Advice on how to survive waiting for CR-1 process now with travel ban

[Steph65 1]

Hello. I am hoping to find someone who has gone through what we are going through or are in the process right now like me. A little background. I am American citizen who married an Iranian refugee who is living in Turkey. We knew the process was going to be lengthy but now it’s in a period of no progress or process due to travel ban and even worse inclusion of spouses. She is Iranian and has refugee status living in Turkey. She has no valid passport so her traveling to me while we wait is impossible. I can stay in Turkey while we wait either. I did stay for the allotted time of 90 days without a visa and have to wait another 90 days to return to see her again. This is not easy as I am in need of working. I would love to hear from someone that is going through same or similar and how they did it ?

thank you 

[pushbrk 14,318]

We members here who went through the spouse visa process, all endured separation, and in most cases, it was the US Citizen Petitioner who had to do all the travel for visits.  If you spent three months in Turkey with your spouse already, that's more than many of us had altogether.  Yes, it's difficult, but also wonderful that you can visit again during the process.  Look forward to that.  Stay in regular contact.  You'll still need to qualify as your wife's financial sponsor, so we understand the need to work.  She will understand too.  

One thing to do to further occupy your mind, is to learn what's coming next, including becoming an A-student of the I-864 and its separate instructions.

[JD2 258]

I'm sorry you are going through this.  The ban won't be around forever.  Trump won't be President forever.  And, if the Democrats win in November, they may be able to extract concessions out of him even sooner (but who knows if they'll spend their political capital on the ban).  Try to visit each other as much as possible.  Prepare for the eventual move to the US.  For example, my spouse started working with an architect on our house before even moving here.  If you want to have kids, both of you get your fertility checked out, so if you have an issue you can start treatment now.  Speaking from experience, you don't want to spend all this time apart, then when you are finally together and ready to build a family, you discover fertility issues.  Just a few ideas.

[Miller Family 342]

Also, there are a few lawsuits in progress.  They may not lift the ban or the visa pause completely, but I imagine that there will be some sort of relief if they are successful.  I agree with the other posters:  Keep working as much as you can, because this process isn't cheap, and I don't think it will get any cheaper once the ban and the pause has been lifted.   Best of luck to you. 

 

[JeanneAdil 7,474]

What is your plan for the Non passport issue?

[Steph65 1]

thank you for some great advice.  unfortunately she has no way of traveling, so only I can visit her. The good news once we get to this point is she will have green card status before she even lands here. I just hope it isnt 4 years to wait for this. Can anyone tell me what questions she can expect to get when we do get to the interview stage? just curious  

thanks for all your help. we are new to this. In fact I just learned about the 90 day wait period between visits to Turkey, So that is hard too.

[appleblossom 5,810]

3 minutes ago, Steph65 said:

The good news once we get to this point is she will have green card status before she even lands here

 

She'll have an immigrant visa. She won't be a green card holder until she lands on that visa. 

 

Can she get a passport? Or is that not an option? At least if she had a passport you might be able to go somewhere else together. 

[Steph65 1]

yes, okay you are correct. The  onlt thing she may be able to obtain is a travel document/ with help form UN. she cant get a passport, maybe a travel document from Turkish Gov. but very hard to get approved and the risk of something going wrong or landing somewhere that questions it, is too risky in my opinion, because she escaped persecution in Iran and is at lest safe in Turkey. She is a heavy metal singer and really the first female heavy metal singer in Iran, they had arrested her one time before she escaped and accused her of satanism. so if she were deported back to Iran it certainly would be a death sentence.

Edited 9 hours ago by Steph65

[pushbrk 14,318]

The asylum seeker with no passport is unfamiliar for me.  Again, traveling during the process, is commonly only really practical for the US Citizen when coming from many countries anyway.  She will need some sort of travel document for the visa to be issued.  That would be the first thing I would want to sort out, in your circumstances.

[Steph65 1]

she will need to get a Refugee Travel Document issued by Turkey and with assistance from the UN and then

• the U.S. embassy will place the CR-1 immigrant visa inside that travel document

• She can then legally board a plane and enter the U.S.

Edited 3 hours ago by Steph65

[Steph65 1]

1. At the airport:

   • She is admitted as a Permanent Resident

2. Her passport/travel document is stamped:

   • This stamp = temporary proof of green card

3. Physical green card is mailed to your U.S. address (usually 2–4 months)

[pushbrk 14,318]

7 minutes ago, Steph65 said:

1. At the airport:

   • She is admitted as a Permanent Resident

2. Her passport/travel document is stamped:

   • This stamp = temporary proof of green card

3. Physical green card is mailed to your U.S. address (usually 2–4 months)

So, when she actually has the document, you will have this sorted. While the two quotes you copied and pasted seem correct, there are many sources of false information.  When you copy and paste, it's best to disclose the source.

[Steph65 1]

its from our i,,igation lawyer' email actually

 

[pushbrk 14,318]

7 minutes ago, Steph65 said:

its from our i,,igation lawyer' email actually

 

Then it looks like the lawyer is quoting an official source.  That's what you're paying for.

 

[Coco8 1,071]

One possible option is to look at countries that have an easy refugee status situation, have an easier way of getting documentation, and an easier path to citizenship with a 'strong' passport. I think that Argentina has a pretty good refugee system and citizenship is might quicker than other countries, maybe 2 years. Don't quote me on the numbers, but I think it's worth checking out. Another advantage is that it's closer than Turkey and you are on a similar time zone, which makes it easier for talking on the phone, etc. Anyway, that's my suggestion, looking at moving to another country as a refugee. Though she might have friends and family in Turkey which would make this less of an option.

Also, if you work remote, they have some easy visas for people who work remote and want to live there.

Edited 1 hour ago by Coco8