F1 marriage

[nickmabz 2]

Hi,

I am hoping that this post is in the correct discussion thread. My name is Nick Mabbutt, I am a Brit living in South Dakota and attending graduate school on an F-1 visa. This is my 6th year in the US and I plan on staying here for the foreseeable future. I just recently got engaged to my beautiful girlfriend of two and a half years and are planning on a wedding next summer. I have an F-1 visa until 2016 but my question is what should I expect once married? Obviously there is a large amount of paperwork to be filed, I am just hoping to run in to some people that perhaps have had the same experience as me and can shed some light and also guide me and my fiancé in the right direction to ensure a smooth transfer from f-1 to potential permanent resident.

Thanks guys

[GurkenSalat 48]

Um, I don't know what to tell you... I adjusted from F-1 and it felt easy. For now, make sure you document your relationship. Photos help, but a joint bank account/joint property or a lease together help a lot more. Good luck!

[nickmabz 2]

Hmmm. Doesn't seem very fair to those of us leading a Christian life and waiting for marriage to begin that journey of living together etc.

[GurkenSalat 48]

Hmmm. Doesn't seem very fair to those of us leading a Christian life and waiting for marriage to begin that journey of living together etc.

*shurg* I'm just telling you what USCIS looks for. Proof of a genuine relationship. You figure out the rest, it's your life

Plus, you are not applying right now. You will be applying for AOS after your marriage. By then, you probably will begin living together and all that jazz. Don't worry about it

Edited September 2, 2014 by GurkenSalat

[Mollie09 1,543]

Hmmm. Doesn't seem very fair to those of us leading a Christian life and waiting for marriage to begin that journey of living together etc.

I haven't been living a Christian life for a few decades, but last I checked you could have joint bank accounts and be in each other's insurance policies before marriage. I guess the definition of fornication has been extended lately.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hmmm. Doesn't seem very fair to those of us leading a Christian life and waiting for marriage to begin that journey of living together etc.

Oh, please, explain why it isn't fair?

[nickmabz 2]

I re-read my second post and it came off a little snotty for that I apologize. In no way was it an attack on anyone not living their life the way I am living it. Like I mentioned in my first post there are a number of things that my fiancé and I are waiting before marriage to do, one of them living together. It just surprised me that a government built predominantly on religion would give one a more favorable process should they be living with their future spouse. I realize not everyone is in the same boat and in fact I would probably be right in assuming that the majority of couples have began their life living together etc before marriage.

I appreciate all of your input

[Pickle 65]

You file AOS based on your marriage and submit the same documents everyone else who are of different religions submits based on their marriage. The only document USCIS suggests you submit with your application that I can see is the cause of your concern, is proof of cohabitation. By the time you are married, you are going to live together anyways, so that shouldn't be a problem. The rest of the documents you have to submit are things you can do/get even before living together.

[kehills 217]

I re-read my second post and it came off a little snotty for that I apologize. In no way was it an attack on anyone not living their life the way I am living it. Like I mentioned in my first post there are a number of things that my fiancé and I are waiting before marriage to do, one of them living together. It just surprised me that a government built predominantly on religion would give one a more favorable process should they be living with their future spouse. I realize not everyone is in the same boat and in fact I would probably be right in assuming that the majority of couples have began their life living together etc before marriage.

I appreciate all of your input

If you're planning on naturalizing, you should probably read a bit more up on the Constitution and such, because the government is not "built predominantly on religion" (and in fact has this thing that prevents religion and government from going out dancing or playing footsies together).

The guides (at the top of the forum) tell you what sort of information is generally required at various stages of the immigration process. You'll have to decide what suits you and what you are willing to take risks on, so far as required evidence goes. If you are planning on not having much in the way of primary evidence, be prepared to have a lot of secondary evidence to support your petition.

[nitsirk7562 82]

Considering you don't apply for AOS until after you are married, wouldn't it be a red flag if husband and wife didn't live together? This isn't a question of a religiously tolerant government.

I re-read my second post and it came off a little snotty for that I apologize. In no way was it an attack on anyone not living their life the way I am living it. Like I mentioned in my first post there are a number of things that my fiancé and I are waiting before marriage to do, one of them living together. It just surprised me that a government built predominantly on religion would give one a more favorable process should they be living with their future spouse. I realize not everyone is in the same boat and in fact I would probably be right in assuming that the majority of couples have began their life living together etc before marriage.

I appreciate all of your input

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Guys! If you guys have good and legitimate reason for not living together before (and even AFTER) getting married then USCIS will not deny your applications! This reason can be religious beforehand, or distance due to one working other one is studying, and same goes for "after getting married". My and my husband never lived together before our wedding at all. Like not even a sleep over at a weekend or anything like that. I was going to school, he was working in a different city, we did not see the reason of either him quitting his work, or me quitting my school just so we can live together. Top of that his dad told him (his dad is deeply religious) that he'll leave him out of the will if he moves in with me prior marriage. We respected that. We got approved 2 months from mailing our AOS application, right at the spot of the interview that literally lasted 5 minutes. And now we are married, and we actually still don't physically live together. Sure, now he comes and stays sometimes, but not 24/7. Reason is still the same, school and work. Once I finish school, we'll start looking for job for me, and we'll see if either I get such job that he should seriously quit his job and follow along, or the opposite. Don't be so paranoid on this fact, USCIS is not stupid. Sure, if you don't live together after getting married, or before getting married, you should have a good reason then just "we don't feel like it". But USCIS is made of people and they respect religious reasons, and other circumstances as school vs. work. All the best!

[fullglass 5]

Rule of thumb: if your marriage is legit and genuine, then you have nothing to worry about, no matter what circumstances.