LOLZ!!!!!

Funnily enough, I'm finishing it up this weekend! We've got the green light

I'd be disappointed if you hadn't joined the discussion......

Funny enough, when we called the misinformation line to see if Craig could stay longer (he had come over on a 2 week visit and ended up staying 86 days...but this was right at the end of his two-week visit. We didn't find VJ until October of 2004, and this was in July of 2004...but we had done research by then,and knew about the 129-F and were about to file it....) they told us that we could marry right then and there and adjust status too. We considered it for a (very) short time, because we weren't prepared to do it that quickly, but it really did shock us after all we had read about it. As I say, we hadn't found VJ yet and realized the whole "intent" issue yet.

Could we have done it? Yep, and legally too. For those people, I don't think a single thing of it...perfectly fine and, although there might be some added risk...that's yours to take. All *other* things equal, the non USC *should* (def. read that as SHOULD) be allowed to adjust...but if you have obvious intent to come over on VWP and then marry...I don't see how anyone on this board who knows better could possibly advocate that. It really doesn't have squat to do with whether any of us think it's ok morally or not...it's just illegal...and that's against the TOS, actually. Not that some of us (hey, me included, I know) don't violate that here and there from time to time....but...just sayin'. M.

Correct or incorrect, when it comes to this subject area, the distinction between right and privilege is muddled.

Screw my fiance's "rights," we're talking about MY damn rights as a united states citizen to have my man here with me. We're Americans. We're supposed to get what we want. Right. Now. Dammit.

I'm well, well, well aware that he has no rights in this country until he is IN this country in some meaningful way. And though I don't wish it on a soul - that reality will never be obvious to you until you spend 2 hours running through an international airport terminal literally throwing yourself at customs agents and anyone with a badge and crying uncontrolably while trying to figure out where your boyfriend is and what is going on. (Then, for good measure, toss in a few phone calls where ICE agents LITERALLY HANG UP ON YOU after faking that you've reached the right number when you've already talked to that EXACT agent at least twice.) I said at one point when the guy didn't hang up "I'm an American citizen, I have rights!" He was unmoved. But I have a guarantee to the pursuit of happiness - and he's it. So a little help from uncle sam would be nice.

And amen Rebeccajo - if I knew then what I know now, I'd have drugged him and dragged him into the chapel of the bells and married his ### before he even considered buying a return ticket. Per the terms of service, I won't tell anyone here to break the law or start forming intent willy-nilly without knowing the consequences.

But if I ever met a couple who met after the non-USC entered the country on whatever visa, I'd get myself sworn in as a Deputy Civil Marriage Commissioner (something you can do in my state), and marry them myself!

This whole thing is like Angelina Jolie's comments on parenting and adoption, isn't it? (Stay with me, this will make sense.) Adoptive parents have to prove all these things to all these bodies - they'll be responsible, they can provide, they are stable, etc etc. Meanwhile, anyone can get knocked up and raise their own child with no problem. Any two (hetero) Americans can marry pretty much whenever they want - but we have to petition the government. Yikes, right?

And I still think the adjustment from VWP results in the same policy goals being met. On a K1, something could go wrong and you could get bounced from the US, never getting the green card. Same thing from a VWP entry. My point - the government STILL gets a chance to kick you out, either way.

That is because a officer has the right to refuse anyone at anytime for any reason. That still means you have the right to come to the USA under the VWP. If you want to pick my post apart that is fine. However my point to begin with is that you can come legally to this country on a VWP and get married. It is legal! If it was not legal people would never be able to adjust status afterwards.

RE: the bit in red. Are you being sarcastic here?

Oh, and it is not your right as a US citizen to have your foreign national fiance brought here. It is your right to petition him.

Only when people start understanding this might they have a little more patience in the process.

I tend to be on the side of the camp that believes we have no constitutional rights to bring someone over here.

But I'm also on the side of the camp that believes that if USCIS is going to take my money to process my REQUEST, they need to give me my money's worth. If they want to make this a 'customer' process, then they need to treat me like one - not a beggar.

Thats exactly it. If they are going to run it, then do it right!

Wow what a thread. Fun

I guess as you can tell Im from the camp that thinks it is a right. Things have not always been mircomanaged like this. I dont expect immigration to work like 1819, but I still believe its a right. If its not a right then I think we have given up part of what the constitution was fundamentally written for.

That aside. Im doing the K-1 visa like most people here. I think the process is over the top. Infringes on what I think our rights as a USC should be. Hopefully the governement can find a better way in the future. Until then I'll play the game like everyone else. Unfortunetly it doesnt stop after the K-1 as T&D pointed out so well in a previous post.

Not Her rights, MY rights to bring her using the VWP as the tool at the time. However maybe your right. I also think that if someone meets the qualifying conditions under the VWP it is their right also. Having lived along the Canadian border for 3 years I can say that the economy and peoples lives would cease to exist there if it wasnt a right for Canadians, and Visa Versa. The border is Fluid and it makes no sense to stop and all of a sudden be forced to do a K-1 Visa. Just to walk into the country and start all over again as if you entered under the VWP. If you needed a visa to get into the country in the first place then fine. You might as well go the K-1 route, but if you didnt need a visa in the first place then whats the year long wait and a whole lot of extra $ for?

IT IS NOT A RIGHT! GET IT STRAIGHT! NO FOREIGNER IS ENTITLED TO ENTRY TO THE US.



open house time, gotta go. If it's slow I'll be lurkin on my phone

I am not going to quibble with you over the definition of "rights" in the legal context. It's my opinion that aliens (anyone who is not a US citizen) have NO right to enter the US although they are sometimes afforded that option. It's my opinion that a US citizen has no "right" to "bring" any alien to the US by a visa or treaty. The border is very much not fluid, and yes, I have lived on the US/Can border & understand quite a bit about the economics.

As far as the 'what's the wait for' part, please see my reply to TD above.


Go make a sale, missy. And congrats on getting the GO sign!! Off to the races, now!

LOL someones alittle officious. Why stress yourself out forcing your opinion? This thread could probably carry on and on with no end. Some agree and some don't, it's a pointless argument and thrashing out on here isn't going to change anyones opinions.

SteveUK read the posts and decide for yourself if you think its worth it!

1. If i had a partner in America (which i do) for one it would be a serious relationship for me.
2. To be having this kind of relationship I would be serious about a future marriage. Travelling back and forth and being separated for so long is too stressful.
3. If my American partner invited me over to stay for a few weeks and un be-known to me his plan was to whisk me away and marry me would I? Indeed I would! [Dans] Quote: If it was not legal people would never be able to adjust status afterwards.

Nikki71

I'm not quibbling opinon like 'i like ham'. the legality of 'rights' is much different in that it's very much black and white. It's not up for speculation: technically, foreign nationals do NOT have the RIGHT to enter; they have the privilege. I obviously feel this is a vital difference

As to the rest of your post: no one's debating the permissability of adjusting after marriage with entry via VWP w/o intent.

Mo: open house is slow it's a beautiful day so prolly not much traffic. Vacant house, so nowt to do but sit on my folding chair, browse the net on my fone, and listen to my Zen. thank God for them!!!!!

And D & I are over the moon that we stopped 'treading water' and have finally begun to swim!!!!! All downhill now!

dunno what's up w my phone cos I typed out a reply, yet I don't see it.

wtf? grrr

eta: nm I see it now

No mixing metaphors now.. aren't your supposed to swim UPstream to spawn? Or is that goats....

<yawn> Quiet out here too.. come ON spring breakers!Do the American thing and support our economy with some mindless shopping!