What are my options?

[Blender7 0]

Hey guys,

I am 22 and have been dating my American girlfriend for 3+ years.

In the long run marriage is what we are planning on. But not for another 2-3 years.

She is in school and I am currently trying to choose a career path. I was In school for a year and decided I didn't want to pursue my education in that area so I dropped out.

We have gone back and forth seeing each other for the past 3 years and I have been "visiting" the US for the past 5 months now. It's almost time for me to go back and I need to know what my options are if I want to work/live in the US.

I am really good with computers( I was in school for software engineering) and I am also a photographer.

Can someone pleaseeeeeeeee explain to me what our options are? I was interested in opening my own business for photography one day. Does that help?

Thanks guys as I am not even sure if this is the right place to post this.

[Peachey 10]

You can apply for a work Visa if you can find a company to sponsor you. You have to have a skill that's in high demand to do this, and in the recession companies aren't doing much hiring. Also without a completed degree you will have a hard time finding a company to sponsor you. I don't believe you can apply for a Visa to start a business.

You can go the K-1 Visa route. It can take from 6 months to a year to complete. Although with this Visa, you have to get married pretty quick after you enter the country.

You could go and study there on a student Visa. However be aware that tuition for international students is very high, and you need to prove that you will have money to support yourself while studying.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help

[SapphireDreams 71]

Basically your only options would be a work visa - which would be pretty much impossible without a degree of some kind.

Or, continuing to date long distance and the immigration on a K1 fiance visa once you have decided to get married.

I dated my husband for 5 years because we were both in school and working on our careers. It was a tough 5 years, but it really paid off in the end because we never rushed into anything we weren't ready for and were able to save a lot of money.

[trailmix 77]

Another option, if you are prepared to get married right now, is staying in the U.S. and filing an adjustment of status. Basically you would have to stay and you cannot leave the U.S. until you get your AP (advance parole, a document allowing you to travel until you get your green card) you also cannot work there until you get your EAD (Employment authorization document) - this can take a few months.

So really 3 options:

- Try to find an employer to sponsor you for a work visa (that could be tough)

- Get married today and apply for an adjustment of status

- Continue as you are and when you are ready to move within a year, apply for the K1 fiancee visa

Information about adjusting status and the K1 visa can be found by clicking the Guides tab at the top of the page.

[Blender7 0]

So does anyone know anything about a visa if I wanted to open my own business? Do I get one? I'm not ready to get married but what I'd the fiancé visa and how long does it last? If I were to get engaged would I be able to fond work while living down here "legally"?

Also is there anyone I can contact regarding this? And is there a price?

[BermyCat 1]

You can become a permanent resident through investment but it has very steep requirements. I believe it requires a $1,000,000 investment in a commercial enterprise and a plan to create 10 full-time jobs in the United States.

~ Catherine

Edited September 30, 2009 by BermyCat

[Danu 19]

So does anyone know anything about a visa if I wanted to open my own business? Do I get one? I'm not ready to get married but what I'd the fiancé visa and how long does it last? If I were to get engaged would I be able to fond work while living down here "legally"?

Also is there anyone I can contact regarding this? And is there a price?

The fiance visa takes about 8-10 months to get (you would have to come back for your interview and stuff while you wait, and you can't work down there is you are there while waiting) and gives you 90 days to get married when you get to the states with the visa. It doesnt aloow you to be in the states as an enagagaed person waiting to get married, so its only good for a very short duration...its basically a way for people to get their fiance's into the country quickly to get married and adjust status when they are there instead of waiting outside the country. I doubt you can get a visa for opening your own business.

Every visa has a price, I recommend reading the guides about the different types of visa's or visitng uscis.gov to see whats available and the costs. The Fiance visa costs almost 2k just to get to the point of having a 2 year greencard and doesnt sound like what you are ready for. Really your only options are to get a work visa for a job you can do (which is hard to do because they have to prove no one else can thats already in the states) get married now and adjust, or be prepared to leave and make visits back and forth until you are ready to persue a marriage visa. I looked into just about every way to be with my Fiance before we decided to go with a K1, its not easy to simply move to the states and work without one of these. Sorry!

[cjblack 0]

Another option, if you are prepared to get married right now, is staying in the U.S. and filing an adjustment of status. Basically you would have to stay and you cannot leave the U.S. until you get your AP (advance parole, a document allowing you to travel until you get your green card) you also cannot work there until you get your EAD (Employment authorization document) - this can take a few months.

How can you suggest this? Isn't it a huge risk, since she entered as a tourist? How can she just bypass the K1?

[JillA 2]

Another option, if you are prepared to get married right now, is staying in the U.S. and filing an adjustment of status. Basically you would have to stay and you cannot leave the U.S. until you get your AP (advance parole, a document allowing you to travel until you get your green card) you also cannot work there until you get your EAD (Employment authorization document) - this can take a few months.

How can you suggest this? Isn't it a huge risk, since she entered as a tourist? How can she just bypass the K1?

It happens alot, as long as you DID NOT have the intention to get married when you entered the US, you can stay and adjust status.... You can come under more scrutiny, but yes it's possible to do, many do with positive outcomes

[Rings 10]

You can bypass the K1 if you marry in good faith and adjust status. You still have to get married to do it. K1 won't benefit you unless you are ready to get married either because you have to go back to your country for the interview and you are not allowed to stay past your visitor allowance

Edited September 30, 2009 by Rings

[cjblack 0]

I'm just wondering if I messed up now. My Canadian fiancee has been not working and staying with me since we got engaged and will be staying with me for most of the time until we get the visa. Seems like we could have done this differently and shaved 5 or 6 months off the process.

[Rings 10]

Staying with you in America? Is she here on a visitors visa? When are you getting married?

[cjblack 0]

Staying with you in America? Is she here on a visitors visa? When are you getting married?

She's here with me, no visa required coming from Canada, she can stay 6 months at a time. Just lots of questions at the border. We're waiting for the K1 to get married. Just returned Packet 3 but Montreal is 4-6 month wait for interviews. This whole process is going to end up taking us about 8-10 months before we can apply for AOS.

[Rings 10]

You can't legally come to America with "Intent" to get married or it's considered fraud. However, if you get married on a whim in good faith and unexpectedly then you can adjust status immediately. You have to have a lot of proof though. It's just a different process.

[Jamaican JNR 2]

Hey guys,

I am 22 and have been dating my American girlfriend for 3+ years.

In the long run marriage is what we are planning on. But not for another 2-3 years.

She is in school and I am currently trying to choose a career path. I was In school for a year and decided I didn't want to pursue my education in that area so I dropped out.

We have gone back and forth seeing each other for the past 3 years and I have been "visiting" the US for the past 5 months now. It's almost time for me to go back and I need to know what my options are if I want to work/live in the US.

I am really good with computers( I was in school for software engineering) and I am also a photographer.

Can someone pleaseeeeeeeee explain to me what our options are? I was interested in opening my own business for photography one day. Does that help?

Thanks guys as I am not even sure if this is the right place to post this.

Since you are in love with your US girlfriend, and would like to live and work in the US and also to be with her, then the only option that you have is to marry her and start the filing process. You can stay with her in the US and have your status adjusted or you can go the K3 or CR1 route at a consulate in your country.