Can I marry my US boyfriend on my tourist visa?

[ValerieA 350]

Could u maybe tell me what are the procedures to get married there?..and what do we need for that?..and I hate to sound a retard, but what is an AOS?

Sorry, I focused on the last part of your question, and not the first. To get married here, you really just need a tourist visa - or a fiancee visa, if you decide to go the K-1 route, although it does not sound like your relationship has progressed to that point yet - and a marriage license. For the tourist visa, make sure you have proof of ties to home, to prove you do not have immigrant intent - an apartment lease, or a house deed, a letter from your employer stating when you will be back at work from vacation, bank accounts, car title, etc. etc. When you enter, do not lie to the border guard - just answer his questions honestly, but do not volunteer any information.

[orangecami 0]

AOS is adjustment of status, and you can't intend to follow that option at point of entry on a tourist visa. Basically, if you came in intending only to visit - so, you still have ties like a lease, a job, etc. to your home - and then suddenly decided to get married, you could simply file for AOS after your marriage and stay in the US once approved. The important thing is to not have intent when you enter the US, since it is visa fraud to intend to immigrate while using a non-immigrant visa.

Check out the AOS from a work, student, and tourist visa forum if you are curious. However, I must stress - it is illegal to PLAN to immigrate to the US on a tourist visa.

Thanx, I really appreciate ur help...of course I dont intend to immigrate under my tourist visa, but as I said we dont know yet if we want to get married or not, and to do the whole fiance visa thing is kinda like forcing things, but that AOS thing can be dangerous and complicated not sure if I wanna do it. Probably the best is the CR1 visa, what do u think?

[romivio 1]

Thanx, I really appreciate ur help...of course I dont intend to immigrate under my tourist visa, but as I said we dont know yet if we want to get married or not, and to do the whole fiance visa thing is kinda like forcing things, but that AOS thing can be dangerous and complicated not sure if I wanna do it. Probably the best is the CR1 visa, what do u think?

da esti fata desteapta CR 1 e the best....umbla des pe visa journey si vei afla multe pe site

[ValerieA 350]

Thanx, I really appreciate ur help...of course I dont intend to immigrate under my tourist visa, but as I said we dont know yet if we want to get married or not, and to do the whole fiance visa thing is kinda like forcing things, but that AOS thing can be dangerous and complicated not sure if I wanna do it. Probably the best is the CR1 visa, what do u think?

You should decide on your own which you want to do. I will tell you my experience, I was married to my husband, and came down for an extended visit while my CR-1 was at the USCIS stage (first stage). I did get questioned at the POE (Pearson airport in Toronto), but he was satisfied that I was not trying to immigrate. After a few months, when the CR-1 went to the NVC (second) stage, we realized that there were some complications and switched to AOS. It took me just over 3 months from date of filing to get my green card, and I was not asked about intent - general wisdom on here is that they WON'T ask about intent unless they can pick up on some obvious negative factors.

I don't believe you can be planning on actually getting married at this point, since it is too early in the relationship for the K-1. I say, come for a visit. Get to know this guy, see if he is the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. One trip may not answer that question. However, when you do come on this trip, you are just coming to get to know him, you are not intending on getting married or, more importantly, immigrating. If it happens - it happens. At that point, you can decide if you want to go back and pursue the CR-1 or take the slightly riskier path and do an AOS. For what it is worth, AOS is way less complicated and (when you factor in the cost of plane fares) cheaper than CR-1. However, just because it was the right choice for me, doesn't mean it's for everyone.

[Krikit 1,165]

English only outside the Regional Forums, please.

[caybee 21]

While you are allowed to get married here while on a tourist visa, some states do require a Social Security number to get a marriage license. Some states will waive that requirement for nonresidents of the U.S. You'll want to check the requirements in his state. Some states do not require residency to marry in that state, so if his state requires a SSN, you might try a state that will waive it for nonresidents of the U.S. and has no residency requirement. Las Vegas, Nevada is the old standby in that department because there is no residency requirement for either partner and no waiting period, but there are other options.

Edited September 16, 2010 by caybee

[juliava 80]

I would say focus on getting your Tourist Visa approved first, then worry about the rest. Getting a tourist visa is not really a piece of cake all the time. If your intention is to "visit your boyfriend", can you prove that you have reasons to come back to your home country after that tourist visa expires?That's what your visa interview will be about. Is there a job waiting for you back there?Any properties in your name?Any bank accounts?That's what I'm talking about.

It's way too soon to explore AOS options when you are not even in US yet and you don't know your friend well either.

Good luck with your tourist visa!