Complicated situation: Marrying Indonesian, but obtain greencard in syria

[sweetchops 0]

On the other hand, if I am in Syria still, and i get a job offer that begins in 2 or 3 weeks in the USA, in this case I pretty much have to leave her behind while she files for immigration? 2 to 3 weeks doesnt sound like much time to go through all the immigration stuff. Or are there easier ways to deal with a situation like this as well, such as a "sped up" immigration process in which the majority can be finished upon arrival in USA?? Or should i just accept that in this scenario, i pretty much have to bite the bullet and leave her behind for a while?

Also she has many many many blood related family members who are already U.S. citizens, such as her uncle and many cousins. Will this speed up the process or possibly provide any additional options?

Edited November 16, 2008 by sweetchops

[pushbrk 13,611]

On the other hand, if I am in Syria still, and i get a job offer that begins in 2 or 3 weeks in the USA, in this case I pretty much have to leave her behind while she files for immigration? 2 to 3 weeks doesnt sound like much time to go through all the immigration stuff. Or are there easier ways to deal with a situation like this as well, such as a "sped up" immigration process in which the majority can be finished upon arrival in USA?? Or should i just accept that in this scenario, i pretty much have to bite the bullet and leave her behind for a while?

Also she has many many many blood related family members who are already U.S. citizens, such as her uncle and many cousins. Will this speed up the process or possibly provide any additional options?

What's with all the have to's? You don't have to accept an offer unless you want to. If you plan on looking for a job in the US, I'd get started on the immigration process. If you do decide to accept such a job under those circumstances, and your wife has a tourist visa, she can visit during the immigration process and you can visit her. These kinds of things don't often just happen out of the blue. You're an expatriot with a foreign spouse. Plan your life within those limitations or don't. The choices are yours.

[sweetchops 0]

well sometimes I get job offers at the spur of the moment. if suddenly i get a job offer that is too good to turn down, and the starting date is within a month, well I have to take it, if its in the best interest of the future. Ive had cases like this, so I just want to know what to expect should I have a situation like this. So, if i need to return to the U.S. in 2-3 weeks to start a new job, pretty much I leave her behind? Yes / No? And if she visits using her tourist visa during the immigration process, i would assume she would need to fly back to finish the last stage of the immigration process? Im not incredibly rich and paying for a $1,500 round trip ticket, then another $1,000 to fly her back after immigration clears is not cheap for me, but i guess itll just have to be..

Edited November 16, 2008 by sweetchops

[sweetchops 0]

also i dont plan on looking for a job in the U.S.. I dont plan on anything. I just go with whatever unexpected twist arrises. Im still young and my career paths being molded. I could be back working in USA next year, or I may never be living in the USA again. I just dont know, but it would be nice to know what options i have given any unexpected situations. I just keep my online resume on job recruiting sites. sometimes i get U.S. employers calling me, sometimes i get foreign employers, so i dont really look for any job. opportunities come and i go with the best one that throws itself at me. So, i dont know where ill be in the future, and thats why im stressed, because i have to know my options for all situations.

Edited November 16, 2008 by sweetchops

[pushbrk 13,611]

also i dont plan on looking for a job in the U.S.. I dont plan on anything. I just go with whatever unexpected twist arrises. Im still young and my career paths being molded. I could be back working in USA next year, or I may never be living in the USA again. I just dont know, but it would be nice to know what options i have given any unexpected situations. I just keep my online resume on job recruiting sites. sometimes i get U.S. employers calling me, sometimes i get foreign employers, so i dont really look for any job. opportunities come and i go with the best one that throws itself at me. So, i dont know where ill be in the future, and thats why im stressed, because i have to know my options for all situations.

You're getting married to a foreigner, so one "have to" will be some kind of adjustments and/or sacrifices related to your footloose and fancy free lifestyle. It goes with the territory.

[msu17 0]

I agree. One of the joys of marrying someone who's not a USC is the government gets to dictate a lot about your very personal relationship. You are actually incredibly lucky. You have residency in the country she has residency in. You can therefore file DCF which only takes a few months. You don't have to be apart AT ALL. Regarding what happens if you accept a job in the US and must be here w/in 2-3 weeks, I don't know. Go to the DCF area in the forums and ask, or ask at the US embassy.

Basically you have 2 options: Go with the footloose and fancy free lifestyle and realize that there won't be any definites for immigration.

OR make a general outline of when you want to return to the US and plan for that.

Regarding the tourist visa, your wife has not right to come to the US regardless of how long you've been married or how much family she has here. It sucks, isn't fair but it's reality. The US gov. doesn't want people circumventing the immigration system. Looking at it from their perspective, your wife is married to a USC who is going with her to visit family in the US AND she has her own family here as well. It's going to take a lot to convince them. I don't know what would happen if she returns to the US with you for a visit and you decide to stay. It may work but I would definitely speak with an immigration lawyer first to make sure you can do it. It sucks, but we have to play ball or risk having our loved ones not be allowed to ever come. Learn that and accept it.

[canadian_wife 1,831]

The sooner you recognize your options and how the system works, the easier this process is going to be for you. DO NOT attempt to do the 'oh this awesome job 'suddenly' came up while my wife was visiting on a tourist visa and now we are adjusting status'. I HIGHLY doubt that will fly with the customs officers.

MSU and pushbrk are right, your wife has NO RIGHT to visit the U.S. nor does she have a RIGHT to immigrate.

You are going to soon be a married man, this come with responsibilities and planning. You are going to have to face that you may have to give up your 'fly by the seat of my pants' attitude and life style and actually sit down and plan your life.

[Jon&Lindsey 0]

I agree. Once you are married, you have more to think about than just 'oh now I want this job so off I go'. I know careers are important, but what are your priorities here? You sound like your own life and career are/will be your priority, not being with your wife and her feelings/what kind of life she wants. Assuming you already have a job when another great one lands in your lap, there is no 'have to' at all - it's a choice. Job or wife? If you seriously want to go back to the US, then with DCF it really doesn't take THAT long for the process and you both to be able to go back together, you just need to do some planning. If you do both go back and she gets her GC, then after 3 years she can become a citizen, at which point you will have much more flexibility about where you live.

[Boiler 47,453]

Reading through your posts you explain why it may be difficult to get a Visitor Visa for your wife. Having said that, I would certainly try and get one.

I presume you could get a work visa in Syria quickly, that is generally not the norm. If you were a Syrian wanting to teach languages in the US, it would be difficult, certainly lengthy to get a visa.

Edited November 16, 2008 by Boiler

[himher 634]

They (consular officers) are instructed to presume that your wife's intention is to use her tourist visa to enter the country for the purpose of staying (immigrating). The burdon of proof is on you to demonstrate to the officer at the consulate that your ties to Syria or wherever you are working/living are strong enough to assure that you will be returning after your visit. Your best bet for obtaining a visitor's visa for your wife is to show that you have a residence/property in Syria, some sort of long-term employment contract, and that you HAVE to return after visiting the US. Even then, there are no guarantees that your wife can accompany you.

We are about to experience the same situation in Saudi Arabia, except we could care less if her visitor's visa is approved after her green card expires because we would really rather visit Bali/Singapore/Australia/or a million other places on vacation as visit the US, plus why spend any of that hard earned $$ in the US when there is a whole world full of really cool places to go. Our full intention and understanding is that we will likely have to re-file EVERYTHING and expect to wait a minimum of 6-8 months for approval before we re-enter the US for good.

im still confused. If shes married to me, why would they care whether shes shes a potential immigrant to USA or not. If she immigrates and stays in USA, fine, big deal. IF not, fine, big deal. i dont get it. Why should a regular Visa be harder than an Immigration visa.

Ok, just a guess. Are they afraid maybe she will get the Tourist Visa, then suddenly leave me and go to the USA without me and stay there? or possibly go to the USA to "visit" family, then run off and not come back to Syria with me? something like this? Thats all i can think of.