Tourist Visa w/marriage consideration vs. future intentions

[rehaydon 0]

Hi All,

I'm new to this site so please be gentle if I'm missing some key entry-level information

I am a female US citizen and my male fiance is Moroccan. I currently live and work in South Korea, he in Morocco. We have met there and here.

At the moment my mother is undergoing chemo and radiation for cancer, and at the end of her treatment (January 2016) she wants our immediate family to gather at their place in Boston. My fiance is also invited, so he and I have begun filling in the DS-160 online. After the proposed travel (Feb 1-10, 2016) he would return to Morocco, and I would return to South Korea. Then, in summer 2016, I'm moving to Morocco to live and work.

Question number 1: chances of him getting approved for B1 visa? He's 27, has a full-time job with a boss who is supportive of this travel. He's been abroad and returned before when he visited me in Korea (May 2015).

Question number 1.5: list of required documents at his interview are very short. What additional, optional documents can help show 'strong ties' to Morocco? He lives with his parents, as is common for unmarried people. My parents have written a letter of invitation.

In order to get married in Morocco, there is a lengthy and (in my opinion) frustrating process which involves me getting several documents translated, visiting offices in 3 different cities, etc. IF his B1 is approved, I have discovered that it would be much, much easier bureaucratically to get married in Massachusetts, and then have the celebration in summer 2016 in Morocco - also allows us to set a definite date for said party, which allows my family to make travel plans.

However, others have mentioned that this might constitute visa fraud. I repeat that we have no plans for the immediate future (at least a few years) to settle in the US, if ever. In essence, if we were to do the legal portion of the marriage while on vacation, it would be the same idea as a "destination wedding". Some seem to think that this could jeopardize his chances for a spousal visa in the future, if we were to decide to pursue one. It's not something we're interested in at the moment, but I'd hate to restrict our options due to some silly technicality.

Question number 2: in the immediate sense this seems like a great time- and stress-saving plan (legal marriage in US and then party later in Morocco). Possible issues - are they legitimate concerns? I believe that everything has to do with intention, yes?

Question number 3: anything else that people think is worth knowing/considering? I know that individual situations can vary greatly, and even the opinion of the officer who handles the case can make the difference between 2 identical applications, so helpful suggestions are certainly welcome.

Thanks in advance!

[az2014 381]

1. B1 is for business, B2 is for tourism. Chances are 50/50, approve or deny.

1.5 His main tie seems to be his job, so letter from his employer stating when he is due back to work, contract, few payslips. Visa stamps to previous travelled countries. Letter from YOUR parents is pointless; shows no ties for him to Morocco.

Bare in mind the documents probably wont even be looked at. The decision will mostly be made by the answers on the apolication and those given to the CO at the interview.

2. Stop worrying, there is nothing illegal or wrong about marrying on the B2 then going back to your country. The problem is when you plan to get married and stay to adjust status.

Let us know how it goes.

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

1. Not great, but not horrible; it helps that he has a good job and has travelled before. If he can bring a letter from his employer stating he has so many weeks vacation, and is expected back on X date, it may help.

2. It is fine for you to get married in the USA on a tourist visa, as long as he doesn't intend to stay.

3. Did you check wedding requirements in Massachusetts? Some states have residency requirements or a waiting period.

[sumehra29 22]

i would say just do a k1 but since you both are moving back to Morocco won't be the best . Take your chances as long as you are honest and they see he has left to visits you and you have visited him . And make sure he does the interview in English it helps out a lot . Everyone's case is different . Good luck and hope all works out I'm from Boston to.

[Boiler 45,952]

Having a good job that allows him to travel is a positive sign. My assumption is that many jobs in Morocco do not pay well enough to do that.

Where else has he been?

There are 2 outcomes, 50/50, which one he will be in depends on the facts of the case, it is essentially a fact based process with a bit of discretion thrown in.

[rehaydon 0]

i would say just do a k1 but since you both are moving back to Morocco won't be the best . Take your chances as long as you are honest and they see he has left to visits you and you have visited him . And make sure he does the interview in English it helps out a lot . Everyone's case is different . Good luck and hope all works out I'm from Boston to.

Haven't heard this tip before - what is the advantage to doing the interview in English? His is quite good, but in case they ask some complicated question I would hate for a mistranslation/misunderstanding to cause a problem.

My 'hobby' is worrying, so I apologize for what might turn into a lot of needless reassurances.

[HFM181818 750]

The biggest hurdle will be the 'gee, let's get married in the US...oh...and yes, I absolutely promise I will return to Morocco....' (instead of remaining in the US to seek an even better job and have a much nice place in which to live....that story/claim has been made numerous times but fulfilled only about 3% of the time...so I would not expect this to be a 'slam dunk' no matter how many letters of invitation are written, promises made by anyone, etc....

[sumehra29 22]

Well it shows how you guys communicate . It def helps when you can have a conversation in English with the officer due to the fact they will say so how do they communicate . My fiancé did his interview 2 weeks ago and it certainly helped they didn't ask no more than 4 questions . Everyone else there who did it in Arabic or English got interviewed for atleast 30 minutes . For him not even 5 minutes .

[Boiler 45,952]

Well it shows how you guys communicate . It def helps when you can have a conversation in English with the officer due to the fact they will say so how do they communicate . My fiancé did his interview 2 weeks ago and it certainly helped they didn't ask no more than 4 questions . Everyone else there who did it in Arabic or English got interviewed for atleast 30 minutes . For him not even 5 minutes .

That is to immigrate, this is about visiting.

Visitor Visas are a couple of minutes usually.

My K1 was 2 questions.

[Ismael&Blair 66]

Hi, I am so glad you registered on Visa Journey. This site helped me greatly from the beginning to the end of the visa process. I hope you get all the information you need and again best wishes on your fiance getting his tourist visa. Keep us posted!

[Elf 146]

3. Did you check wedding requirements in Massachusetts? Some states have residency requirements or a waiting period.

I'm a Maryland resident who got married in Massachusetts (because at the time, Massachusetts was one of the very few options for same-sex couples).

Massachusetts has no residency requirement. There is a three-day waiting period, but it can be waived by filing a motion for a "Marriage without delay" in a probate and family court. We were able to file the motion and get the waiver approved then get the marriage license all within one morning, because the clerk's office and the probate court were only a few blocks apart.