Wanting to marry an Australian and live in the US...HELP!

[James DiLiberto 0]

I am a 25 year old male Electrical Engineer living in New Jersey in the USA. My girlfriend is from Adelaide, Australia and we are Christians wanting to get married and live in here in NJ, USA. However, we want to get ceremonially (not legally) married in Australia with her family in her church. We don't care when we get legally married in whatever country, as long as it help us get our visa situation right.

We're not sure whether or not to do a fiance (K1) visa or an espousal (K3) visa and what the benefits are of either and how easy it is to get into the USA vs if we decided to live in Australia instead because it was easier. I don't even know if she or I could work in either country during or after or visa come through or even after our marriage. Can anyone help out with some advice or some experience.

In short, how should we proceed if we want to get married and live in the USA (an american and an australian)??

Thank you so much. Blessings.

[Kath 0]

hi and welcome to VJ

I am an aussie who came to the State on a K1 visa..which is the fiancee visa...got married within the 90 days then did my AOS and now i have a greencard.. I have been living here in the states for a year now..take a look at my timeline..

K3 spousal visa is supposedly quicker than a CR1/IR1 visa..and the DCF is only if the U.S. citz lives in Australia with his/her fiance

also while were on the timeline thing take a look at timelines of aussie's that way you can judge roughly how long it takes ...

AUSSIE TIMELINES

What you might help you is to read the guides on here...they are all there..

which visa do we need

if you are going for a K1 visa...there are quite a few couple that have had ceremonies in their homelands (beneficiary's) so family can be their...as long as it is NOT a legal marriage..

also there is an aussie thread on here and there is lot of info just about anything...

LAND DOWNUNDER THREAD

i know i probably wasnt much help ..but whatever you decide to do i hope its a quick journey for you both..

take care

kath

[nane1104 146]

If you decide for the K-1 and want a non-legal wedding ceremony in Australia for her family..that is no problem at all as long as it is not officially recognized.

I did the same in Germany. As long as you are legally unmarried at the POE, you are fine!