I granted with CR-1 visa just recently and two weeks ago I arrived to Florida. I just wanted to write my experience how things went with every single step we had with my wife. Because visa journey was so helpful to me to understand more about the situations.
I am originally from Bursa, Turkey. I married with my wife on February 22, 2014. We married in Bursa with small family wedding. After we married my wife stayed with me a few weeks more and turned to USA. Before we got married we hired a lawyer,his name is Arek Nizamian and he is from LA. He helped us a lot a long to way to prepare all documents, with my experience first I can say is hire a lawyer (if you could afford) because lawyer can help you with prepare all documents in order.
All the paper work we prepared took a few months and we send our papers to USCIS on May 2014, and it took 10 months for us to pass all legal process because of the lawyer we worked guided us well. At least 10 months waiting time you should expect.
Before interview you will get an e-mail about which documents you have to prepare. I will tell you exactly what I did and this can give you a tips about what to do.
Medical Exam : I went to Ankara, xray was 45 usd and vaccination was 200 usd . The day later you can take the results if everything goes well with your tests. Takes a few hours.
There is other paperwork you should prepare which everything you will provide should be original. When consulate sent e-mail that they will appoint that and follow everything on this e mail.
My interview was at 9:30 in the morning in Ankara. I arrived about 9:10. Everything went smooth, everyone in embassy was helpful, not maybe so friendly but trying to help you.
So, when you go in they ask you if you want interview in Turkish or English. I asked Turkish and the lady gave me the number and I have a seat. In about 30 minutes my number came up and I gave all the documents consulate required and proof of relationship. And you go back and seat again. Than after 30 minutes waiting my number came again and I went to window. They took my fingerprints and actual interview started there. There was a Turkish interpreter as well.
Consular officer asked me how did we meet? When did we meet? What I am planning to do when I go to US? Also said very good preparation. But somehow they needed some more extra administrative process and they will contact me in a week. They gave me orange pager.
A week later I received e mail from embassy says that visa is ready to be issued. I sent the y passport and in a week my passport came to PTT branch I picked with visa stamp.
With my experience, I could say follow directions from consulate and consulates web page. Prepare all your documents perfectly and proof of relationship with dates.
Also consular officer was so friendly. I would like you to understand is officers are well educated and doesn't have any personal issue with the applicants, just they want to protect their country and make sure that everything is in place.
Entrance of the USA; my port of entry was from Miami. You should bring envelope with you which embassy sending you with your passport. When I landed Miami I went to visitors line and officers took envelope from me and asked me to follow him. He guided me to waiting room and I started to wait over there. I waited about 1 hour and I gave finger prints and go back and sit again. Than another officer came and guided me to another room and I took a seat and started t wait. About 1,5 hour wait another officer called me and asked me a few simple question like when did I marry and something like that. After that he put entry stamp on my passport. My experience in Miami was good as well. Ofiicers wasn't friendly but wasn't rude as well, from my perspective they are just doing their job which is protecting their country.
So, I tried to explain shortly what happened from beginning till end. Hopefully someone over there can read this information and take good tips.
CR-1 visa Turkey
in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports
Posted
Hello,
I granted with CR-1 visa just recently and two weeks ago I arrived to Florida. I just wanted to write my experience how things went with every single step we had with my wife. Because visa journey was so helpful to me to understand more about the situations.
I am originally from Bursa, Turkey. I married with my wife on February 22, 2014. We married in Bursa with small family wedding. After we married my wife stayed with me a few weeks more and turned to USA. Before we got married we hired a lawyer,his name is Arek Nizamian and he is from LA. He helped us a lot a long to way to prepare all documents, with my experience first I can say is hire a lawyer (if you could afford) because lawyer can help you with prepare all documents in order.
All the paper work we prepared took a few months and we send our papers to USCIS on May 2014, and it took 10 months for us to pass all legal process because of the lawyer we worked guided us well. At least 10 months waiting time you should expect.
Before interview you will get an e-mail about which documents you have to prepare. I will tell you exactly what I did and this can give you a tips about what to do.
Medical Exam : I went to Ankara, xray was 45 usd and vaccination was 200 usd . The day later you can take the results if everything goes well with your tests. Takes a few hours.
Birth Certificate: kaymakamliktan aldim (Nufus kayit ornegi)
Police certificate: Adliyeden aldim (arsivli adli sicil kaydi)
There is other paperwork you should prepare which everything you will provide should be original. When consulate sent e-mail that they will appoint that and follow everything on this e mail.
My interview was at 9:30 in the morning in Ankara. I arrived about 9:10. Everything went smooth, everyone in embassy was helpful, not maybe so friendly but trying to help you.
So, when you go in they ask you if you want interview in Turkish or English. I asked Turkish and the lady gave me the number and I have a seat. In about 30 minutes my number came up and I gave all the documents consulate required and proof of relationship. And you go back and seat again. Than after 30 minutes waiting my number came again and I went to window. They took my fingerprints and actual interview started there. There was a Turkish interpreter as well.
Consular officer asked me how did we meet? When did we meet? What I am planning to do when I go to US? Also said very good preparation. But somehow they needed some more extra administrative process and they will contact me in a week. They gave me orange pager.
A week later I received e mail from embassy says that visa is ready to be issued. I sent the y passport and in a week my passport came to PTT branch I picked with visa stamp.
With my experience, I could say follow directions from consulate and consulates web page. Prepare all your documents perfectly and proof of relationship with dates.
Also consular officer was so friendly. I would like you to understand is officers are well educated and doesn't have any personal issue with the applicants, just they want to protect their country and make sure that everything is in place.
Entrance of the USA; my port of entry was from Miami. You should bring envelope with you which embassy sending you with your passport. When I landed Miami I went to visitors line and officers took envelope from me and asked me to follow him. He guided me to waiting room and I started to wait over there. I waited about 1 hour and I gave finger prints and go back and sit again. Than another officer came and guided me to another room and I took a seat and started t wait. About 1,5 hour wait another officer called me and asked me a few simple question like when did I marry and something like that. After that he put entry stamp on my passport. My experience in Miami was good as well. Ofiicers wasn't friendly but wasn't rude as well, from my perspective they are just doing their job which is protecting their country.
So, I tried to explain shortly what happened from beginning till end. Hopefully someone over there can read this information and take good tips.
Good Luck Everyone.