Time related question - Married to an American abroad

[mmtravel 0]

I was living in the US with the status of work visa L-1. I married my American husband in a civil ceremony about a year ago, and we are now living in my home country - in Israel. My L-1 visa is now expired and I wonder the best way to visit the US (in the coming few months)?

Should we start a Green Card process as a spouse of an American citizen (while we are planning to live in Israel for at least 2 more years)?

Or should I apply for a tourist non-immigrant visa?

Or maybe is there another way that we didn’t consider?

This travel is somewhat time pressured, since we want to have a wedding party with my husband's family over there...

Edited November 30, 2008 by mmtravel

[R de la R 2]

I was living in the US with the status of work visa L-1. I married my American husband in a civil ceremony about a year ago, and we are now living in my home country - in Israel. My L-1 visa is now expired and I wonder the best way to visit the US (in the coming few months)?

Should we start a Green Card process as a spouse of an American citizen (while we are planning to live in Israel for at least 2 more years)?

Or should I apply for a tourist non-immigrant visa?

Or maybe is there another way that we didn’t consider?

This travel is somewhat time pressured, since we want to have a wedding party with my husband's family over there...

You both have to start a Green Card process as a spouse of an American citizen

[mmtravel 0]

You both have to start a Green Card process as a spouse of an American citizen

do you mean I need to start both the Green Card process and a tourist visa?

[rmncm 0]

Well being your married already, it will be hard to convince the immigration officers at your point of entry that you do plan on leaving and not staying. Your best bet is to file your I-130 and get the visa process started, expecially if your case will end up at Vermont. Vermont is notorious for having extreamly long delays and it wouldnt supprise me if the whole process would take a year to complete. Once your visa is issued you have 6 months to use it so that would put you into a year and a half time frame.

[zidane 0]

You could go for a DCF (direct consular filing). Supposed to take much less time.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=dcf

[kaffy 2]

Do you actually plan on returning to the US with your husband to live? If so then take a look at DCF: http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov/step_1_-_petition.html

But if you only want to travel there for a visit then there is no point to filing for an immigrant visa (green card, spousal visa). It would simply be a waste of time and money.

Well being your married already, it will be hard to convince the immigration officers at your point of entry that you do plan on leaving and not staying.

Not true. I entered the US on VWP twice after I had married my US citizen husband and didn't run into any trouble either time. I simply showed them proof of my on-ward/return ticket and they didn't ask any further questions

[andreea 0]

kaffy, that tourist visa depends very much of the country of the tourist visa beneficiary. somecountries dont even need a visa, some get a tourist visa easy, is just papers to fill in, some wont get a visa unless they prove they really have very good reason to go back in their own country (great job, assets, properties, convincing bank accounts. and not only those, but the history of bank accounts and properties for the last 5 years). so every person should know how usa emabssy works in their own country. Id also say that DCF is best way to go, as it seems the us citizen has been living in yr country over 6 months. good luck

[kaffy 2]

OP said that they plan on living in Israel for another 2 more years so I think it's still too early to DCF. I would suggest trying to apply for a non-immigrant tourist visa now if you are planning a short visit, or wait until you are closer to moving back before starting the DCF process

[Engo 1]

gool luck all

[ksa2usa 0]

DCF would be the best way to go IF you are intending to live and settle in the USA. If you are intending to stay where you are, then your green card would probably be revoked since you are not having residence in the usa. If you want to visit the USA for a temporary stay, then you have to get a tourist visa. All you will need to do is show strong ties to your home country (such as letter from employer, leases, bank accounts, etc.) and you shouldn't have a problem getting a toursit visa.

DCF is a great process, and I just finished it myself, but please wait until you are actually ready to move to the USA before you start that, or you could end up in trouble:)

[mmtravel 0]

question connected to the above issue - what if I start the green card process and then request "travel authorization" during the process?

[ksa2usa 0]

I'm not sure..that would be a question to be answered by your consulate. I'm not sure how quick they would be to give a tourist visa to someone who is applying for an immigrant visa. I don't think there is a way to apply for 2 visas at once.

Hope that answered your question:)

Like I said before, I think if you just want to visit, a tourist visa is your best bet. DCF is a very quick process and you could start that when and if you are ready to live in the USA permanently.

[mmtravel 0]

I'm not sure..that would be a question to be answered by your consulate. I'm not sure how quick they would be to give a tourist visa to someone who is applying for an immigrant visa. I don't think there is a way to apply for 2 visas at once.

Hope that answered your question:)

Like I said before, I think if you just want to visit, a tourist visa is your best bet. DCF is a very quick process and you could start that when and if you are ready to live in the USA permanently.

my question was about the so called "travel document" which one can get while in the process of a green card...