ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhy is it a bad idea for the USC spouse to go to the interview?
My husband didn't attend mine. The consular officer asked where he was, I said he left the other day to fly back to the US and we moved on to the next question. It wasn't a big deal to them that my spouse wasn't present

QUOTE (Haole @ Feb 28 2009, 05:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
NEVER have seen anyone that regrets they attended. innocent.gif


I've heard about a spouse be denied entry because he wasn't required to be at the interview. So like I said, check with the embassy/consulate on their rules

Edited by kaffy, 27 February 2009 - 01:46 PM.

kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-02-27 13:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhy is it a bad idea for the USC spouse to go to the interview?
Check with the embassy/consulate.. some may have limited space I guess?
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-02-27 13:27:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFirst Qusetion After I Arrived To USA
The letter says your green card should arrive within 30 days. you can use the case number to track the status online
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-02-28 00:10:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresApproved - But what happens now - Conflicting Info on Websites
QUOTE (corinne from oz @ Mar 5 2009, 12:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Also, can I get my police records and medical done before I get the packet to save us time?


I don't think you need to do this until your file arrives at the Consulate as they both have fairly quick turnaround*. You can of course start reading up on what vaccinations you may require and if possible get them done at your GP ahead of time.

* The exception being overseas police certificates if needed. If you do require police clearance from another country now is a good time to look into it.

Edit to add: Download and read through the Form DS-2001 PDF file off the Consulate website if you haven't already done so. That has all the information on what documents you will need to provide, etc

Edited by kaffy, 04 March 2009 - 08:41 PM.

kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-04 20:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAfter getting married in foreign country...
Are you going to be living in Hong Kong with him after you marry? Because if you do after a certain period of residency you will become eligible for DCF (direct consulate filing) which is a lot quicker than the traditional USCIS/NVC route.

1. Can he add you to his Hong Kong accounts?
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-05 19:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCo Sponsor for I-864
Living in the same house doesnt necessarily mean they are part of the same household

Unless they mingle their finances and support each other I would probably suggest that he fill out his own I-864
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-05 22:27:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresEntered US on a CR-1. How long for a GC and SSN ?
Have you received any welcome letters yet? Once you do you can use the SRC case number to track the issuance online.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-09 15:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresGreen Card
Should be sent to the address listed on your DS-230 form I think

When I came through POE the CBP officer actually confirmed it with me and since mine had changed he let me update it then & there
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-08 01:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresChange address?- CRI already here
^ Agreed
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-09 14:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhen on your IR-1/CR-1 visa process can you change your maiden name?
I requested my name change at the very start of the process when we submitted our I-130.

Since we did it in person the consular officer simply crossed out my maiden surname, wrote my married surname in it's place. Then wrote my maiden name in the 'Other Names Used' section.

Your visa will be issued in your married name, with an annotation to your maiden name if that's what your passport is still in. And both SSC and green card will come in your married name.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-10 19:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWashington State petitioners - Let's keep track !!
Hey Whidbey Girl, have you done the Ebey's Landing hike before? I saw some gorgeous pics on the internet the other day and really want to do it once it warms up a bit more
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-08 23:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWashington State petitioners - Let's keep track !!
We've completed our CR1 process already but thought I'd answer anyway.. we're on the west side, Seattle... more specifically Kirkland. All my travels so far have been in the west.. been between Seattle & Vancouver (WA) a bunch of times and also around the Olympic Peninsula.. nice state you have here.. winter wasn't as bad as I was expecting but I'm looking forward to spring & summer
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-08 15:32:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHPV for free!
^ Did they change the requirements? Because when I did CR1 last year the HPV vaccine was a requirement for women under 26.

I too got my three doses for free thanks to the Australian government's national HPV vaccination program.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-12 19:06:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPassport in Maiden Name, IR App in Married Name
My first post was about the US Consulate in Sydney

My next two are about the Australian Embassy in Washington DC

not mixed up smile.gif
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-12 20:07:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPassport in Maiden Name, IR App in Married Name
^ sorry I forgot to add.

Form 119 says on page 2 that "Overseas marriage certificates are not acceptable evidence of a change of name"

I emailed the Embassy specifically to ask about this as my Japanese marriage certificate is all I can provide and their official response was that they can accept overseas certificates with a certified official English translation (if required).
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-12 19:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPassport in Maiden Name, IR App in Married Name
QUOTE (corinne from oz @ Mar 13 2009, 02:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
(They do not accept overseas marraige certificates in Australia to change name in passport!)


This is what they told me also (we have a Japanese marriage certificate) when I inquired. We were overseas at the time and since I am overseas born QLD BDM told me I would have to wait until after I had returned to Australia for a year before I would be allowed to register a name change. Okay I thought fine.. so I waited. Unfortunately I didn't quite make it to the 1 year mark as we decided to file for DCF 10 months after returning to Aus and I left for the US one day before my 1 year mark.

BUT there is a way to get around this. I found out recently from the Aussie Embassy here in Washington DC that instead of going through the BDM, you can simply apply for evidence of & change the name on your citizenship certificate (see: http://www.citizenship.gov.au/proof/) The cost is just $55 AND they accept overseas marriage licenses as proof of legal name change. Then take that piece of documentation & use it to update your passport with.

Like I said above my passport is still in my maiden name and I don't have immediate plans to change it (it's valid thru 2015) but when I do I will be following what the Embassy told me above.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-12 19:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPassport in Maiden Name, IR App in Married Name
I disagree with the information that has been posted above... I was in a similar situation to yours and mine worked itself out pretty easily.

My Aussie passport was (and still is) in my maiden name and I had too little time left to change it but the Consulate was happy to process my visa application in my married name, putting my maiden name in the "also known as" field. All my correspondence with the Consulate was made in my married name and when it came time for the visa to be issued they issued it in my married name with an annotation to my maiden name. Simple as that. I had no issues boarding the flight or at POE whatsoever. I am legally using my married name here and that's what is issued on my Social security card, Green card, bank accounts, etc
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-12 18:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCr 1 or DCF --Please help!!
DCF is for a CR1(or IR1 if you have been married longer than 2 years) visa. DCF simply means you file directly with the Consulate/Embassy rather than filing it the traditional route through USCIS & NVC.

In most cases you need to be a resident for 6 months or longer before you qualify for DCF.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-10 20:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresLast name issue, please help.
See here for what I did:
http://www.visajourn...howtopic=184454

Basically passport in maiden name
Visa application in married name with maiden name in 'other names' field
Visa in married name with annotation to maiden name
Green card, SSN, bank accounts, etc all in married name
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-14 09:58:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresName change
Here is what it will look like:

Attached File  visa_2_.jpg   55.61KB   51 downloads
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-15 17:25:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresName change
My passport is still in my maiden name and they simply issued my visa in my married name with an annotation to my maiden name

Since arriving here all my official documents (green card, SSN, bank accounts, etc) have been issued in my married name
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-15 17:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat happens after you receive your visa??
It's just the rule

Are you anywhere near your 2 year wedding anniversary? If so you could always delay her entry into the US so that she obtains an IR1 visa and you'll save yourself the cost of filing the I-751
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-15 20:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat happens after you receive your visa??
You will have to pay a filing fee ($465 + $80 biometric service fee)when you file the I-751 to remove conditions for her to receive her 10 year green card.

Then more fees if she wants to naturalize & become a US citizen.

As far as her social security number & card go.. did you check the Yes box on the DS-230 form? Even if you have checked yes I still suggest that approximately 10 working days after POE make a visit to your local SSA. Make sure she brings her passport with her and ask the agent at the office if she her details have been updated into the system and whether she has been assigned a number yet. If she has they will give her a print out of the number and the card will be ordered and sent to your address. If no number has been assigned fill in an SS-5 application form and submit it to them then & there. This will ensure that she doesnt have to wait weeks/months for her number & card to arrive
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-15 19:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWelcome letter for IR1
The SRC number should work because that's what I used to trace mine. Just enter it as SRCxxxxxxxxxx

replace the x's with digits and don't put any space or dash

It could come within 2 weeks - that's how long it took between my first one to arrive from welcome letter & green card in hand but second time around it took about 3 weeks from welcome letter to green card in hand (this was last month)

Edited by kaffy, 26 February 2009 - 08:04 PM.

kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-02-26 20:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresGardisil
QUOTE (payxibka @ Mar 18 2009, 09:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
up to and including the age of 26 is my understanding


This is my understand also which means if your medical comes before September, you will be required to have it, if it falls after, you won't
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-18 17:57:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHow long does SSN process take?
I was told I should wait anywhere up to 4-6 weeks to receive my SSN but it turned out to be a lot quicker. My POE was 8/24 and by 8/29 a SSN was automatically assigned to me. I made a visit to the office about 10 days after my arrival and they were able to tell me if/when it had been issued, give me a print out of my number, and confirm the mailing address for which my card was to be sent to.

Like others have said it will depend on how quickly USCIS and the SSA act. But if you want to make a visit to your local social security office about 10 days after POE your details *should* be in the system already.. and if a SSN hasn't been issued automatically you can apply for one using the SS-5 form then & there

Edited by kaffy, 23 March 2009 - 10:59 AM.

kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-23 10:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresmedical vaccinaitons what does one need?
Vaccinations are age and gender specific. See page 15 for the official list:
http://www.cdc.gov/n...pdf/ti_vacc.pdf
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-05 19:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresApproved after changing to DCF
Yeah DCF is sooo much quicker than the traditional route.

Hope the next step (medical exam, police certificates, interview, etc) goes quickly and smoothly for you guys!
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-04-02 19:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCR1 Need Help and And Answer!
It's the I-751 form
More information here: http://www.visajourn...p;page=751guide
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-13 20:17:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCR1 Need Help and And Answer!
CR1 visa is granted if you have been married for 2 years or less at time of visa approval/POE (point of entry)

IR1 visa is granted if you have been married for 2 years or more at time of visa approval/POE (point of entry)

kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-13 19:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCR1 Need Help and And Answer!
She'll be getting a 2 year green card. 90 days prior to her 2 year POE anniversary she will have to file to remove conditions in order to receive a 10 year green card
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-03-13 19:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresTranslating Japanese birth certificate for DS230
This lady did our wedding certificate translation: http://www.masayogoto.com/indexe.html

She is in Tokyo, is NAATI approved and works for the Australian Embassy there. Not sure if she's worked for the US Embassy but the US Consulate in Australia accepts translations from NAATI accredited translators.

The process was very simple - I emailed her scans of the documents, she takes about a week to translate it and sends a proof. If that needs corrections she'll do it ASAP and send us the final copy. Once that's all complete you pay the 5000 yen/document fee directly into her Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ account.

(NAATI is the national translating & interpretating accreditation program in Australia .. I am not sure if there is a US equivalent)

edit - nm i found this: http://www.atanet.or...inedirectories/

Edited by kaffy, 12 April 2009 - 10:11 AM.

kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-04-12 10:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-551
QUOTE (hk68 @ Apr 16 2009, 08:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year


This refers to the visa in your passport. Upon endorsement (stamping, as you enter for the first time to activate the visa), the visa itself becomes a temporary I-551/Green Card which is valid for a year. Before that year is up (I would hope well before) you should receive your actual (plastic, permanent) green card which will be valid for either 2 or 10 years depending on what category your visa is.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-04-15 18:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresQuestions Concerning IR1/CR1 Applications Filed Abroad
Sounds like you did DCF (direct consular filing). There is a DCF subforum here: http://www.visajourn...hp?showforum=82
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-04-15 18:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCR1 after 2 years and 5 months of marriage
QUOTE (LA80 @ Apr 17 2009, 11:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The physical GC, which you do not have, should reflect your actual status. Even if the immigration officer wrote CR1 in your passport, there was a slight chance that USCIS had discovered the mistake and sent you GC with the right statu


I totally agree. Your status could be IR1 on your green card.

LA80 has given you some good advice. And next time, keep on top of things!



kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-04-16 20:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCR1 after 2 years and 5 months of marriage
but no green card or welcome letter?
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-04-16 19:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCR1 after 2 years and 5 months of marriage
hold on, you haven't received your green card? Did you at least receive a welcome notice? how about SSN?
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-04-16 17:50:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCR1 after 2 years and 5 months of marriage
You should have made an Infopass appointment to have your CR1 status corrected to IR1 soon after you entered the country

Little too late now.. just have to sit tight and File to remove conditions
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-04-15 18:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureshelp with social security number
10 days after POE go to your local SSA, bring your husband's passport and ask them to check whether he is in the system. If he is and there is already a SSN assigned, they will be able to give you a printout of the number & the card should arrive shortly.
If he is but there is no SSN he can fill out an S-5 form to apply for one.
If he's not in the system he'll just have to wait for USCIS to get their act together before SSA can do anything about his SSN.

This worked for us & I was able to receive my SSN fairly soon after POE

Edited by kaffy, 18 April 2009 - 10:04 AM.

kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-04-18 10:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCR1 question
Source: US Consulate Sydney

QUOTE
Immigration is a two-step process:

o First, the American citizen files a petition (Form I-130) to establish the relationship and the visa category. Forms I-130 and G-325A may be downloaded from the following website addresses: http://www.uscis.gov.../form/I-130.pdf http://www.uscis.gov...form/g-325a.pdf All four pages of Form G-325A must be completed for each of the petitioner and the beneficiary.

o Second, the spouse of the American applies for a visa.


When the two steps are completed & approved, the beneficiary will be granted a CR1/IR1 category visa.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-04-19 11:50:00