Traveling with no intention to immigrate

[Boiler 45,902]

DCF, well the non exceptional sort will be gone soon, well before they marry.

[SalishSea 18,067]

25 minutes ago, Poseidon1212 said:

In my opinion it would be best if you’d go live in Germany and while living there apply for your spouse’s green card with the consulate in Frankfurt through DCF (assuming the sponsorship requirements can be met)

DCF for Frankfurt is now gone.

[B&C2017 123]

33 minutes ago, Poseidon1212 said:

In my opinion it would be best if you’d go live in Germany and while living there apply for your spouse’s green card with the consulate in Frankfurt through DCF (assuming the sponsorship requirements can be met).

They shut down DCF in Germany as of October 31st 2019, I think.

 

Edited February 20, 2020 by B&C2017

[DELETEME1234 208]

Cunningham’s Law strikes again. 
 

As some people before me have pointed out, Frankfurt doesn’t do DCF anymore since October 31st 2019, only in rare exceptions. 

The rest of my suggestion still stands. 

Edited February 20, 2020 by Poseidon1212
Doesn’t accept vs. closed up shop

[Quarknase 1,072]

German here. Just in case you really consider going the Greencard route and US Citizenship following 3 years of permanent residency, your German spouse will first need to apply with German authorities for approval of keeping German Citizenship when applying for the American Citizenship. She must provide good reasoning why she needs the American Citizenship, and why she also needs to keep German Citizenship. The approval certificate must be held in hand before she accepts US Citizenship, or else the German Citizenship is gone automatically. The process currently takes between 12-18 months, neat case assumed. Denials happen too.

 

Honestly, listen to all the advise you have received. 90 days is a good amount of time. And VWP a privilege that not everyone has. I understand the thought process that spouses should be entitled to be where they want to be. Americans and Germans have access to so many places in the world, it's hard to accept that there are limitations. But US visa rules don't cater for that case. It's either you want to live here and pay taxes, or you don't.

And while I would wish for it to be different because my spouse can't even get a B visa (and all the travel stress is on me), I think it's pretty fair that those same rules apply to everyone.

 

[DrivewayCali 1]

Thank you all so much for all of this!  I've gained a lot of perspective and have had lots of questions answered.  I'm sure I will have more questions that will come and I will update here with any ideas.  We already have a wedding planned in Germany for September so we would have to apply for the IR1/CR1 visas from outside the US.  I am glad to hear that she can still travel with the VWP using the ESTA visa for up to 90 days while that  IR1/CR1 is being processed if that is the route we decide on.  I may expatriate as our ultimate plan is to eventually live in Europe but work is currently in the US.  The airlines must love all this bouncing back and forth every 90 days we've been doing.  Thanks again for the advice, and would welcome any more.