New to this....from Australia to USA

[Morningdew 0]

G’day All,

I am new to this so your assistance (and patience) is sincerely appreciated.

My partner (US citizen) and I (Australian) are intending to get married some time next year.

We are hoping to live in Australia for approx a year before making the move to the US

We are very keen to make this whole process as smooth as possible

Thus, please advise (from your experience) if getting married in the Australia or the US made any difference to the whole process (visas/permits/green card etc etc....)?

Also, please suggest/recommend a (good) immigration lawyer (preferably, in Sydney) and/or California-based whom can guide us through this whole process.

I am involved in the Healthcare profession and she is self-employed

Thank-you very much

regards

[Aya_P 17]

since u intend to live in aus for about a year before relocatin to usa, i think u shud email the usemb in aus to find out what qualifies u for dcf, it may take about 3months after applying, so after living a year in aus, u apply, get it, and relocate to usa, *my opinion

T.

[charlottelizabeth 11]

Honestly, you don't need a lawyer if you follow the guides on this website. We did it ourselves with the help of this site and we're now approved with no major issues.

I am not sure which visa you plan on applying for... But I'll share our story... My partner (USC), came to Australia in 2011 on a working/holiday visa for 12 months, this eventually got extended by 6 months, so he was in Australia living with me for 18 months total. We applied for the I-129F while he was still here. I had my interview last month and was approved, I move next week. As it is a K1 fiance visa, we are required to marry within 90 days of me arriving in the country. I don't know much about the process in reverse (marrying in Aus).. I know that when we looked at it, it was more expensive to do it that way, which is one reason why we chose to do it in the US.

To apply for the I-129F (K1 visa), you have to have met within the last 2 years, and have documents to prove this (passport stamp/s, photos, receipts/tickets).

The CR-1 you could apply for if you end up marrying in Australia but then relocating to America. However, I don't know much about that process so I can't help you there.

Good luck

[Lainie B 465]

since u intend to live in aus for about a year before relocatin to usa, i think u shud email the usemb in aus to find out what qualifies u for dcf, it may take about 3months after applying, so after living a year in aus, u apply, get it, and relocate to usa, *my opinion

T.

There is no DCF in Australia

[Lainie B 465]

G’day All,

I am new to this so your assistance (and patience) is sincerely appreciated.

My partner (US citizen) and I (Australian) are intending to get married some time next year.

We are hoping to live in Australia for approx a year before making the move to the US

We are very keen to make this whole process as smooth as possible

Thus, please advise (from your experience) if getting married in the Australia or the US made any difference to the whole process (visas/permits/green card etc etc....)?

Also, please suggest/recommend a (good) immigration lawyer (preferably, in Sydney) and/or California-based whom can guide us through this whole process.

I am involved in the Healthcare profession and she is self-employed

Thank-you very much

regards

Unless you have complications you won't need a lawyer. Almost everyone here on VJ has done the process themselves.

Getting married in Australia won't make a difference.

You would need to start the process approximately a year prior to when you plan to move to the US. You would start by filing the I-130.

Your wife would need to prove intent to move back to the US, and would need either proof that she can support you financially, or else you would need a joint sponsor.

Check the guide here:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1