I want to Marry my Girlfriend and stay with her forever

[villaspurs 65]

Part of problem is that these same 'mind changers' cause problems for their countrymen ... how? Because when the embassy finds out they are staying and in the middle of AOS (and USCIS sends notification of this event), that only makes the consular officials far less inclined to believe the stories they hear about somebody's supposed ties to their country and how those ties are far more important than their new American BF of GF....but statisically, the odds of somebody returning to some 'developing' country rather than 'change their mind' upon arrival in the US hovers somewhere around 1% ....and it's their decision to conveniently forget about the promises or statements they made when acquiring a visa (or admission to the US) that then causes problems for their countrymen when they apply for visas using the same worn out (and untrue) stories.

Please share your source on this. This statistic seems completely unrealistic. I know you were (are?) a paralegal in an immigration attorney's office and thus know quite a bit about immigration codes (and have a peculiar fixation with what people think about at baggage claim, which is a whole different story), but I find this claim dubious. I'd also like you to operationalize to which "developing" countries you are referring. You are making very, very bold accusations and presenting them as certainties, so a little evidence and clarity would go a long way.

[ceadsearc 516]

Please share your source on this. This statistic seems completely unrealistic. I know you were (are?) a paralegal in an immigration attorney's office and thus know quite a bit about immigration codes (and have a peculiar fixation with what people think about at baggage claim, which is a whole different story), but I find this claim dubious. I'd also like you to operationalize to which "developing" countries you are referring. You are making very, very bold accusations and presenting them as certainties, so a little evidence and clarity would go a long way.

I agree. Obviously certain countries are very hard to obtain visas in because of immigration fraud but I find it extremely doubtful that 99% of people from developing countries stay here.

[Harsh_77 718]

Please share your source on this. This statistic seems completely unrealistic. I know you were (are?) a paralegal in an immigration attorney's office and thus know quite a bit about immigration codes (and have a peculiar fixation with what people think about at baggage claim, which is a whole different story), but I find this claim dubious. I'd also like you to operationalize to which "developing" countries you are referring. You are making very, very bold accusations and presenting them as certainties, so a little evidence and clarity would go a long way.

I might not have the exact number and it would not be possible to have those exact numbers.

But I would agree with 100% with Noah …. Occurrence of such things ppl coming on various visas and then changing their mind or file for AOS or changing their status under one or other pretext is noted by USCIS.

Eventually it does impact the next person applying for the visa from that country, as all that data is used to evaluate the next applicant from that country.

Are you suggesting USICS does not do no analysis or statics on these data? They certainly do and they use it too.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Gold fish would be turned into sushi............lol

I always wonder how ppl come on B1/2 have no intentions of getting married and suddenly in months they come to an affirmative decision.

Sametime they dont have any loose ends at home and interstingly they have all the documents required to do an AOS already on them.

Or people who come here on a B1/2 and stay 10 years.

Part of problem is that these same 'mind changers' cause problems for their countrymen ... how? Because when the embassy finds out they are staying and in the middle of AOS (and USCIS sends notification of this event), that only makes the consular officials far less inclined to believe the stories they hear about somebody's supposed ties to their country and how those ties are far more important than their new American BF of GF....but statisically, the odds of somebody returning to some 'developing' country rather than 'change their mind' upon arrival in the US hovers somewhere around 1%....and it's their decision to conveniently forget about the promises or statements they made when acquiring a visa (or admission to the US) that then causes problems for their countrymen when they apply for visas using the same worn out (and untrue) stories.

No that's not the reason the process is difficult. The process is difficult because of marriage fraud at the consular level, and because of changes to the INA in 1996, and because of further changes to the process after 9/11.

I agree. Obviously certain countries are very hard to obtain visas in because of immigration fraud but I find it extremely doubtful that 99% of people from developing countries stay here.

They probably can't even get a visit visa to the US in the first place.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Yes loose ends do apply. Thanks Brother Hesekiel. Here is the fine end....again these informations that we give you here are entirely based on experience that people has gone through. USCIS has no problem if you marry here and go back, they have problem if you stay back. There`s where the questions arise. Now you would certainly have an interview during adjustment of status (AOS) where it is upto you to convince the officer that your marriage was legal and entered into with good faith and not with intention of immigration. Also that there was no intention of staying back when you arrived. Now in most cases with other evidences the question whether there was intentions of staying back or not , are not asked. But they may ask it. If you can prove that your staying back here and marriage was a impromptu decision and your staying back someway benefited her and her family, then go ahead. But in either case get married.

If you dont mind me asking which country are you from ? Why I am asking is for some countries we have seen fiances after marrying went back, applied for K-1 visa, came back and forth to see their spouses and then was finally given the visa. I agree to Noah Lot ....

The question of intent rarely comes up at a status adjustment interview.

[Noah Lot 391]

Please share your source on this. This statistic seems completely unrealistic. I know you were (are?) a paralegal in an immigration attorney's office and thus know quite a bit about immigration codes (and have a peculiar fixation with what people think about at baggage claim, which is a whole different story), but I find this claim dubious. I'd also like you to operationalize to which "developing" countries you are referring. You are making very, very bold accusations and presenting them as certainties, so a little evidence and clarity would go a long way.

The visa holders I refer to are those who state they have an American BF or GF or even admit to having a fiancee...and who make all sorts of statements about the alleged 'fact' that they have no intentions of marrying and remaining in the US with a tourist visa...however, those folks from developing countries (non visa waiver countries) who have obtained visas under these circumstances have shown that they 'change their mind' roughly 99% of the time...cases we worked on showed this particular statistic, friends of mine in the foreign service have related similar stories...and even if slightly inflated, the return rate of foreigners from those countries who have the American significant other is virtually nil. Their own track record speaks for itself...just take a look on this site under various categories having to do with marrying and adjusting status...see how many have done so and from which countries they came from...

Edited October 18, 2011 by Noah Lot

[villaspurs 65]

The visa holders I refer to are those who state they have an American BF or GF or even admit to having a fiancee...and who make all sorts of statements about the alleged 'fact' that they have no intentions of marrying and remaining in the US with a tourist visa...however, those folks from developing countries (non visa waiver countries) who have obtained visas under these circumstances have shown that they 'change their mind' roughly 99% of the time...cases we worked on showed this particular statistic, friends of mine in the foreign service have related similar stories...and even if slightly inflated, the return rate of foreigners from those countries who have the American significant other is virtually nil. Their own track record speaks for itself...just take a look on this site under various categories having to do with marrying and adjusting status...see how many have done so and from which countries they came from...

So basically, this is anecdotal?

[kattylopez12 0]

Thanks Canadian Wife, does that mean that there is a chance that I have to leave the U.S.? I had no intention of getting married before I came here for a visit, but now I think I'm ready. But then she said she wanted to stay here because of her mom's situation. If we get married in the coming months does that mean i have to leave the US? Thanks

Yes, after marriage because you are legal when getting married, you have less problems when changing your status.

Some of my friend got married and they never had a problem changing their status from tourist visa to resident. But you have to wait a year.

[MalaysianGirl 26]

May I chime in and say that I am from a non-VWP country and I managed to get a B1/B2 visa to visit my then USC boyfriend. It was a very harrowing journey to even GET the visa, and the journey lasted all the way to the POE... but I was approved to enter, and I did NOT overstay. I visited for one month, and then I returned.

I really don't think it is 99% of people from non-VWP or developing countries who overstay and get married and do their AOS... That figure is just way too high. But I'm no expert, so don't quote me on that. Just sayin' that there ARE those from non-VWP countries who have no intention to overstay, despite having a USC boyfriend or girlfriend.

[Harsh_77 718]

Or people who come here on a B1/2 and stay 10 years.

No that's not the reason the process is difficult. The process is difficult because of marriage fraud at the consular level, and because of changes to the INA in 1996, and because of further changes to the process after 9/11.

They probably can't even get a visit visa to the US in the first place.

people who come here on a B1/2 and stay 10 years.

Atleast these ppl are not telling they had no intentions when they left their country.... I guess I can appreciate their honesty form begining that they were looking to commit fraud.

Yes, after marriage because you are legal when getting married, you have less problems when changing your status.

Some of my friend got married and they never had a problem changing their status from tourist visa to resident. But you have to wait a year.

wait time is pretty much same for everyone in the country or out of country.

May I chime in and say that I am from a non-VWP country and I managed to get a B1/B2 visa to visit my then USC boyfriend. It was a very harrowing journey to even GET the visa, and the journey lasted all the way to the POE... but I was approved to enter, and I did NOT overstay. I visited for one month, and then I returned.

I really don't think it is 99% of people from non-VWP or developing countries who overstay and get married and do their AOS... That figure is just way too high. But I'm no expert, so don't quote me on that. Just sayin' that there ARE those from non-VWP countries who have no intention to overstay, despite having a USC boyfriend or girlfriend.

You are the 1% who did not 99% do......

[Noah Lot 391]

May I chime in and say that I am from a non-VWP country and I managed to get a B1/B2 visa to visit my then USC boyfriend. It was a very harrowing journey to even GET the visa, and the journey lasted all the way to the POE... but I was approved to enter, and I did NOT overstay. I visited for one month, and then I returned.

I really don't think it is 99% of people from non-VWP or developing countries who overstay and get married and do their AOS... That figure is just way too high. But I'm no expert, so don't quote me on that. Just sayin' that there ARE those from non-VWP countries who have no intention to overstay, despite having a USC boyfriend or girlfriend.

You are the fairly rare exception....someone who used their tourist visa in an appropriate manner, and later (apparently, according to your blurb on the left margin) are in or have finished the K1 process....I applaud you..and wish others would emulate your actions...in fact, I sincerely wish (and have asked my representatives on numerous occasions) that USCIS would END all adjustment/changes of status from B2 visas to anything else....come as a tourist, leave (promptly) as one; want to be a student, get a student visa; want to get married, get a fiancee visa...we could save taxpayers beaucoup dollars in useless processing costs by eliminating COS from B2 visas...but again, than you for doing things the 'right' way.

[MalaysianGirl 26]

You are the 1% who did not 99% do......

The figure is probably bigger than 1%

[MalaysianGirl 26]

You are the fairly rare exception....someone who used their tourist visa in an appropriate manner, and later (apparently, according to your blurb on the left margin) are in or have finished the K1 process....I applaud you..and wish others would emulate your actions...in fact, I sincerely wish (and have asked my representatives on numerous occasions) that USCIS would END all adjustment/changes of status from B2 visas to anything else....come as a tourist, leave (promptly) as one; want to be a student, get a student visa; want to get married, get a fiancee visa...we could save taxpayers beaucoup dollars in useless processing costs by eliminating COS from B2 visas...but again, than you for doing things the 'right' way.

You're welcome... I think.

In my humble opinion, I think that students who AOS on their student visas isn't bad, especially if they didn't think they'd find love in the US and they end up finding it. But the B1/B2 visa... I am quite apprehensive about those who AOS on that visa. That's all I'm gonna say without pissing many people off!