My girlfriend and I have been together for two years now. She is on a F-1 visas and she graduated last year (May 2006). She was able to obtain a working permit, that will expire in May 2007. Her boss doesn't want to file a working permit for her. Since I am a U.S. citizen I convince her to get married so I can file papers for her. The problems we face are:
1. She lives in NY and I live is boston. Will that cause a problem?
2. We don't want our family to know about the marriage; because we don't want them to think we did it for papers. So, we are just going to City Hall and get married and won't tell any family members. How should we present such case to the immigration interviewer? I hope you will be able to answer my questions or point me to the direction where I can get the answers. Thank you very much for your help.
it is not fraud. It is just that we both recently graduated from college and we need to attend graduate school. She wants to go to NY and I don't like NY. Beside, she need to spend 2 years in her profession in NY to obtain her archicheture license. We were hoping her job would buy us time to complete our dream. But it seems the only thing to do now is to marry her so she can stay in the states. Do you have any other options.
Originally posted by Dr. Lavoisier: it is not fraud. It is just that we both recently graduated from college and we need to attend graduate school. She wants to go to NY and I don't like NY. Beside, she need to spend 2 years in her profession in NY to obtain her archicheture license. We were hoping her job would buy us time to complete our dream. But it seems the only thing to do now is to marry her so she can stay in the states. Do you have any other options.
Please just admit it. You just can not stand to be around Yankee fans. We are not that bad An we win, a lot, on top of that. Go Yankeeeees!
Originally posted by Dr. Lavoisier: My girlfriend and I have been together for two years now. She is on a F-1 visas and she graduated last year (May 2006). She was able to obtain a working permit, that will expire in May 2007. Her boss doesn't want to file a working permit for her. Since I am a U.S. citizen I convince her to get married so I can file papers for her. The problems we face are:
1. She lives in NY and I live is boston. Will that cause a problem?
2. We don't want our family to know about the marriage; because we don't want them to think we did it for papers. So, we are just going to City Hall and get married and won't tell any family members. How should we present such case to the immigration interviewer? I hope you will be able to answer my questions or point me to the direction where I can get the answers. Thank you very much for your help.
Difficult situation, but not an impossible one. I think there may be cultural constraints with your family. If you do marry though and both of you are living at different addresses, you must establish that the main reason was economic and not any other reason. You may want to consider that if the two of you marry, how would you support her and you? This would include the financing need or required for graduate school. Furthermore, you may need to establish that your prospective residences and degree programs would be in conflict if either of you moved to the other city to be with your spouse. Hope this helps given with the limited info given.
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." John Adams on Defense of the boston Massacre
Originally posted by Dr. Lavoisier: I hate the Yankees with passion and I think people in NY are rude.
I hate the Yankees myself, but I also hate baseball with a passion too.
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." John Adams on Defense of the boston Massacre
I think you both are not in true love with each other. If you love some one you care for him/her and live together. So do not jeoperdize your future specially her future. Either get married in reality else forget it.
There is no love involved.... otherwise, your so called "g-f" would make sure she goes home and visits her family and friends,makes sure she gets everyhting she needs together...applies for fiance visa etc and then comes here as anyone who is in love...
Man when my wife and decided to get married after 4 years of dating...how I spent almost 17 months back in europe,to get everyhting together,safe money,get all the paper work...say good bye to friends etc etc....
but your g-f is in the us as a student...she just wants to stay here and work??? getting married is not that easy...and either way,she will have to go back home anyway, at least in most cases....
you truly love her and want the best outcome??? tell her to go gome after she graduated...safe mone and come here,get married and live happily...
unless you just wanna admit you wanna do fraud?
who else gets married and does not wanna let any family member know about it??? INS will find stuff like that out and not to mention you guys won't be even living together after marriage if that would happen..and if it comes out fraud and all that,you will be liable as well and its a felony my friend. Immigration law is veru very complex,don't mess with it.
my question is.. i have been in the u.s. for 18 years. i came here on a tourist visa, had it expired and never left. i have been working though all this time and paying taxes. can i adjust my status to legal? thanks very much for any input.
I was in a similar situation. You can adjust, but you have to have some benefit/provision to hold on to. I wasn't able (no matter how much I wanted) to come forward for many years, because the immigration law just didn't provide relief for my situation. I have two American born children, one of which is now 21 and was able to file an I-130.
The immigration law can really screw up someone's life.
“...I may condemn what you say, but I will give my life for that you may say it”! - Voltaire
If you came here as a tourist and you have never left,since u came as a tourist...you are not only illegal here,but once you are cought,my friend have god have mercy lol... for you there will be NO way to adjust... just keep your fingers cross,because you know one way or the other,highway or hot water..you'll be cought.Cause eitherway,there will be a situation,where you have to leave or contact ins or someonthing..or your employer will ask for a work permit etc...
Dr. Lavoisier: As another person commented, you can't mess with the immigration law. You want to hide this from your family? Do you realize you sometimes have to show photos of you guys with the parents and other relatives at gatherings, etc. One example is a couple didn't realize that in a photo she was on one end and her husband was on the other end of a group of people. Immigration told them that it seemed like they were just good friends. The couple honestly didn't realize it, was an honest blunder on their part. But one needs more than one photo of course. I've no clue as to what they'd say if you told the truth about living apart for school as long as you have banking, lease contracts, etc. in both your names to show as proof of your legitimate marriage. I see where your coming from but you need to speak with an attorney. Good luck.
Originally posted by HBKHBK: There is no love involved.... otherwise, your so called "g-f" would make sure she goes home and visits her family and friends,makes sure she gets everyhting she needs together...applies for fiance visa etc and then comes here as anyone who is in love...
Man when my wife and decided to get married after 4 years of dating...how I spent almost 17 months back in europe,to get everyhting together,safe money,get all the paper work...say good bye to friends etc etc....
but your g-f is in the us as a student...she just wants to stay here and work??? getting married is not that easy...and either way,she will have to go back home anyway, at least in most cases....
you truly love her and want the best outcome??? tell her to go gome after she graduated...safe mone and come here,get married and live happily...
unless you just wanna admit you wanna do fraud?
who else gets married and does not wanna let any family member know about it??? INS will find stuff like that out and not to mention you guys won't be even living together after marriage if that would happen..and if it comes out fraud and all that,you will be liable as well and its a felony my friend. Immigration law is veru very complex,don't mess with it.
I would not be too sure about your conclusions. After all, at least one is in school with the other working or in school. This can be reasonably explained as to why two different addresses.
Not notifying the family may involve issues not pertaining to immigration law. There may be cultural issues, but no info is given at this time.
Their situation is not an impossible one, but it amy take some explaining to do. If the fiancee is in a good educational program in NY, why would she want to change her enrollment status to Massachusetts? And if the other spouse has a good job and cannot relocate to NY, why should he move? Or is it your presumption that women should only be barefoot and make babies?
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." John Adams on Defense of the boston Massacre
Originally posted by Dr. Lavoisier: it is not fraud. It is just that we both recently graduated from college and we need to attend graduate school. She wants to go to NY and I don't like NY. Beside, she need to spend 2 years in her profession in NY to obtain her archicheture license. We were hoping her job would buy us time to complete our dream. But it seems the only thing to do now is to marry her so she can stay in the states. Do you have any other options.
She can change her status from F to J visa when she goes to graduate school. She just needs to fill out a I-539 form and submit the proper documents to extend her stay and change visa status. Marrying is the other option.
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." John Adams on Defense of the boston Massacre
Thank you very much for your comment Explora. we do have pictures with each other families. I don't want to do anything that seems illegal that is why I am asking for advice.
Dr. Lavoisier: Just a friendly question. I know you said you didn't want the parents to think you guys were marrying to obtain papers so you didn't want to tell them. Your intentions are legitimate regarding the marriage. Your uncertain about the school locations and I commend you for asking advise beforehand so that you hopefully wouldn't have any unexpected problems in the future. Back to the parents, somewhere in life there's always somebody that will doubt something. If the two of you are sincere, then if there's any doubt from anybody, you can make them rest assured the marriage isn't soley for the papers. You aren't going to need any unnecessary stress in the future. Let the parents know. What if one of you were in an accident and next of kin is notified and then it comes out that your married? The parents will question why you lied and then they'll surely believe you did it for the papaers. One way or another it will come out. I heard it happened in a dentist office one time where the receptionist mentioned the relationship by addressing "your wife" to an individual. It just so happened that the lady that worked in the office of the company that the lady was employed through happened to be in the lobby and overheard it. It spread like a bad rumour through the jobsite. Keep things simple as you can. You'll have enough stress dealing with immigration and your plans for your relocations. I've also heard that sometimes Immigration wants to have notarized statements by friends or family members that the marriage is not a sham. What if they suddenly asked for your parents to sign or come in for the interview with you? Whew! Lots of explaining real quick, eh? You could also go to About.com/immigration, they have a site that you can get on a discussion board also. It's hosted by Jennifer and Peter Wipf. You know many lawyers give you a free consultation and usually over the phone first. Take advantage of it and give some a call and get some feedback. Try to relax, as I said before, with all documents in the same name, etc. I don't see where you'd have problems. Good luck.
Thank you for all your advice. I think if I do get married, I will at least involve my immediate family members. However, we have plenty of time to decide. Thanks.
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Can not wait to see repeat of Boston Massacre! Let's go Yankees!
