My I-94 was marked 'To marry only'

[JeremyR 8]

I've pondered what this meant a couple of times over the past year. For some reason it didn't occur to me to ask if anyone here knew

When I came in on a K-1 through Chicago last May, the CBP guard annotated the "Record of Changes" section of my I-94 with "TO MARRY ONLY: <full name>". I've never heard of this before and wondered at the time what on earth the point of writing it was. Does anyone else have that on their I-94 or know why it's sometimes written?

[payxibka 10,044]

I've pondered what this meant a couple of times over the past year. For some reason it didn't occur to me to ask if anyone here knew

When I came in on a K-1 through Chicago last May, the CBP guard annotated the "Record of Changes" section of my I-94 with "TO MARRY ONLY: <full name>". I've never heard of this before and wondered at the time what on earth the point of writing it was. Does anyone else have that on their I-94 or know why it's sometimes written?

well whether it is written on anybodies I-94 or not... the fact is true... if you want to stay, you can only marry the petitioner.... if you don't you must depart

[*Robert* 2]

I've pondered what this meant a couple of times over the past year. For some reason it didn't occur to me to ask if anyone here knew

When I came in on a K-1 through Chicago last May, the CBP guard annotated the "Record of Changes" section of my I-94 with "TO MARRY ONLY: <full name>". I've never heard of this before and wondered at the time what on earth the point of writing it was. Does anyone else have that on their I-94 or know why it's sometimes written?

Wasn't written on ours, Maybe it's so if you tried to marry someone else, and the I-94 is necessary for AOS, they would know you didn't marry who you were intended to marry.

[JeremyR 8]

well whether it is written on anybodies I-94 or not... the fact is true... if you want to stay, you can only marry the petitioner.... if you don't you must depart

Well yes, of course but the 'K-1' on the stamp already shows that to anybody who looks at it. Likewise, USCIS know full well who I was entitled to marry. I get the impression it was just one of those quirks of the system where everyone handles a given visa type slightly differently. I also wondered if it was some kind of 'Anti-EAD'

Maybe I'm reading to much into something that doesn't matter and I should just put it away now

[*Robert* 2]

Well it certainly raises an interesting question: Has anyone ever come into the US on a K-1 visa, but then married someone else, and successfully adjusted status? Stranger things have happened!

The K-1 is a type of immigrant visa, meaning the visa holder has been approved entry into the US. Does it really matter who they marry?

Edited April 18, 2009 by roi_aggie

[JeremyR 8]

Well it certainly raises an interesting question: Has anyone ever come into the US on a K-1 visa, but then married someone else, and successfully adjusted status? Stranger things have happened!

The K-1 is a type of immigrant visa, meaning the visa holder has been approved entry into the US. Does it really matter who they marry?

A K-1 is a non-immigrant visa, albeit a weird one because the holder is not expected to leave (assuming they play by the rules, of course).

You can only marry the person who petitioned for you. I should imagine that if any other person was named on the AOS documentation, the package wouldn't even be accepted. It would definitely be denied if they did accept it for processing and the K-1 would be accruing illegal presence if they then stayed beyond the 90-days.

I think it was just the CBP officer being a bit of a jobsworth, to be honest. He also did other weird stuff, like stapling the I-94 directly through the middle of it and my visa, saying "I make no apologies for attaching it like this".

[pushbrk 12,298]

Well it certainly raises an interesting question: Has anyone ever come into the US on a K-1 visa, but then married someone else, and successfully adjusted status? Stranger things have happened!

The K-1 is a type of immigrant visa, meaning the visa holder has been approved entry into the US. Does it really matter who they marry?

A K-1 is a non-immigrant visa, albeit a weird one because the holder is not expected to leave (assuming they play by the rules, of course).

You can only marry the person who petitioned for you. I should imagine that if any other person was named on the AOS documentation, the package wouldn't even be accepted. It would definitely be denied if they did accept it for processing and the K-1 would be accruing illegal presence if they then stayed beyond the 90-days.

I think it was just the CBP officer being a bit of a jobsworth, to be honest. He also did other weird stuff, like stapling the I-94 directly through the middle of it and my visa, saying "I make no apologies for attaching it like this".

Semantics become critical here. A K1 visa holder can marry anybody they want instead of the petitioner but only marriage to the petitioner gives them the privilege of adjusting status based on marriage to a US Citizen. If they marry somebody else instead, they don't get to stay.

[*Robert* 2]

Semantics become critical here. A K1 visa holder can marry anybody they want instead of the petitioner but only marriage to the petitioner gives them the privilege of adjusting status based on marriage to a US Citizen. If they marry somebody else instead, they don't get to stay.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I've pondered what this meant a couple of times over the past year. For some reason it didn't occur to me to ask if anyone here knew

When I came in on a K-1 through Chicago last May, the CBP guard annotated the "Record of Changes" section of my I-94 with "TO MARRY ONLY: <full name>". I've never heard of this before and wondered at the time what on earth the point of writing it was. Does anyone else have that on their I-94 or know why it's sometimes written?

Sometimes they write or stamp nothing, doesn't matter. On my wifes they gave the "employment authorized" stamp and then handed to her and said "You need to get married in 90 days or get out!" Friendly JFK people. That's the deal, they just gave a written reminder.

[rebeccajo 14]

Well it certainly raises an interesting question: Has anyone ever come into the US on a K-1 visa, but then married someone else, and successfully adjusted status? Stranger things have happened!

The K-1 is a type of immigrant visa, meaning the visa holder has been approved entry into the US. Does it really matter who they marry?

A K-1 is a non-immigrant visa, albeit a weird one because the holder is not expected to leave (assuming they play by the rules, of course).

You can only marry the person who petitioned for you. I should imagine that if any other person was named on the AOS documentation, the package wouldn't even be accepted. It would definitely be denied if they did accept it for processing and the K-1 would be accruing illegal presence if they then stayed beyond the 90-days.

I think it was just the CBP officer being a bit of a jobsworth, to be honest. He also did other weird stuff, like stapling the I-94 directly through the middle of it and my visa, saying "I make no apologies for attaching it like this".

Semantics become critical here. A K1 visa holder can marry anybody they want instead of the petitioner but only marriage to the petitioner gives them the privilege of adjusting status based on marriage to a US Citizen. If they marry somebody else instead, they don't get to stay.

I think you got a CBP officer who understood the K1. Some officers are very inexperienced with them.

And really - not trying to start a fight - but I'm not sure semantics are involved at all. The purpose of the K1 visa is to allow an alien entry to the US to marry the petitioner. That is the reason for the grant of the visa and the reason CBP is permitted to admit the alien.

[Satellite 1]

well whether it is written on anybodies I-94 or not... the fact is true... if you want to stay, you can only marry the petitioner.... if you don't you must depart

That is not true.

The beneficiary can likewise see adjustment under I-360 Violence Against Woman Act (WAVA) if the petitioner turns out to be a sour apple. Likewise a beneficiary who can also seek relief under the provisions of Asylum and Withholding of Removal (I-589).

Edited April 19, 2009 by Satellite

[payxibka 10,044]

well whether it is written on anybodies I-94 or not... the fact is true... if you want to stay, you can only marry the petitioner.... if you don't you must depart

That is not true.

The beneficiary can likewise see adjustment under I-360 Violence Against Woman Act (WAVA) if the petitioner turns out to be a sour apple. Likewise a beneficiary who can also seek relief under the provisions of Asylum and Withholding of Removal (I-589).

explain to me please how the I-360 applies when no marriage has occurred....

Political Asylum?? please....

[I Miss Her 0]

If I am right, fiancé (e) K 1 visa is also known as marriage Visa but it is strange that they stamp I-94 card like this.

K-1 visa do not required to marry your fiancé (e) in US. K-1 visa gives permission to marry within 90 days as per rule. If person decide not to marry the only option is they must leave the US before the Visa expires. The K1 non-immigrant status can be neither extend nor change.

[daboyz 36]

If I am right, fiancé (e) K 1 visa is also known as marriage Visa but it is strange that they stamp I-94 card like this.

K-1 visa do not required to marry your fiancé (e) in US. K-1 visa gives permission to marry within 90 days as per rule. If person decide not to marry the only option is they must leave the US before the Visa expires. The K1 non-immigrant status can be neither extend nor change.

I think it would be pretty difficult to get married anywhere but the U.S. K-1 is a single entry visa. If they leave the country to get married, how do you propose the foreign spouse would get back into the U.S.?

[I Miss Her 0]

If I am right, fiancé (e) K 1 visa is also known as marriage Visa but it is strange that they stamp I-94 card like this.

K-1 visa do not required to marry your fiancé (e) in US. K-1 visa gives permission to marry within 90 days as per rule. If person decide not to marry the only option is they must leave the US before the Visa expires. The K1 non-immigrant status can be neither extend nor change.

I think it would be pretty difficult to get married anywhere but the U.S. K-1 is a single entry visa. If they leave the country to get married, how do you propose the foreign spouse would get back into the U.S.?

Please do not misinterpret, “THEY” means here is only fiancé (e), i.e. K-1 visa holder.