After Two Denials...Finally Approved!

[ThailandToIndiana 11]

My wife's CR1 visa was denied in November following her interview and the denial paperwork stated they need proof I will return to the States within 6 months of the visa being issued. I'm currently a private contractor in Afghanistan. So, I submitted a bunch of paperwork showing I have retained my residence in the States, submitted it to the embassy, and the visa was denied again in early January. The denial paperwork from the embassy said the exact same thing as the first denial paperwork, which pissed me off. I called the National Visa Center, and emailed the embassy, asking them what type of proof do they want. The NVC stated I would have to ask the embassy, and the embassy stated they could not tell me since they are the adjudicators of the case. In other words, typical government office #######...no help at all.

I again sent a bunch of paperwork to the embassy. This included a letter from my employer stating my contract in Afghanistan will be completed in April. I also sent them paperwork showing I've registered my own business in Florida, and gave them the name and email address of an FBI agent who is fast-tracking my resume for a position with them. Apparently all this additional paperwork did the trick and my wife received her passport in the mail today with the visa inside.

Needless to say, my wife and I are both THRILLED! We started this process 11 months ago, and it's been emotionally draining at times (as you all already know how that can be). We're so happy this part of the process is over and can now look forward to going to the U.S. together, along with our 1-year-old son, in May.

I do have one question though. Are we done now until 18 months after she enters the States, at which time we'll apply to have her visa converted to a permanent resident visa, or is there more to do before that?

[maziid.je 3]

wow! Congrats!!

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

That is wonderful, congrats and thanks for the update!

[rin and john 71]

1360226401[/url]' post='5965252']

My wife's CR1 visa was denied in November following her interview and the denial paperwork stated they need proof I will return to the States within 6 months of the visa being issued. I'm currently a private contractor in Afghanistan. So, I submitted a bunch of paperwork showing I have retained my residence in the States, submitted it to the embassy, and the visa was denied again in early January. The denial paperwork from the embassy said the exact same thing as the first denial paperwork, which pissed me off. I called the National Visa Center, and emailed the embassy, asking them what type of proof do they want. The NVC stated I would have to ask the embassy, and the embassy stated they could not tell me since they are the adjudicators of the case. In other words, typical government office #######...no help at all.

I again sent a bunch of paperwork to the embassy. This included a letter from my employer stating my contract in Afghanistan will be completed in April. I also sent them paperwork showing I've registered my own business in Florida, and gave them the name and email address of an FBI agent who is fast-tracking my resume for a position with them. Apparently all this additional paperwork did the trick and my wife received her passport in the mail today with the visa inside.

Needless to say, my wife and I are both THRILLED! We started this process 11 months ago, and it's been emotionally draining at times (as you all already know how that can be). We're so happy this part of the process is over and can now look forward to going to the U.S. together, along with our 1-year-old son, in May.

I do have one question though. Are we done now until 18 months after she enters the States, at which time we'll apply to have her visa converted to a permanent resident visa, or is there more to do before that?

Congrats! You won't have to convert, assuming you enter the USA after February 10th (your second anniversary). If your spouse's green card is issued after you've been married two years, they get a 10 year GC. So you are done for 10 years, unless you plan to have her become a US citizen. If so, she can apply after she has her GC 3 years (actually can file tha N-400 90 days prior to 3 year GC anniversary).

[Karee 4,190]

Congrats! You won't have to convert, assuming you enter the USA after February 10th (your second anniversary). If your spouse's green card is issued after you've been married two years, they get a 10 year GC. So you are done for 10 years, unless you plan to have her become a US citizen. If so, she can apply after she has her GC 3 years (actually can file tha N-400 90 days prior to 3 year GC anniversary).

[ThailandToIndiana 11]

Wow...that right there is good news on top of good news! :-)

She won't enter the States until after we've been married two years, so she'll qualify for the 10-year Green Card. I told her about that and she wants to get her citizenship and is happy about being able to give it a shot after only 3 years.

What do we do when we get to the States? Is the Green Card automatically issued? Do we have to go to the Social Security office to get her a number? Maybe someone can point me in the direction of the forum that covers what we do after she enters the States?

THANKS!

[Darnell 8,478]

I do have one question though. Are we done now until 18 months after she enters the States, at which time we'll apply to have her visa converted to a permanent resident visa, or is there more to do before that?[/size]

from yer timeline (thanks for filling it out, btw), yer marriage date is 2011-02-10

So if she hits a USA POE after 2011-02-10, she can get changed from CR-1 designation to IR-1 designation, as the marriage will have been for more than 2 years.

It's not always automatic - she'll have to ask for it at the POE - sometimes is hard to remember to ask for it, when coming off of a gruellingly long international flight - but it's so worth it.

IF she gets the IR-1 designation at the POE - she will be issued a 10 year green card.

If she doesn't get the IR-1 designation at the POE - she'll be issued a 2 year green card.

Good Luck !!!

[Darnell 8,478]

Wow...that right there is good news on top of good news! :-)

She won't enter the States until after we've been married two years, so she'll qualify for the 10-year Green Card. I told her about that and she wants to get her citizenship and is happy about being able to give it a shot after only 3 years.

What do we do when we get to the States? Is the Green Card automatically issued? Do we have to go to the Social Security office to get her a number? Maybe someone can point me in the direction of the forum that covers what we do after she enters the States?

THANKS!

Green card automatically issued, usually within 45 days of hitting a POE. She'll get a stamp in her passport that, when combined with that stamp and a visa, acts a temp 1 year I-551 document, a temp green card.

Hit SSA Office on week 3, get a SAVE db look done on her A# and VISA name, and if found, apply for the SSN.

[ThailandToIndiana 11]

Well, I'll be flying with her from Thailand to the States because there's no way she can do that by herself with our 17-month old son. So, I'll remind her to ask for the conversion to an IR-1 designation. Thanks for the info about that!

I don't understand that second part you wrote: "...get a SAVE db look done on her A# and VISA name..." What's a SAVE db look? What's an A#? By VISA name, do you mean her name?

[Darnell 8,478]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/405546-ssn-howto/

[X Factor 1,112]

ConGraTuLaTions

[Ms Hogan 295]

Congratulations! I love hearing good news, especially when someone has had to be extra patient and put the extra effort in to deal with extra road bumps along the way!

[Novembro 1,763]

Woo woo! That's awesome news!

[Hagrid 22]

That is awesomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! :dance:

Congrats!!

[reese1 68]