Wedding to US person right before F-1 visa application. Should we postpone wedding?

[Shantin 0]

Dear fellow forum dwellers,

I have a tricky situation, and really hope some of you will be able to offer valuable advice.

I will start a MBA next September. I will apply for a F-1 visa soon.

My longtime girlfriend (she's American) studies in the university I'll be going to.

(I lived in the US for many years --with a H1-B visa-- and moved abroad for professional reasons).

We've been thinking about marrying for a long time, and we planned our wedding for May. All was great, until I was told that the wedding will lead to the F-1 visa being refused. And then goodbye MBA!

I have no intent of becoming an immigrant. We plan to leave the US after my MBA and her masters (our graduation dates will be the same). Its a great country, but the world is huge and we live only once.

But I understand the immigration officer will most likely not believe me.

Is that right? Should we go through the incredible hassle of postponing the wedding?

Thanks for your time,

J

[ziia 9]

Dear fellow forum dwellers,

I have a tricky situation, and really hope some of you will be able to offer valuable advice.

I will start a MBA next September. I will apply for a F-1 visa soon.

My longtime girlfriend (she's American) studies in the university I'll be going to.

(I lived in the US for many years --with a H1-B visa-- and moved abroad for professional reasons).

We've been thinking about marrying for a long time, and we planned our wedding for May. All was great, until I was told that the wedding will lead to the F-1 visa being refused. And then goodbye MBA!

I have no intent of becoming an immigrant. We plan to leave the US after my MBA and her masters (our graduation dates will be the same). Its a great country, but the world is huge and we live only once.

But I understand the immigration officer will most likely not believe me.

Is that right? Should we go through the incredible hassle of postponing the wedding?

Thanks for your time,

J

I don't have too much experience with this but yeah, the IO will most likely not believe your story. Postponing the wedding might be a good idea.

[canadian_wife 1,823]

To be granted an F-1 visa you must show that you do not have immigrant intent. This might be tricky to do if you are married to a US citizen, not impossible, just tricky. Certainly postponing the wedding may be advantageous to your situation, however you will likely also need to show ties to your home country to indicate that you plan on returning after your non-immigrant visa expires

Good luck.

[Shantin 0]

Thanks guys. What a bloody unnecessary nightmare for such a little thing.

C'est la vie!