Improve USCIS Policies Preventing my Wife from entering the US
The Issue
Synopsis: My wife is not allowed to enter the country because she over stayed her visa due to COVID-19 and a high-risk pregnancy.
Background: My wife, Tamta, is from the country of Georgia. In October, 2019, she joined me while I was stationed with the Marine Forces Reserve in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tamta came here on a 10 year B1/B2 tourism visa however she is only allowed to remain in the country for a maximum six months at a time.
In January, 2020, we visited family in Georgia and returned to Louisiana. We planned to have the religious ceremony in Georgia in June, 2020. This would have satisfied her entry and exit requirements and would reset her time allowed in the United States. However, due to COVID all flights to Georgia from the United States were cancelled. Additionally, Tamta was pregnant and the doctor recommended not to travel.
In July 2020, we applied for her green card near the expiration of her authorization to stay. Of note, we did not apply earlier because the length of time for processing would not allow us to travel for the planned wedding. The initial application was rejected because I authorized the government to charge more money then the exact dollar amount. The rejection of her application now classified Tamta in an overstay status.
The overstay status prevents Tamta from returning to the United States for a minimum of 3 year. Tamta would have been able to to stay in the United States and continue to process the application. As military spouse, her application time would be 3-5 months. However, due to a family medical emergency, we left for Georgia to attend to the situation. Now the processing time is 11-14 months.
1) The main purpose of this petition is the USCIS needs to address those who were affected by COVID-19.
2) USCIS needs to reform their application process and reduce the bureaucratic redundancies.
The Issue
Synopsis: My wife is not allowed to enter the country because she over stayed her visa due to COVID-19 and a high-risk pregnancy.
Background: My wife, Tamta, is from the country of Georgia. In October, 2019, she joined me while I was stationed with the Marine Forces Reserve in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tamta came here on a 10 year B1/B2 tourism visa however she is only allowed to remain in the country for a maximum six months at a time.
In January, 2020, we visited family in Georgia and returned to Louisiana. We planned to have the religious ceremony in Georgia in June, 2020. This would have satisfied her entry and exit requirements and would reset her time allowed in the United States. However, due to COVID all flights to Georgia from the United States were cancelled. Additionally, Tamta was pregnant and the doctor recommended not to travel.
In July 2020, we applied for her green card near the expiration of her authorization to stay. Of note, we did not apply earlier because the length of time for processing would not allow us to travel for the planned wedding. The initial application was rejected because I authorized the government to charge more money then the exact dollar amount. The rejection of her application now classified Tamta in an overstay status.
The overstay status prevents Tamta from returning to the United States for a minimum of 3 year. Tamta would have been able to to stay in the United States and continue to process the application. As military spouse, her application time would be 3-5 months. However, due to a family medical emergency, we left for Georgia to attend to the situation. Now the processing time is 11-14 months.
1) The main purpose of this petition is the USCIS needs to address those who were affected by COVID-19.
2) USCIS needs to reform their application process and reduce the bureaucratic redundancies.
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Petition created on May 23, 2021