CR-1 Visa Extension for military spouse

[ncerteza 0]

Hello, I am in the Army in Korea and I just received my wife's visa. Unfortunately, the Visa expires 5 days before my Date Eligible for Return from Overseas (DEROS). I've tried contacting the embassy in Seoul but they did not give me any definitive answers. All they said is that I would have to apply for a new visa! As a servicemember I can't just pack up and leave as easily as a civilian and the marriage and visa process has already been an expensive affair, so applying for a new visa (for 5 more days) seems like a waste of time and money, especially since I would have to get another visa examination (her 3rd in a year as the army required one before I could marry). Has anyone encountered this and is there anything to be done that doesn't require applying for another visa? Or am I stuck trying to convince the Army to allow me to leave before my DEROS? This option is difficult due to the unfamiliarity of army clerks with immigration and will probably take considerable time to accomplish... I've already extended twice (once for two months and the second for six months) to get my wife's visa and now I'm finding that I have to do more paperwork to try to leave early so I don't have to get another visa. I've been very patient with the visa issues before but I thought they would take into consideration that servicemembers aren't always able to leave in the arbitrary timelines set for immigration, and it takes a lot more paperwork on the army side to do this. All I want to do is leave Korea to go to the states with my wife, but it seems that right now the worst possible scenario of her going early without me, and out of my pocket may happen. I really don't want to do that. If only I had waited one week to submit her visa I wouldn't have had to deal with this stress.

Edited March 12, 2015 by ncerteza

[stefiec89 0]

You should contact USCIS military hotline OR find out from on base whether or not expedited naturalisation is something they do there for you guys. We had it in Okinawa but you have to be there on orders and be there while it's being processed.

[ncerteza 0]

My wife isn't on my orders and we have not been able to live together in Korea so thI am unable to do expedited citizenship.

[newbie87 20]

why not have your wife Space A to Guam or Hawaii???? and space A back to Korea,

[ncerteza 0]

I am considering taking leave to Guam for 5 days a month before my DEROS. Seems like if I have to pay to get a new exam and visa I might as well spend money to go to guam. I heard once her visa is stamped she has 6 months to immigrate to the states. is it true though once she gets back to korea she can only stay 30 days unless she has a tourist visa? Her visa in korea expires in may but there's a possibility that they will extend it until I leave.

Edited March 13, 2015 by ncerteza

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Military Immigration-Related Discussion.