Help! Where do I start, I just want to get married!

[klusk120 0]

Little background: I met my fiancé, Joe, 3 years ago at a summer camp in America. He is from the UK and I am from the U.S. We have been dating a little over 2 years now. The first year of our relationship we were in long distance and would visit each other every 3 months. The past year I have been living and residing in the UK on a Tier 2 work visa as a teacher. We just got engaged and are moving to Thailand in one month to start teaching jobs. Ideally we would like to go to America, get married and then settle there for good and for Joe to be able to get a green card and start working.

I have read many forums and blogs and I am still confused on what my options are. I am recently engaged and I feel like I can’t even celebrate because I’m so worried about the VISA process and that we might end up having to be apart for some time. I have read things about needing to apply for a visa and then waiting months (while being apart) and other blogs have said that you can get in trouble for visa fraud if they come into the states and get married while visiting. I have seen where you can contact lawyers to get help but we are 25 & 26 and don’t really want to put money into a lawyer that we might not need!

If you have continued reading after my long story, THANK YOU! My ideal situation would be go to Thailand, teach for a year, then go to the states, get married and settle in and get jobs. I know that it is probably never going to happen like that or be easy but if you have ANY advice please, please respond. I love this man and I don’t want to be apart, I just want my forever to start with him! Thank you!!

[Georgia16 2,858]

Guess if your plan is to live in Thailand and then move to the states and get married there you could apply for the K-1 visa and then move to the states together and be married within 90 days. He can not work or leave US for about 90 days after you send in the papers for AOS. So he will have to wait for that one.

It's not fraud to get married on a tourist visa in the US, he will just have to go home again and then you'll start the CR-1 process it takes about a year.

You other option is to get married like that in the US now or somewhere else then start the process while you live together in Thailand and then after about a year he'll have the visa and then you guys can move home. With a CR-1 visa he can work and travel right away.

Remeber to file your taxes even though you are not in US.

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

**** Moving from K1 fiance visa to What Visa Do I Need forum ****

It is NOT visa fraud to get married in the USA, as long as you do not do it on a visa waiver with intent to stay. So if you want to get married in the USA your options are: 1. petition for the K1 fiance visa (takes about 6 months), when approved move over, marry and stay or 2. Get married in the VWP, leave again to go to Thailand (or the UK, or wherever), wait for the CR-1 (takes about a year) and immigrate.

Considering your situation, my suggestion would be to get married now-ish (it doesn't matter in which country) and start the CR-1 spousal visa process. It should come through towards the end of your time in Thailand, you can then move to the USA and he will get a greencard and be able to work immediately. This process is also cheaper than the K1, and with the K1, he cannot work right away, he has about 3 months where he is stuck in the USA and cannot work or travel.

[klusk120 0]

Thank you for the replies already! Seriously this morning I was so upset reading some of the forums. It's so nice to get some help!!

Would we be able to get married in Thailand and then start the paperwork in Thailand. What I am trying to ask is ..will the U.S. recognize our marriage if its a marriage certificate from Thailand.

[Georgia16 2,858]

Thank you for the replies already! Seriously this morning I was so upset reading some of the forums. It's so nice to get some help!!

Would we be able to get married in Thailand and then start the paperwork in Thailand. What I am trying to ask is ..will the U.S. recognize our marriage if its a marriage certificate from Thailand.

Yes, people get married all over the world

[NikLR 13,227]

Married is married no matter where you are in the world. As long as its your only marriage (aka you are not a polygamist) and youre legally married it's fine.

Oh and hes not like first cousin.

That is allowed in some states under certain regulations but I assume this isn't an issue for you.

[JFH 12,190]

If you have residency status in Thailand, you can get married and file for the spousal visa through the embassy there. It's much quicker. Certain countries offer that method. Fortunately for you, Thailand is one of them. The U.K., incidentally, is another but you're leaving us.

Fiancé visa is an option too.

Don't believe anyone who says its fraudulent to get married while visiting. I got married on a visit to my husband. Got married on Saturday, came home on Tuesday, back at work on Thursday. Nothing fraudulent at all.

Edited August 30, 2016 by JFH

[amul 229]

I will chime in and say, get married now and this way in a year you can show that you two not only have been married for a year, but have been together during this time. This should speed up your application process and will serve as proof of a genuine relationship.

You can get married in any country, but here is the info you need to get married in Thailand -- https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/getting-married-in-thailand/

Best of luck and try to look on the bright side of your journey -- that you have found the person you want to spend your days with. The rest will all work out!

[Cathi 5,755]

I will chime in and say, get married now and this way in a year you can show that you two not only have been married for a year, but have been together during this time. This should speed up your application process and will serve as proof of a genuine relationship.

You can get married in any country, but here is the info you need to get married in Thailand -- https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/getting-married-in-thailand/

Best of luck and try to look on the bright side of your journey -- that you have found the person you want to spend your days with. The rest will all work out!

being married for any amount of time whether it be for 1 year, 10 years or 100 years will not speed anything up. They are like everyone else and are at the mercy of USCIS, the NVC and the embassy. Everyone is processed exactly the same with a Cr1 visa.

[amul 229]

Correction of my wording is in need -- not speed up, but might help. Yes, at the end we are all at the mercy of the USCIS, the NVC and the embassy, however when a couple is married and living together longer, they can gather more "evidence" together. They can also look more like a legitimate couple...

Again, nothing is set in stone, including the words written here.

[klusk120 0]

Once again... thanks SO much everyone!

Thankfully he is not my cousin or any relations and we both have never been married and do not have any kids..which should make the process easier.

For the CR-1 spouse visa:

Is it okay that I am not a current resident of the US (because I will be living in Thailand)

Do I have to prove that I have a certain amount of money?

Do I have to have a job secured in the states for him to then come with me?

Thanks again and million times more!

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

It's ok that you are not resident, as long as you can prove you will move back at the same time as your husband (show proof of looking for a job, letter from family where you will be staying or lease, that sort of thing).

You need to be able to financially support him. That needs to be either assets, a job in the USA that you are CURRENTLY doing (job offer doesn't count, you;d need to have started and show some paystubs), or via a co-sponsor; a friend or family member in the USA who will stand guarantoor for your foreign husband.