Yacht worker B1 visa

[aprilized 0]

Hi there; happy to have found this forum.

I have a question. I am a Canadian female in the US on a B1 visa. It's a B1 (which is stamped at customs when entering the US) because I work on a foreign flagged private yacht in Florida as a chef. As a Canadian, I can only work on foreign flagged yachts here and not US flagged yachts. I have been working on the same boat for almost 3 years. I enter and leave the US either by yacht when we travel for work or by plane and I go to the customs desk at the airport with a letter from the yacht stating that I am an employee of the vessel. As of January, I have bought a home here in Florida, have a car and a motorbike. I am not a permanent resident or green card holder but I do pay taxes in Florida on my income through an LLC that I have opened. Seeing as a B1/B2 is only good for 6 months for a Canadian, every time I leave the US on the yacht or by plane, my passport is re-stamped B1 when I get back to the US. I am thinking of marrying my boyfriend and I'm curious about the process. Can I continue to live and work in the US on the yacht while the process is in progress? I'm sure it's not a problem but I have read on the forum that people who get married have to leave the US when doing their paperwork. I suppose I just apply for an AOS and continue living and working like I always have. I do not work on land (only on the yacht) because I have no rights to work in the US. Thanks for your help.

[Darnell 8,479]

there's 2 paths here :

1. chase after an immigrant visa or

2. file for 'adjustment of status'

option 2 requires you stay in the USA until the greencard is in your hand.

[aprilized 0]

Thank you for the prompt reply. I'm sorry but what does 1) mean? Chase after and immigrant visa? About 2); I had a friend I worked with while we were both on tour all over the world with another company a few years back (entertainment company). He was Canadian and he married and American. They both lived in California. When he came on tour, he said the US government allowed him to come and go from the US because of work. He also said that he had to take vacation from work at specific times because of interviews with US immigration. It seems like it may be possible for foreign nationals who apply for green cards after marriage to come and go from the US if it's a vital part of their job from what he was telling me. Thanks again for the response.

[Darnell 8,479]

take a look at the guides section - click the word 'guides' and study. I suggest two or three days..

Good Luck !

[aprilized 0]

Thanks