Need Help. My Fiance Is Here On Her Tourist Visa

[dotsandloops 0]

Hello to all VisaJourney board!

I'm a U.S citizen living in California, and my fiance is here from Greece on a tourist visa visiting me. Up until now our plans were to do the whole K1 thing after she returned home from this trip, but after some long talks we've decided we want to get married now instead of later, and begin the process for her to become a permanant resident here & stay with me. We've been together as a couple officially for over 2 years, but first started communcating online/phone 4 years ago and we're the love of eachothers' lives. We got engaged when I proposed to her in Greece and both of us have our wedding bands. I've been to Greece several times to visit her for months at a time and she has visited me before here once in the U.S as well..

Sorry if i'm such a newbie on alot of the information about this sorta thing, but there was some general questions about what we will need to get this whole process started and etc. We have already started reading up alot of info from this site, but there is so much to learn so i figured i would ask this board a few questions.

- What is the first step we should do for her to become a legal resident, and the first papers to file?

- Around roughly how much does it cost Total to file for all the papers,etc & for my fiance to get her green card? & approximately how long does this process take?

-I work & live on my own, but if they say i dont make enough to sponsor my fiance can i have a brother or uncle co-sponsor for me?

Any other general things we should know to help us out and make things go faster? We're alittle confused with some of these things and just want to make sure we get them right the first time..

Can anyone help us out?

Thanks in advance

Edited December 8, 2006 by dotsandloops

[Yodrak 7]

dotsandloops,

This is something that should be discussed in a consultation with an immigration attorney to review the specific facts of your particular situation.

Yodrak

Hello to all VisaJourney board!

I'm a U.S citizen living in California, and my fiance is here from Greece on a tourist visa visiting me. Up until now our plans were to do the whole K1 thing after she returned home from this trip, but after some long talks we've decided we want to get married now instead of later, and begin the process for her to become a permanant resident here & stay with me. We've been together as a couple officially for over 2 years, but first started communcating online/phone 4 years ago and we're the love of eachothers' lives. We got engaged when I proposed to her in Greece and both of us have our wedding bands. I've been to Greece several times to visit her for months at a time and she has visited me before here once in the U.S as well..

Sorry if i'm such a newbie on alot of the information about this sorta thing, but there was some general questions about what we will need to get this whole process started and etc. We have already started reading up alot of info from this site, but there is so much to learn so i figured i would ask this board a few questions.

- What is the first step we should do for her to become a legal resident, and the first papers to file?

- Around roughly how much does it cost Total to file for all the papers,etc & for my fiance to get her green card? & approximately how long does this process take?

-I work & live on my own, but if they say i dont make enough to sponsor my fiance can i have a brother or uncle co-sponsor for me?

Any other general things we should know to help us out and make things go faster? We're alittle confused with some of these things and just want to make sure we get them right the first time..

Can anyone help us out?

Thanks in advance

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Here is a link to the guides that will explain what you need to do... http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide2

You should have a consultation with a good immigration lawyer to go over your situation and make sure you have nothing that would cause you issues with immigration...

I got married and remained after entry on a VWP and it took 7 months to get approval...

Hope this helps

Kez

[Miranda&James 8]

It's a crapshoot on how long it will take. The costs of filing various papers can be found on the guides or on the USCIS site. And yes, you can have your brother, uncle, 5th cousin twice removed cosponsor you, it doesn't matter, as long as they make enough money and meet all the other I-864 guidelines. Agreed on getting an immigration attorney, at least a consultation, we aren't supposed to give legal advice on VJ so you need to get it from a real lawyer.

[shamgod 0]

Here is a link to the guides that will explain what you need to do... http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide2

You should have a consultation with a good immigration lawyer to go over your situation and make sure you have nothing that would cause you issues with immigration...

I got married and remained after entry on a VWP and it took 7 months to get approval...

Hope this helps

Kez

hi what's a VWP?

[Dr_LHA 3]

VWP = Visa Waiver Program

[Lennys26 0]

Hi dotsandloops.

My wife (spain) and I (american) recently were in a similar situation in that she and I got married here while she was in on a tourist visa. We had been planning on marrying in Spain where we were living, but due to an unexpected work contract back in the US, we ended up doing it here.

While we did it, I have been told that marrying while one is a tourist is NOT the best idea as you are not supposed to enter the country 'with the intention of marrying'. None-the-less, we were going to be married in Spain, and had the date and license from the courts -- it was just a matter of timing/circumstance that had us marry here. To be honest, we were not aware that there was any problem with marrying here and getting the required visas - the foreign system is different, whereas I (the foreigner) immediately have residency and work permission in Spain as of the date of the wedding.

So far, we have filed the I-130 (Petition for an Alien Relative) and the I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status). Along with these, we filed a couple G-325A's and and I-864. Also needed will be an I-693 (Medical Exam), but the doctors are closed for the holidays, so I have mailed the other applications without this to get the process started - I will mail the missing form in the new year.

I only mailed everything last week, so I can not say anything more of how it is going or anything...

Good Luck.

LS.

[rebeccajo 14]

Greece/DCF.

This thread is 3 weeks old so they've probably already married by now, but for the edification of others reading there are other options.

Edited December 26, 2006 by rebeccajo