IR-1/CR-1 Spouse Visa Question

[Rover 2]

Hello VJr's,

I have a couple of questions please, because of my wife's work situation, when she get's her IR-1/CR-1 Visa (god's willing), how long does she have to use it? meaning that she have to enter the US with in 3-6 months? Does the VISA have an expiration date? The second question is when she enters the US the first time, can she leave and reenters with the same VISA, or she has to wait to get her Green Card in the mail before she can travel again? and last how long does it take to receive your green card in the mail is 3-6 weeks in the ball park?

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[payxibka 10,044]

Hello VJr's,

I have a couple of questions please, because of my wife's work situation, when she get's her IR-1/CR-1 Visa (god's willing), how long does she have to use it? meaning that she have to enter the US with in 3-6 months? Does the VISA have an expiration date? The second question is when she enters the US the first time, can she leave and reenters with the same VISA, or she has to wait to get her Green Card in the mail before she can travel again? and last how long does it take to receive your green card in the mail is 3-6 weeks in the ball park?

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

visa is used one time and must be used within 6 mos. of issuance

at entry she will receive the I-551 "stamp" in her passport that acts like a greencard for up to one year and in theory could travel immediately

[YuAndDan 153]

The visa is valid for 6 months.

The POE will stamp passport with I-551 stamp, this serves as a temp green-card, allowing work, and travel.

[trinket 30]

Hello VJr's,

I have a couple of questions please, because of my wife's work situation, when she get's her IR-1/CR-1 Visa (god's willing), how long does she have to use it? meaning that she have to enter the US with in 3-6 months? Does the VISA have an expiration date? The second question is when she enters the US the first time, can she leave and reenters with the same VISA, or she has to wait to get her Green Card in the mail before she can travel again? and last how long does it take to receive your green card in the mail is 3-6 weeks in the ball park?

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Your wife will have 6 months to enter US once VISA has been granted.

Once she enters US, she will either get 2 year or 10 year GC depending upon how long you guys have been married on her day of entry. Anyways the CR-1/IR-1 visa alone is good enough for re-entering US. But keep in mind not be away from US for more than 6 months or that may raise questions at POE when she tries to gets back to US.

Its better if she waits for her Green card to arrive before making any travel arrangements, but she can travel anyways.

For me it took around 5 weeks to receive GC, but mind you it was holiday season. Anyways some others have got their GC in 10 days time, and for a few unfortunate one it took 8 months or so, so you can't really say how long will it take.

[Rover 2]

payxibka & YuAndDan

Thank you very much.

[payxibka 10,044]

Its better if she waits for her Green card to arrive before making any travel arrangements.....

I am curious.... Why?

[trinket 30]

Its better if she waits for her Green card to arrive before making any travel arrangements.....

I am curious.... Why?

There has been a few reports where people were concern about taking their spouses to Canada, I guess it was with the border petrol, how they refused to identify passport stamp as greencard.

[payxibka 10,044]

Its better if she waits for her Green card to arrive before making any travel arrangements.....

I am curious.... Why?

There has been a few reports where people were concern about taking their spouses to Canada, I guess it was with the border petrol, how they refused to identify passport stamp as greencard.

Which border patrol? USA or Canada? cuz if it was the USA then that is a problem because they are the ones who do the stamp

[pushbrk 12,296]

Its better if she waits for her Green card to arrive before making any travel arrangements.....

I am curious.... Why?

There has been a few reports where people were concern about taking their spouses to Canada, I guess it was with the border petrol, how they refused to identify passport stamp as greencard.

Which border patrol? USA or Canada? cuz if it was the USA then that is a problem because they are the ones who do the stamp

Canadians don't always recognize the stamp. If they don't, the traveler may need a visa. This could or would be true anytime a foreigner wishes to avail themselves of travel privileges afforded to US permanent residents but is completely curable with the appropriate entry visas. There's no problem heading back to the country of citizenship to finish up some work, as long as they don't leave long enough to lose the LPR status.