Girl is on J1 visa. when can we get married? (poll)

[dabulls1 0]

Im having some difficulty finding answers to my questions on this forum.

My gf is an au pair from Ukraine and we want to get married and get keep her legal. i have been searching for similar situations to ours but each one is always a little different. any good links to a step by step from b4 marriage through the whole process??

thanks

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Marriage by itself does not give any benefit, so what you should focus on is getting paperwork submitted before her visa expires, to avoid any out-of-status days. I should hope it seems obvious to you that if she stays after her visa is over, she is accruing days of illegal presence.

Generally life plans should come before immigration plans. When do you want to get married?

But before all of this, you need to determine if her J1 visa has a 2-year home residency requirement. If it does, then she will need to return home or apply for a waiver.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

It depends. How long have you known her, and did she enter the US with the intent to marry a US citizen in order to immigrate to the US?

[dabulls1 0]

Marriage by itself does not give any benefit, so what you should focus on is getting paperwork submitted before her visa expires, to avoid any out-of-status days. I should hope it seems obvious to you that if she stays after her visa is over, she is accruing days of illegal presence.

Generally life plans should come before immigration plans. When do you want to get married?

But before all of this, you need to determine if her J1 visa has a 2-year home residency requirement. If it does, then she will need to return home or apply for a waiver.

thanks. i understand marriage grants no benefits but i was curious if she could legally marry while still on her j1. she was under the impression that she couldnt. we want to get married asap. she has no 2 year home rule.

It depends. How long have you known her, and did she enter the US with the intent to marry a US citizen in order to immigrate to the US?

i have known her for 9 or 10 months. no she entered the u.s. on a cultural exchange thing. she has a masters degree in english and wanted to refine her skills. meeting me was purely coincedince

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Then you can get married now and file the paperwork tomorrow if you like. Follow the guides for "Spouse inside the US" in the guide section. Also keep in mind that she cannot travel once she sends in her Adjustment of Status (AOS) package, until she gets her temporary travel permission, called Advance Parole, which takes around 3 months. Good luck.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

i have known her for 9 or 10 months. no she entered the u.s. on a cultural exchange thing. she has a masters degree in english and wanted to refine her skills. meeting me was purely coincedince

If that is the case, marry her while she is still in status, and if she want to remain in the US, file to adjust status while she is still in the US. Otherwise, you would pursue the IR-1/CR-1 route once she returns to the Ukraine if she changes her mind later. Document everything, including the circumstances of your meeting, and to establish a bona fide relationship. Make sure you are both free to marry, and that you can both show that is the case.

[dabulls1 0]

Then you can get married now and file the paperwork tomorrow if you like. Follow the guides for "Spouse inside the US" in the guide section. Also keep in mind that she cannot travel once she sends in her Adjustment of Status (AOS) package, until she gets her temporary travel permission, called Advance Parole, which takes around 3 months. Good luck.

ok 1 more question for you sir. on the i-130 it asks for an alien registration number. where can i find hers?

If that is the case, marry her while she is still in status, and if she want to remain in the US, file to adjust status while she is still in the US. Otherwise, you would pursue the IR-1/CR-1 route once she returns to the Ukraine if she changes her mind later. Document everything, including the circumstances of your meeting, and to establish a bona fide relationship. Make sure you are both free to marry, and that you can both show that is the case.

what documents do we have to provide to show we are free to marry.

is there some type of system where i can give you guys reps or something. oh and by the way she is on this forum too. her name is InnaV. say hi to her

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Either she has no A-number, or it will be on her J-1 visa paperwork. I am not sure if J1 visas get A-numbers. It's a 9-digit number that begins with A.

You don't need any documents to prove you are free to marry in this country. They take your word (or sworn statement) for it when you get your marriage license. Of course, if you are not free to marry, then you can't get married, but I am not sure why that was brought up.

Also, I am a female, not a "sir."

Edited May 22, 2011 by Harpa Timsah

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

***** Moving from AOS from Family... to AOS from Exchange Visa.. as OP's fiance is in the country with a J1 *****

[NUSHka 0]

Either she has no A-number, or it will be on her J-1 visa paperwork. I am not sure if J1 visas get A-numbers. It's a 9-digit number that begins with A.

You don't need any documents to prove you are free to marry in this country. They take your word (or sworn statement) for it when you get your marriage license. Of course, if you are not free to marry, then you can't get married, but I am not sure why that was brought up.

Also, I am a female, not a "sir."

You dont get an A number if you are on J 1

In the space for her A number write 'None'

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

what documents do we have to provide to show we are free to marry.

If either of you have been married before, be prepared to show divorce papers.

[lady26 0]

J1 visa does not have alien number ..just write none

good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alexa.a 0]

Marry before , my fiance and i decided to do it from my home country ,, and now i need help i didnt know the j1 2 years applied for k1 visa too so now i have to do the ds 3035 form and no clue how to do it

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Marry before , my fiance and i decided to do it from my home country ,, and now i need help i didnt know the j1 2 years applied for k1 visa too so now i have to do the ds 3035 form and no clue how to do it

This topic is a year old.