Urgent k1 Visa Help Regarding Expiration Dates

[Weedrose 0]

Hi

My fiancee and I went to apply for our marriage license and the attendee refused. My fiancees k1 was issued in October and expired February 11. She entered the United States in December and 90 days from her date of entry would be the end of March. Because the expiration date on the visa said February 11 and today is February 20 the attendee said that we can't get married. What should we do?

Our understanding was that we had 90 days from the date of entry to get married.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Aside from telling the "attendee" that he's an idiot?

The expiration date is when she has to enter the US by or the visa expires. The expiration date has nothing to do with her authorized stay in the US.

Get someone else to help you. Ask for a legal reason why you can't marry her. Ask for a particular law that the office can cite to refuse to marry you.

Alternatively, go get marry in a jurisdiction that does understand the law. (Sometimes, it easier to get on with your life than spend it fighting a dumb clerk.)

[cazzers 83]

My advice, go there again and this time bring I94. On I94 it clearly shows the date until she is admitted.

[mike79 0]

The attendee is clearly an idiot, you have 90 days from the date of entry to get married, as

soon as you leave the POE the visa is no longer valid. it's only valid for one entry only, maybe you need to print your I 94 and use that instead

[kitthekat 1,317]

My advice, go there again and this time bring I94. On I94 it clearly shows the date until she is admitted.

I second this. Print a copy of the I-94 off this link and bring it with you: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html

[Weedrose 0]

Thanks for the feedback. I ran back in there and gave them a piece of my mind. After consulting with the leader of the office for quite a bit, we ended up walking out of there with our license. What's ridiculous is that they would be lacking the training needed to properly help those in need. I don't blame the person but the training that they did receive was ridiculously inadequate. Thanks for your help!!

[TBoneTX 45,522]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the "Moving Here & Your New Life" forum -- OP is past the K-1 stage. ***

[Darnell 8,478]

Glad you got it sorted.

For anyone else reading this:

1. dates in visa govern travel dates, only, and the visa is invalidated on POE event.

2. legal presence governed solely by I-94, so be certain you get one online after arrival, you will need it for SSA office chasing a SSN and other offices (such as a marriage license office) might need to see it as well.

3. Many times the training the humans receive is inadequate or non-existent. Be certain to get the boss, the supervisor, remind about K-1 visa entrance into the USA, show the I-94.

[PhilLuv 43]

Welcome to the States. I had the similar issue in Delaware, where the clerk refused the divorce certificate I brought from the UK because there was no seal. Mine was stamp by the court in the UK. I asked for the Justice of Peace who refused to get off his backside observe what his ignorant clerk was saying. All he could come up with was 'I am upholding the law of Delaware'. Without further ado we went to the next county in Maryland - 15 minutes drive away to get the license.

Like someone said, it is pointless arguing. Save the fight for more productive outcome.

The US is more rule-based as opposed to priniciple-based - application of judgement.