Overstaying vwp but not married yet...

[everythingchange 0]

I lost my europe based job while I was on a 8 week sabbatical here in the USA. At the time my partner (US citizen) said just stay and we will get married very soon. This was 18 months ago and we are still not married, mainly due to finances relating to his divorce. Time is flying past, I'm an overstay now, and we are planning on getting married by Christmas I hope. I was on a work visa 2 years ago so I have a SSN and a drivers license and I've just melted into everyday life here in our community. No one has questioned me about anything. But still at the back of my mind I'm terrified as I've got no status til we get married and my partners ex wife is making his life very difficult financially which is why he's not very enthusiastic about rushing into marriage again. He says he wants to marry me but yet weeks go by, months go by, and I'm still here very much in love with him and very scared about my situation.

Has anyone else waited a while to marry, then had a substantial overstay in the vwp, and then adjusted with no problems?

My intent when I entered the USA was simply a 2 month sabbatical from my job, I was expecting to go back. It was a huge shock to be laid off. So I had no intent to marry/stay until he suggested it. But it's just not happened yet, the marriage, and now I'm in a lot of trouble I feel like. ?

[stevie b 141]

I lost my europe based job while I was on a 8 week sabbatical here in the USA. At the time my partner (US citizen) said just stay and we will get married very soon. This was 18 months ago and we are still not married, mainly due to finances relating to his divorce. Time is flying past, I'm an overstay now, and we are planning on getting married by Christmas I hope. I was on a work visa 2 years ago so I have a SSN and a drivers license and I've just melted into everyday life here in our community. No one has questioned me about anything. But still at the back of my mind I'm terrified as I've got no status til we get married and my partners ex wife is making his life very difficult financially which is why he's not very enthusiastic about rushing into marriage again. He says he wants to marry me but yet weeks go by, months go by, and I'm still here very much in love with him and very scared about my situation.

Has anyone else waited a while to marry, then had a substantial overstay in the vwp, and then adjusted with no problems?

My intent when I entered the USA was simply a 2 month sabbatical from my job, I was expecting to go back. It was a huge shock to be laid off. So I had no intent to marry/stay until he suggested it. But it's just not happened yet, the marriage, and now I'm in a lot of trouble I feel like. ?

you are in a tough spot and sorry to hear about your situation

if you fiancée really does love you, then why is he/she unaware of the precarious situation they have placed you in by requesting you to stay and now subjecting you to fears of deportation and bans for the past 14 months?

you might want to tell your fiancé that you are going to leave due to your unlawful presence and the potential ill effects of it. you will then get a very clear answer as to who should not be rushing into marriage.

it is not that much money, and if they can not afford the filing, hth are they going to afford to sponsor ???

[everythingchange 0]

Thanks for your reply. He knows I'm in a precarious situation but his ex has been fighting for more money since he got a promotion so he's been in and out if court to settle alimony and child support. It's finally sorted and he's left with more than enough to sponsor me. But he's also left with a bad taste in his mouth and he's afraid if things go wrong with us he'll be bankrupted. I've been reassuring him if things do go wrong, my concerns will not be about how much money I can get from him, I'll be on the first plane home instead. He's wary (and I do understand why) but I've now told him he has a short period of time to decide or I'm on the next flight home anyway as I know I'm living on borrowed time here. We are so in love and so happy, and time just flies, yet it's so scary having no status.

I'm hoping he will decide by Halloween as that's my deadline. I will have waited plenty long enough and given him enough of my life to play with while he makes up his mind.

I just need to know that if we do go ahead and marry, my overstay won't cause any issues? I'm scared that after all this stress and time, I'll get married to him only to be told I can't stay by an immigration officer.

[Jacque67 7,328]

What happened to you accommodation, possessions left behind in the UK? Do you have a place to return too? I would be worried about having such a long period of unemployment on my cv.

I think he has been selfish asking to remain while he goes through his divorce. Be strong, go back to the UK and wait for him to sort himself out.

[everythingchange 0]

I still have everything there. A friend moved in which was planned when I left for 8 weeks.

If I leave now, I get a 10 year ban I think. So it's not an easy decision.

[stevie b 141]

I still have everything there. A friend moved in which was planned when I left for 8 weeks.

If I leave now, I get a 10 year ban I think. So it's not an easy decision.

so cold feet due to a problem marriage? I had a problem divorce as well, but cold feet over someone I love? never

hold that person's feet to the fire !!! you are the one in a bind not them!

[ValerieA 350]

Overstay is forgiven for spouses of US citizens, so don't worry about that. Just don't get picked up by immigration officers in the meantime - which is not a very likely scenario, anyway.

As you mentioned, do NOT leave the US until this is sorted, or you face a ban.