Marriage to student visa holder

[bhz 0]

Hi all,

I'm a natural-born U.S. citizen with no experience on this whatsoever, but my foreign online girlfriend is about to apply for a student visa to come to the U.S. and we want to make sure we do everything right. (F-1 college student visa.)

We haven't yet met in person, but we're both feeling very good about our future together. We'll want to see what it's like living together for a bit, but we've been speaking seriously about marriage. I will emphasize that this isn't at all one of the scams or favors -- we are very much in love. But we are interested in moving quickly toward marriage if things look promising, for the legal and financial benefits.

My main question at this stage has to do with an aspect of the student visa interview: "students must also establish that they are not intending immigrants to the United States." What should she say about us? It seems risky to go with any policy but honesty, but would it also be a problem if she were to say upfront that she has a serious boyfriend in the U.S. whom she might want to marry and stay with?

And are there any other hurdles we'll want to be aware of as things move forward? (Legal, specifically, though folks are also welcome to see if they can come up with other objections/concerns that my mother hasn't already raised.)

Thanks a bunch!

Edited April 6, 2013 by bhz

[canadian_wife 1,826]

Has she already shown the financial aspect? Attending school in the US is very expensive.

From experience, the ties to your home country is important, what are her plans? What will she say?

Student visas are not for immigrating and they are not for trying and seeing with ones boyfriend. They are to study and then move home

good luck

[bhz 0]

Has she already shown the financial aspect? Attending school in the US is very expensive.

I'm her I-134 financial supporter, and her parents also earn a decent income that she can demonstrate.

From experience, the ties to your home country is important, what are her plans? What will she say?

Student visas are not for immigrating and they are not for trying and seeing with ones boyfriend. They are to study and then move home

good luck

Her intent is to stay and work in the U.S. if possible after graduating, living with me -- if things look good for us. She had wanted to study in the U.S. even before meeting me, and will do so regardless of me, so it's not like we're just pretending about the college plans.

What she will say...well, if that's something they wouldn't want to hear, then we guess well be open to advice. She has clear family roots and work experience at home that she could point to.

Is our whole method of going about it flawed? Would they look unkindly on an effort to change her visa status if we did work out and want to get married while she's in school?

[Darnell 8,479]

your name on the I-134, imo, will be a red flag at the interview.

[canadian_wife 1,826]

First question I should have asked, what country is she from? Has she already applied and been accepted into an accredited US college or university with an international student program?

The I134 isn't used in demonstrating funds to colleges

good luck

[bhz 0]

your name on the I-134, imo, will be a red flag at the interview.

Ouch. We did that mostly because it was much easier to get my financial information together, but I will also be helping financially and do have the means to support her entirely if needed. It sounded like they just wanted evidence that she wouldn't need U.S. government assistance. I guess I should have asked earlier.

First question I should have asked, what country is she from? Has she already applied and been accepted into an accredited US college or university with an international student program?

The I134 isn't used in demonstrating funds to colleges

good luck

She is from Pakistan. (I know, probably not another point in our favor.) Her plan is to start at a two-year community college that offers guaranteed transfer admission into a respected state school upon completion of the two-year program with good grades. There's open enrollment beyond certain grade/SAT criteria that she easily meets.

[canadian_wife 1,826]

Has she already been accepted, proven the fiancial requirement, and have her I20?

good luck

[bhz 0]

Has she already been accepted, proven the fiancial requirement, and have her I20?

good luck

It's open enrollment, and the I20 is being issued in a couple of weeks. She's been in touch with the admissions office as recently as this week.

[Boiler 45,880]

Much better is she goes for a full college course.

Begs the question about the Parents being OK with this, not culturally normal.

[Boiler 45,880]

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