New-need advice!

[chris&phoenix 0]

Hello everyone. Chris and I just got engaged this weekend. He is British, and is here on a J-1 visa. His visa expires at the end of this year. We are leaving in December for a trip around the world, so we will be gone for approx. 5 months.

We have two options: get married now, or apply for a fiancee visa and get married next summer when we return from our trip.

Does anyone know the rules about the first option?? I know he would need to change his status, but how does that process work, and would he be allowed to leave the U.S. for 5 months? It would be nice to get married before our big trip, so that it would be the ultimate honeymoon, but I'm worried about timing. I'm aware of a parole period where he might not be able to travel without advanced parole for 2 years.

Can anyone fill us in and maybe give us some advice to what our best option would be???

Thanks!!!

[Yodrak 7]

chris&phoenix,

Does his visa have a 2-year home-stay requiement?

Yodrak

Hello everyone. Chris and I just got engaged this weekend. He is British, and is here on a J-1 visa. His visa expires at the end of this year. We are leaving in December for a trip around the world, so we will be gone for approx. 5 months.

We have two options: get married now, or apply for a fiancee visa and get married next summer when we return from our trip.

Does anyone know the rules about the first option?? I know he would need to change his status, but how does that process work, and would he be allowed to leave the U.S. for 5 months? It would be nice to get married before our big trip, so that it would be the ultimate honeymoon, but I'm worried about timing. I'm aware of a parole period where he might not be able to travel without advanced parole for 2 years.

Can anyone fill us in and maybe give us some advice to what our best option would be???

Thanks!!!

[chris&phoenix 0]

No, no homestay requirement.

Hello everyone. Chris and I just got engaged this weekend. He is British, and is here on a J-1 visa. His visa expires at the end of this year. We are leaving in December for a trip around the world, so we will be gone for approx. 5 months.

We have two options: get married now, or apply for a fiancee visa and get married next summer when we return from our trip.

Does anyone know the rules about the first option?? I know he would need to change his status, but how does that process work, and would he be allowed to leave the U.S. for 5 months? It would be nice to get married before our big trip, so that it would be the ultimate honeymoon, but I'm worried about timing. I'm aware of a parole period where he might not be able to travel without advanced parole for 2 years.

Can anyone fill us in and maybe give us some advice to what our best option would be???

Thanks!!!

[Yodrak 7]

chris&phoenix,

If you get married, apply for adjustment, and leave on the trip, he will need advance parole. That can take several months to be approved. You will also need someone who can receive any mail from the USCIS and get info to or for you or act on your behalf. And you may need to cut your trip short and get back in a hurry if you get a quick interview date.

You might want to discuss your situation with an immigration attorney. Then if you decide on the marriage first option the attorney might be the best person to take care of anything that might come up while you're away.

Yodrak

No, no homestay requirement.

Hello everyone. Chris and I just got engaged this weekend. He is British, and is here on a J-1 visa. His visa expires at the end of this year. We are leaving in December for a trip around the world, so we will be gone for approx. 5 months.

We have two options: get married now, or apply for a fiancee visa and get married next summer when we return from our trip.

Does anyone know the rules about the first option?? I know he would need to change his status, but how does that process work, and would he be allowed to leave the U.S. for 5 months? It would be nice to get married before our big trip, so that it would be the ultimate honeymoon, but I'm worried about timing. I'm aware of a parole period where he might not be able to travel without advanced parole for 2 years.

Can anyone fill us in and maybe give us some advice to what our best option would be???

Thanks!!!

[Reba 2]

if you get married before you leave for your holiday, he may not be allowed back into the country.

Yodrak's suggestion about hiring a lawyer to do the paperwork for a K1 while you're away is probably your best bet.

And probably the only time you'll see me suggest someone actually hire a lawyer