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IntrusiveThief

Does a childhood visa overstay affect the CR-1 / entry into the US?

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Hi, everyone. I went to school in the US as a child for a few years because of my father's job. I was on the H-4 visa issued to dependents of H1 visa holders. When my dad extended his H1-B, he assumed that my H-4 would be automatically extended. It wasn't and it turns out that 9 year old me was technically overstaying my visa for at least a year, maybe more, before my family returned to India. While exiting the US, we weren't asked about the overstay on my passport at all and no acknowledgement of it was ever made by anyone from the US government, or the airline. That was the only time I travelled to the US, one entry and one exit.  

Now my American wife and I are about to file the I-130 petition. And I'm wondering whether this overstay will affect it in any way? Will I be forced to declare it and justify it at some point? I'm hopeful that it is fine because
1) I was a minor at the time
2) It has been more than 10 years since I left the US 

Any guidance would be really appreciated, thanks. 

Edited by IntrusiveThief
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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Kenya
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Even if a ban was in place, it has expired. 

 

Are you in US or outside?

Immigration journey is not: fast, for the faint at heart, easy, cheap, for the impatient nor right away. If more than 50% of this applies to you, best get off the bus.

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1 minute ago, Timona said:

Even if a ban was in place, it has expired. 

 

Are you in US or outside?

Thanks, that was my understanding too. Although if they ask if I've ever overstayed at some point, on a form or at the interview, I think I will have to explain why. Hopefully that doesn't affect my chances. 

I'm outside the US, and have never visited again. 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Kenya
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Of course you have to mention the overstay.

Immigration journey is not: fast, for the faint at heart, easy, cheap, for the impatient nor right away. If more than 50% of this applies to you, best get off the bus.

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Argentina
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I think that overstays for minors are forgiven. 
But even if it was not, overstays are forgiven for spouses of USC. 
Of course, if asked, disclose it

FROM F1 TO AOS

October 17, 2019 AOS receipt date 

December 09, 2019: Biometric appointment

January 15, 2020 RFE received

January 30, 2020  RFE response sent

Feb 7: EAD approved and interview scheduled

March 18, 2020 Interview cancelled

April 14th 2020: RFE received

April 29, 2020 Approved without interview

May 1, 2020 Card in hand

 

REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS

February 1, 2022 package sent

March 28, 2022 Fingerprints reused

July 18, 2023 approval

July 20, 2023 Card in hand

 

N400 

January 30,2023: Online filing

February 4th, 2023: Biometric appointment

June 15th, 2023: Case actively being reviewed

July 11th, 2023: Interview scheduled.

August 30th, 2023: Interview!

August 31st, 2023: Oath ceremony scheduled.

Sept 19th, 2023: Officially a US citizen!

 


 

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19 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

This is a visa case, so OP will be dealing with DOS.  USCIS may forgive, but DOS does not.

 


Hi @Chancy or @TBoneTX, can you expand on that? At what stage does the Department Of State come into play? From what I know, the hoops I have to jump through are UCIS, NVC, the consulate for the interview and the immigration agent at the airport when I arrive? 

Everything I've found online says that overstay days may not even accrue for minors, and even if they did, I am comfortably past the 10 year ban on reentry. 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Australia
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9 minutes ago, IntrusiveThief said:


Hi @Chancy or @TBoneTX, can you expand on that? At what stage does the Department Of State come into play? From what I know, the hoops I have to jump through are UCIS, NVC, the consulate for the interview and the immigration agent at the airport when I arrive? 

Everything I've found online says that overstay days may not even accrue for minors, and even if they did, I am comfortably past the 10 year ban on reentry. 
 

************

USCIS oversees the  adjustment of status applications .. the process used when the non US spouse is already in the US .. having entered legally.. if they have overstayed the time allowed for that entry, it is declared on the application but “forgiven” in that specific case. You are doing Consular processing which is overseen at the consulate  by DOS. Some different rules apply . 

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7 minutes ago, IntrusiveThief said:

Hi @Chancy or @TBoneTX, can you expand on that? At what stage does the Department Of State come into play? From what I know, the hoops I have to jump through are UCIS, NVC, the consulate for the interview and the immigration agent at the airport when I arrive? 

Everything I've found online says that overstay days may not even accrue for minors, and even if they did, I am comfortably past the 10 year ban on reentry. 

 

NVC and the consulate are part of DOS.  You will be required to declare the overstay on your DS-260 form when your case gets to the NVC/DOS stage.  The DS-260 form requires details on your last 5 US visits and requires you to declare if you EVER overstayed in the US, regardless of your age at the time.  Your overstay will likely not be an issue in your case, as you were a minor when it happened.  Just be honest about it on the DS-260 and if asked at your consulate interview.

 

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17 minutes ago, Lil bear said:
33 minutes ago, IntrusiveThief said:

USCIS oversees the  adjustment of status applications .. the process used when the non US spouse is already in the US .. having entered legally.. if they have overstayed the time allowed for that entry, it is declared on the application but “forgiven” in that specific case. You are doing Consular processing which is overseen at the consulate  by DOS. Some different rules apply . 

 

11 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

NVC and the consulate are part of DOS.  You will be required to declare the overstay on your DS-260 form when your case gets to the NVC/DOS stage.  The DS-260 form requires details on your last 5 US visits and requires you to declare if you EVER overstayed in the US, regardless of your age at the time.  Your overstay will likely not be an issue in your case, as you were a minor when it happened.  Just be honest about it on the DS-260 and if asked at your consulate interview.

 


Thanks for the explanation guys, that makes it much more clear. Although this sounds like a situation where I should contact an immigration lawyer to get more certainty, I was hoping to avoid that. But I will do it, and update here. 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Australia
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6 minutes ago, IntrusiveThief said:

 


Thanks for the explanation guys, that makes it much more clear. Although this sounds like a situation where I should contact an immigration lawyer to get more certainty, I was hoping to avoid that. But I will do it, and update here. 

Its up to you but there isn't really anything a lawyer can do here that you cant. 

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Filed: Other Country: China
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5 hours ago, Timona said:

Of course you have to mention the overstay.

Not unless asked about it.  No such question I know of on any form.  What makes you say that?

 

Facts are cheap...knowing how to use them is precious...
Understanding the big picture is priceless. Anonymous

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1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

Not unless asked about it.  No such question I know of on any form.  What makes you say that?

 

I figured because the DS-260 makes you fill out your entry and exit dates, along with the visa type/number, the overstay is kind of implicitly there? Do you think they might not even ask in my case?

Edited by IntrusiveThief
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Filed: Other Country: China
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55 minutes ago, IntrusiveThief said:

I figured because the DS-260 makes you fill out your entry and exit dates, along with the visa type/number, the overstay is kind of implicitly there? Do you think they might not even ask in my case?

A question about an overstay would be during the interview.  They may or may not notice the previous overstay based on dates in the application but any penalty period is long past.

Facts are cheap...knowing how to use them is precious...
Understanding the big picture is priceless. Anonymous

Google Who is Pushbrk?

A Warning to Green Card Holders About Voting

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/606646-a-warning-to-green-card-holders-about-voting/

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20 hours ago, IntrusiveThief said:


Hi @Chancy or @TBoneTX, can you expand on that? At what stage does the Department Of State come into play? From what I know, the hoops I have to jump through are UCIS, NVC, the consulate for the interview and the immigration agent at the airport when I arrive? 

Everything I've found online says that overstay days may not even accrue for minors, and even if they did, I am comfortably past the 10 year ban on reentry. 

If you had a ban it has expired.  Declare your overstay however immigrant visas are processed, not approved, by DOS and this will not effect you unless you have an active ban in place.  You will not even need a waiver.

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