Got our CR-1 Visa! Can we fly somewhere else?

[xzsca10 33]

Hey all! I'm a USC with a German wife who got her CR-1 Visa Sticker at the Frankfurt Consulate. We have been living in Germany.

 

Before we go to USA, we wanted to have a little honeymoon month to Korea, Japan, and Italy because we missed out on our honeymoon trip due to Covid.

 

Does my wife have to go directly to USA, or is she permitted to fly to other countries after getting the CR-1 Visa sticker? 

 

 

[xzsca10 33]

Also curious if we should fly to the US ASAP... ? We were planning on leaving in October 

[SteveInBostonI130 3,467]

26 minutes ago, xzsca10 said:

Also curious if we should fly to the US ASAP... ? We were planning on leaving in October 

You both need to travel to the US before the expiry date of the CR1 visa, which is typically 6 months from the date of the immigration medical exam.

[arken 4,197]

55 minutes ago, xzsca10 said:

is she permitted to fly to other countries after getting the CR-1 Visa sticker?

Flying to other countries is governed by those countries not the US.

43 minutes ago, xzsca10 said:

Also curious if we should fly to the US ASAP... ? We were planning on leaving in October 

She can fly anytime to the US before the visa expired. 

[xzsca10 33]

12 minutes ago, arken said:

Flying to other countries is governed by those countries not the US.

She can fly anytime to the US before the visa expired. 

 

30 minutes ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

You both need to travel to the US before the expiry date of the CR1 visa, which is typically 6 months from the date of the immigration medical exam.

Thanks guys. Last question: her CR1-Visa expires in January 10th. So if we fly in on October I understand that the Green card can take up to 6 motnhs to arrive. It’s likely that her CR1 Visa will expire while we are still waiting for it to arrive. Would she be overstaying her welcome in this scenario? Trying to be careful, as she had an overstay issue many years ago on her visa waiver program.

[Timona 4,207]

She'll have a stamp on her PPehen she goes via CBP. The stamp is valid for a year and serves as a temporary GC before the physical GC arrives 

[xzsca10 33]

3 minutes ago, Timona said:

She'll have a stamp on her PPehen she goes via CBP. The stamp is valid for a year and serves as a temporary GC before the physical GC arrives 

Oh great! Thank you. Now off to plan our honey moon we’ve been waiting to do for 2 years. Have a good weekend 

[RO_AH 1,659]

33 minutes ago, xzsca10 said:

It’s likely that her CR1 Visa will expire while we are still waiting for it to arrive

The CR1 is a single entry visa and expires the moment she enters the USA. As @Timona said her passport will get a stamp which is the temporary GC before the physical GC arrives. Enjoy your honeymoon!

[xzsca10 33]

25 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

The CR1 is a single entry visa and expires the moment she enters the USA. As @Timona said her passport will get a stamp which is the temporary GC before the physical GC arrives. Enjoy your honeymoon!

Thank you 😊 🙏 

[SteveInBostonI130 3,467]

41 minutes ago, xzsca10 said:

Oh great! Thank you. Now off to plan our honey moon we’ve been waiting to do for 2 years. Have a good weekend 

Just out of curiosity, Korea and Japan I can see as a sensible combo, just about a 1 hr flight between those 2 countries and the need to research visa requirements.   But...Italy?  I mean, as a German citizen your spouse can visit Italy with no issues any time she wants. 

 

Drive, fly, rail, bus, bicycle, rowboat...ok, I know what you're thinking:  "Steve In Boston, if that's where you really are, there is no river between Germany and Italy".  But...Ah-ha!  Danube!  Take it to the Black Sea, avoid any and all pesky sea mines, row down the coast of Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, go through the Bosporus to the Mediterranean, and BAMB!, Bob's your Uncle!  You are on your paddling sea-drenched way to Venice!

 

In all seriousness I think travelling by rail might be spectacular if you can route it through the Swiss Alps.

 

Ciao, Buona Fortuna, Haeng-un-eul Bibnida, Kōun o.

 

[top_secret 2,445]

2 hours ago, xzsca10 said:

Hey all! I'm a USC with a German wife who got her CR-1 Visa Sticker at the Frankfurt Consulate.

 

1 hour ago, xzsca10 said:

Oh great! Thank you. Now off to plan our honey moon we’ve been waiting to do for 2 years. Have a good weekend 

 

Which if that is about 2 years since you were married (?) there is definitely a huge incentive for her to delay entering the US until it is more than 2 years since you were married so she will get a 10 year green card and wont had to do removal of conditions.

 

 

[Loren Y 2,755]

Japan is a real tough one still. You can only enter on escorted tours, and it's limited to 30,000 people a month, so last month as I recall about 50 people from the US ( 1 country) was allowed entry with an escort ( Babysitter) to follow you around. Skip Japan for the moment, doubt it will get better come October, they are still seriously locked down. I transit thru Tokyo quite a bit, and I when I leave the plane, they come and ask for who is entering Japan to exit the plan first. out of 300 plus passengers, there may be 5 that are entering the country, everyone else is transiting to another flight.

[pushbrk 12,969]

Two issues.  Travel requirements to the countries you have in mind.  No visas needed, but COVID restrictions and travel requirements are not "over".

 

Second, is that the immigrant spouse cannot enter the USA before the petitioner.  At the same time is OK.  Otherwise, travel as travel requirements permit.  

[Southern_Belle07 146]

4 hours ago, xzsca10 said:

Hey all! I'm a USC with a German wife who got her CR-1 Visa Sticker at the Frankfurt Consulate. We have been living in Germany.

 

Before we go to USA, we wanted to have a little honeymoon month to Korea, Japan, and Italy because we missed out on our honeymoon trip due to Covid.

 

Does my wife have to go directly to USA, or is she permitted to fly to other countries after getting the CR-1 Visa sticker? 

 

 

Being a US legal permanent residentor getting g a US visa stamp does not mean you can enter any other country. It will still depend on her home country passport. Call Korea, Japan and Italy embassies and see if a German national can visit their respective countries or they require a tourist visa. 

[SalishSea 17,921]

2 hours ago, Loren Y said:

Japan is a real tough one still. You can only enter on escorted tours, and it's limited to 30,000 people a month, so last month as I recall about 50 people from the US ( 1 country) was allowed entry with an escort ( Babysitter) to follow you around. Skip Japan for the moment, doubt it will get better come October, they are still seriously locked down. I transit thru Tokyo quite a bit, and I when I leave the plane, they come and ask for who is entering Japan to exit the plan first. out of 300 plus passengers, there may be 5 that are entering the country, everyone else is transiting to another flight.

Is that all COVID-related?