Turning Student visa into permanent residence?

[Little_My 464]

I have to say, you have one of the biggest chips on your shoulder I've seen in a while..

I do not understand why you have to carry such resentment towards people you know nothing about. F1 student visa is a great option for someone who wants to come to the US to study and get a degree - and maybe also spend a bit more time with their boyfriend/girlfriend to figure out what exactly is the next step they want to take, and when they want to take that step. In a world where divorce rates are exceeding 50%, I personally think it is a good time to find alternative means to really get to know the other person and be sure about marriage before jumping into it. F1 visa can help with that in situations where the other person is from another country.

What I have always found interesting is that those people who are the most judgmental and holier-than-though with those who entered this country under a non-immigrant status and ended up adjusting status due to marriage to an American citizen usually have no problem whatsoever with Americans marrying mail order brides from the Balkans, or bringing home an 18-year old Thai girl from a holiday trip - as long as this process is done through the K1 route. Not all, but many of these marriages end up in a divorce, with the foreign spouse staying in the US - but there is nothing wrong with this because the original process was done "the right way". Never mind the fact that many of these girls are 20-30 years younger than their spouses, or that the couple in love knew each other for a whopping month or two before filing for the K1.

I don't understand it - but I still try not to judge. Because who am I to stay what someone's intentions or motivations are or are not. Maybe you could try a bit less judgmental approach too.

[Dakine10 5,452]

How obvious must it be for you to see through this charade? There is NO chance that the OP will return to his/her country of residence after studies are finished....the OP even made the statement...'so she won't have to go back....'///hello??? anyone home??? How much more obvious must a situation be before you recognize it for what it is?

Actually, if I don't believe the premise of a post, I don't respond to it. Or, as in this case, the OP got several good answers before I read this so I didn't respond. If not for your post, I would have just moved on.

You often respond with nothing more than the accusation that the poster asking the question is lying or trying to circumvent the immigration process. Besides being against the TOS, I just don't see the point of it.

Most of us are here trying to help others because others helped us at one time or another. Not sure what your motivation is. Whatever it is, I'm sure you could do it without insulting people by calling them liars.

[Boiler 45,493]

I have to say, you have one of the biggest chips on your shoulder I've seen in a while..

I do not understand why you have to carry such resentment towards people you know nothing about. F1 student visa is a great option for someone who wants to come to the US to study and get a degree - and maybe also spend a bit more time with their boyfriend/girlfriend to figure out what exactly is the next step they want to take, and when they want to take that step. In a world where divorce rates are exceeding 50%, I personally think it is a good time to find alternative means to really get to know the other person and be sure about marriage before jumping into it. F1 visa can help with that in situations where the other person is from another country.

What I have always found interesting is that those people who are the most judgmental and holier-than-though with those who entered this country under a non-immigrant status and ended up adjusting status due to marriage to an American citizen usually have no problem whatsoever with Americans marrying mail order brides from the Balkans, or bringing home an 18-year old Thai girl from a holiday trip - as long as this process is done through the K1 route. Not all, but many of these marriages end up in a divorce, with the foreign spouse staying in the US - but there is nothing wrong with this because the original process was done "the right way". Never mind the fact that many of these girls are 20-30 years younger than their spouses, or that the couple in love knew each other for a whopping month or two before filing for the K1.

I don't understand it - but I still try not to judge. Because who am I to stay what someone's intentions or motivations are or are not. Maybe you could try a bit less judgmental approach too.

It may be a good idea, and I am sure it does work sometimes, and it might in these circumstances.

If you want to see some fascinating cases go to the MENA forum, beats anything you have mentioned.

She has said what her intentions are, to shack up with boyfriend by going to community college.

[Soapz 14]

I don't get this attitude... Couples never break up? You never once in your life stretched the truth a bit? You are holier than thou?

I got here on a F1 and I got married - even though both of my parents are citizens and I met my husband a bit later. I went to the consulate and told them that with my background I can never prove sufficient ties to my home-country, nor could I swear to go back - ' cause I for one, cannot tell anyone what will happen over the course of 2 or more years and I'm sure neither can the OP.

Other than that, you might consider posting useful information instead of trying to bash the OP.

Astone, I agree with Hesekiel, if you both don't want to hurry into a marriage yet, apply for a student visa and see where time takes both of you. I think there is nothing wrong with "shacking up" while going for a degree without jumping head over heels into a marriage.

Edited December 7, 2011 by Soapz

[Noah Lot 391]

I don't get this attitude... Couples never break up? You never once in your life stretched the truth a bit? You are holier than thou?

I got here on a F1 and I got married - even though both of my parents are citizens and I met my husband a bit later. I went to the consulate and told them that with my background I can never prove sufficient ties to my home-country, nor could I swear to go back - ' cause I for one, cannot tell anyone what will happen over the course of 2 or more years and I'm sure neither can the OP.

Other than that, you might consider posting useful information instead of trying to bash the OP.

Astone, I agree with Hesekiel, if you both don't want to hurry into a marriage yet, apply for a student visa and see where time takes both of you. I think there is nothing wrong with "shacking up" while going for a degree without jumping head over heels into a marriage.

My 'attitude' comes from my respect for the laws of MY country....this couple wants to use an F1 visa to circumvent the K1 process..and if their true intentions are discovered or even viewed in suspicion, the visa will be denied and we will hear all about the unfairness of our laws.

Now, will this applicant tell a consular official that the true purpose of this visa request is to find a way to remain in my country and go around the K1 process? NO..because he/she lacks the courage to do so...what they want is somebody's blessing or something from this site...perhaps you don't believe in our laws..well..that's your choice. I, however, do believe in them.

[Soapz 14]

The way I read the OP's original post - they never mentioned that they deliberately wanted to lie about the intent to get married - they were asking if applying for a student visa is a viable option if they also plan to get married along the way. They never mentioned once that they were trying to circumvent anything and therefore never showed intent to disregard US laws. The OP has only written that one post and asked one question that was politely answered in great detail. No need to suspect anything unlawful behind it. Also, the K1 and F1 processes need pretty much the same amount of time, therefore I'm sure they will choose the right option for themselves.

[Noah Lot 391]

The way I read the OP's original post - they never mentioned that they deliberately wanted to lie about the intent to get married - they were asking if applying for a student visa is a viable option if they also plan to get married along the way. They never mentioned once that they were trying to circumvent anything and therefore never showed intent to disregard US laws. The OP has only written that one post and asked one question that was politely answered in great detail. No need to suspect anything unlawful behind it. Also, the K1 and F1 processes need pretty much the same amount of time, therefore I'm sure they will choose the right option for themselves.

Borrowed from the OP's posting:

"I am a US citizen and my girlfriend is Canadian. We want to marry and move to the US, where I have a job lined up and she is going to go to school. We have looked at the various fiancee/spousal visas, but I was wondering if she could come in faster through a Student Visa.

We are living in Canada currently, and I know that in Canada, you can apply for a student visa with a dual intent to stay permanently. I was wondering if there is a similar option in the states. Our case is legitimate, she wants to get her degree from an American school, and we want to get married. I know that if she is in the country legally, we can marry and go through the paperwork here without her going back.

Now it seems clear that they want to use the student visa so she can gain access to the US and not have to wait for the K1. Yet, F1 visas require applicants to convince the VO that they will be returning to their country after studying, something that is clearly not in their plans. So, I suggest, if you along with so many other uniformed individuals believe, that there is nothing inherently wrong with this idea, that the applicant be up front about their plans...something like..

"Gee Mr/Ms VO, I want the F1 because a K1 takes too long and we want to get married once I am in the US and stay there happily ever after..."

The outcome of that conversation will be a denial....but I suspect that said applicant will not offer this little tidbit of information....and that begs my question...if she won't, then what are they trying to hide?

And F1 visas can be processed far faster than a K1.

[Soapz 14]

I still don't see the intent - I only see the question of the OP. I do not judge the morals behind the action you assume they will take, because if their relationship is legitimate does it really matter? At the end of the day, they will get married and she will come to this country one way or another. I'm wondering why you are in this forum? To find a platform for your opinion? People will do what they feel they can justify to do, whether this will coincide with your opinion or not is irrelevant.

As for the processing. You are right it can go faster. But they are over the application deadlines for the spring semester and therefore work towards the fall semester which starts in August. Not so much faster anymore now....

[TiklingGuy 211]

Borrowed from the OP's posting:

"I am a US citizen and my girlfriend is Canadian. We want to marry and move to the US, where I have a job lined up and she is going to go to school. We have looked at the various fiancee/spousal visas, but I was wondering if she could come in faster through a Student Visa.

We are living in Canada currently, and I know that in Canada, you can apply for a student visa with a dual intent to stay permanently. I was wondering if there is a similar option in the states. Our case is legitimate, she wants to get her degree from an American school, and we want to get married. I know that if she is in the country legally, we can marry and go through the paperwork here without her going back.

Now it seems clear that they want to use the student visa so she can gain access to the US and not have to wait for the K1. Yet, F1 visas require applicants to convince the VO that they will be returning to their country after studying, something that is clearly not in their plans. So, I suggest, if you along with so many other uniformed individuals believe, that there is nothing inherently wrong with this idea, that the applicant be up front about their plans...something like..

"Gee Mr/Ms VO, I want the F1 because a K1 takes too long and we want to get married once I am in the US and stay there happily ever after..."

The outcome of that conversation will be a denial....but I suspect that said applicant will not offer this little tidbit of information....and that begs my question...if she won't, then what are they trying to hide?

And F1 visas can be processed far faster than a K1.

Your argument is lucid and clear. With the OP statement, its pretty clear what their intentions are. Now hopefully with this thread they will rethink their plan and try going about it in a different way, like say the cr-1.