Which country to get married

[Bob44 12]

Hi there. 
 

My girlfriend of two years in coming to study in the US. Our intent is not to change her immigration status while here of course but we plan to get married. 
 

When she finishes this semester she will return to her country for a few months. 
 

She has her own money and I am financially secure. 
 

The question is I would like to show commitment to her by getting married before she leaves her country. I will be there. 
 

Even though we haven’t decided whether we want to live in the US nor whether she will apply for a green card, will marriage in her country BEFORE she leaves cause us grief if she ever decides to want to live in the US?

 

To that is end, if we do get married in her country and she comes here to the US to study (again we are not sure we want to live here), would it make sense to also get married here (I want to do it for my family) or not?

 

I know these actions are delicate. Again we are not sure what we want long term except to be together and we are both going back to her country and to travel in the winter. 
 

Will marriage mess stuff up in the long run if we don’t try and change her status?

 

My fear is that it will somehow mess things up. But if I’m reading it right marriage means nothing to the folks at immigration unless there is a status change. Right?

 

Thanks. 

[HRQX 4,145]

32 minutes ago, Bob44 said:

would it make sense to also get married here (I want to do it for my family)

Note that in that case the US ceremony will not be for marriage but for renewal of vows.

32 minutes ago, Bob44 said:

The question is I would like to show commitment to her by getting married before she leaves her country. I will be there.

The civil marriage in Colombia is recognized by the US gov: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Colombia.html

Edited August 2, 2021 by HRQX

[Crazy Cat 41,865]

7 hours ago, Bob44 said:

Hi there. 
 

My girlfriend of two years in coming to study in the US. Our intent is not to change her immigration status while here of course but we plan to get married. 
 

When she finishes this semester she will return to her country for a few months. 
 

She has her own money and I am financially secure. 
 

The question is I would like to show commitment to her by getting married before she leaves her country. I will be there. 
 

Even though we haven’t decided whether we want to live in the US nor whether she will apply for a green card, will marriage in her country BEFORE she leaves cause us grief if she ever decides to want to live in the US?

 

To that is end, if we do get married in her country and she comes here to the US to study (again we are not sure we want to live here), would it make sense to also get married here (I want to do it for my family) or not?

 

I know these actions are delicate. Again we are not sure what we want long term except to be together and we are both going back to her country and to travel in the winter. 
 

Will marriage mess stuff up in the long run if we don’t try and change her status?

 

My fear is that it will somehow mess things up. But if I’m reading it right marriage means nothing to the folks at immigration unless there is a status change. Right?

 

Thanks. 

After your marriage, she could face more difficulty entering the US.  After all, a spouse in the US is a strong tie to the US.  It will be her responsibility to convince CBP that she has no immigrant intent, and that she will return to her country at the end of her non-immigrant stay. She should not say "I'm not sure".   Good luck.  

[JeanneAdil 6,506]

Has the F1 been approved?

where will she live in the US?

Does she plan to live with you?  As that would raise issues

I am not sure they  would ask  that question for a F1 but i believe she has to give a US address at POE

Personnally i would not marry before arriving on F1 

but marry here ,  return to home and file the CR1 

and have a marriage after oing back  in Columbia for family as it can be important to them

Best to you 

[pushbrk 12,884]

If she has an F-1 and and the necessary document from her school, so she can return to her studies, then where and when you marry, will have no impact on future immigration.  If she does not, then once you're married, the chances of getting a new F1 are none and less than none. 

[Bob44 12]

7 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

Has the F1 been approved?

where will she live in the US?

Does she plan to live with you?  As that would raise issues

I am not sure they  would ask  that question for a F1 but i believe she has to give a US address at POE

Personnally i would not marry before arriving on F1 

but marry here ,  return to home and file the CR1 

and have a marriage after oing back  in Columbia for family as it can be important to them

Best to you 

Yes. F1 approved. She has option to live with me or rent a place 

[Bob44 12]

3 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

If she has an F-1 and and the necessary document from her school, so she can return to her studies, then where and when you marry, will have no impact on future immigration.  If she does not, then once you're married, the chances of getting a new F1 are none and less than none. 

Yes she has a five year visa r

to study but she’s older and a professional. I’ve just been scared shitless that we will do something wrong. We have decided to wait on the marriage for the simple reason we don’t want anything to interfere with her studies. I’ve asked an immigration lawyer and he is clear that we must be consistent with our intentions. And we are. We are planning on getting married but have not decided where we want to live yet as she’s never been to the US. 
 

my concern is if we get married while she is here, what happens when we leave after four months for  Xmas to visit her family? It’s simple right? As long as we don’t change her status. 

[pushbrk 12,884]

3 minutes ago, Bob44 said:

Yes she has a five year visa r

to study but she’s older and a professional. I’ve just been scared shitless that we will do something wrong. We have decided to wait on the marriage for the simple reason we don’t want anything to interfere with her studies. I’ve asked an immigration lawyer and he is clear that we must be consistent with our intentions. And we are. We are planning on getting married but have not decided where we want to live yet as she’s never been to the US. 
 

my concern is if we get married while she is here, what happens when we leave after four months for  Xmas to visit her family? It’s simple right? As long as we don’t change her status. 

Right but a safer way to do that is to buy ticket's separately, and use separate entry lines when you return.

[Bob44 12]

1 minute ago, pushbrk said:

Right but a safer way to do that is to buy ticket's separately, and use separate entry lines when you return.

Thank you. I’m not sure how they will know who bought the tix but they are separate tix. 

[pushbrk 12,884]

3 minutes ago, Bob44 said:

Thank you. I’m not sure how they will know who bought the tix but they are separate tix. 

They don't unless you show your itinerary with both names.  Just don't present yourselves as a couple when you re-enter the US.  Obviously, sitting together on the plane is not an issue.

[Bob44 12]

Just now, pushbrk said:

They don't unless you show your itinerary with both names.  Just don't present yourselves as a couple when you re-enter the US.  Obviously, sitting together on the plane is not an issue.

Thanks a ton. Super complicated and scary process. Makes me have more compassion for those not as lucky as us. 

[TBoneTX 45,293]

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