Help.. she's here on a visa can we Marry now and apply for green card?

[Gperry 0]

Ok.. thanks in advance. Please please tell me there is a good answer.

I'm not sure what to do. My girlfriend is a citizen of El Salvador has been in the US on a 2 year visa learning English at University and also as a nanny part of a program. Her visa is up and she is supposed to leave in mid December.

We have been together for about 6 months and there is no doubt in my mind that she is the one. I knew that the first minute I met her. Never have either of us had this type of connection. We drive every weekend to see one another and spend every night on the phone.

Since she is traditional we had talked about my traveling to El Salvador to meet her parents and ask for her hand in marriage. However, the more I read the more concerned I become.

Can we marry in the USA and then petition for a green card? We don't want to be separated.. we're dearly in love and want to start our lives together. I know it might sound crazy, but we've wanted to elope from the day we met. Neither of us have a substantial amount of money in this economy so we just feel like we need each other. I've dated and womanized so many different women that I never believed it, but I've met the one.. and when you know.. you just know.

Please provide advice and options. Also both of us have close to elderly parents. Even though I'm 10 years older than my girlfriend my Dad is 65 and her Dad is 80. So, there is some concern about being able travel to meet and visit family if we marry her and she is stuck during green card process. We are after all wanting to build a family.

JFG

[pookaphilus 12]

Ok.. thanks in advance. Please please tell me there is a good answer.

I'm not sure what to do. My girlfriend is a citizen of El Salvador has been in the US on a 2 year visa learning English at University and also as a nanny part of a program. Her visa is up and she is supposed to leave in mid December.

We have been together for about 6 months and there is no doubt in my mind that she is the one. I knew that the first minute I met her. Never have either of us had this type of connection. We drive every weekend to see one another and spend every night on the phone.

Since she is traditional we had talked about my traveling to El Salvador to meet her parents and ask for her hand in marriage. However, the more I read the more concerned I become.

Can we marry in the USA and then petition for a green card? We don't want to be separated.. we're dearly in love and want to start our lives together. I know it might sound crazy, but we've wanted to elope from the day we met. Neither of us have a substantial amount of money in this economy so we just feel like we need each other. I've dated and womanized so many different women that I never believed it, but I've met the one.. and when you know.. you just know.

Please provide advice and options. Also both of us have close to elderly parents. Even though I'm 10 years older than my girlfriend my Dad is 65 and her Dad is 80. So, there is some concern about being able travel to meet and visit family if we marry her and she is stuck during green card process. We are after all wanting to build a family.

JFG

Good day..First of all..I'm a K1 visa filer..hmm..as what i have read..if ever, you will marrye her since she is there, after your marriage, you might be able to file for CR1/IR1 visa for her(coz you two are married)..but she will still need to come back to her home country after your marriage during the whole process...you can read this link..

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/IR1_and_CR1_Immigrant_Visas

hope we were able to help..if the infos I posted are wrong, please do feel free to correct them...God bless!!..

[Dan J 277]

Ok.. thanks in advance. Please please tell me there is a good answer.

I'm not sure what to do. My girlfriend is a citizen of El Salvador has been in the US on a 2 year visa learning English at University and also as a nanny part of a program. Her visa is up and she is supposed to leave in mid December.

We have been together for about 6 months and there is no doubt in my mind that she is the one. I knew that the first minute I met her. Never have either of us had this type of connection. We drive every weekend to see one another and spend every night on the phone.

Since she is traditional we had talked about my traveling to El Salvador to meet her parents and ask for her hand in marriage. However, the more I read the more concerned I become.

Can we marry in the USA and then petition for a green card? We don't want to be separated.. we're dearly in love and want to start our lives together. I know it might sound crazy, but we've wanted to elope from the day we met. Neither of us have a substantial amount of money in this economy so we just feel like we need each other. I've dated and womanized so many different women that I never believed it, but I've met the one.. and when you know.. you just know.

Please provide advice and options. Also both of us have close to elderly parents. Even though I'm 10 years older than my girlfriend my Dad is 65 and her Dad is 80. So, there is some concern about being able travel to meet and visit family if we marry her and she is stuck during green card process. We are after all wanting to build a family.

JFG

If you get married now and apply right away you can adjust status. Because she will be adjusting from a non-immigration visa, it is recommended that she does not travel until the green card is received even though should could get AP. A BP officer may deny entry and the AOS petition would be considered abandoned. If all goes well you can expect the process to take 4-6 months.

However, if she were to leave the country before filing, she would only be able to immigrate on an immigration visa (K-1 or CR-1/IR-1).

[pushbrk 12,898]

Ok.. thanks in advance. Please please tell me there is a good answer.

I'm not sure what to do. My girlfriend is a citizen of El Salvador has been in the US on a 2 year visa learning English at University and also as a nanny part of a program. Her visa is up and she is supposed to leave in mid December.

We have been together for about 6 months and there is no doubt in my mind that she is the one. I knew that the first minute I met her. Never have either of us had this type of connection. We drive every weekend to see one another and spend every night on the phone.

Since she is traditional we had talked about my traveling to El Salvador to meet her parents and ask for her hand in marriage. However, the more I read the more concerned I become.

Can we marry in the USA and then petition for a green card? We don't want to be separated.. we're dearly in love and want to start our lives together. I know it might sound crazy, but we've wanted to elope from the day we met. Neither of us have a substantial amount of money in this economy so we just feel like we need each other. I've dated and womanized so many different women that I never believed it, but I've met the one.. and when you know.. you just know.

Please provide advice and options. Also both of us have close to elderly parents. Even though I'm 10 years older than my girlfriend my Dad is 65 and her Dad is 80. So, there is some concern about being able travel to meet and visit family if we marry her and she is stuck during green card process. We are after all wanting to build a family.

JFG

Yes, you may simply marry and adjust her status if she stays. If the two of you go to El Salvador then come back, marry and attempt to adjust status, that's a different kettle of fish that gets far more complicated.

[Gperry 0]

If she is supposed to leave on December 15th... how far before that must we marry and file for the change in status??

Since we haven't planned a wedding or a date to elope is there a cutoff? I mean.. do we need to do this 30 days before that date... do the documents need to be processed? Can anyone give me an idea for a timeline.

I'd like to consider if we are going to plan a wedding that involves family ( money is tight ) or just be married so we can be together ( which is what we really care about ).

Thank you thank you soooo much.

JFG

[vinavisa 0]

Firstly congratulate that you found out your partner.

In your case I think that you marry and adjust her status if she stays is the best way. Good luck to you.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

In my opinion, the closer you marry and adjust status to the date she is supposed to leave, the more it looks like you are marrying her to keep her in the US. If you are SURE, why not marry now and adjust her status? No elaborate wedding necessary, a simple courthouse wedding will do fine

Good lcuk

[Darnell 8,478]

*** n ot a K-3 visa topic, moving to AOS forum ***

[missads 59]

If she is supposed to leave on December 15th... how far before that must we marry and file for the change in status??

Since we haven't planned a wedding or a date to elope is there a cutoff? I mean.. do we need to do this 30 days before that date... do the documents need to be processed? Can anyone give me an idea for a timeline.

I'd like to consider if we are going to plan a wedding that involves family ( money is tight ) or just be married so we can be together ( which is what we really care about ).

Thank you thank you soooo much.

JFG

Canadian_wife is bang on the money, as always. Get a "legal" wedding done as soon as practical. Just go to the courthouse and have a registered marriage. As far as the USCIS is concerned, the date on the marriage certificate issued by a US courthouse is your marriage date, not the day you two have the actual church ceremony.

Apply for AOS immediately after. That will give you about 3 months before her visa expires. She can stay on in the country while the AOS is pending. You two can go back to El Salvador and have the more traditional wedding later, with family and friends, after the visa process is over.

If she returns to El Salvador and you get married outside the country, it might take her 5-8 months to get back in the US. Don't go there brother...

[Gperry 0]

*** n ot a K-3 visa topic, moving to AOS forum ***

The only reason we would wait until the end is because her education program will end and she will have fulfilled her obligations and because of the absolute shock from our family members. I guess you sometimes have to do what is best for you and your future!

Thank you everyone! Know we will be posting more once we start a process officially.

JFG

[Darnell 8,478]

The only reason we would wait until the end is because her education program will end and she will have fulfilled her obligations and because of the absolute shock from our family members. I guess you sometimes have to do what is best for you and your future!

Thank you everyone! Know we will be posting more once we start a process officially.

JFG

A reason to marry and file this week, instead of 2 days before her current visa expires -

is to 'appear' that one is not getting married for immigration purposes.

But hey - ask around, get more input. Seriously.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Before we jump the gun, exactly what sort of visa did she enter the US with? Some student visas have a two year residency requirement; i.e., they require the alien to return to their home country for two years before applying for any immigration benefit from the US government.

[Gperry 0]

Before we jump the gun, exactly what sort of visa did she enter the US with? Some student visas have a two year residency requirement; i.e., they require the alien to return to their home country for two years before applying for any immigration benefit from the US government.

I hope it isn't that type and it very well could be. Now that you say something I'm worried and think it might be. In that case is there anything that will supercede the two years? Or would that overrule any of our options?

[Gperry 0]

I hope it isn't that type and it very well could be. Now that you say something I'm worried and think it might be. In that case is there anything that will supercede the two years? Or would that overrule any of our options?

OK.. IT's a J1 STUDENT EXCHANGE VISA... crossing fingers.. praying praying.

[ValerieA 350]

Does the J1 have a home residency requirement?