F-1 visa to marriage

[KyleC 0]

Hi there,

I am a future International Student with permanent residence and citizenship in Switzerland and I just got my f-1 visa approved yesterday.

Now before I ask my questions, i need to explain a few things:

I've had plans of studying in the US for a very long time, but because I'd never been there and wanted to get a good insight, I did a foreign exchange year on a J-1 visa three years ago. During this time (in which I swore to myself not to have a girlfriend) I fell in love with this one-of-a-kind amazing woman, who went to high school with me there. I left 10 months later and I'm still with her for now 3 years and I am still pursuing my dreams of going to college in the US but NEITHER SHE NOR THE INTENTION OF MARRYING HER IS THE PRIMARY REASON I want to go to college, although I admit it gives me a nice motivational boost. So now I'm finally admitted and I'm going in a few weeks pursuing a bachelor's degree and later hopefully a master's degree.

my question now is:

- IF we're still together in a few years and still intend to get married, what would the necessary steps be for me and her if I'd like to stay in the US?

- we were/are planning on getting married in Switzerland. Would that cause any problems if for example we'd do this while on summer break and me still being on a f-1 visa and reentering the country?

I wanna state clearly here, that I am not planning on getting married anytime within the next 2-3 years, so I am aware that there's still a lot that could happen. It would still be nice though to know what lies ahead of me as I'm of the planning kind. (This whole "I'm-going-to-college-in-the-US-idea" came to me almost 5 years ago and just now came true, if that gives you a hint).

I am glad of any kind of support and advice that I could get. Maybe you have been in such (or a similar) situation yourself?

Sincerely,

Kyle (no, that's not my real name )

[canadian_wife 1,827]

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

When you are ready, file your adjustment of status from an F-1 to a permenant resident

Play it safe, marry in the US and then file your adjustment of status. No need to get into the murky world of entering with a non-immigrant visa (such as an F-1) with full intentions of adjusting status, which is illegal and visa fraud which can result in a permenant ban from the US.

Good luck

PS - you can always have a ceremony in Switzerland after the whole immigration process is complete

[Maxximus1074 14]

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

When you are ready, file your adjustment of status from an F-1 to a permenant resident

Play it safe, marry in the US and then file your adjustment of status. No need to get into the murky world of entering with a non-immigrant visa (such as an F-1) with full intentions of adjusting status, which is illegal and visa fraud which can result in a permenant ban from the US.

Good luck

PS - you can always have a ceremony in Switzerland after the whole immigration process is complete

I don't see any problems for getting married in Switzerland - BUT ....it may be much more of a hassle of getting translations of your marriage documents that USCIS and/or other US authorities accept. Not sure what the rules are. So actually I do agree with "Canadian wife" that it is easier to get your official marriage certificate from the county when you get married here, despite it would be great to have the whole family, friends you have in Switzerland and all to attend

But don't worry about it now, since you made clear that you are coming here to study, if the time should come (like you said "IF we are still together...") you can put more thought into it and also follow the then standard on Adjustment Of Status AOS, things change all the time with immigration laws etc.

Have fun studying - and getting to know that special someone even more

From you former neighbor to the north (am German not too far from the Bodensee/Lake Constanze)

M.

[KyleC 0]

Thank you guys! Yea, it's gonna be a while till I really need to worry about it, but it took a little weight off me to kinda know what I'd have to do....

I'm just going near Bodensee (Swiss side) in two weeks, I'll think of you then lol...

[Maxximus1074 14]

Thank you guys! Yea, it's gonna be a while till I really need to worry about it, but it took a little weight off me to kinda know what I'd have to do....

I'm just going near Bodensee (Swiss side) in two weeks, I'll think of you then lol...

....as they sing in the Lion King ...Hakuna Matata - it means no worries ....

oh and say Gruezi, Hallo to the Lake from me

[KyleC 0]

i sure will! I will even tune in Hakuna Matata in German ("es heisst, die Sorgen, bleiben dir immer feeeeeern, keiner nimmt uns die Philosophie!")