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metaxas

Marrying my girlfriend in India

By metaxas in Bringing Family Members of US Citizens to America

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metaxas Contributor

metaxas   0

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: India
 Timeline
Posted

Hi,

I am a recently naturalized US citizen. I have been courting my girlfriend (divorced) and communicating via whatsapp, skype, phone calls etc for over two years, my mother (also a US citizen) has visited them a year ago as well and we are now ready to get married. I would like to go to India, get married to her as soon as possible and then sponsor her and her two children aged 16 and 4  (from the previous marriage ) to come to the United States. Would there be a problem if I just went and got married immediately, or do we need to have some kind of in-person courtship as well (from the perspective of her and the kids getting their I-130 immigration green cards)? We have all kinds of proof of our courtship including call records, whatsapp and social media chats, pictures of my mother visiting the girl and the kids etc. I really just want to get married to her in India, start a child of our own (too much information?!) and start the sponsorship process, just want to make sure we take the right steps. Can anyone please help. 

Georgia16 Mentor

Georgia16   2,858

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Denmark
 Timeline
Posted
2 hours ago, metaxas said:

My girlfriend does have legal sole custody of the children as per the divorce order... will we still need the biological father's permission? He is an alcoholic and very unlikely to be cooperative in any way...

I can't say for India that is country specific. Some countries are fine with sole custody and others want the written permission. 

 

 

 

 

KierenHby Experienced

KierenHby   899

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

Courtship is not a requirement for a wedding, provided it is a bonafide relationship and not a marriage for a GC. Evidence of communications over time helps. Are you of similar ages?  

Preferable if she acquired a court-ordered written judgement of sole custody. 

USCIS

January 16, 2015 I-130 Mailed, Chi lockbox January 20, 2015 Priority Date, January 21, 2015 NOA1 notice date, Assigned VSC, January 23, 2015 Check Cashed, electronically March 5, 2015 NOA2

NVC

March 27, 2015 NVC received April 6, 2015 Case#, IIN# assigned April 8, 2015 Paid AOS + IV fee Invoices May 5, 2015 AOS + IV package submitted May 11, 2015 Scan Date

June 11, 2015 DS-260 submitted June 25, 2015 False checklist (for ds260).. hello? June 30, 2015 Answered checklist Aug 5, 2015 Escalated to Supervisor review Aug 13, 2015 Case Complete

Consular

Sept 10, 2015 Interview Scheduled Sept 11, 2015 P4 Letter received Sept 21, 2015 file In transit from NVC Sept 23, 2015 file at Embassy

Sept 28, 2015 Medical Oct 14, 2015 Biometrics Oct 15, 2015 Interview (Approved) Oct 19, 2015 IV visa Issued Oct 23, 2015 Passport Pickup

POE

Nov 2, 2015 Entered the US Nov 16, 2015 Applied for SSN, walk-in Nov 20, 2015 Social Security Card recd Jan 15, 2016 GC received

MsCompE Enthusiast

MsCompE   50

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted
4 hours ago, KierenHby said:

Courtship is not a requirement for a wedding, provided it is a bonafide relationship and not a marriage for a GC. Evidence of communications over time helps. Are you of similar ages?  

Preferable if she acquired a court-ordered written judgement of sole custody. 

Agree. Courtship isn't a requirement especially in India where arranged marriage is a custom. Anyways, do you got red flags? 

Religion etc? I'm not an expert but having lived in India myself I see two major cultural things involving marriage - family and religion. 

I think you may add up affidavits from her parents and your parents stating they are fully aware of your marriage. This additional documents can be brought during her interview. 

The society's culture is most of the time taken into account when accessing a bonafide relationship per embassy.

Previous U.S. Visa/Trips
03-10-2014 : B1 issued date
03-24-2015 : B1/B2 issued date
02-26-2016 : Visited my aunt in Corpus Christi
02-27-2016 : Meet Ryan and he asked me out 
03-30-2016 : He proposed before I left U.S.
04-01-2016 : I left U.S. I wish I had enough days to marry him.
But, I have a very important business meeting to physically attend in Cebu on 04/04. I also have a business trip due in Japan for May 2016. 
Circumstances lead me to K-1. 
K1 - Journey
Spoiler

 

04-22-2016 : Sent I-129F Packet
07-20-2016 : Received NOA2
08-01-2016 : NVC Case # assigned
08-25-2016 : Interview Date and APPROVED!!! 
09-03-2016 : VOH
AOS - Journey
Spoiler

12-14-2016 : POE

12-30-2016 : Wedding Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
01-20-2017 : Sent I-485, I-765, I-131 Packet
01-24-2017 : NOA1 Received Date
02-03-2017 : Received NOA1 Hard Copy
02-04-2017 : Received Biometrics Appointment Scheduled on 02/17
02-08-2017 : Completed Biometrics
04-22-2017 : EAD Update - Card in Production
04-27-2017 : Received EAD & AP Approval Notice
05-01-2017 : Received EAD & AP Combo Card
05-01-2017 : Received EAD & AP Combo Card
11-17-2017 : I-485 Approved Date
11-25-2017 : I-485 Approved Notice Received
11-27-2017 : GC Received at the mailbox. No text/email notification. USCIS Case Status is still at "Fingerprint Fee Received" 
 
 
metaxas Contributor

metaxas   0

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: India
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
8 hours ago, KierenHby said:

Courtship is not a requirement for a wedding, provided it is a bonafide relationship and not a marriage for a GC. Evidence of communications over time helps. Are you of similar ages?  

Preferable if she acquired a court-ordered written judgement of sole custody. 

Yes indeed, we are six months apart in age. Her divorce judgement does have a court ordered written judgement of sole custody. Thanks !

metaxas Contributor

metaxas   0

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: India
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
4 hours ago, MsCompE said:

Agree. Courtship isn't a requirement especially in India where arranged marriage is a custom. Anyways, do you got red flags? 

Religion etc? I'm not an expert but having lived in India myself I see two major cultural things involving marriage - family and religion. 

I think you may add up affidavits from her parents and your parents stating they are fully aware of your marriage. This additional documents can be brought during her interview. 

The society's culture is most of the time taken into account when accessing a bonafide relationship per embassy.

No We have the same religion, so no issues there. Families are both very much in favor, infact both my parents and hers will attend our wedding in India. We will definitely take care to add the parents affidavits. Thank you so much for the advice !!

 
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