Ukraine Citizen Visa Question?

[AlexanderIII 0]

Hello I am new to the forum and want to apologize in advance for two things 1.)this may be a long post 2.)this may be a bit off topic but I have done a lot of research and am still looking for help here goes....I met my Ukrainian girlfriend during this past summer she was in the U.S. on a J1 work/travel program visa. We have now had a relationship for 10 months and have discussed getting married and applying for the K-1 visa (so that is in the picture but my question does not concern this because).... before that she will return to the U.S. one more time on a J1 work/travel visa which will last until the end of Sept. at which point she will return to Ukraine and we can do the K-1........however with this being said here are my questions....

While she is in the U.S. this time she would also like to attend language school (this will let her improve her already good English and also let us spend more time together before we marry to really know everything about one another before such a large step) so....

1.) Can she change status while in the U.S. on her J1 (No residency requirement) to F1 language school (and yes finance needs are meet) to extend her stay??

2.) If she can.... assuming she is approved to stay.... once she goes back to Ukraine will they never grant her a visa in the future (or will it effect her chance of getting the K-1 visa) I ask because she would have changed status while in the U.S. instead of returning to Ukraine on her original return date as planned by the work/travel program??

Any information would be greatly appreciated_____Thank You

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello I am new to the forum and want to apologize in advance for two things 1.)this may be a long post 2.)this may be a bit off topic but I have done a lot of research and am still looking for help here goes....I met my Ukrainian girlfriend during this past summer she was in the U.S. on a J1 work/travel program visa. We have now had a relationship for 10 months and have discussed getting married and applying for the K-1 visa (so that is in the picture but my question does not concern this because).... before that she will return to the U.S. one more time on a J1 work/travel visa which will last until the end of Sept. at which point she will return to Ukraine and we can do the K-1........however with this being said here are my questions....

While she is in the U.S. this time she would also like to attend language school (this will let her improve her already good English and also let us spend more time together before we marry to really know everything about one another before such a large step) so....

1.) Can she change status while in the U.S. on her J1 (No residency requirement) to F1 language school (and yes finance needs are meet) to extend her stay??

2.) If she can.... assuming she is approved to stay.... once she goes back to Ukraine will they never grant her a visa in the future (or will it effect her chance of getting the K-1 visa) I ask because she would have changed status while in the U.S. instead of returning to Ukraine on her original return date as planned by the work/travel program??

Any information would be greatly appreciated_____Thank You

1. Her purpose is not to enter the US to get married, so YES, you can marry her next time she comes and she can adjust status to permanent resident without leaving.

2. Moot point. She will no longer need a visa if she is a permanent resident. She will not need a K-1 visa. My wife goes back and forth to Ukraine (and other countries, most often Canada) and only uses her green card. No more US visas needed. If she changes status while in the US, or even files for the change of status, she is no longer required to leave when her J1 visa expires. You could, for example, get married a week before her J1 expires (or the day before) and file for the AOS the day before it expires and she is fine. If her AOS were denied for some reason, THEN she would have to leave, but otherwise, no.

If she decides she doesn't want to marry now, then you will have to do a K-1 and her former visa will not affect that at all.

[Martyshk 137]

^^ What Gary said.

You are in fact, lucky, that she will be here on J1 visa, that way you don't have to go through K-1 waiting hell.

Get married when she's here, adjust status, so on, so forth and you are golden.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello I am new to the forum and want to apologize in advance for two things 1.)this may be a long post 2.)this may be a bit off topic but I have done a lot of research and am still looking for help here goes....I met my Ukrainian girlfriend during this past summer she was in the U.S. on a J1 work/travel program visa. We have now had a relationship for 10 months and have discussed getting married and applying for the K-1 visa (so that is in the picture but my question does not concern this because).... before that she will return to the U.S. one more time on a J1 work/travel visa which will last until the end of Sept. at which point she will return to Ukraine and we can do the K-1........however with this being said here are my questions....

While she is in the U.S. this time she would also like to attend language school (this will let her improve her already good English and also let us spend more time together before we marry to really know everything about one another before such a large step) so....

1.) Can she change status while in the U.S. on her J1 (No residency requirement) to F1 language school (and yes finance needs are meet) to extend her stay??

2.) If she can.... assuming she is approved to stay.... once she goes back to Ukraine will they never grant her a visa in the future (or will it effect her chance of getting the K-1 visa) I ask because she would have changed status while in the U.S. instead of returning to Ukraine on her original return date as planned by the work/travel program??

Any information would be greatly appreciated_____Thank You

When she enters on her J1 student visa it would be best if she "forgets" to gush all over them with her marriage plans. She is here to be a STUDENT. NOT to get married, but OOPS, if she just happens to fall in love and get married while here as a student on her student visa, then she can adjust status without the K-1 visa.