US citizenship for Thai wife questions.

[ChaangNoi]

Okay, reading the thread would have answered your questions and given context as to why we are doing what we are doing. The thread is not even two pages long.

No one seems to be able to answer the current question so I will make a new thread.

Thank you.

[AaronLV]

Okay, reading the thread would have answered your questions and given context as to why we are doing what we are doing. The thread is not even two pages long.

No one seems to be able to answer the current question so I will make a new thread.

Thank you.

For some reason my post above only got the first few words.

If you she has a 2 year green card that is not expired, then she can travel to Europe, but will need to apply for a Visa. Should be easy enough to get with a unexpired green card.

If her green card has already expired, then you have to start the process all over to get a green card if she is out of the US currently. I believe if she is in the US and has an expired 2 year GC then she can apply while in the US with the expired card, but cannot leave until she gets the card.

You need to apply for removal of conditions prior to the expiration of the green card, at that time she will get a letter extended her green card for 1 year while she awaits the approval of the 10 year card, that is also good enough to travel and get back into the US.

Advance Parole (AP) is used while you are awaiting the arrival of the initial green card. Other than that you don't have to worry.

Hope that helps.

[ChaangNoi]

"You need to apply for removal of conditions prior to the expiration of the green card, at that time she will get a letter extended her green card for 1 year while she awaits the approval of the 10 year card, that is also good enough to travel and get back into the US."

Okay we are headed in the right direction now. We will apply for the removal of conditions prior to the expiration of the green card. However shortly after that my sister will be getting married in Europe. How long will it take my wife to get this "letter". Who sends the letter, how does one get one? Are you sure she can get back into the USA with it? I have never found anything on the US immigration site about this letter but someone in this thread said travel could be done. I'm not doubting you, I just need more information before we plan our future.

Getting the visa to Europe is not the question, we want to know if she can get back into the USA while they are considering her 10 year.

Thanks

[AaronLV]

"You need to apply for removal of conditions prior to the expiration of the green card, at that time she will get a letter extended her green card for 1 year while she awaits the approval of the 10 year card, that is also good enough to travel and get back into the US."

Okay we are headed in the right direction now. We will apply for the removal of conditions prior to the expiration of the green card. However shortly after that my sister will be getting married in Europe. How long will it take my wife to get this "letter". Who sends the letter, how does one get one? Are you sure she can get back into the USA with it? I have never found anything on the US immigration site about this letter but someone in this thread said travel could be done. I'm not doubting you, I just need more information before we plan our future.

Getting the visa to Europe is not the question, we want to know if she can get back into the USA while they are considering her 10 year.

Thanks

You will need to apply while you are in the US, you can apply at 1 year 9 months from the date of the green card. The notice of acceptance you receive after you submit the paperwork says that your GC is extended 1 year. I know people who have traveled with the letter without an issue when they re-entered. I wouldn't recommend staying out for an extended period but a normal vacation will be fine.

[ChaangNoi]

I do not think you are understanding our problem (I do not think you even bothered to read the thread).

I do not know how soon I will get this "letter" is it same day I mail off the renewal? Two weeks? A month?. I do not know who will give me this "letter". And I do not know the official name of this "letter" as it is not on any website I can find.

Are you telling me someone in immigration will write an open letter to immigration staff telling them all that my wife has an extra free year? And if this is the case how long will it take. This is information that we need to know if we are going to try to make it to the wedding.

You just telling me, "Oh don't worry you will get a letter, its all good" is not really acceptable or helping.

If you do know what you are talking about please give me details, the name of the "letter", who gives me the "letter", how fast can I get this "letter".

Context that can be found in this short thread will let you understand exactly what we are trying to do and why.

I do not want to be rude here but I see you are half way trying to help but really are failing. Reading the thread or even the questions asked would have saved us all time.

[umbanda]

Looks like rules changed since I got my work permit and later the citizenship because I married an US citizen, but the best advice and answers you will get are from a good agency. In the US a good and honest agency is the one managed by a non profit organization called Catholic Charities. I used them in California, but I believe that its are everywhere in the US, and probably online.

[mania]

I do not think you are understanding our problem (I do not think you even bothered to read the thread).

I do not know how soon I will get this "letter" is it same day I mail off the renewal? Two weeks? A month?.

I do not know who will give me this "letter". And I do not know the official name of this "letter" as it is not on any website I can find.

If you do know what you are talking about please give me details, the name of the "letter", who gives me the "letter", how fast can I get this "letter".

I have read your thread & to be honest it is hard to give you advice.

Reason being you are not very clear of what is your wifes current status?

What is the age NOW of her 2 year card?

Did you file the I-751 already?

But realize THIS..........It Takes 2-4 weeks for her to get her notice of action for the 10yr card in most cases...

That is the letter your asking about it is called a Notice of action.

Here is a quote answering what your asking about what you call "the letter"

USCIS will send you Form I-797,

Notice of Action to provide a receipt that they are reviewing your petition.

This receipt will also extend your permanent resident status for an additional year.

So this is a very important document.

Lastly you should know during this period your wife will be notified to come for Biometrics (sometimes multiple times as my wife was)

& you will both likely need to go to an interview. So travel at that time while possible may also be problematic if they give you an appointment

& it is during your planned travel times. You will need to reschedule one or the other

[ChaangNoi]

Thank you Mania, that was helpful.

The name of the document and the time to get it was great info.

I clearly will not be able to reschedule a wedding but it seems moot as my wife will not have that document in time to be able to leave.

I guess she could leave the USA and just stay in Europe until someone re-mailed it to her from the USA. Seems risky.

[mania]

Thank you Mania, that was helpful.

The name of the document and the time to get it was great info.

I clearly will not be able to reschedule a wedding but it seems moot as my wife will not have that document in time to be able to leave.

I guess she could leave the USA and just stay in Europe until someone re-mailed it to her from the USA. Seems risky.

Yes I can tell you this........

The whole process while not hard is not easy either

It is Government paper pushing at its higher levels.

From you it will

Take Time..........Take Money

It is something you & your wife will need to decide if you want it or not.

If you do you need to jump thru the hoops

It cannot be done remotely from elsewhere & with good reasons

It is after all a petition to be a US Citizen/Resident

Yes once your wife has completed it all thru US citizenship she is free to live anywhere you both want & have the freedoms

to go to other countries that allow visa waivers to US citizens

But until she has it in hand & during critical sections like transition from 2 to 10 year card &

again during the applying for full US citizenship you really need to be there

Otherwise all the appointments scheduling etc will be a mess & the goal is getting thru it as fast as possible

not trying to lose your place in the que

Good Luck with your decision

[ChaangNoi]

The US does seem to be pretty flexible with all of this, it is just sad that my sister will be having a weeding outside of the US during the 2 to 4 week period she will be unable to leave the country.

We have some things to talk about as a family. Thanks for your help.

[mania]

The US does seem to be pretty flexible with all of this, it is just sad that my sister will be having a weeding outside of the US during the 2 to 4 week period she will be unable to leave the country.

We have some things to talk about as a family. Thanks for your help.

For sure......All of us who went thru this process know it is tough at times.

Ever read the stories on Visa Journey dot com? ( a good site)

My goodness some of them are heart wrenching

[AaronLV]

If your applying at the 1 year 9 month, the card will still be valid and she will be able to get back in.

If you apply and are waiting for the letter you can also make an appointment with the local uscis office and they can put a 1 year stamp in the passport.

[ChaangNoi]

Okay so if we are waiting for the "letter" and we make an appointment at the local USCIS office how can we prove that we just mailed the I-751? Will they just take our word for it and give us the stamp?

[mania]

You know this is handy....

https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do

Sign up & from now on anything you & your wife do/submit etc is there for you to see

quite quickly after submitting

You can even sign up to have auto emails anytime something changes

[AaronLV]

Okay so if we are waiting for the "letter" and we make an appointment at the local USCIS office how can we prove that we just mailed the I-751? Will they just take our word for it and give us the stamp?

Overnight the paperwork, then it will be in the system quicker. Her A# will track it in their system.