Getting Married (B1 Tourist visa) - Please Help

[Toto15 1]

Hello Lovely People,

I'm getting married and I would like some help with the paperwork/visa process

Details:

We're both in the US right now, in Boulder, CO

Me - male, 22 years old , US Citizen

is marrying

partner - female, 29 years old, Colombian, currently in US with B1 tourist visa which technically expires in 3 months but she's already been in the US for 2 months

We both have a clean history with no crimes.

We've both never gotten married before.

I was in university up till recently, and now I work a job a little over minimum wage and living paycheck by paycheck.

She was a professional athlete (on the national team for her sport).

On her tourist visa application she put me as her US contact.

We have plenty of pictures together and videos dating back up to 9 months ago when we first met in colombia.

We have some friends willing to be vouch for our relationship.

I've sent money to her friend in colombia (because she had problems with her bank before) roughly 4 months ago, and I've sent money to her mom in colombia via western union. And we have the receipts.

I am happy to open up a checking account jointly with her, or even add her as a signer on my account. (I have CHarles Schwab and Chase)

We want to get married as soon as possible, probably sometime this/next week.

We've both never gotten married before so I would love some help with the marriage process as well as the visa

For example:

What visa would she even apply for?

Where would I go file? (Boulder the city I live in, or go to Denver?)

What do we need for marriage to be legal? (I did some research that Colorado doesn't need officiate/witnesses, but would that be a good idea?)

Would she be able to stay in the US or would she have to go back to Colombia as we do the paperwork ?

I'm living paycheck to paycheck so she wants to help me out by working, how long would it take for her to be able to work?

I'm really in a pickle and stressed, help is greatly appreciated!

Edited March 3, 2015 by Toto15

[Pitaya 2,576]

Welcome to the forum.

, easily accessible at the top of the forum page. In particular, the IR1/CR1 Petition and Adjustment Guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[Boiler 43,381]

We got our marriage license in Boulder. Where you get married is a personal choice.

Sounds like you may need a joint sponsor.

Assuming you adjust in country say 90 days from when you file to her being able to work.

And I am sure you mean B2.

[Toto15 1]

How would we go about getting a marriage license-certificate?

And she has a B1/B2 visa (so both?)

Where can I read up on joint sponsor?

Thank you so much for your replies

[Boiler 43,381]

Boulder web site

She would have been admitted B2

On here.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hello Lovely People,

I'm getting married and I would like some help with the paperwork/visa process

Details:

We're both in the US right now, in Boulder, CO

Me - male, 22 years old , US Citizen

is marrying

partner - female, 29 years old, Colombian, currently in US with B1 tourist visa which technically expires in 3 months but she's already been in the US for 2 months

We both have a clean history with no crimes.

We've both never gotten married before.

I was in university up till recently, and now I work a job a little over minimum wage and living paycheck by paycheck.

She was a professional athlete (on the national team for her sport).

On her tourist visa application she put me as her US contact.

We have plenty of pictures together and videos dating back up to 9 months ago when we first met in colombia.

We have some friends willing to be vouch for our relationship.

I've sent money to her friend in colombia (because she had problems with her bank before) roughly 4 months ago, and I've sent money to her mom in colombia via western union. And we have the receipts.

I am happy to open up a checking account jointly with her, or even add her as a signer on my account. (I have CHarles Schwab and Chase)

We want to get married as soon as possible, probably sometime this/next week.

We've both never gotten married before so I would love some help with the marriage process as well as the visa

For example:

What visa would she even apply for? She does not apply for a visa. Visas are for entering the US. She is already here, so she does not need a visa. After marriage, you file to adjust her status so she can get a green card.

Where would I go file? (Boulder the city I live in, or go to Denver?) You do not file in Boulder or Denver. You follow the instructions on the forms to file for her.

What do we need for marriage to be legal? (I did some research that Colorado doesn't need officiate/witnesses, but would that be a good idea?) Google "marriage + your city." You will find what is necessary to marry where you are from the local city government.

Would she be able to stay in the US or would she have to go back to Colombia as we do the paperwork ? Once you file for her to adjust status, she can stay. In fact, she has to stay until she gets AP or a green card. Once she has AP or a green card, she can leave the US without abandoning the adjustment of status. If she leaves without AP or the green card, she will not be allowed back until she gets a spousal visa which would take 6-12 months.

I'm living paycheck to paycheck so she wants to help me out by working, how long would it take for her to be able to work? When she files to adjust, she can file for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). This will take about 90 days to get. She can not work until she gets the EAD.

I'm really in a pickle and stressed, help is greatly appreciated!

Hi,

She does not need a visa. Visas are used to enter the US. She is already here, so she does not need a visa.

Once you are married, she files for an Adjustment of Status to get a green card. Follow the Guides at the top of this page.

When she AOS, she will be allowed to stay here (even when her visitor visa expires). There are conditions. If she leaves without AP or a green card, then she abandons the AOS. It takes about 90 days to get AP.

You will need a Joint Sponsor for the I-864 Affidavit of Support.

Best of luck.

[aaron2020 11,651]

How would we go about getting a marriage license-certificate? Check with your local government. Go to the city or county. Google "marriage + your city."

And she has a B1/B2 visa (so both?) It's the same thing. It's a combo visa.

Where can I read up on joint sponsor? Form I-864. You can find it using Google.

Thank you so much for your replies

[Penguin_ie 5,984]

***** Moving from CR-1 spousal visa to AOS from Tourist Visa forum *****

[andfp 14]

This is clearly a AOS from Tourist visa. I don't know why the MOD is moving to CR1/IR Visa.

It is faster to start the process here in the US since this is a truly bona fide marriage between this two people.

Because if he starts the I-130 here and she goes to Colombia. That's gonna take time between interviews, NOAs and everything. About 3-6 or even more months and ANYWAY when se comes back to marry him with the fiancee visa (90 days visa) they will have to start the AOS from that visa which is the same of everyone 6 months.

1 month after package received in Chicago for Fingerprints and Biometrics

then 2 months for Work Permit (EAD Card) and some other two to three months for Interview which ends up being 6 months total.

I know people that got Adjustment of Status in about 4 months total from Tourist to Green Card.

Total costs for Adjustment of Status is $1,070 (I-130) and $420 (please confirm I-485 which also includes Work Permit and Travel permit). And she does not need to go back to Colombia.

He will need a joint sponsor because poverty level for two people is $19,600 a year.

[ValerieA 350]

I think your questions have pretty much been answered above (and one judgmental comment to boot), but I want to stress that your spouse should not leave the US until they receive the AP, or, to be even safer, the green card itself. You're looking at about 90 days for the AP, and 3-5 months for the green card (usually).

[Boiler 43,381]

$35 in Colorado I think for a marriage license.

We do not know her financial position, sounds much better.

[Ontarkie 13,898]

~~Two post removed for not contributing to the thread. Post constructively or do not post. One post quoting returned to view~~

Are you thinking it would be cheaper for them to travel back and forth? Many people do this with a joint sponsor, I don't see that it is any business of ours.

Mod hat off

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

This is clearly a AOS from Tourist visa. I don't know why the MOD is moving to CR1/IR Visa.

It was moved from CR1/Ir1 to AOS.

[Toto15 1]

Got the marriage license and the ceremony is Wednesday.

Thank you guys for the help.

Looking into the guides and will post with any questions

Edited March 7, 2015 by Toto15

[andfp 14]

Wish you the best toto!

[Toto15 1]

Hey Guys,

I'm filing out the paperwork and I'm confused.

Do I file the I 130 packet first and after a period time I file I 485?

Or do I file the two packets together?