Several Questions

[Fofire 0]

Hey Guys,

thanks for your answers in advance.

After finally getting everything settled my wife and I will be heading to the states next week .

1st question When we go through the immigration checkpoint (at NYC JFK) do we go through separate lines (American and Non-american) or do we go together or what?

2nd For those of you that have gone through JFK how is the immigration process there? What I mean is that we have a connecting flight 2 hours after we arrive. Will that be enough time to get through immigration?

From what I understand once this has all been taken care of and we are finally in the states I guess that we have to file for AOS or is there another status she has to apply for before AOS. (She has a either the IR1 or the CR1 visa . . . I forget which one it is but its the one where we've been married for less than 2 years) Anyhow I have looked briefly at the steps to filing AOS and all I find are for those with K3 or K1 since K3 is the closest to what we have I assume its the same process as a K3 right?

Also I have seen that the is an interview at the end of the approval process but is it possible that there will be any other kind of situation where we would have to show up together in the first 6 or 7 months of the process? I ask because Im not going to be very availalble during that period and I want to know if I can make a contingency plan.

Last question. My wife plans on applying to some schools to get her dental degree in America. SOME (not all) require for her to have her green card (ie permanent residency) in order to apply. Does anyone know if those schools are lenient enough to accept an application for a green card as green card status or do you think you must have the green card in hand . . . I mean yeah from the their point of view there's always the chance that it will be denied but at the same time its not like the other visas which require for you to file for another status. For instance I know if you come in on an employment visa and then plan to go to school you have file for another type of visa in order to go to school and the school has to sponsor you. If I understand everything correctly her status doesnt necessitate that so they dont have to sponsor her.

Once again thanks in advance

Fofire

[Marilyn. 340]

if she came here on a CR1 visa she won't need to apply for AOS....

after entering the US with the CR1 visa she will get a 2 year conditional green card in a few weeks.... and in 2 years time she will need to apply to remove the conditions on her green card...

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=751guide

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showforum=86

Edited December 28, 2007 by MarilynP

[Fofire 0]

if she came here on a CR1 visa she won't need to apply for AOS....

after entering the US with the CR1 visa she will get a 2 year conditional green card in a few weeks.... and in 2 years time she will need to apply to remove the conditions on her green card...

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=751guide

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showforum=86

then I made a mistake its the IR1 that she has. Like I said I always forget which one is which. I know we have the less advantageous one. I know what your talking about applies to those people that have been married for 2 or more years out of the states and we've only been married for the 1.

Fofire

[Fofire 0]

if she came here on a CR1 visa she won't need to apply for AOS....

after entering the US with the CR1 visa she will get a 2 year conditional green card in a few weeks.... and in 2 years time she will need to apply to remove the conditions on her green card...

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=751guide

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showforum=86

then I made a mistake its the IR1 that she has. Like I said I always forget which one is which. I know we have the less advantageous one. I know what your talking about applies to those people that have been married for 2 or more years out of the states and we've only been married for the 1.

Fofire

Stupid me . . . I just now looked at your links . . . looks like you're right. I feel a little dumb right now.

And it was the CR1.

Thanks

[Liebi 0]

Yeah, she'll get the I-551 stamp in her passport at JFK and her GC in the mail a couple of weeks later. Only thing left to do is apply for a SSN and for lifting of conditions before the 2year mark.

FYI: It took me 1.5 hours to get through immigration when I came here, it was Atlanta though and the airport was really very busy. About the question what line to go to - I think you'll be fine getting in the line for US citizens, and it will most likely be the shorter one.

[Marilyn. 340]

you get the IR1 if you have been married for over 2 years... this will get you a 10 year green card....

you get a CR1 if you have been married for less then 2 years and this will get you a 2 year conditional green card...

[Fofire 0]

you get the IR1 if you have been married for over 2 years... this will get you a 10 year green card....

you get a CR1 if you have been married for less then 2 years and this will get you a 2 year conditional green card...

I guess you missed my last post sorry I made the mistake. Foot in mouth. Sorry

"Yeah, she'll get the I-551 stamp in her passport at JFK and her GC in the mail a couple of weeks later. Only thing left to do is apply for a SSN and for lifting of conditions before the 2year mark.

FYI: It took me 1.5 hours to get through immigration when I came here, it was Atlanta though and the airport was really very busy. About the question what line to go to - I think you'll be fine getting in the line for US citizens, and it will most likely be the shorter one." Liebi

Does this means she'll be able to work once she gets there (she already has an SSN).

thanks

Fofire

Edited December 28, 2007 by Fofire

[Marilyn. 340]

yes, she will be able to work......

[ELW 5]

I can only comment on the immigration at JFK: it is different for different people, depends on the time of day and the rush factor. When my husband came last May, he said he had a wait of about an hour and was questioned for half an hour, but a friend's husband got questioned for over 3 hours! (He was a Muslim from Pakistan; they hold certain profiling types for longer questioning.) The rule of thumb is not to make a connecting flight for less than 3 hours of arrival, just in case.

I have heard from others that husband and wife both went through the same immigration line together, but I hope others will comment about that. They will of course advise you were to go, when you arrive.

[Turboguy 6]

My wife (now) came through JFK on a K-1. It took about 3 hours to clear customs and immigration. If your connecting flight is on the same airline you may have a chance of making it. If you have to change terminals I would not think your chances are that good. My former fiancee came through Atlanta and cleared in about 45 min - 1 hour.