CR1/IR1 at POE

[brendaaa 27]

I have a CR1 visa and I will be arriving in 2 weeks, it's one month after our 2 year anniversary, am I suppose to tell them at POE that my visa needs to be converted to IR1 or is this automatic?  

[Dashinka 23,306]

Should be automatic, but it doesn’t hurt to verify and if they forget, remind them.

 

Good Luck and Safe Travels!

[SorrowL 138]

CR1/IR1 categories are defined when the visa is issued, not when you enter the United States based on what I’ve read on this forum. As far as I know you can’t really change it at POE, but you could maybe contact the consulate for a new visa, but could be risky. 

[Dashinka 23,306]

3 minutes ago, SorrowL said:

CR1/IR1 categories are defined when the visa is issued, not when you enter the United States based on what I’ve read on this forum. As far as I know you can’t really change it at POE, but you could maybe contact the consulate for a new visa, but could be risky. 

This is wrong in part.  Yes, the visa in a passport may say CR1 due to the date it was issued, but final status is determined at the POE.  Many folks have CR1s converted to IRs at the POE if they have passed two years of married life.  The person may need to bring this up to the CBP officers, but that is what should happen.

[SorrowL 138]

1 minute ago, Bill & Katya said:

This is wrong in part.  Yes, the visa in a passport may say CR1 due to the date it was issued, but final status is determined at the POE.  Many folks have CR1s converted to IRs at the POE if they have passed two years of married life.  The person may need to bring this up to the CBP officers, but that is what should happen.

Ah nice! Should maybe get that info added to the guides somehow. Thanks for the clarification.