Marrying on Tourist Visa: Help to Understand

[Nina~ 431]

I came here on a F1 student visa and did an AOS. The officer interviewing me asked how long I had been in the country and if I had finished my education. I told her that I had been in the US on and off as a kid and had got my degree before getting married. She then asked me how I met my husband and I told her that we met at Uni. This seemed to satisfy her that I didnt come here on an F1 visa with the sole intention of staying. So I think you will be fine if you can show the IO proof of multiple visits on your Visit visa.

And I remember that someone from the Canadian forum posting a while ago about their boss' daughter who got married to her fiance who was here on a VWP or Visit visa.. and they were scrutinized by the IO for fraud because their wedding was a huge bash that obviously took a lot of time to plan and arrange.

So yeah, you might need to show proof that this was a spur of the moment thing and that you didn't plan on marrying while you entered the country.

[A + M 29]

Hello!

I'm so happy I found this site, it seems everybody here are very generous when it comes to spreading knowledge and share the experience:)

I'm currently in Atlanta, GA, on my tourist visa. I've been coming to USA back and forth for 5 yrs, never was denied a visa, never overstayed. My boyfriend, American citizen, just proposed to me and we're very excited to get married.

Originally I'm from Russia, but I would love to stay in USA with my future husband. So I guess after we get married I'll have to apply for Adjustment Of Status, right? And that's as much as I know about the process:)

Can anybody who's been through the same situation, explain me the steps I should take now and appox time frames?

And I entered USA on may 6th, stamp in my passport says I can stay till nov 5th. We want to get married late June-early July. And I'd need to go back to Russia before the end of 2011 to re-new my passport.

Thank you in advance!!

You don't have to leave US. Marry your American boyfriend and apply for AOS.

[A + M 29]

Hello!

I'm so happy I found this site, it seems everybody here are very generous when it comes to spreading knowledge and share the experience:)

I'm currently in Atlanta, GA, on my tourist visa. I've been coming to USA back and forth for 5 yrs, never was denied a visa, never overstayed. My boyfriend, American citizen, just proposed to me and we're very excited to get married.

Originally I'm from Russia, but I would love to stay in USA with my future husband. So I guess after we get married I'll have to apply for Adjustment Of Status, right? And that's as much as I know about the process:)

Can anybody who's been through the same situation, explain me the steps I should take now and appox time frames?

And I entered USA on may 6th, stamp in my passport says I can stay till nov 5th. We want to get married late June-early July. And I'd need to go back to Russia before the end of 2011 to re-new my passport.

Thank you in advance!!

You don't have to leave US. Marry your American boyfriend and apply for AOS.

Well I know for SURE that it's perfectly legal to enter the US and marry a USC on a tourist visa. It is however considered fraud to enter with INTENT to marry and AOS which the OP states she did not.

You don't have to prove anything. It's quite the reverse, and even then it's not sufficient grounds to deny AOS.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

As Kathryn and Jim have already told you: filing for AOS in your situation is totally safe, saver than having sex with 2 condoms, actually.

You can renew your Russian passport in the US, easily, but only once you have received your Green Card. Why? Because only Russians can get a Russian passport and if a Russian becomes a US citizen, she is no Russian anymore, even if she holds a Russian passport. For that reason you would have to prove to the Russian Consulate that you are not a US citizen, which is what you do with a Green Card. Otherwise you would have to get information based on the Freedom of Information Act and that takes longer than a whole pregnancy.

So don't worry, file for AOS, and once you have your Green Card, go and get a new Russian passport at your own pace.