HELP! I just found I am in need of a Visa and we are stuck!

[britishdakota 18]

If your wife can get transferred to another EU/EEA country you could potentially get an EEA family permit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Economic_Area_Family_Permit

I don't know what effect this would have on consular filing and as others have said above you could run into issues with the Affidavit of Support and maybe domicile intent if you are not in the USA.

[Billious 32]

Um...the large of users on this board had to wait for their fiance or spouse while doing US immigration. Why do you consider yourself to be more special snowflake than any other people who are also waiting for their loved ones? I suggest you go home, apply for a CR1 visa for her, and wait for it, like everyone else.

I guess I find this to be insensitive. We all miss our significant others, and I don't think there's a single one of us who wouldn't snap our fingers in a second to bring them over if we could. I didn't get that the O.P. thought he was deserving of different, more prioritized service than anyone else. He's clearly someone who doesn't fully understand the system yet, and is here to get education and answers from a supportive community. Let's try to be that community.

[lillakatoussa 12]

Well said Billious. People are too harsh in these forums. Kudos to those who have the answers but if you can't share them without being judgy, than don't.

[Michael85.asl 5]

Hey everyone thanks for all your support and ideas and suggestions.

Here is the latest update as to what to do:

The French administration is the more difficult side, but if i wait to come back to the US 2 weeks after we are married it IS possible to get the long-stay visa very quickly for France but I have no choice but to do so in Chicago (1-3 weeks processing time). We will call the French Embassy within a few hours and I can post official results asap.

Our plan: Get married in France June 7 (all the paperwork, translations, meeting with the mayor is all finished and good to go). 2 weeks later I fly alone to the US and go to the French Embassy to apply for the long-stay visa. In the meantime I go stay with friends and work for 1-3 weeks while I wait. Then I come back to France and turn in our i-130 packet and we wait together.

That so far seems to be the simpliest solution, I can work as soon as I arrive (In Michigan) so it will cover cost of the ticket and since I will have a long stay visa and married to a French citizen I will be able to work (In France) so it can help for getting us back to the US.

and Yes my boss knows how long the wait it, it is a very small company with only 3 employees and he is a close friend who is married to a Swedish woman so he knows the mess involved and is helping any way he can to get us back. So yes my job is available anytime.

I didn't intend to sound rude or to be special compared to anyone on this site who is waiting for their significant other who is far away, my sincere apologies.

Edited May 20, 2013 by Michael85.asl

[Jawaree 717]

Dude Y cant U step out of France back to the USA to your job

for 6 mths, save visit her then spend some time & keep doing

this during the process instead of taking from her family & just being

there, everyone misses their spouse during separation & at least

your case seem straight forward....being broke living there & being

taken care of will cause LOVE to jump thru the window....do your

part and return to the job so you'll be financially independent. Good

luck on your journey. ...France is very serious about their immigration laws

[Kolewenoik31 57]

I guess I find this to be insensitive. We all miss our significant others, and I don't think there's a single one of us who wouldn't snap our fingers in a second to bring them over if we could. I didn't get that the O.P. thought he was deserving of different, more prioritized service than anyone else. He's clearly someone who doesn't fully understand the system yet, and is here to get education and answers from a supportive community. Let's try to be that community.

I second that! I will be praying for the OP we are in a similar situation financially

[Louis and Aya 17]

Why is everyone telling the OP to come back to the US and wait?

He has a joint sponsor.

He has a boss that is going to hold his job for him while he's gone.

He has a wife that will work while they wait together so they don't have to be apart like most of us on the forums.

If everyone that posted their opinion, of which he did not ask, had the means to do it, they'd be waiting with their loved ones in their arms every night instead of thousands miles away while the US Govt takes it's sweet time in doing what it does.

He asked simply what he could do about the Visa issue.

He didn't ask whether anyone thought if it was a good idea, or if they thought he should come back to the US and wait.

I'm glad you found some information Michael about what to do. I wish you the best of luck and I hope you are able to stay with your soon to be wife for the duration of the process.

HELP! are there ANY options that I don't have to leave France and be apart for my new wife for the entire period waiting for her US visa to process???? Help please, any ideas, tips suggestions. She is literally sick how her and her family missed this giant piece of extremely important info.

Help.........thank you for reading this.

[fantonledzepp 159]

I didn't intend to sound rude or to be special compared to anyone on this site who is waiting for their significant other who is far away, my sincere apologies.

You didn't. I didn't get that from you original post.

Best of luck with getting your French visa.

[Justine+David 218]

I guess I find this to be insensitive. We all miss our significant others, and I don't think there's a single one of us who wouldn't snap our fingers in a second to bring them over if we could. I didn't get that the O.P. thought he was deserving of different, more prioritized service than anyone else. He's clearly someone who doesn't fully understand the system yet, and is here to get education and answers from a supportive community. Let's try to be that community.

You're right, reading that back now, it was pretty insensitive. I was having a bad afternoon and didn't mean for it come across so harshly. My apologies.

OP, best of luck in your journey.

Edited May 20, 2013 by Justine+David

[bigdog 376]

This is a common issue. Return home as married, return to work and apply for I130 Married for her, it will be about 8+ months and you will be done. She will arrive on a GC when you are approved. Good Luck.

[KIrishF 0]

When you submit the I-130, don't you have to prove that you're domiciled in France, which is why you're applying to the US Embassy in France rather than applying within the US? We were living in Dublin for 2 years as a married couple and they still questioned our evidence as to why we were applying there. If you are only in France on a visitor visa and you have a job in the US, this could raise a red flag for your application further delaying things. If you're returning to the US to apply for the extended French visa, why don't you apply for your wife's green card at that time (while you're in the US), then you can just return to France on holidays?

[Americanfromage 0]

This might be helpful to you. Take a look at the section marked "note".

Good Luck!

http://riviera.angloinfo.com/information/moving/residency/

[christeen 966]

Op... I recently had a friend go through the process in france... and Yes France is difficult since the changes in the laws in 2006 regarding the carte de sejour... But I think you are on the right track.

Once married, go back to the USA and apply for the long stay visa (you need that for any carte applications if that is what you are planning on getting unless the long term visa will cover it) I have heard that summer is 1-2 months wait from the French consulate and 2-3 weeks in winter... Then, with the long term visa in hand, you can stay in France. Be sure to follow all French guidelines (check on the health insurance requirement since one of my friends got held up on that). Triple check ALL the forms required!!

You can apply for the I-130 anytime after married. Seems you have the requirements for the USA visa enough under control, I am assuming that you are asking about the living in France while processing process? Best of luck

Edited May 20, 2013 by christeen

[Michael85.asl 5]

hey guys,

thanks for all your comments and help for ideas... i appritiate it. We have to wait until 9pm-11pm to call from France (Chicago only processes Visa related calls from 2-4pm local time)

you guys understand exactly..........get the french long-stay visa asap and get back to france while we wait for her US visa together. I will let you know what the embassy says. thanks

[Boiler 45,486]

Do not know about France, usually it is 6 months residency.