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Filed: Timeline
Posted

Well I'm not currently engaged or married, but I'm looking to move to upstate NY to be with my girlfriend, and after looking around here, I'm wondering if I have any chance of actually doing this without being at least engaged.

We have discussed it, and marriage is an option if it means we could be together.

Basically looking for any advice you guys can offer and any problems I'm likely to run into (I have all the usual phone records/chat logs/plane tickets from visiting her if we do decide to get engaged).

Any help is greatly appreciated~

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: England
Timeline
Posted

You definitely can't go through a family-based immigration process if she's the family and you aren't engaged. You could try to go a student or employment route. If you guys are willing to get married, get a K1. Getting engaged isn't some kind magical thing you have to do on top of the Eiffel Tower or something, you just have to decide you will get married. Lots of people on here have rushed into the legal contract of marriage because it's neccessary for immigration.

signature here

Posted

You say the main reason you want to move is to with your girlfriend, and that really only leaves the fiancee/marriage option.

The best option is, in your case, probably going to be the K-1 visa however you must make sure you are both comfortable and ready to commit this far. Its a pcoess that can take anywhere from 4 months to over a year (all depending on visa service centers (although if filing from NY you will have Vermont which is usually quicker) and the country of the beneficiary (Although I guess UK in your case being in this forum :)).

There are tons of resources and knowledge on this site, plenty of step by step guides I recommend reading to make sure this is the right step forward. Just check out the quide section and have a read of the K-1 process and checklist. It sounds like you are already collecting evidence, which is a good thing :) so, so far no real problems. Make sure you have enough evidence of support (money basically, check out the guides on this site for more) or co-support and make sure you have things like divorce papers if applicable etc

Good luck!

Tony (UK) and Danielle (US) K-1 Visa journey

2007:

February, 06: Sent I-129f package to the US to be routed to Vermont

February, 09: I-129f forwarded to Vermont USCIS from US Home

February, 12: I-129f arrives VSC :) Journey really starts!

February, 13: NOA1 Reciept date

February, 16: VSC Cashes the check

March, 09: NOA2 Email. yay!

March, 11: Touched... Probably for the last time at VSC :)

March, 14: NVC Recieved package

March, 15: NVC Sent package to London

March, 20: Package recieved in London

March, 28: Packet 3 recieved!

April, 2: Packet 3 Sent back to London

April, 10: Packet 3 recieved by London Embassy

April, 17: Packet 4 recieved

May, 1: Medical

May, 29: Interview! - APPROVED

June, 1: Visa in Hand

July 18: Fly back together POE

July, 24: Legally married!

July 27: Filed for AOS

July 30: AOS recieved in Chiacgo

August 24: NOA1 for EAD, AP and AOS

September 15: Real Marriage with friends and family

September 18: Biometrics

October 3: EAD card production ordered!

October 11: EAD card in hand!

October 15: Case forwarded to California!

Nov, 08: Card production ordered! AWESOME

Nov, 15: Green Card Recieved (even though it's yellow)! AWESOME

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: England
Timeline
Posted
  LisaD said:
Make use of the VWP and go there for 3 mos first.

I agree with Lisa on this! Take advantage of spending the 90 days together to make sure this is the right thing for both of you. My fiance and I have had to 90 day visits and it has proved to us that getting married is what we really want to do! Now we just can't wait to file our application!!!

Filed: Timeline
Posted
  julezabelle said:
  LisaD said:
Make use of the VWP and go there for 3 mos first.

I agree with Lisa on this! Take advantage of spending the 90 days together to make sure this is the right thing for both of you. My fiance and I have had to 90 day visits and it has proved to us that getting married is what we really want to do! Now we just can't wait to file our application!!!

Yep!

orrrr...she could go to him for 6mos...would give them more time, but the problem would be if they are looking to settle in US, the 6 mos off would obviously cause a disruption in jobs/living arrangements/etc.

It is hard to get resettled and have a fiance who is looking to come to you and rebuild his/her life as well.

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: England
Timeline
Posted
  LisaD said:
  julezabelle said:
  LisaD said:
Make use of the VWP and go there for 3 mos first.

I agree with Lisa on this! Take advantage of spending the 90 days together to make sure this is the right thing for both of you. My fiance and I have had two 90 day visits and it has proved to us that getting married is what we really want to do! Now we just can't wait to file our application!!!

Yep!

orrrr...she could go to him for 6mos...would give them more time, but the problem would be if they are looking to settle in US, the 6 mos off would obviously cause a disruption in jobs/living arrangements/etc.

It is hard to get resettled and have a fiance who is looking to come to you and rebuild his/her life as well.

Yup. The VWP is a great way to make sure your SO will like life in the US, cos it is very different from the UK. The food has been the biggest hurdle for my guy! Misses his meat pies a lot!!!! Plus it gives you the opportunity to get to know eachother in a way close to how your married life will be. Cos as much as you love the other person, there will still be some growing pains. Its better to find out now that you can tolerate those "little" habits than after you invested all the time and money in the K1 process.

Sorry there's no magical easy way to be together without strings attached! Wouldn't that be grand!

Good luck

Posted
  Acquiesce said:
Well I'm not currently engaged or married, but I'm looking to move to upstate NY to be with my girlfriend, and after looking around here, I'm wondering if I have any chance of actually doing this without being at least engaged.

We have discussed it, and marriage is an option if it means we could be together.

Basically looking for any advice you guys can offer and any problems I'm likely to run into (I have all the usual phone records/chat logs/plane tickets from visiting her if we do decide to get engaged).

Any help is greatly appreciated~

What are your quals?

2005/07/10 I-129F filed for Pras

2005/11/07 I-129F approved, forwarded to NVC--to Chennai Consulate 2005/11/14

2005/12/02 Packet-3 received from Chennai

2005/12/21 Visa Interview Date

2006/04/04 Pras' entry into US at DTW

2006/04/15 Church Wedding at Novi (Detroit suburb), MI

2006/05/01 AOS Packet (I-485/I-131/I-765) filed at Chicago

2006/08/23 AP and EAD approved. Two down, 1.5 to go

2006/10/13 Pras' I-485 interview--APPROVED!

2006/10/27 Pras' conditional GC arrives -- .5 to go (2 yrs to Conditions Removal)

2008/07/21 I-751 (conditions removal) filed

2008/08/22 I-751 biometrics completed

2009/06/18 I-751 approved

2009/07/03 10-year GC received; last 0.5 done!

2009/07/23 Pras files N-400

2009/11/16 My 46TH birthday, Pras N-400 approved

2010/03/18 Pras' swear-in

---------------------------------------------------------------------

As long as the LORD's beside me, I don't care if this road ever ends.

Posted (edited)

oops, double post

Edited by CherryXS

2005/07/10 I-129F filed for Pras

2005/11/07 I-129F approved, forwarded to NVC--to Chennai Consulate 2005/11/14

2005/12/02 Packet-3 received from Chennai

2005/12/21 Visa Interview Date

2006/04/04 Pras' entry into US at DTW

2006/04/15 Church Wedding at Novi (Detroit suburb), MI

2006/05/01 AOS Packet (I-485/I-131/I-765) filed at Chicago

2006/08/23 AP and EAD approved. Two down, 1.5 to go

2006/10/13 Pras' I-485 interview--APPROVED!

2006/10/27 Pras' conditional GC arrives -- .5 to go (2 yrs to Conditions Removal)

2008/07/21 I-751 (conditions removal) filed

2008/08/22 I-751 biometrics completed

2009/06/18 I-751 approved

2009/07/03 10-year GC received; last 0.5 done!

2009/07/23 Pras files N-400

2009/11/16 My 46TH birthday, Pras N-400 approved

2010/03/18 Pras' swear-in

---------------------------------------------------------------------

As long as the LORD's beside me, I don't care if this road ever ends.

Posted

I do agree with the advice about the VWP. Take advantage and then decide if its the right thing to do!

Tony (UK) and Danielle (US) K-1 Visa journey

2007:

February, 06: Sent I-129f package to the US to be routed to Vermont

February, 09: I-129f forwarded to Vermont USCIS from US Home

February, 12: I-129f arrives VSC :) Journey really starts!

February, 13: NOA1 Reciept date

February, 16: VSC Cashes the check

March, 09: NOA2 Email. yay!

March, 11: Touched... Probably for the last time at VSC :)

March, 14: NVC Recieved package

March, 15: NVC Sent package to London

March, 20: Package recieved in London

March, 28: Packet 3 recieved!

April, 2: Packet 3 Sent back to London

April, 10: Packet 3 recieved by London Embassy

April, 17: Packet 4 recieved

May, 1: Medical

May, 29: Interview! - APPROVED

June, 1: Visa in Hand

July 18: Fly back together POE

July, 24: Legally married!

July 27: Filed for AOS

July 30: AOS recieved in Chiacgo

August 24: NOA1 for EAD, AP and AOS

September 15: Real Marriage with friends and family

September 18: Biometrics

October 3: EAD card production ordered!

October 11: EAD card in hand!

October 15: Case forwarded to California!

Nov, 08: Card production ordered! AWESOME

Nov, 15: Green Card Recieved (even though it's yellow)! AWESOME

Posted
  Acquiesce said:
Well I'm not currently engaged or married, but I'm looking to move to upstate NY to be with my girlfriend, and after looking around here, I'm wondering if I have any chance of actually doing this without being at least engaged.

We have discussed it, and marriage is an option if it means we could be together.

Basically looking for any advice you guys can offer and any problems I'm likely to run into (I have all the usual phone records/chat logs/plane tickets from visiting her if we do decide to get engaged).

Any help is greatly appreciated~

I'll repost my question--what are your quals?

(as I noticed no-one thought about temp work visa)

2005/07/10 I-129F filed for Pras

2005/11/07 I-129F approved, forwarded to NVC--to Chennai Consulate 2005/11/14

2005/12/02 Packet-3 received from Chennai

2005/12/21 Visa Interview Date

2006/04/04 Pras' entry into US at DTW

2006/04/15 Church Wedding at Novi (Detroit suburb), MI

2006/05/01 AOS Packet (I-485/I-131/I-765) filed at Chicago

2006/08/23 AP and EAD approved. Two down, 1.5 to go

2006/10/13 Pras' I-485 interview--APPROVED!

2006/10/27 Pras' conditional GC arrives -- .5 to go (2 yrs to Conditions Removal)

2008/07/21 I-751 (conditions removal) filed

2008/08/22 I-751 biometrics completed

2009/06/18 I-751 approved

2009/07/03 10-year GC received; last 0.5 done!

2009/07/23 Pras files N-400

2009/11/16 My 46TH birthday, Pras N-400 approved

2010/03/18 Pras' swear-in

---------------------------------------------------------------------

As long as the LORD's beside me, I don't care if this road ever ends.

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Scotland
Timeline
Posted

Good advice !

I agree-use the VWP to check things out. Living together day in/day out is WAY different than international dating. If it works out, go for it !

Best Wishes !

"I have spread my dreams under your feet

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams"

-Yeats

Filed: Timeline
Posted
  CherryXS said:
  Acquiesce said:
Well I'm not currently engaged or married, but I'm looking to move to upstate NY to be with my girlfriend, and after looking around here, I'm wondering if I have any chance of actually doing this without being at least engaged.

We have discussed it, and marriage is an option if it means we could be together.

Basically looking for any advice you guys can offer and any problems I'm likely to run into (I have all the usual phone records/chat logs/plane tickets from visiting her if we do decide to get engaged).

Any help is greatly appreciated~

I'll repost my question--what are your quals?

(as I noticed no-one thought about temp work visa)

Becca mentioned student/work visas....that might be a good way to go....but I would assume it wouldn't be as easy as the VWP.

Perhaps the OP can come on a vwp, then find someone to sponsor him thru either student or work...not sure about the logistics of either, and I'm sure it would require a trip home, but finding an employer to sponsor you wouldn't be so easy doing over the phone from GB anyways.

 
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