BiscoeBunch

Last question for now... If we file for status change (I-485) would she be able to finish up her Au Pair contract with the host family for the last remaining months?

Thank you!

Got it! Thank you

Her statues ends January 2026. If we apply for CR-1 in 2025, does that extend her status and keep her here in the USA after the J-1 status ends? Any recommendations or visas we should apply for to keep her here in 2026?

Wow! Fast replies, thank you! I apologize, "J-2" is a typo... I meant to say she has a J-1 Visa. I must be going crazy with all the Visa research 🙃

Hey all, To make a very long story short - I am a US born citizen (26) and have met a really sweet lady (27) who is an Au Pair from Brazil. We both have same religious beliefs/convictions, family/life goals and we have really clicked and would like to marry someday. Our plans are to get married in brazil BUT with concerns of getting her back to the USA after the wedding ceremony has made us think it may be better to marry here in the states first and then have a celebration ceremony in brazil. We are currently in the process of flying her parents to the states so they can give us their blessings before any engagement/married certificate happens. We've been doing a lot of research on the process for a CR-1 visa can be pretty complex and we have a lot of questions - some listed below. Info: Her visa is J2 and is valid until end of January 2026. It does not have 212(e) requirements. She currently lives about 2hrs from me and her Au Pair Contract ends at the end of December 2025. The host family has been great and friendly (I'm actually joining all of them on a small family trip in a few days). Our thoughts would be to get engaged and married sometime April-June 2025 in hopes that she would have a green card end of 2025 or early/mid 2026. (This might be a really optimistic timeline for a green card) Questions: On average how long would a change of status take for a J2 Visa via CR-1 take? - we will be married, name change, shared bank account, shared utility bills to home address, car insurance, etc... everything you'd do in a marriage. Will she be able to travel to other countries once the CR-1 is filed? - I've read about "advance parole" but I am unsure of the details or limitations. If I file for CR-1 and all the additional forums to change her visa status - does she stay in the states while she waits for her status to change OR does she have to leave the USA in January 2026 when the visa ends? (Hearing lots of mixed responses to this) If we aren't approved by the time of the ceremony in Brazil, are there any Visa recommendations to get her back to the states? B2 is "non-immigration" so we've had concerns it may be a little hit-or-miss, especially due to the obvious fact she is trying to "migrate". We do know of another Au Pair from brazil who married a US citizen a few years ago and their process took about 5 months while she was still here in the USA. Is that abnormally fast? Hope you all have had great holidays, Thank you!