't afford for my husband to come along (he lives in the UK with me currently and I got the visa through marriage to him as he is a US citizen)? They'll send my greencard to the address of my in-laws so will it be acceptable that they send it on to me here in the UK? Apologies for all the questions! My mind is melting right now!

So you are doing DCF in London? Your husband must enter the USA either with you or before you. Even if he just arrives with you and leaves the next day. You cannot go on your own.

I wouldn't recommend that the in-laws send the GC in the mail. The stamp in your passport acts as your temp GC and is valid for one year. That will give you plenty of time to go to the in-laws' place and pick up the physical GC when you go for good in September. You can re-enter the USA with the stamp in your passport. You don't need the physical GC for the first year, theoretically.

[Ryan H 3,790]

***Posts split from pinned topic and merged into this thread. Please do not make multiple postings on the same issue.***

Edited May 20, 2016 by Ryan H

[mallafri76 1,012]

Before I moved to the US, I was in contact with CBP regarding this very issue because we were planning for me to visit the US for interviews etc, then return to Sweden to wrap everything up before immigrating to the US. I was told by two separate people at CBP that since I had an IR-1 visa and already getting a 10 year permanent GC, it wouldn't be a problem. With that said though, it's still gonna be up to the CBP officer you encounter when you try and enter the US, so not sure I would risk it in your case, since you're spouse is not in the US.

I did a couple of interviews via phone before I moved to the US, so maybe see if your prospective employer is open to doing that.