teama&a

Hi,
When I sent my passport back to the embassy, I actually sent it in too early and was issued a cr1 visa stamp (20 days shy of the two year anniversary). I chose to wait till the end of the month to enter the USA (4 days after our 2 year anniversary), the officer at the border crossing was rather rude. First she said she will stamp it as a cr1 bcus that's how it has been issued, even though I showed her my marriage certificate and clearly explained that I am eligible for ir1. I told her by the time I tied up loose ends etc and was ready to move I had passed my two year anniversary, she either didn't care or was just having a bad day at work bcus she told me that she was not able to process me as an ir1 and that I would have to do follow up paper work on my own to adjust my status. By this point I had to genuinely control my emotions as I felt myself getting angry at her snippy attitude and straight up laziness, she asked me to leave my passport with her and have a seat. That's when I put my marriage certificate on the table and told her I'd be leaving this here so she can verify the date with her supervisor for the ir1 and then I went and sat down. Eventually she called a supervisor who told her that she had to issue it as an ir1, then she called me back to the window and basically whipped my passport across the counter to me and said "u can go now". When I opened the passport I saw that she stamped it correctly with the ir1.
I think the officer at the embassy might be aware that the border cross officers don't like to change a cr1 to an ir1, so he's saving you a headache in that sense by issuing it as an ir1 to begin with. But if you do happen to get a cr1 and enter after your anniversary, you're legally eligible for the ir1 so don't let them stamp your passport with anything else. Obviously be kind and courteous and polite when showing them your marriage certificate and pointing out the dates but if you see that they're trying give you the run around then be firm and ask to speak to a supervisor. Good luck
Hi,
When I sent my passport back to the embassy, I actually sent it in too early and was issued a cr1 visa stamp (20 days shy of the two year anniversary). I chose to wait till the end of the month to enter the USA (4 days after our 2 year anniversary), the officer at the border crossing was rather rude. First she said she will stamp it as a cr1 bcus that's how it has been issued, even though I showed her my marriage certificate and clearly explained that I am eligible for ir1. I told her by the time I tied up loose ends etc and was ready to move I had passed my two year anniversary, she either didn't care or was just having a bad day at work bcus she told me that she was not able to process me as an ir1 and that I would have to do follow up paper work on my own to adjust my status. By this point I had to genuinely control my emotions as I felt myself getting angry at her snippy attitude and straight up laziness, she asked me to leave my passport with her and have a seat. That's when I put my marriage certificate on the table and told her I'd be leaving this here so she can verify the date with her supervisor for the ir1 and then I went and sat down. Eventually she called a supervisor who told her that she had to issue it as an ir1, then she called me back to the window and basically whipped my passport across the counter to me and said "u can go now". When I opened the passport I saw that she stamped it correctly with the ir1.
I think the officer at the embassy might be aware that the border cross officers don't like to change a cr1 to an ir1, so he's saving you a headache in that sense by issuing it as an ir1 to begin with. But if you do happen to get a cr1 and enter after your anniversary, you're legally eligible for the ir1 so don't let them stamp your passport with anything else. Obviously be kind and courteous and polite when showing them your marriage certificate and pointing out the dates but if you see that they're trying give you the run around then be firm and ask to speak to a supervisor. Good luck
Hi,
When I sent my passport back to the embassy, I actually sent it in too early and was issued a cr1 visa stamp (20 days shy of the two year anniversary). I chose to wait till the end of the month to enter the USA (4 days after our 2 year anniversary), the officer at the border crossing was rather rude. First she said she will stamp it as a cr1 bcus that's how it has been issued, even though I showed her my marriage certificate and clearly explained that I am eligible for ir1. I told her by the time I tied up loose ends etc and was ready to move I had passed my two year anniversary, she either didn't care or was just having a bad day at work bcus she told me that she was not able to process me as an ir1 and that I would have to do follow up paper work on my own to adjust my status. By this point I had to genuinely control my emotions as I felt myself getting angry at her snippy attitude and straight up laziness, she asked me to leave my passport with her and have a seat. That's when I put my marriage certificate on the table and told her I'd be leaving this here so she can verify the date with her supervisor for the ir1 and then I went and sat down. Eventually she called a supervisor who told her that she had to issue it as an ir1, then she called me back to the window and basically whipped my passport across the counter to me and said "u can go now". When I opened the passport I saw that she stamped it correctly with the ir1.
I think the officer at the embassy might be aware that the border cross officers don't like to change a cr1 to an ir1, so he's saving you a headache in that sense by issuing it as an ir1 to begin with. But if you do happen to get a cr1 and enter after your anniversary, you're legally eligible for the ir1 so don't let them stamp your passport with anything else. Obviously be kind and courteous and polite when showing them your marriage certificate and pointing out the dates but if you see that they're trying give you the run around then be firm and ask to speak to a supervisor. Good luck
Hi,
When I sent my passport back to the embassy, I actually sent it in too early and was issued a cr1 visa stamp (20 days shy of the two year anniversary). I chose to wait till the end of the month to enter the USA (4 days after our 2 year anniversary), the officer at the border crossing was rather rude. First she said she will stamp it as a cr1 bcus that's how it has been issued, even though I showed her my marriage certificate and clearly explained that I am eligible for ir1. I told her by the time I tied up loose ends etc and was ready to move I had passed my two year anniversary, she either didn't care or was just having a bad day at work bcus she told me that she was not able to process me as an ir1 and that I would have to do follow up paper work on my own to adjust my status. By this point I had to genuinely control my emotions as I felt myself getting angry at her snippy attitude and straight up laziness, she asked me to leave my passport with her and have a seat. That's when I put my marriage certificate on the table and told her I'd be leaving this here so she can verify the date with her supervisor for the ir1 and then I went and sat down. Eventually she called a supervisor who told her that she had to issue it as an ir1, then she called me back to the window and basically whipped my passport across the counter to me and said "u can go now". When I opened the passport I saw that she stamped it correctly with the ir1.
I think the officer at the embassy might be aware that the border cross officers don't like to change a cr1 to an ir1, so he's saving you a headache in that sense by issuing it as an ir1 to begin with. But if you do happen to get a cr1 and enter after your anniversary, you're legally eligible for the ir1 so don't let them stamp your passport with anything else. Obviously be kind and courteous and polite when showing them your marriage certificate and pointing out the dates but if you see that they're trying give you the run around then be firm and ask to speak to a supervisor. Good luck

Hello,
My visa was just issued, a few weeks shy of our 2 year anniversary. For those who have entered on a CR1 after their 2 year anniversary, what was your experience like? I will be entering at a border crossing with my marriage certificate in hand as proof. Any advice or tips on what to expect?
Thanks

"Please allow 180 days before inquiring about this case"
So yes, unless you're changing your address you should just sit tight and wait patiently like the rest of us.
Yes they have a customer service line, and it's full of automatic messages with as much information as needed..as well as websites with an abundance of information. But if you have to go through an automated phone system and use different touch tone options than the ones that actually apply to your case just to get through to a real person than it obviously means they aren't trying to hear from you, because there are so many applicants it would be a little crazy to expect them to answer every call and every question. Also, hence the 180 day rule..which BTW I didn't make up so no I'm not wrong that they only want to hear from you if you are changing your address.
As for the "bouncing around like a ping pong and being in the dark" the hard copy of the transfer letter specifically says where your case is going and why (for us: TSC operating at full capacity and our case was transferred to speed up processing).
You want to abuse their customer service line and call a tier 2 officer when you're case doesn't require it, by all means go ahead. And if they tell you it was approved, then I hope that one week of not waiting for your hard copy letter of approval makes you sleep better at not. Its not like the conversation with the tier 2 officer will speed up your next step with the NVC.
I'm sorry if my response is harsh, it just seems that people complain about waiting as though the government isn't doing their job. WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT HERE Everyone is waiting, and that waiting period is going to pass by regardless of what you do in the meantime until your loved one joins you. It sucks, and its a long process full of many waiting periods so just go easy on yourself and don't be so obsessed with checking websites or your mail etc. At least that is my approach on it. Hakkuna Mattata...and remember no news is good news, its not like you've been rejected.
Be patient, be strong, have some faith and have some hope. In life you go through the bad stuff to get to the good stuff. One love to all!