BiscoeBunch

Hey friends, We recently got married - US citizen to a Brazilian Au Pair (with Au Pair Care, on her second year, no 212e requirements) and we are working on the process to start the adjustment of status/GC. We would like to change her name, especially to help with the AoS papers and to have joint banking, evidence of relationship, etc... To my knowledge this would look a little like this: 1. Get married/file the marriage (Done) 2. Change name with Social Security 3. Notify Au pair Care of the marriage/name change - and request new DS-2019 forum? (Should we expect any issues with this?? The host family has been very supportive the entire process.) 4. New drivers license (to include new name and Real ID) 5. File all the adjustment papers (we've already started filling out these, including the immigration doctor visit) 6. File/register the marriage with Brazil at an Embassy to request new passport 7. Wait for the J-1 contract to end (??) and then sit and wait for work permit/GC. We have a few concerns that with the change of name that it may effect her current contract with Au Pair Care. Like I mentioned, the host family has been extremely supportive throughout the relationship and including being at the wedding and even helping with expenses. I have read that the name change wont effect the contract as long as the Au Pair and Host Family are in agreements with it continuing, and that the J-1 visa will continue until the end of its duration or until one party ends it? Both her and the host family would like to keep her 4-5 more months until they can find a appropriate replacement. Some sites say you need to notify the Au Pair organizer soon after the marriage, is that regardless of immigration intentions/name change? Is that only if we change her name? Should we look out for anything else during this process? All feedback / suggestions is much appreciated!

Hey all, I think I know the answer to this question - but I'm also getting a lot of mixed answers so just want to clarify.... My girlfriend is a Au Pair (J1 Visa - without 212(e) req.), she recently extended her contract with the host family until the end of December 2025. We are planning to get married sometime mid this year to start the change of statue process and to get her AP. Question: If we get married mid this year and change her statue & apply for AP - will it effect her ability to work with the host family until she finishes up her contract? She does not plan to extend the contract after her current contract finishes in December. When does the change of status take effect? Anything we should know/do before we start this process? Thank you for all the answers!

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!