Staying in the US for 6 months. B2? VWP?

[ShaLie 0]

@Lucybelle: Thank you! Would you mind telling me if you had any issues getting the B1/B2 Visa? And how your husband proved his ties to his home country?

[ricnally 259]

The comment about having nothing to do for a longterm stay is valid. What you're suggesting as a means of seeing if you "work" together may not be as true a test as you think. While waiting for the K1, I spent 4 months with my then fiance and it wasn't that great for either of us. I had nothing to do and no way to get around easily. After living alone for 15 years, he suddenly had to share his space with someone who was ALWAYS there. Now that I'm here and working and have a car, and a life, it's much better. If we'd thought our lives together were going to be like that 4-month stay, I don't think we would have gone through with it.

[nobbie 105]

To answer one of your questions, once you have applied for a k1 (boyfriend has anyway) yes you can still visit under VWP or tourist visa. The CPB will know you have a k1 in process but it should not be an issue, wasn't for me and others anyway.

[ShaLie 0]

The comment about having nothing to do for a longterm stay is valid. What you're suggesting as a means of seeing if you "work" together may not be as true a test as you think. While waiting for the K1, I spent 4 months with my then fiance and it wasn't that great for either of us. I had nothing to do and no way to get around easily. After living alone for 15 years, he suddenly had to share his space with someone who was ALWAYS there. Now that I'm here and working and have a car, and a life, it's much better. If we'd thought our lives together were going to be like that 4-month stay, I don't think we would have gone through with it.

I am aware of that but I'm not sure it makes me want to file for K-1 right away.

I'm still looking into the educational thing. Just as well as a possible internship. I'm wondering if that could be another option.

There should be a boyfriend/girlfriend Visa really

[lucybelle 453]

@Lucybelle: Thank you! Would you mind telling me if you had any issues getting the B1/B2 Visa? And how your husband proved his ties to his home country?

Well since my husband is from Costa Rica he obviously wasn't under the VWP. He was able to get a B1/B2 visitor's visa because his work sponsored him (they wanted to send him to a workshop in the USA). Otherwise, as a young, single, male without property and from a Latin American country I'm sure he would have been denied. He had this visa before we met.

With regards to the other poster about how "living" in the USA without working, etc and how it does not recreate "real life"- that's true. But I KNOW that my husband living with me in the USA was a good step for us. I KNOW that our transition back to the USA now to live permanently will be way easier because he has already spent a good amount of time in the USA. He knows what it's like. He knows what to expect. The first time he lived with me he got hugely homesick and told me he never wanted to leave his home country again. Then he started adapting and found life easier and easier. He fell in love with my country, my family, my friends, the language, the area, the culture, the food, the drinks... Now he can't wait to go "home". Yes, he calls the USA his home now. I think it's incredibly important to do a trial run, not only for the couple but also for the culture shock. Not all couples have the resources or time to do so, and that's understandable. But this couple does. And I think it's important to ENCOURAGE THEM to make this important step together.

OP- I'm sorry I can't be of much help with the visa part. I really hope you can get a student visa. What you're doing is an EXCELLENT idea, don't let anyone detour you.

[2ndMessiah 184]

Ok, here is an idea and I hope I don't get my post pulled for suggesting it.

As your intent is not to emigrate to the US at the time of entry, go stay with your boyfriend for 90 days under VWP. If in those 90 days you discover that you are completely compatible, there are fireworks every waking moment and you cant possible exist without each other, get married and file I130 and I485 concurrently. Once your applications have been accepted and have received your NOAs you are then in a new period of legal stay.. Downside is you cant leave the US until processing is complete or you have advance parole to leave.

The reason I made some of the text in bold is to point out that if your intent is to enter the US marry and stay, that is immigration fraud and I am NOT telling you to do that.

[ShaLie 0]

Ok, here is an idea and I hope I don't get my post pulled for suggesting it.

As your intent is not to emigrate to the US at the time of entry, go stay with your boyfriend for 90 days under VWP. If in those 90 days you discover that you are completely compatible, there are fireworks every waking moment and you cant possible exist without each other, get married and file I130 and I485 concurrently. Once your applications have been accepted and have received your NOAs you are then in a new period of legal stay.. Downside is you cant leave the US until processing is complete or you have advance parole to leave.

The reason I made some of the text in bold is to point out that if your intent is to enter the US marry and stay, that is immigration fraud and I am NOT telling you to do that.

It's a good point.

My head is smoking. Bf and me have talked so much about it in the past days I can't hear it anymore Luckily I can't go over before Winter so we still have some time to make up our minds as to how we want to do it.