R2I Dilemma - Please advice

kk531 · Post by **kk531** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:53 pm

Hi

My situation.

--Decided to R2I. Male (earning) spouse keen on USC. Wife not too keen.
--GC in Aug 2004. Expecting USC towards end of 2009.
--Daughter's age 8. Will be 10 in 2009.
--Have home here in USA and own apartments in India.

Question/dilemma:

1. Is it too late for my daughter to adapt to Indian schools at the age of 10, if I send her to India in Apr 2009? (I feel 2010 is too late to R2I bcos my daughter will be 11 by then.)
2. When my wife and daughter R2I in Apr 2009 they will be going without USC. Subsequently, it will be difficult for my wife to get USC bcos it would mean she has to be here for 3 months to get USC and then some more time for OCI which are not possible bcos of daughter's education in India. However, I read that once I get USC it is easy to get USC for my daughter. Question is at a later time if I'm R2A for some reason (this is not being planned), how easy/difficult to get a visa/GC/USC for my wife?
3. How about if I send wife and daughter in 2008 (daughter will be 9 only) and I join them in 2009. This would mean tough times for my family bcos we'll be separated for 1.5 years. But the advantage is my daughter will be 9 only and able to adapt to Indian schools etc more easily. In this option, is the sacrifice I make(staying alone for 1.5 years) worth it in the long run?

Please give me your opinion although the questions are --depends on the induvidual-- kind of questions.

Thanks.

welcome10001 · Post by **welcome10001** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:37 pm

kk531;34544Hi

My situation.

--Decided to R2I. Male (earning) spouse keen on USC. Wife not too keen.

Thanks.[/quote]

One thing that you want to make sure is, your wife & family is on board with the decision. Otherwise, better to wait out i guess.

restlessdesi · Post by **restlessdesi** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:57 pm

#1

- Not sure if OCI will take a lot longer then PIO. You can get PIO within 2-3 weeks of USC and can apply for OCI post r2i (can afford to wait for several years post r2i) if that speeds up your r2i date. (fyi...you probably need to do fill forms for school admissions etc in oct-dec timeframe, and school actually begins in june).

- Not sure if there is a magic number "9" or "11" of your childs age which will make or break it. She and the rest of your family will have to pay your dues getting oriented to school and the rest of India regardless.

- I do not recommend anything that requires you and your family to be away from each other for 1.5 years. The only way to deal with r2i is simply doing time in the country (and the small and big challenges will take care of themselves). If this time is spent together, the challenges will feel small. If time is spent seperately, wife and daughter have probably made up their mind to r2a by the time you join them.

- If you decide to go for USC, I recommend the entire family gets it done together instead of piece meal (you first, follwed by wife followed by daughter).

- After meeting the 90 day requirement for USC, wife/daughter can be in India while USC is in progress and make a couple of short trips to US for USC processing if things get close to school starting vs usc stuff.

My 2 cents.

kk531 · Post by **kk531** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:36 pm

restlessdesi;34556#1

- Not sure if OCI will take a lot longer then PIO. You can get PIO within 2-3 weeks of USC and can apply for OCI post r2i (can afford to wait for several years post r2i) if that speeds up your r2i date. (fyi...you probably need to do fill forms for school admissions etc in oct-dec timeframe, and school actually begins in june).

- After meeting the 90 day requirement for USC, wife/daughter can be in India while USC is in progress and make a couple of short trips to US for USC processing if things get close to school starting vs usc stuff.

My 2 cents.[/quote]

#2,#3..Thanks for your feedback.

I got my GC in end of Aug 2004. This means I can apply for USC by end of May2009, right? Or can I apply even before. If I understand it right you are suggesting that we can all apply for citizenship in May 2009 and r2i at the same time.

Can you elaborate on the 90 day requirement please.

The maximum duration I've been abroad is for 3 weeks but my wife and daulghter have been away for3 months once. But all of us have been in USA for more than a year at a strectch and always have been a resident of MD. Does intermittent abroad trips of 1-3 months affect the time when I or my family can apply for USC.

If I can get USC for all 3 of us and r2i in 2009 given the fact that I got my GC in end of Aug 2004, then thats the best option. Is this acheivable?

GutsyGibbon · Post by **GutsyGibbon** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:02 am

#4,
I got my GC in Aug 04 as well. I should be able to apply for USC in May 09. Only extended stays of more than 6 months need to be deduced from the 5 year residency requirement. Less than that is not considered as being away. You can download the Naturalization form "N400' and read it, to be sure. Or check the USC threads on this forum.

My kids will be 6 and 4 by then. The thought of returning before my son is eligible for first grade keeps coming to my mind. This way he can adjust easily to school life. But, a couple of my friends returned with kids starting from grade 2 and grade 5. So it should not matter much.

#3 is right, the most important thing is to be together to face any challenge. I cannot afford to miss a year of my kids childhood. The first year at school is going to be hard as it is, and they can use the support of both the parents.

restlessdesi · Post by **restlessdesi** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:51 am

kk531;34588#2,#3..Thanks for your feedback.

I got my GC in end of Aug 2004. This means I can apply for USC by end of May2009, right? Or can I apply even before. If I understand it right you are suggesting that we can all apply for citizenship in May 2009 and r2i at the same time.

If I can get USC for all 3 of us and r2i in 2009 given the fact that I got my GC in end of Aug 2004, then thats the best option. Is this acheivable?[/quote]

Technically, you can apply 90 days in advance of your completion of 5 years (so you can apply for USC in end of May 2009). You might be able to r2i earlier too if you have spent 3 years here already, but it has various if/then/else variables that should be covered elsewhere on this forum. As Prasadee suggested, please download the forms or visit INS website and read up on the details about 90 day requirements, days spent outside the country etc.

I do not know what the current processing times are in various parts of the country. Google it and you will have a better idea of how many months it takes in your part of the country. (The whole process takes around 6 months I think), so you can figure out if you will be done by end of 2009. It seems that end of 2009 is a possibility give or take a couple of months.

ak_r2i · Post by **ak_r2i** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:13 am

Deleted Duplicate

Mel · Post by **Mel** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:18 am

restlessdesi;34617
I do not know what the current processing times are in various parts of the country. Google it and you will have a better idea of how many months it takes in your part of the country. (The whole process takes around 6 months I think), so you can figure out if you will be done by end of 2009. It seems that end of 2009 is a possibility give or take a couple of months.[/quote]

These processing times are something we cannot predict in the future. It could take as little as 3 months or as much as years as well. One of our friends are stuck in the background check stage (I don't know why they have this for USC as well as GC) since last November.

OP, about the "perfect" time for your kid to R2I to adjust, only you will know. I know a bunch of kids who R2I'ed in their teens (from the Gulf which is not the same as the US, but still ...) Most did well, some could not. I think its the way your kids are brought up, how well they can adjust, etc.

ak_r2i · Post by **ak_r2i** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:21 am

Hi Guys,

I am in similar position, got GC in AUG-04, Have a son who is 6 year old and a daughter is 2.5 year (both USC), My wife has a good opourtunity to start a business in Garment export and should be there by May-08 latest to start business as well it is required time frame for Kids school, which is almost 1 year before being eligible to apply for citizenship.

This is what we are planning:

[LIST=1]

Wife go to India as GC with 2 year REP in May-08.

Before that we plan to visit India this Nov-07 for kids school admission.

I will go with her in May-08 for about 2 months, help her settle down.

And then be back for 7-8 month (might take 1 more trip for 2-3 weeks in between this time).

Apply for USC for self in May-09 and leave back to India.

Then will be visiting here once for FP as per appointment date.

Next visit would be for USC Interview, Oath, Passport and Indian Visa (should be done in 3-4 business days) and then apply for OIC in India.[/LIST]
Do you thing it is workable, what are the drawback of following this process am I missing something here.

Thanks

kk531 · Post by **kk531** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:56 am

Mel, restlessdesi, prasadee

After applying for USC, if I sell my home here it would mean change of residence/address. Is that not a problem? Or is it better I sell after getting the USC?

Thanks.