Getting married

[Seosamh 0]

Hi all,

This is a great forum--we've learned a lot. Our situation is complicated because we want to be with one another and not have to wait in other countries. We have spent too much of our lives not with one another already!

I am a U.S. citizen; she is an Italian citizen. We have been crossing the ocean to see one another for the past year. We have known each other for twelve years, but became involved last year; we are in love.

I've spent the summer in Italy with her, and we've decided to get married. I need to return to the States next week (end of August) to begin teaching; she will come over in September for three months on the visa waiver program that the EU has with the USA. Although she also may get a B1 visa if her former company hires her.

We are going to get married once she gets to the US--one reason being that we have just found out today that she is pregnant! (We are thrilled.) We don't know where we'll have the baby but we want to have her on my health insurance in the US in the fall, and thus need to be married. We will probably not apply for a Green Card at that time--and she will return to her home country at the end of her legal visit in the US.

In fact, we will both go back to Italy for Christmas, and both of us return to the States in January. She will either stay and have the baby in the US or return after three months and have the baby in Italy. Afterwards, we will stay in Italy from May/June 2008 for one year, while I work in Italy. When we next return to the U.S. it will be two years since we were married, which may help in the K3 process, I believe.

My big questions are around travel: if we apply for a K3 visa next spring, will she be able to travel to the US through the visa waiver program? Or should we apply later after we are married for two years? In other words, could I apply in the States and then leave? Any ideas????

Thanks for the thoughts!

best

Seosamh

[pushbrk 13,072]

Hi all,

This is a great forum--we've learned a lot. Our situation is complicated because we want to be with one another and not have to wait in other countries. We have spent too much of our lives not with one another already!

I am a U.S. citizen; she is an Italian citizen. We have been crossing the ocean to see one another for the past year. We have known each other for twelve years, but became involved last year; we are in love.

I've spent the summer in Italy with her, and we've decided to get married. I need to return to the States next week (end of August) to begin teaching; she will come over in September for three months on the visa waiver program that the EU has with the USA. Although she also may get a B1 visa if her former company hires her.

We are going to get married once she gets to the US--one reason being that we have just found out today that she is pregnant! (We are thrilled.) We don't know where we'll have the baby but we want to have her on my health insurance in the US in the fall, and thus need to be married. We will probably not apply for a Green Card at that time--and she will return to her home country at the end of her legal visit in the US.

In fact, we will both go back to Italy for Christmas, and both of us return to the States in January. She will either stay and have the baby in the US or return after three months and have the baby in Italy. Afterwards, we will stay in Italy from May/June 2008 for one year, while I work in Italy. When we next return to the U.S. it will be two years since we were married, which may help in the K3 process, I believe.

My big questions are around travel: if we apply for a K3 visa next spring, will she be able to travel to the US through the visa waiver program? Or should we apply later after we are married for two years? In other words, could I apply in the States and then leave? Any ideas????

Thanks for the thoughts!

best

Seosamh

If I understand your story correctly, you don't intend for your wife to actually immigrate until the summer of 2009. In that case, I would wait until after you return to Italy to work, then file for an immigrant visa (not a K3, an IR1 or CR1) directly with US Consulate in Italy. The process will take a few months. Once she has the visa, she'll need to use it within six months. Once used, she is a permanent resident and can work. The green card will be mailed shortly after entry.

Check out the Guides for people who are married and living abroad, which is what you will be at that time.

If you haven't already, you'll want to check into the details of putting her on your insurance. Some insurers require a SS# but that is becoming more rare.

[Seosamh 0]

Thank you pushbrk!

That seems like a good idea--maybe we don't need to think about a visa for this next year; we already have a lot on our plate. I will look at the guides and look into the IR1 or CR1 and see what turns up.

We really appreciate the advice.

cheers

S

If I understand your story correctly, you don't intend for your wife to actually immigrate until the summer of 2009. In that case, I would wait until after you return to Italy to work, then file for an immigrant visa (not a K3, an IR1 or CR1) directly with US Consulate in Italy. The process will take a few months. Once she has the visa, she'll need to use it within six months. Once used, she is a permanent resident and can work. The green card will be mailed shortly after entry.

Check out the Guides for people who are married and living abroad, which is what you will be at that time.

If you haven't already, you'll want to check into the details of putting her on your insurance. Some insurers require a SS# but that is becoming more rare.