The Malaysian VJ Thread

[MalaysianGirl 26]

We do not intend to commit immigration fraud, let me just put that out there. I asked becausee it is an option but idoubt my bf will agree. He is with the military so he's iffy abt stuff like that. -- Glad to know you don't want to commit immigration fraud; and military guys are pretty cool, my ex-fiance was in the US Army.

We would like to get married in Malaysia becausee i hv a large family and two of my brothers live overseas. It would be cheaper for them to fly home for summer break and hvg my bf come durg that time than hvg everyone fly to the us for the wedding. Also that would mean visas for everyone (there are 13 ppl in my immediate family alone!) which is going to be very expensive for all of us! -- Totally understood. So, a wedding in Malaysia it will be.

It is also important to hv my father Perform the akad as he had done so for my two sisters. A bit of a sentimental i am, and it probably sounds silly but id like to hv a proper wedding w family and close friends. My bf is okk with hvg our wedding here so i think we'd go with that plan. -- No, it doesn't sound silly; I think it is sweet and sentimental.

Does it take long to get a cr1 visa? An acquaintance of mine got marrried in june 2010 and she still hasnt gotten her visa so im very concerned abt the timeline if we get a cr1. -- It takes between 7 months and 12 months to get the CR1 visa. Click here for more info.

Also if i go to th States after we are married and stay for six months thenn leave for England and come back after a few months, will that be ok? -- That sounds totally fine. Make sure to bring your greencard with you, of course. And don't be away from the US for too long as it may affect your legal PR status.

My bf is probably moving bases in September which is why i want tp be there ten so he won't have to do it alone. I also wouldnt want to leave my students ( it wont be fair to them!) so after mmid sept is the best for us. -- Again I must emphasize that I highly doubt you will get your visa in September of 2012. You MOST probably will only get your visa in January-March 2013. (This is all assuming that you marry in June 2012 as you plan to do.)

Hey, i just thought abt this. If we are married and im on a b2 can i still visit and stay with him and go back before theexpiry date? If i move i will do it alone beecause he cant come due to work etc. -- If you marry in Malaysia, you will find it extremely hard to get into the US at the POE unless you show VERY strong ties to Malaysia. It is especially hard for you compared to other B1/B2 visa holders because by then you would be already MARRIED to an American, and they will assume that you will enter the US and not return to Malaysia. And by the way, just because your visa expires in 2018 does NOT mean you can stay there until 2018. The CBP officer at the POE will tell you how long you are allowed to stay (if you are allowed to enter in at all). 2018 is merely the visa expiry date.

Thhank you for your hhelp and sorry for the essay.

[Bsze 50]

MalaysianGirl is right.

Marrying next June and moving to the US three months later in September is highly unlikely. If you get married by the end of this year and apply for the CR1 ASAP, you could get your CR1 visa by then. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of CR1 visa applicants in Malaysia, so it's hard to determine an average wait time for this particular embassy.

Do you already have a B2 or are you planning to apply for one. Bear in mind, having a US citizen spouse is a giant strike against you. While you don't have to volunteer information during the visa interview, if the Consulate Officer asks you if have relatives in the US, you HAVE to tell the truth. Then, you would need to provide overwhelming proof that you will return to Malaysia at the end of your stay and not disappear in the US with your husband. (I'm not saying you will do this, but this is what a CO will be thinking) This can be a rental lease, an employment letter, a school letter etc. And even then, there's no guarantee that the Customs Border and Protection officers won't deny you entry at the airport.

I think if you really want to be in the US by 2012, you should have the akad performed ASAP and apply for the CR1 ASAP. Otherwise, you will have to wait till 2013 before you are reunited with your husband. Or you can apply for the fiance visa (which takes 5 to 8 months), have a small ceremony in the US, apply for the green card and come home to have a huge party when you get it.

Lastly, you mentioned going to England 6 months after your marriage. Just be sure you have your greencard or advance parole by then. And bear in mind what MalaysianGirl said, spending extended time outside the US WILL affect your permanent resident status. However, if it's only a few months, it will most likely be okay.

Good luck!

Edited November 7, 2011 by Bsze

[Bsze 50]

Oops, my bad, I just realized that you already have a B2 visa. Either ways, having a tourist visa is not a guarantee of entry. CBP can still choose to deny you entry if they feel you don't have enough proof. So if you choose to go down this route, make sure you bring LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of evidence to show you will return home.

Oh, and a police certificate is typically valid for one year. So if you're not applying for a visa until next year, I would suggest waiting for it. The consulate will not accept a non-valid police certificate and you would have to start over.

[MalaysianGirl 26]

Kev & Tazz, any news?

[JP and Tee 13]

Hi!

Thank you for the replies. For now, we are puttting the plan on hold since there is a chance i wont need it since we might move to europe for work bby Sept next year.

Quite honestly im fine with being in msia til he movess out but we'll see. I cantt really say what we'll do at this point in time. Maybe we'll apply for the visaa two years after we got married. Higher chance of approval?

Not gonna get married in dec, im fact i dont knw if we will next year lol lets just say there're some new issues that just cropped up thus changing the circumstances. But someday we will

Thank you for your help, really appreciate it!

[JP and Tee 13]

I also realize that i cant stay til 2018 and that CBP can turn me away at POE. I've been visiting the US since 2008 at least twice a year so am aware of the six months limit on the B2.

Wondering if it'll be possible to yravel on a B2 without wanting to get a CR1. if i apple for cr1 i can still visit on the B2? Will they refuse me entry?

[MalaysianGirl 26]

Hi!

Thank you for the replies. For now, we are puttting the plan on hold since there is a chance i wont need it since we might move to europe for work bby Sept next year.

Quite honestly im fine with being in msia til he movess out but we'll see. I cantt really say what we'll do at this point in time. Maybe we'll apply for the visaa two years after we got married. Higher chance of approval?

Not gonna get married in dec, im fact i dont knw if we will next year lol lets just say there're some new issues that just cropped up thus changing the circumstances. But someday we will

Thank you for your help, really appreciate it!

At first I was wondering who is "JP & Tee" but I guess it must be "Kev & Tazz".

Thanks for updating us. Frankly speaking, if it were me, I'd rather move to Europe than the US I've visited the US and stayed in Spain (as well as visited six other European countries), so I know what I'm saying, lol.

Your relationship will seem more credible (and definitely bonafide) if you waited two years before applying for the visa, so I'd say that's a good idea.

Wondering if it'll be possible to yravel on a B2 without wanting to get a CR1. if i apple for cr1 i can still visit on the B2? Will they refuse me entry?

Of course you can travel on a B2 without wanting to get a CR1... Isn't that what you've been doing for a few years now? Yes, you can still visit on the B2 if you have applied for the CR1, BUT please note that you'd be scrutinized even more at the POE because you have a CR1 being processed. Chances of you being turned away are higher. You can certainly TRY but there are no guarantees you'd be allowed entry.

All the best!

[JP and Tee 13]

Boo!

Id rather do the wait-two-years then apply road esp if we wont be living in the US for the time being, but worried abt the grilling at the POE. I nvr had a mean immi officer, except at SFO. He asked how much money i had and why i seemed to visit the us so often. Duh. Cikgu cuti byk kot

But i think being on bf/husband's military docs as military spouse/dependent could probably help? Theyre famous for paperwork and refiling coz stimes they just get lost (true story).

Hvg said that, i think i'll let my bf decide. He's a pro at filing for docs so this shouldnt be a problem for him

Oh yea changed name, but still same prob

[MalaysianGirl 26]

Boo!

Id rather do the wait-two-years then apply road esp if we wont be living in the US for the time being, but worried abt the grilling at the POE. I nvr had a mean immi officer, except at SFO. He asked how much money i had and why i seemed to visit the us so often. Duh. Cikgu cuti byk kot

Bahahaha. Betol tu . How did you answer him?

But i think being on bf/husband's military docs as military spouse/dependent could probably help? Theyre famous for paperwork and refiling coz stimes they just get lost (true story).

You would only be listed on his documents if you were married to him Honestly though, I think you would have a terribly tough time at POE even with the listing on his documents... C'mon now, you guys are married and you want to enter on your B2 visa? Susah giler tau. .

Hvg said that, i think i'll let my bf decide. He's a pro at filing for docs so this shouldnt be a problem for him

Oh yea changed name, but still same prob

[JP and Tee 13]

No lah, not married yet but im thinking we wont hv much prob w proving bona fide marriage coz id be on his docs bla bla bla.

Not gonna just move on B2. Plus he'd be so pissed off if i get tahan-ed at POE. So we'll go by the book on that. Both of us very skema on stuff like that, him especially. I dont want to get banned :/

I told the officet im a school teacher and we hv 78 school hols per year, not including 30 unpaid leave, 14 days medical (private) and 7 days for emergencies

That seemed to satisfy him so he let me go phew! I almost missed my flight because of that, grrr

[MalaysianGirl 26]

No lah, not married yet but im thinking we wont hv much prob w proving bona fide marriage coz id be on his docs bla bla bla.

Not gonna just move on B2. Plus he'd be so pissed off if i get tahan-ed at POE. So we'll go by the book on that. Both of us very skema on stuff like that, him especially. I dont want to get banned :/

I told the officet im a school teacher and we hv 78 school hols per year, not including 30 unpaid leave, 14 days medical (private) and 7 days for emergencies

That seemed to satisfy him so he let me go phew! I almost missed my flight because of that, grrr

Yup, for the CR1 visa, you won't have any problems proving bonafide marriage if you were married for 2 years already.

Moving on B2 is one issue (which is not allowed la, of course); the other issue is merely TRAVELLING on the B2, which is allowed, but super difficult.

LOL I like that description of the holidays... because next year I will become a cikgu too!

[JP and Tee 13]

Next year the ministry is gonna try hvg longer school hours 730-430pm. 2013 it will b cpmpulsory for all msian schools. I denno how true that is but most of my teacher friends want to quit if that goes into effect. We are not babysitters!

[MalaysianGirl 26]

Private schools affected ah? @.@

[JP and Tee 13]

Not sure. Arent their schedules different usually?

[MalaysianGirl 26]

Not sure. Arent their schedules different usually?

LOL I dunno... I just know that next year I will be teaching in a private school Anyway, Tee, question... Why did you put H1B1 visa or something like that in your profile?