PMartin37

OK, so I'm an American guy looking to marry a Singaporean girl and here's something I've thought of. Now we both go to Canada since we do not require visas to travel there and there we marry. I apply for a CR-1 for her. While we're waiting on approval, she stays in America in a tourist visa. Now, she does have some distant relatives here so does that give her any other options. Finally, am I making this too complicated? I understand that a person cannot, in general, wait in the US pending their CR-1 approval. Is this correct?

Tell me where there might be some problems in this approach or if it just might work.

Good luck to you with your queries. I would like to point out though. Gambling with your happiness is very high stakes for you and for your future wife. And I know for a fact in Vegas...the house always wins. Just food for thought.

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/india/635775/ACS/Affidavit%20-%20Marriage.pdf

one of the members here told me that i should definitely go get a NOC, even though the marriage registrar has said that they dont need one.

as you can see its just a affidavit notarized by the embassy and nothing more.

what do you recommend, should i still go ahead and get one?

is printing it on plain paper good enough, or what do you recommend?

From this paper, it appears to be what is referred to as a "single status affidavit" or certificate of record--not an NOC. When my husband and I married in Hyderabad, we had the India equivalent to a paralegal. To my knowledge we didn't have an NOC. I would go ahead and fill this out and have it notarized to be safe.

Here is a link that might be helpful to you if you plan to marry in New Delhi http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/DoIT/delhi+govt/community/marriage+certificate+and+registration I would follow the rules for application and registration for the area you plan to marry first. When everything is satisfied by the courts there, then take the marriage certificate to Ministry of External Affairs to be attested/notarized for use abroad. Hope this helps!

thanks. is there a huge list of all these things somewhere? so i can see how much of it i can obtain easily.

Hey there...I thought I would add that there is a GREAT resource on this website. You see the main menu at the top Home-Forums-Portals-Guides, etc. Click on Guide and check out the details and requirements for the IR1-CR1 Marriage visa... It's GREAT and gives you details to assemble all of your documents once you collect them for your packet. My husband and I are doing the CR-1 as we married in India and I'm here in the U.S.

Best of luck to you!!

You could do this or contact the applicable US Consulate's Immigrant Visa Unit directly by email. Correcting earlier posts slightly, the standard requirement is for a photocopy of the passport data page to be sent to NVC before any interview is even scheduled.

That's a really good idea and I'm going to do this ASAP. Thank you!!!

I think the passport problem is fixable, but not by getting a new passport from Iran.

There's some other document that the IV Unit at the US Consulate can issue, some sort of travel document.

I don't recall the exact name of this, but

in some time, when the DS-230 is submitted, you can explain all in a letter and include that with the DS-230. Eventually, a Consular Officer will read that letter back at the IV unit, and understand which travel document he needs to leave the country and pass through a USA POE.

You've a situation that is rare, a refugee living LEGALLY in a country, with documents proving refugee status, now married to a USCitizen, who is applying for a CR-1/IR-1 visa via the I-130 submittal process.

I've read about this a bit here in some countries in Africa, but it's been some time.

Darnell, yes I gathered from reading the forums here that my situation is rare. I can't figure out how to connect to others in this situation either to support each other :-( I believe you're right about the travel document. My hubby understands that the travel document can be issued (but he says its the Red Cross that issues these to UN refugees only). However, I don't want to be guessing when it comes to this because I hate delays (especially if they can be avoided on my part). He's been there as a refugee for 8 years now and he's very bored, lonely, frustrated (much like I am at the moment). I've known him for 4 years and we really are beyond ready to start our life TOGETHER.

Just for reference, is it only the Iraqi embassy in India that won't issue passports? If Iraqi embassies outside of India could issue them, have you thought about speaking to Iraqi embassies in Pakistan or Nepal too? (If there are any)

And I don't get why he couldn't be resettled to Canada if married to an American..

Indeed Jae...I don't get it either. All I know is that his interview lasted probably 10 min for his resettlement because immediately they told him the resettlement offer was canceled since he was married to me and he would have to seek immigration rather than resettlement. Sounded weird to me...but who am I to argue? I guess that is their protocol.

In regards to the passport issue, there are other embassies that issue them..they have changed recently (2010 I think?) and they are not available at all embassies. I think maybe Jordan..I believe Canada, I would have to check into that. For him to be issued the passport he would need to leave the country which ...lol presents another problem..coming back. To my knowledge the travel document issued via Red Cross for UN refugees is a ONE way pass meaning he won't have the option to return to India. In short, it's a big gooey mess with this. And I'm praying it won't put us into administrative processing limbo when the visa approval time comes.

Well as far as trying to get him resettled, I tried for years to get him resettled with his family who are in Canada. I got my sister and my mother to write letters on his behalf as well to the UN office in India. I went as far as writing to the president (why not?? I was exasperated!!) and got a reply a year later directing me to use the DHS reference number and contact the UN headquarters in Geneva- which I did. Result? Nothing. Finally after a few years of frustration and rejection on that end, I finally lost faith in that effort. As it turns out, I finally went to India where we married and had our honeymoon in Agra(Taj Mahal) and nearly a day or so afterwards, my hubby gets a call he's been approved to resettle in Canada. He goes to New Delhi to meet with UN officers and he's told that since he's now married to a US citizen, he'll need for his wife to sponsor him as an immigrant. Fun right?

Hey there and thank you both for replying so fast! To be a little more clear- Yes he does have official refugee status for the last 8 years there. And the passport issue definitely needs to be resolved, I totally agree. From what I understand, for refugees residing there in India, the Red Cross will issue a travel document which allows them to leave the country. He's going to be forced to do this because it's impossible to get his passport renewed there in India. He's tried to renew it and been told he'd have to leave the country which is NOT an option for him. I'm hoping and praying this won't become an issue because he's really got his hands tied about that.

This is my first post to the forum. I recently married an Iraqi refugee who is in India. I filed the I-130 petition for immigration and was issued a receipt number and NOA1. I am having a crash course in the immigration process since at this time I cannot afford a lawyer. I was absolutely terrified about the I-130 since I understand one small mistake can mean denial. So far so good.... I had the good fortune to speak to a helpful, friendly officer at USCIS customer service who assured me that everything was in order and no further evidence was needed thus far. She gave me the receipt number since the G-1145 I filled out apparently was for nothing. I've received no emails even though they had my application 12 days before I called. First lesson learned....don't rely on email- check for yourself! My concern is that my husband's passport has expired (he's unable to renew it there in India as their embassy doesn't issue them at this time). When he's approved for a visa (thinking positively ) I wonder if this is going to be a tremendous delay. I don't know of anyone else in this particular situation from reading other forums here. I guess my general question would be... does the fact that my husband is a refugee create any significant snags in the process that mean time delays? We are apart right now and it's very difficult for both of us. I just want to prepare myself or possibly plan other routes if this is going to be a real problem.