Any problems with our plan?

[clare&eric 0]

Please could someone let me know if they see any problems with our plan for getting me to the US to live with my wonderful husband-to-be.

I'm English, currently living in Slovenia (for work purposes), and my US boyfriend is staying with me as much as he can within the limits of a 90 day tourist visa. We want to get married, and I'd like to immigrate to the US in April next year. Originally we'd thought of going for a fiance visa and marrying in the US as soon as I get it, but there are two problems with that - firstly we don't want to risk any delays in me being able to get a job when I get to the US, and secondly we want to marry asap so we can get my boyfriend a visa that will allow him to live with me here without watching the 90 day limits.

So our current plan is to marry in May this year whilst I'm in the US on holiday for two weeks with my boyfriend and his family. Then we plan to file for CR-1 as soon as I've returned to Slovenia (my boyfriend will stay a few weeks longer in the US before returning to Slovenia). We're then hoping to get the CR-1 early next year so I can immigrate to the US, get a job, and we can be together there.

Does anyone see any problem with that? The bit I'm most concerned about is whether us marrying in the US might cause difficulties - I have plenty of evidence of ties to Slovenia (employment contract, rental agreement recently concluded, I just bought a car here, return plane ticket, Slovene residence permit), but if I'm questioned on entering the US for the holiday and I say I'm getting married, is it likely to cause a problem?

My other concern is the evidence of a bona fide marriage. We have plenty of proof of our relationship - boarding passes, photos together in different locations at different times of year, loads of emails, and an agreement with my landlord that my boyfriend can stay here with me. However, we don't have joint finances as there's no point in arranging that until we can properly live together long term, and we won't have wedding photos that include family and friends because we want to have a proper wedding celebration next year when there's at least a chance of both our families being able to attend (so ideally we want to keep the marriage secret until then, which also means we can't get affidavits).

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[pushbrk 12,883]

Please could someone let me know if they see any problems with our plan for getting me to the US to live with my wonderful husband-to-be.

I'm English, currently living in Slovenia (for work purposes), and my US boyfriend is staying with me as much as he can within the limits of a 90 day tourist visa. We want to get married, and I'd like to immigrate to the US in April next year. Originally we'd thought of going for a fiance visa and marrying in the US as soon as I get it, but there are two problems with that - firstly we don't want to risk any delays in me being able to get a job when I get to the US, and secondly we want to marry asap so we can get my boyfriend a visa that will allow him to live with me here without watching the 90 day limits.

So our current plan is to marry in May this year whilst I'm in the US on holiday for two weeks with my boyfriend and his family. Then we plan to file for CR-1 as soon as I've returned to Slovenia (my boyfriend will stay a few weeks longer in the US before returning to Slovenia). We're then hoping to get the CR-1 early next year so I can immigrate to the US, get a job, and we can be together there.

Does anyone see any problem with that? The bit I'm most concerned about is whether us marrying in the US might cause difficulties - I have plenty of evidence of ties to Slovenia (employment contract, rental agreement recently concluded, I just bought a car here, return plane ticket, Slovene residence permit), but if I'm questioned on entering the US for the holiday and I say I'm getting married, is it likely to cause a problem?

My other concern is the evidence of a bona fide marriage. We have plenty of proof of our relationship - boarding passes, photos together in different locations at different times of year, loads of emails, and an agreement with my landlord that my boyfriend can stay here with me. However, we don't have joint finances as there's no point in arranging that until we can properly live together long term, and we won't have wedding photos that include family and friends because we want to have a proper wedding celebration next year when there's at least a chance of both our families being able to attend (so ideally we want to keep the marriage secret until then, which also means we can't get affidavits).

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Marrying in the USA while visiting is not a problem but you'll want to give a more generic yet truthful reason for your visit when asked. You won't need any affidavits from friends or family. Timing sounds good to. The issue you didn't address is sponsorship. Somebody with income from a US source will need to qualify as your sponsor. All your then husband's time outside the USA may mean he has no US income source and will need a joint sponsor. Usually that's family, so out goes the secrecy.

[clare&eric 0]

Marrying in the USA while visiting is not a problem but you'll want to give a more generic yet truthful reason for your visit when asked. You won't need any affidavits from friends or family. Timing sounds good to. The issue you didn't address is sponsorship. Somebody with income from a US source will need to qualify as your sponsor. All your then husband's time outside the USA may mean he has no US income source and will need a joint sponsor. Usually that's family, so out goes the secrecy.

Thank you very much for your helpful and reassuring reply to our note. Regarding sponsorship, you are right that my future husband's US income won't be sufficient to meet the financial support thresholds. However, I've got enough assets to cover this (cash in savings accounts in my name, waiting to be used to buy us a house once I immigrate to the US). It seems from the guidelines for completing the form that this should be ok to meet the criteria, although income of the US citizen seems to be preferred. Do you think it would be accepted? (the amount in the savings accounts is higher than 3 times the minimum income requirement). We're keen not to have to ask my future in-laws for sponsorship both so we can keep the marriage secret, and because it's potentially such a huge commitment for them.

[sachinky 465]

Funds preferably to be held by the USC petitioner in a U.S. bank account in USD.

Maybe Pushbrk or Christeen can shed some more light on this?

[pushbrk 12,883]

Funds preferably to be held by the USC petitioner in a U.S. bank account in USD.

Maybe Pushbrk or Christeen can shed some more light on this?

In general yes but that can easily be arranged. Through London, self sponsoring is fairly common though. Slovenia, maybe.

Edited March 17, 2010 by pushbrk