Visa options for marriage in US

[barnaby 0]

Where have you seen postings about F and J visas? There doesn't seem to be a section for that on VisaJourney.

[meauxna 15]

Where have you seen postings about F and J visas? There doesn't seem to be a section for that on VisaJourney.

There isn't a section, because VJ grew out of a fiance visa group/focus. While some of us have direct F or J experience, others of us have picked up info by being around the topic for a while.

Caladan brought up a good point, that you as a grad student may not face the same immigrant intent questions in your interview for a student visa with regard to having a fiance or spouse in the US. I understood it as being a question on the application that you could not avoid. For undergrads, it's usually a deal killer. Since I do NOT have direct experience with that, and don't know anyone posting to this, or the other group who has that experience, it sort of defaults to a consultation with an immigration attorney. Which is never a bad idea, really.

While you say you don't care much about the immigrating part, I do encourage you to look into all the benefits that you'd be entitled to if you had a Green Card sooner than later. It's not like free pie or anything, but it does offer you more freedom than the student visa. Life happens.

My own marriage based case was totally trouble free, right through naturalization. I suspect you see a lot of drama associated with the Ks posted here because 1) people with no issues don't post and 2) people with no issues who like to fret DO post, a lot.

And, it had been my understanding that the Fs were prohibited from having a USC fiancee/spouse, but your thread helped me learn that may not be true.

Wish you all the best, and sorry no one has a definative answer. I hope you'll report back what you learn from the attorney (ask her first if it's OK for you to quote her!).

[Caladan 19]

I third the motion for an attorney. You wouldn't need them through the whole process, but at a consult you can say just what you told us: that you have a serious girlfriend (are you two engaged yet?) in the U.S. who you hope to marry someday, but you want to start graduate school next fall, and while you're serious about your studies, you want to minimize the paperwork and stay on the right side of the law.

One thing about the F-1 is that you can't enter more than 30 days before the start of the school year. When are you planning on getting married?

[Yodrak 7]

barnaby,

Glad to hear that you're speaking with an attorney. And I agree that there is often no definitive answer to many immigration questions.

Yodrak

....Also I am certainly taking advice of an attourney at this point, just to get the definitive answer (though I suspect there maybe is no such thing).