Just Got Married, Now What?

[KG0411 0]

First of all, calm down There are instructions with all the forms, read them carefully.

If you legally changed your name when you got married, then that is your new name and you should use it.

What I don't think you are realizing yet is that this application is to become a permanent resident of the US. So it means that "the address you are currently staying at" in the US is NOW HOME.

Sorry, all this is just extremely overwhelming! Thank you for clearing that up I assume the same thing goes for the I-130? Thanks so much again! hehehe...

[engineer21 51]

Sorry, all this is just extremely overwhelming! Thank you for clearing that up I assume the same thing goes for the I-130? Thanks so much again! hehehe...

yes, be consistent with name and address. Use married name and US address for all forms.

You can enter your maiden name where they ask "other names used"

And yes, calm down, read the instructions for the forms. Read the guides that some have linked you to.

You'll be ok, and if you aren't sure you can always come back here and ask

[tokyo.lovers 6]

you can stay if you file an adjustment form with your I-130.

odds are you would be fine since you had no intent to stay but will stay.

good luck.

[KG0411 0]

yes, be consistent with name and address. Use married name and US address for all forms.

You can enter your maiden name where they ask "other names used"

And yes, calm down, read the instructions for the forms. Read the guides that some have linked you to.

You'll be ok, and if you aren't sure you can always come back here and ask

Ok thank you so much. Now, one more question =) in terms of the petition my husband is filing for me. Does that mean we have to fill out another I-130 form for the CR1 visa, because that visa requires the I-130 along with some other forms, correct? Do I send that package out the same time as my AOS? Thanks

Edited June 22, 2010 by KG0411

[engineer21 51]

Ok thank you so much. Now, one more question =) in terms of the petition my husband is filing for me. Does that mean we have to fill out another I-130 form for the CR1 visa, because that visa requires the I-130 along with some other forms, correct? Do I send that package out the same time as my AOS? Thanks

No, you do one or the other.

If you want to stay here do the AOS, file 130 together with 485.

CR-1 process is for if you are not here yet and your husband wants to bring you here.

[KG0411 0]

No, you do one or the other.

If you want to stay here do the AOS, file 130 together with 485.

CR-1 process is for if you are not here yet and your husband wants to bring you here.

oh ok. Thanks for that clarification. Thanks everyone who replied to this thread. You guys have seriously been a huge help!!! Thank you and wish me luck!!! =)

[Bernie C 24]

So look at it this way (think as if you were a USCIS officer).

You were hassled previously at the border by CBP because they thought you "might" have intent to stay.

Now you enter on June 5th (a Saturday). You got unexpectantly married. Lets see - depending on where you got married you most likely could not apply for a marriage liscence on a weekend - so you basically got married within 10 days of being able to apply for a liscence.

From a USCIS officer standpoint - would you think that looked a bit fishy?

Just throwing up a warning - you may want to consider filing CR-1 (you can start that now while you are here), and returning to Canada to process the visa. It would be absolutly awful for the two of you if you were denied and banned because they suspected "intent".

It works for some but its no gaurantee. What risk are you willing to take.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

So look at it this way (think as if you were a USCIS officer).

You were hassled previously at the border by CBP because they thought you "might" have intent to stay.

Now you enter on June 5th (a Saturday). You got unexpectantly married. Lets see - depending on where you got married you most likely could not apply for a marriage liscence on a weekend - so you basically got married within 10 days of being able to apply for a liscence.

From a USCIS officer standpoint - would you think that looked a bit fishy?

Just throwing up a warning - you may want to consider filing CR-1 (you can start that now while you are here), and returning to Canada to process the visa. It would be absolutly awful for the two of you if you were denied and banned because they suspected "intent".

It works for some but its no gaurantee. What risk are you willing to take.

Oh please. They don't keep records of "getting hassled" so it's not going to count against them. If they say they had no intent of getting married, then in good faith I believe them. And no offense to the OP, but I think their lack of immigration information shows that they didn't have some evil masterplan in mind when they had a very exciting impromptu wedding. Don't make people paranoid and make the process even worse for them. USCIS.gov says if your spouse is currently in the USA, then you file concurrent I-130/I-485. Enough said.

[trailmix 77]

How do you know that? She stated she was denied entry once, odds are they DO have a record of that.

I agree that we must take this at face value - the intent portion, just pointing out that records are kept, generally, when you are denied entry.

KG0411 - congratulations on your wedding, do read the guides and i'm not sure if anyone has mentioned yet that you cannot leave the U.S. until you get either your greencard or advance parole, whichever comes first.

[KG0411 0]

So, overall with my situation, is it best to take the CR-1 route? I don't want to take the risk of being banned from the US and not be able to see my husband

[Bernie C 24]

Oh please. They don't keep records of "getting hassled" so it's not going to count against them. If they say they had no intent of getting married, then in good faith I believe them. And no offense to the OP, but I think their lack of immigration information shows that they didn't have some evil masterplan in mind when they had a very exciting impromptu wedding. Don't make people paranoid and make the process even worse for them. USCIS.gov says if your spouse is currently in the USA, then you file concurrent I-130/I-485. Enough said.

I'm very happy for the OP and their marriage - its a wonderful thing.

As for you - take your "Oh Please" somewhere else. Since they are apparently very inexperienced they need to be told about ALL the possibilities.

While there have been many succuss stories of people getting married in the US and AOS'ing there are also many who have failed and suffered the horrible consequence. I am simply pointing out the possibilities and chances so they can research and make the best decision.

It would be irresponsible to NOT tell them about the negative possibilities and lead them only down the yellow brick road without telling telling them there is a wicked witch that lives along that path too.

[Bernie C 24]

So, overall with my situation, is it best to take the CR-1 route? I don't want to take the risk of being banned from the US and not be able to see my husband

My intent was not to scare you away but to inform you of the potential problems with marrying and filing AOS from the US. It is done frequently with many success and many failures. Ultimatley the decision is yours.

If it was a 100% sure bet I would never have even mentioned it. I am very happy for you and your husband and its awesome that you got married. I was not implying that you did anything wrong - I certainly could not make any judgement as I do not know anything about you. I merely wanted to point out that its not a sure bet and to give you something to research.

If someone didn't point it out and it went the wrong way - then you would have been led down the wrong road without all the necessary information to base your decision.

I hope you didn't take what I said as implying that you did have intent. Often I view posts with the mindset of a interviewing officer - it changes the perspectives. We all think they should approve all of us with no hassles but we must also remember what their job is in the scheme of things.

Wish you the best for a long and wonderful life TOGETHER.

[Old Dominion 26]

you need to take some more time to prepare the forms. they require lots of evidence that you are truly married, such as joint bank account statements, etc. and they will take time to obtain. there's no real rush.

[Leyla007 0]

So I am new to this site and a friend of mine referred me to it. My husband and I just got married unexpectedly last week. I had entered the states on June 5, 2010 from Canada. There is so much information on this site that I am getting a little confused I understand I need to fill out the CR-1/IR-1 Visa forms. What exact forms are included in this? A clear breakdown would be appreciated! Also, when I was at the border, they asked how long I was going to stay here until and I had told them, until October 17, 2010. My question is, am I allowed to stay here until my paperwork is done, or must I leave on October 17, 2010? A friend of mine told me that I could stay while everything is being processed, but if I leave, i can't expect to come back until it is done. Any advice and any feedback would really help! Thanks!

Yes, you can stay while you adjust your status, I come from London, England with my british passport in 07, we got married in 04 and had a son in 05 and in 07 we decided to move to US, I come with visa waiver and i was asked at the airport how long am intending to stay and told them three months and as soon as i got here, I filed I-130 to adjust my status to permanent resident which is what you need to file and the the rest of the form, it took me 6 months to be approved for my work authorisation and my permanent resident.

I know two friends who come from London to visit their boyfriend and married within the 90 days and filed to adjust your status which is really what you should do, all I can advise is make sure your hubby meet the income guideline if he doesnt make sure he has co-sponsor someone who can fill the affidavit of support for you, my husband was staying in UK with me in and out so he didnt have 3 years income to prove that he can support me so his aunty co-sponsor me, another thing i will advice is make sure you keep record of all your communications prior to marriage, if you had e-mails, cards etc keep it as when you go for your interview you can take the documents with you and also all the pictures you took together prior to coming to US and getting married, it just prove to them that you have known each other a lot longer, I will also advice you, to add your name in utilities bills and if he can open a joint bank account it shows that you guys are in committed to each other, other than that just make sure all his paper works are straight, you have your birth certificate and he has his as that delayed me as i was born in Tanzania and I left the country when I was 3to UK and my BC was lost along the way and had no contact with TZ family for a long time but I managed to get one, other than that if you start the process next month by easter next year you should be a permanent resident if your papers are straight and if you decide to go out of country, while you have submitted your I-130 it will be rejected and you will have to start the whole process again and possibily you might not be able to get into country again easily and your husband will have to start the whole process again while you wait in Canada to go to US embassy for the interview and if your not Canadian national you have to go back to the country of your nationality while he start the process all over again