marriage on a tourist visa

[wally 0]

NOTHING is worth the ban for immigration fraud. Read up on the waiver forum.

We got married in US, I returned to Canada, then we filed the I-130. No problems, no questions asked.

[JianWa 0]

Thanks Kezzie and Zyggy.

I already have thoughts and read its a bad idea but still want to see people who has gone through the troubles via tourist visa. Still I wanted to explore options to see if there are other methods or not.

Currently my mind is 99% sure... (before about 90%) that it is a bad idea. I just want to hear other people's experience.

Kezzie, even if you did not intent, when I look at your K3 process, all the paperwork still takes a long time. Makes K1 the best option.

I had thoughts of going to London to get married but they have a stupid law that says you have to be in UK for 7 consecutive days and then another 15 days before you can marry. I sure can't stay in Uk for that long since I used up all my vacation time seeing her.

On the plus side with her being approved for tourist visa, we have more evidence to show to USCIS.

[Ladylethal 12]

In that case, file for the K1, as it is indeed faster than the K3.

[meauxna 15]

Hi!

I have a tourist visa, and i have been a constant visitor in the US for the past 10 yrs. I have a bf who is a US citizen, we've been in a relationship for almost 7 years already. We maintain a long distance relationship in that span of time, and sometimes he visits me here in Uk and sometimes i visit him there in US when I have time as well.

We're planning to have a civil wedding in california on feb 2007.(while im on a tourist visa) With my intentions on coming back to Uk after a month, coz i have work here and i have to arrange our church wedding here to be held on jan. 2008. (with the usual 1 yr wedding preparation) (i have always wanted to have a church wedding here in UK)

Is it legal to get married in the US even if you have a tourist visa? and even if i have intentions of going back to my country.

One more thing, after our church wedding in UK, is it okay to use my tourist visa to go with my husband in the US, and just file my adjustment status in the US? or is it better to file my adjustment status right after our CIVIL wedding in california. Or if you have any legal advice regarding this matter...or any options..:-) thanks so much!

cheers,

Lynn

Lynn,

I've seen your thread elsewhere and think you might be missing an important piece.

Where is it you plan to live in 2007? In the UK?

After you marry in the US (yes, that is a legal tourist activity), your spouse can start the petition process for you. One year will be ample time for you to get an Immigrant Visa. When you re-enter the US with it, you become a Permanent Resident and your Green Card is mailed out to you.

There is no Adjustment of Status involved here; AOS is for remaining in the US while your Green Card application goes through. And, for that, you'd not be able to enter on your tourist visa with the intent of moving in.

Try to set aside the idea of AOS and see what you come up with. AOS does not sound consistant with your plans.

[silverbutterfly228 0]

On the plus side with her being approved for tourist visa, we have more evidence to show to USCIS.

This is a good idea. I wish I had of known about k1 requirements before my visits so i would have been more prepared for what they ask in evidence. I would use the visitor visa as your meeting in the last 2 year requirment to gets lots of primary and secondary evidence. you will know ahead of time of whats needed in detail and this will be less stressful when u file the petition, if thats the route you choose to take.

To Lynne14: If your planning on a febuary wedding you still can do that with a k1 since that is 10 months away. petition approval takes 1-3 months and visa approved is about 4 months after that (i dont know uk approval times.) You would still be able to have your UK Wedding since it is a year later and you could get AP well before that and likely greencard by that time. downside is after civil marriage u can't return to uk in a month. have to wait for AP approval or GC.

good luck.

[bly 0]

From the USA Embassy in london:

Are you getting married in the United States?

If the fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen intends traveling to the United States to marry and take up indefinite residence after marriage, he or she will require a fiancé(e) visa. A fiancé(e) cannot enter the United States on a visitor visa or visa free under the Visa Waiver Program to take up indefinite residence.

Note: If you will return to your permanent place of residence outside the United States after the marriage ceremony you should apply for a B-2 visa, or if eligible travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.

To answer the orginal posters question:

It is fine to travel under the VWP and get married in the USA as long as you return to the UK within 90 days. Actually it's not only ok it is the preffered method per the USA London embassy. http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/iv/spouse.html

If you're going to stay in the USA you need a K1 Fiancee visa.

Edited April 10, 2006 by bly

[lynne14 0]

Hi!

I have a tourist visa, and i have been a constant visitor in the US for the past 10 yrs. I have a bf who is a US citizen, we've been in a relationship for almost 7 years already. We maintain a long distance relationship in that span of time, and sometimes he visits me here in Uk and sometimes i visit him there in US when I have time as well.

We're planning to have a civil wedding in california on feb 2007.(while im on a tourist visa) With my intentions on coming back to Uk after a month, coz i have work here and i have to arrange our church wedding here to be held on jan. 2008. (with the usual 1 yr wedding preparation) (i have always wanted to have a church wedding here in UK)

Is it legal to get married in the US even if you have a tourist visa? and even if i have intentions of going back to my country.

One more thing, after our church wedding in UK, is it okay to use my tourist visa to go with my husband in the US, and just file my adjustment status in the US? or is it better to file my adjustment status right after our CIVIL wedding in california. Or if you have any legal advice regarding this matter...or any options..:-) thanks so much!

cheers,

Lynn

Um..just one question - HOW DO YOU DO IT!!!????? (7 years my gawd) Not only that but you have the next two years of your life already planned...I'm incredibly impressed. Serious...I'm sitting here acting like a whiner because I havent seen my guy since december and here you've been doing the long distance thing for 7 years and actually have wedding plans! Kudos..!!!

******

Heheheh! yeah 7 yrs is too long for a long distance huh? i just cant imagine we're surviving it. Its a cliche..but trust is always there :-) Relationship is hard enough, how much more if you put distance to it huh!

:-)

I hope everything will be alright with the processing of our papers

Thanks for the support and advice guys! :-) really appreciate it.

Hi!

I have a tourist visa, and i have been a constant visitor in the US for the past 10 yrs. I have a bf who is a US citizen, we've been in a relationship for almost 7 years already. We maintain a long distance relationship in that span of time, and sometimes he visits me here in Uk and sometimes i visit him there in US when I have time as well.

We're planning to have a civil wedding in california on feb 2007.(while im on a tourist visa) With my intentions on coming back to Uk after a month, coz i have work here and i have to arrange our church wedding here to be held on jan. 2008. (with the usual 1 yr wedding preparation) (i have always wanted to have a church wedding here in UK)

Is it legal to get married in the US even if you have a tourist visa? and even if i have intentions of going back to my country.

One more thing, after our church wedding in UK, is it okay to use my tourist visa to go with my husband in the US, and just file my adjustment status in the US? or is it better to file my adjustment status right after our CIVIL wedding in california. Or if you have any legal advice regarding this matter...or any options..:-) thanks so much!

cheers,

Lynn

Lynn,

I've seen your thread elsewhere and think you might be missing an important piece.

Where is it you plan to live in 2007? In the UK?

After you marry in the US (yes, that is a legal tourist activity), your spouse can start the petition process for you. One year will be ample time for you to get an Immigrant Visa. When you re-enter the US with it, you become a Permanent Resident and your Green Card is mailed out to you.

There is no Adjustment of Status involved here; AOS is for remaining in the US while your Green Card application goes through. And, for that, you'd not be able to enter on your tourist visa with the intent of moving in.

Try to set aside the idea of AOS and see what you come up with. AOS does not sound consistant with your plans.

****

Thanks for the advice! regarding your question Where is it you plan to live in 2007? In the UK?

Yup in the UK, coz i need to return here after my civil wedding in the US, coz im managing my own business here, and ofcourse plan for our church wedding here the following year. :-) Thanks ever so much! Cheers!