Can we live together in US prior to approval?

[Kev & Aki 0]

so you are already married, right?

and you want her to come into the country on a tourist visa, then submit the I-130???

i think it will be really hard if you are already married. because then it is out right lying at immigration about the intent to enter the country for immigration purposes and not tourism.

usually people enter on the tourist visa, get married in the USA, then file the I-130 (illegal). and get their petitions approved. there is the small chance of denial though. i have yet to hear of someone being denied who did this.

but in your case, if you are already married, i think it's harder to be approved.

you can try it, and hope all goes well. but you run the risk of being denied. and if you are denied, i don't know what you could do.

and the odds of being denied are probably way higher if you are already married.

good luck.

Hi, and thank you for the reply. You understand my situation correctly. And similarly, you have an American/Japanese marriage. Congratulations on your approval! You give me hope. Your time line looks reasonable. I wonder what may have helped with that. I also wonder if you waited the 7 months of processing in separate countries? Wishing you well! K