Extended visit to U.S. after starting Fiance petition

[hoppetyhop 0]

Hi!

I am going to file a petition for my fiance for an immigrant visa. I am not 100% sure which is the best option though - fiance visa or spouse visa.

In either case, we have just had a baby 2 months ago, and my fiance will get 6 months paternity leave starting this spring, probably March 2013. During his 6 months paternity leave from work, we want to go for an extended stay in New York and visit my family.

What I wonder is this: If I file the fiance/spouse petition here in Stockholm before we leave for the U.S. a couple of months later, will that mess up the process because we won't be here in Sweden to receive post? Don't think we'll have anyone who'll forward our mail to us while we're away as we live in a sublet currently.

Can we start the process here in Sweden and then pick it up/respond to anything we need to do, from the U.S. end?

Has anyone been in that situation?

[Harpa Timsah 13,263]

People from Sweden can visit the US visa free for 3 months, not 6. If he wants six, he will need a tourist visa. See if he can obtain that... Even if he does get it, he can be turned away at the border.

It's not a good idea to leave without someone checking your mail.

[KayDeeCee 4,904]

You could use your family's address in the US as your mailing address on the forms so that you can get the mailings from the USCIS while in the US.

[hoppetyhop 0]

Thank you both! Thanks for pointing out he can only stay 3 months and not 6. Don't know why I thought it was six, without having looked it up yet. Good idea to use temporary address in the U.S. during that time too. Do you happen to know whether after the 3 months he'd have to go back and stay in Sweden for a specific amount of time before re-entering the U.S. as a visitor for another 2-3 months?

I emailed the US embassy in Sweden with this same question yesterday. They directed me to USCIS, who in turn directed anyone calling from outside the U.S. to contact their local embassy/consulate. Catch 22. Could not a human on the phone at the U.S. USCIS number even though their message said they have representatives to take calls between 8am and 8pm, there was no option for customer service, or operator. Frustrating.

Thank you again for your helpful advice

[KayDeeCee 4,904]

Read through this thread about visiting after filing a petition: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/67796-yes-you-can-visit/