How should I do this???

[Dweezy 3]

Well, the good news is all went well for me and the wife for her visa. I guess after seeing that I had traveled 36 hours from honolulu hawaii to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the interview they realized everything was on the up and up. They actually asked me more questions than my wife. She picks her visa up tommorow and we are both estatic, but..... and as you all know there is always a but with this immigration process, her visa is only good for 6 months. However I am on the tail end of the visa process for my stepdaughter, and seeing as my wife is her only caretaker I cannot expect her to travel without her so I am asking this. What happens after she travels to the united states, what paperwork do I file then. Is it permenant residency paperwork? and if say for instance she travels to the united states on month 4 of her visa, if her visa expires while I am filing the permenant residency paperwork will they deport her or something. I know I should be happy about the visa, and I am and feel very blessed but if it aint one thing its another and your guys and gals help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[SisJ 13]

Someone correct me if i'm wrong ...but your wife will get a GC when she comes to the US ( not upon arrival, it'll be mailed to her), no extra filing required. depending on if you've been married for 2yrs or less she'll get a 2yr or 10yr GC. If shegets a 2yr Conditional GC she has to ROC 90 days before it expires if she receives a 10yr payment she'll be eligible for citizenship in three yrs.

[pushbrk 12,106]

Well, the good news is all went well for me and the wife for her visa. I guess after seeing that I had traveled 36 hours from honolulu hawaii to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the interview they realized everything was on the up and up. They actually asked me more questions than my wife. She picks her visa up tommorow and we are both estatic, but..... and as you all know there is always a but with this immigration process, her visa is only good for 6 months. However I am on the tail end of the visa process for my stepdaughter, and seeing as my wife is her only caretaker I cannot expect her to travel without her so I am asking this. What happens after she travels to the united states, what paperwork do I file then. Is it permenant residency paperwork? and if say for instance she travels to the united states on month 4 of her visa, if her visa expires while I am filing the permenant residency paperwork will they deport her or something. I know I should be happy about the visa, and I am and feel very blessed but if it aint one thing its another and your guys and gals help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Your profile says I-1 visa, but you posted in the K3 visa forum, so not sure which visa your wife has. If CR1 or IR1, her green card signifying permanent resident status will just come in the mail a month or so after she arrives. Those are single entry visas, so once used, the expiration date is meaningless.

Which visa did she get?

[Dweezy 3]

She got a K-3

Thanks to the both of you for your input thats a relief to hear.

[pushbrk 12,106]

She got a K-3

Thanks to the both of you for your input thats a relief to hear.

Not if it expires in six months, she didn't. A K3 visa from Ethiopia would be valid for two years, not six months. If she got a spouse visa, it was a CR1 or IR1, depending on how long you've been married. Check the visa itself and see what it says as to category and expiration.

[Mrs O. 29]

Not if it expires in six months, she didn't. A K3 visa from Ethiopia would be valid for two years, not six months. If she got a spouse visa, it was a CR1 or IR1, depending on how long you've been married. Check the visa itself and see what it says as to category and expiration.

Is K3 still being issued?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

What does the visa in the passport say ? Maybe you thought K3 and got CR1

[marriedtomrg 140]

When the visa is issued, your wife has 6 months to use it to enter the US.

Once she enters, she must have an I-94 card already filled up (they distribute this on the plane, so she must complete it before reaching the US), and hand it to the POE officer. She will get it back, stapled in her passport (please do not lose it nor leave the airport without it stapled in the passport), the validity must be 2 years from the date she arrived.

Your journey is not quite over yet. She must now apply for adjustment of status. The K3 visa is only a temporary resident visa, which doesn't entitle her to a green card yet....the adjustment of status application will change her status from temporary resident to permanent resident.

How long have you guys been married? Your answer will determine if she will receive a 2-year conditional green card or a 10 year-green card at the end of the adjustment of status process.

She got a K-3

Thanks to the both of you for your input thats a relief to hear.

[pushbrk 12,106]

Is K3 still being issued?

Yes but rarely. One was reported issued within the past month or so. If a case was delayed or had some other special circumstances an I-129F could have been forwarded to a Consulate some time ago or the rare one gets sent to NVC separate from the I-130. NVC is cutting all but the rare exception off at the pass for a year now but if one gets to a Consulate, the Consulate deals with it.

The key here is the OP said the visa expires in six months. So, that wouldn't be a K3 visa. K3 visas from Ethiopia and almost all other countries are good for two years.

Edited February 4, 2011 by pushbrk