Doubts about the ways I have and which one is best, to get married in America and stay there.

[Yonna 4]

 

I'm getting married in a few months with an US citizen, I don't know what would be the best way to do it so I can stay there with him. So I would like some advice, and to know how long would it take. (Iowa) I want to be able to stay without leaving and I would also want to be able to work as soon as possible, so I'm not a burden there. 

And also, I'm going in April for 2 weeks, do I need a visa for it? Or I can just go and leave when I have to? 

[SalishSea 17,842]

2 minutes ago, Yonna said:

 

I'm getting married in a few months with an US citizen, I don't know what would be the best way to do it so I can stay there with him. So I would like some advice, and to know how long would it take. (Iowa) I want to be able to stay without leaving and I would also want to be able to work as soon as possible, so I'm not a burden there. 

And also, I'm going in April for 2 weeks, do I need a visa for it? Or I can just go and leave when I have to? 

What country are you from?  You are traveling to the US in April, and you really don't know whether you need a visa?!

[p-ana 933]

You can’t come in without the appropriate visa that will allow you to marry AND stay.

[nastra30 2,287]

To OP, I didn't get your statement well. Are saying you are traveling to the US with the intent of marrying and staying?

[Boiler 45,557]

Looks like visiting from Spain on the VWP,.

 

There is no way to do what you want to do so something will have to give.

[SalishSea 17,842]

You cannot enter the US with the intent to marry and stay and adjust status here.  That is illegal.

[Crazy Cat 41,898]

You cannot come to the US with a plan to marry and stay.  It would be visa fraud.   You could, however, come to the US, marry, then return to Spain to wait out the 12-15 month process........then you could work immediately after entry with a CR-1 visa.

Edited March 24, 2019 by missileman

[Crazy Cat 41,898]

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1
    Slightly faster arrival in the US (currently about 3 months sooner)    
    More expensive than CR-1    
    Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    
    Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 5-6 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 5-6 months)    
    Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    
    Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.

  

CR-1
    Slightly slower arrival in the US (currently about 3 months later)

    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

    Spouse has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.
   

 

[geowrian 22,337]

You can't enter the US with intent to stay (without a visa for that purpose).

If you plan to work ASAP upon entry, then I suggest marrying and filing for a CR-1 (spousal) visa. ETA: ~12-16 months from filing to interview.

[Yonna 4]

51 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

What country are you from?  You are traveling to the US in April, and you really don't know whether you need a visa?!

I'm from Spain, and I checked out that I can go there for 2 weeks without visa. 

[Yonna 4]

49 minutes ago, nastra30 said:

To OP, I didn't get your statement well. Are saying you are traveling to the US with the intent of marrying and staying?

No no, in April is just to visit my boyfriend and some other friends. I'll leave in two weeks.althought we were planning on getting married in June or July, how would we have to do it in that case?

[geowrian 22,337]

1 minute ago, Yonna said:

I'm from Spain, and I checked out that I can go there for 2 weeks without visa. 

You can visit for up to 90 days via the VWP. You must apply - and be approved - for an ESTA. This is an online application.

You must leave the US before those 90 days from entry. You cannot remain in the US to wait out the immigration process. You cannot work.

 

Once you marry, you can file for a CR-1. The first step is an I-130 from the USC petitioner.

Guide: https://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

[Yonna 4]

47 minutes ago, missileman said:

You cannot come to the US with a plan to marry and stay.  It would be visa fraud.   You could, however, come to the US, marry, then return to Spain to wait out the 12-15 month process........then you could work immediately after entry with a CR-1 visa.

Huum, that's a painfully time apart

[Yonna 4]

2 minutes ago, geowrian said:

You can visit for up to 90 days via the VWP. You must apply - and be approved - for an ESTA. This is an online application.

You must leave the US before those 90 days from entry. You cannot remain in the US to wait out the immigration process. You cannot work.

 

Once you marry, you can file for a CR-1. The first step is an I-130 from the USC petitioner.

Guide: https://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

Yeah okay, I'll do that. Why are this things so difficult. Uh. 

[Crazy Cat 41,898]

2 minutes ago, Yonna said:

Huum, that's a painfully time apart

I know.....Many of us have had to endure that.......