Married on a Tourist Visa

[Jugg 0]

My wife and I got married on a tourists visa, she is still in status but time is running out. We have until the first week of Aug.  Can we file for an adjustment of status which would be costly (1,500) or tell her to go back and file for a marriage visa?   She got here in February but we didn't marry till last weekend.  We have plenty of engagement photos and marriage photos/ reception photos to show our wedding was bonafide.  We are in love but didn't expect to get married when she came over here to visit.  We originally met online last year but decided to see if the connection was real this past February.  I love my wife and really don't want to see her go back home but I want to do the right thing and be able to spend a lifetime with her.  I also have the issue of finances because I was a business owner that filed losses for a few years straight, I am now employed and definitely will be able to take care of her while she is here. I have only been employed for a short while but I plan on showing an account balance if needs be.  Will this issue even come up, and how should I go about handling this issue?

[Boiler 45,941]

You can go either way.

 

You need to meet the requirements of the I 864 financially, not that onerous.

[Coco8 1,042]

2 hours ago, Jugg said:

Can we file for an adjustment of status which would be costly (1,500) or tell her to go back and file for a marriage visa? 

 

The CR-1 visa (spousal visa) costs almost the same. And you have to add the ticket to go back to her country and then come back, plus it takes +12 months to get the visa. And the consulate in Jamaica can be a bit of a pain from what I've read on VJ for the past few months.

 

I'd go ahead and AOS. Submit the forms for her to get an EAD along with the other forms (no additional cost if you submit it at the same time). In 3-4 months she will be able to work.

 

2 hours ago, Jugg said:

 I also have the issue of finances because I was a business owner that filed losses for a few years straight, I am now employed and definitely will be able to take care of her while she is here.

 

Current employment is what matters. 

 

 

Edited June 23, 2017 by Coco8

[caliliving 606]

You can AOS no problem from a tourist visa.. so i would do that.. its easier, if she can stay for about 6 months you are already here! its 1500$ so make sure u have that money!