Hello,
In 2004, my wife applied for a green card after marriage to me (a us citizen). She received a CR-1 visa. When we went to live in the US, she received the green card fairly quickly. No problem. We had to leave the US for personal reasons for over 1 year, so she ended up losing the green cart.
In late 2007, she applied for an SB-1 visa which basically is the same thing. She received the visa in January, and we moved back to the US in February. We were told that the green card would take a few months to arrive.
Last month, we decided to go overseas to visit family for 2 weeks. Since she did not yet receive the green card, we call USCIS and asked what the correct procedure is. We were told that her SB-1 visa would still be fine even though it expired. We were told that once it was stamped from her original entry in February, it automatically extends the validity for a year.
Great, we left the US. This morning, my wife tried to get on the plane back to the US, and they didn't allow her to board. They said her visa was not valid. She ended up missing the flight. I called the Embassy, the USCIS, State Dpt, and anyone else who would listen. From what I was told, the SB-1 is only valid for 1 entry into the US and we were SOL. They told us to go the the embassy and "see what they can do". They mentioned the poissibility of a letter authorizing reentry to the US, but nothing black and white.
What should we do. I already returned to the US, and my wife and 8 month old baby (a US citizen) are stuck overseas because of some idiot clerk at the USCIS. The embassy is closed until Monday morning.
Please help.
George
In 2004, my wife applied for a green card after marriage to me (a us citizen). She received a CR-1 visa. When we went to live in the US, she received the green card fairly quickly. No problem. We had to leave the US for personal reasons for over 1 year, so she ended up losing the green cart.
In late 2007, she applied for an SB-1 visa which basically is the same thing. She received the visa in January, and we moved back to the US in February. We were told that the green card would take a few months to arrive.
Last month, we decided to go overseas to visit family for 2 weeks. Since she did not yet receive the green card, we call USCIS and asked what the correct procedure is. We were told that her SB-1 visa would still be fine even though it expired. We were told that once it was stamped from her original entry in February, it automatically extends the validity for a year.
Great, we left the US. This morning, my wife tried to get on the plane back to the US, and they didn't allow her to board. They said her visa was not valid. She ended up missing the flight. I called the Embassy, the USCIS, State Dpt, and anyone else who would listen. From what I was told, the SB-1 is only valid for 1 entry into the US and we were SOL. They told us to go the the embassy and "see what they can do". They mentioned the poissibility of a letter authorizing reentry to the US, but nothing black and white.
What should we do. I already returned to the US, and my wife and 8 month old baby (a US citizen) are stuck overseas because of some idiot clerk at the USCIS. The embassy is closed until Monday morning.
Please help.
George