I'm a F-1 visa holder in need of help with the process of adjustment of status

[Mozilla 0]

Hello everyone, here is my story:

I'm 21, brazilian and a currently attending school at a community college in Texas. My visa is good until August 2010.

But by the end of december 2010 I will be transfering to a University. I did some research and found out that as long as my I-20 is good and I'm attending school, I'm legal in the country so I should have no trouble going to school. By the way I started school here summer 08.

The thing is I met this girl...

She is 19, a citizen and she goes to school also. (a different one)

We plan on getting married really soon and living together. But we don't know how to proceed things since by the next year she will be going to school a couple hours away from me, maybe in a different state and we would not be living together.

Also, she doesnt work a lot because of school so we both don't have a lot of money (I'm only allowed to work at school).

She wants to get married soon so we can start working on the whole process for me to be able to stay in the country.

My questions are, what should I do? Do I have any chances since we do not live together and pretty much have no money?

I aprecciate any help.

Thank you

(sorry for the long text)

[FortLaudy 10]

So far the only problem I see will be:

1. Proof of bonafide marriage - not living together is an obstacle

2. Sponsorship and meeting the poverty guideline - you'll need a co-sponsor.

Another option is: Get married, without filing for AOS immediately, if you stay married for 2 years in a bonafide marriage and have some good evidence to back it up, you will likely get a permanent greencard when filing for AOS and during the 2 years you will likely live together and have combined bills/bank accounts etc.

I think getting married but not living together and filing for AOS is a little suspicious (in the eyes of the USCIS) and risky...

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Shani has given you good advise. Not living together makes it really hard to prove you guys have a bonafide relationship for the eyes of USCIS. You will definitely need a cosponsor to fulfill the income requirements.

Good luck

[dirtyweebesom 8]

Why do you really need to get married at this early stage in your relationship, especially since you're both so young? If you have a valid I-20 already, you don't necessarily need to get married now just to stay in the country, and if you transfer to a university, you'd get a new I-20, presumably valid for another few years.

[FortLaudy 10]

Why do you really need to get married at this early stage in your relationship, especially since you're both so young? If you have a valid I-20 already, you don't necessarily need to get married now just to stay in the country, and if you transfer to a university, you'd get a new I-20, presumably valid for another few years.

I also think getting married at age 21 is a little too young. But maybe they want to both be more secure in their relationship since they'll be apart soon going to different colleges and she wants to make sure he aint going anywhere? lol... no idea, but of course we all know the benefits of both partners being "residents" and marrying: they can get more credit to possibly buy a new house together, he can get a job while she studies and vice versa, pay cheaper 'in-state' tuition fees, joint tax filing benefits.. the list is endless in how it can benefit a young couple's new marriage besides just "now I own your asz" like I jokingly told my husband on our wedding day

[dirtyweebesom 8]

I also think getting married at age 21 is a little too young. But maybe they want to both be more secure in their relationship since they'll be apart soon going to different colleges and she wants to make sure he aint going anywhere? lol... no idea, but of course we all know the benefits of both partners being "residents" and marrying: they can get more credit to possibly buy a new house together, he can get a job while she studies and vice versa, pay cheaper 'in-state' tuition fees, joint tax filing benefits.. the list is endless in how it can benefit a young couple's new marriage besides just "now I own your asz" like I jokingly told my husband on our wedding day

Yes, the list of benefits is endless, but so is the list of lawyers' fees and other hassles if they get divorced because they got married too young! I should just mind my own business about this age thing, but I think it takes such a long time to grow up, and I'm not convinced people really know themselves at the age of nineteen or twenty-one.

[FortLaudy 10]

Heck yeah, I wasn't thinking about getting married at all when I was 19 or 21, travelling the world, single and care-free, no dog poop to pick up... aaahhh those were the days, lol I definetely wasn't anywhere ready to be settled down yet... but for each their own, all we can do here is try to provide immigration advice not marital... (you know how kids are at that age being told what to do, they just do the opposite,lol)

[marie09 5]

I think if I remember correctly Istanbulls had a story somewhere in our November filers thread of friends of his who got married but one was at school in a different city - they got approved no problem but I think they visited every weekend etc... Mozilla - it's somewhere in our loooong November filers thread if you want to look for it!

I also think i've changed so much since I was 19 - can't imagine having married any of my boyfriends from back then... But I know one or 2 couples that have been together since high school and have worked out. Best of luck to Mozilla

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Let me think.... hmmm... what was I doing at 19????

oh yeah, that....

[Mozilla 0]

I also think getting married at age 21 is a little too young. But maybe they want to both be more secure in their relationship since they'll be apart soon going to different colleges and she wants to make sure he aint going anywhere? lol... no idea, but of course we all know the benefits of both partners being "residents" and marrying: they can get more credit to possibly buy a new house together, he can get a job while she studies and vice versa, pay cheaper 'in-state' tuition fees, joint tax filing benefits.. the list is endless in how it can benefit a young couple's new marriage besides just "now I own your asz" like I jokingly told my husband on our wedding day

Thank you.

Please people, don't judge me, I appreciate.

I can find people to use as my co-sponsor.

But how to deal with the fact that we dont live together?

Would that be a big step back??

[FortLaudy 10]

Thank you.

Please people, don't judge me, I appreciate.

I can find people to use as my co-sponsor.

But how to deal with the fact that we dont live together?

Would that be a big step back??

Not living together can be an issue, but not fatal ;-) If you have a legitimate marriage and the only problem is that you're living apart (but you have a REAL good and documented reason for this) it can be overcome..

Why not transfer to her college or she to yours? If this is impossible, you have good reasons, and if the reasons are very good then it will be good enough reasons too for USCIS.

Are you planning to have some joint bank/credit accounts at least?

Are you planning to visit each other as much as possible? - Taking evidence of this can be very helpful.