Staying in the US while waiting for K1 visa

[estebanlars 0]

Hi,

 

Me (US citizen living in Argentina) and girlfriend (from Argentina) are planning on getting married and live in the US around July/August. The thing is I understand the K1 visa takes around 5-8 months and me and my girlfriend want to be in the US while we are waiting. She already has a tourist visa, so one option is for her to get in and out until she has her K1 visa. Another option is for her to enroll in a course she likes and get a student visa while we wait.  Is it possible for her to get a student visa while she is waiting for the K1 visa? What do you recommend? If she receives the K1 visa, does she have to fetch it back to Argentina and enter with the K1 visa?

 

Thanks you very much!

 

[Georgia16 2,858]

5 minutes ago, estebanlars said:

Hi,

 

Me (US citizen living in Argentina) and girlfriend (from Argentina) are planning on getting married and live in the US around July/August. The thing is I understand the K1 visa takes around 5-8 months and me and my girlfriend want to be in the US while we are waiting. She already has a tourist visa, so one option is for her to get in and out until she has her K1 visa. Another option is for her to enroll in a course she likes and get a student visa while we wait.  Is it possible for her to get a student visa while she is waiting for the K1 visa? What do you recommend? If she receives the K1 visa, does she have to fetch it back to Argentina and enter with the K1 visa?

 

Thanks you very much!

 

When you file the K-1 she will show that she has immigrant intention so getting a student visa will most likely get denied.

She can not live with you while waiting but she can visit. She will also have to be in home country for the medical and the interview.

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

She has to be interviewed in Argentina to get it, and there is no guarantee that she will have it. You are making it more complicated than it should be. Be patient and it comes before you know it. And yes she can travel to visit with B2 while waiting for it.

[p-ana 933]

Remember that having a b1/b2 is no guarantee of entry. She will need to show cbp officers at the point of entry that she intends to go back home and has strong ties there. Which can be challenging since she has an American boyfriend who wants her to live here or get a student visa or whatever it is so she can be here with you.