Chinese girlfriend applying for F-1 visa with American student

[lostinchina 0]

I'm currently 20 years old and still have 3 semesters of college left. My girlfriend is about 4 years older than me. I've been studying abroad in China since August and met my girlfriend in the middle of September 2010. I'm studying in a different city in China this semester so me and my girlfriend have been traveling to visit each other (twice so far). I'm not engaged but I do really like her and her major in college was English so we have no communication issues. The problem is, since I'm a student I don't have a job so I think that would be a problem for the F-1 visa application. Also, I would need to apply within 2 years of meeting her but that would mean I will still be in college with no job by the time I apply. Can anyone suggest what steps I should take? Any help is greatly appreciated.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

You are confusing F-1 with K-1

For an F-1 student visa, YOU, the US citizen, does not need to be employed. Nor do you have to have apply within 2 years of meeting her

The F-1 is a non-immigrant visa. Your girlfriend would have to apply to a US school, be accepted, and then begin the F-1 process. SHE would have to show how she can finally support herself while in the US (which can require her to show $20,000 in available funds per year - at least that is what it was when I applied in 2005). Plus she would have to show strong and compelling ties to China to show that she MUST return after the F-1 terms have been met

Now, are you looking into an F-1 student visa or a K-1 fiance visa, they are 2 very different visas

Good luck

[lostinchina 0]

You are confusing F-1 with K-1

For an F-1 student visa, YOU, the US citizen, does not need to be employed. Nor do you have to have apply within 2 years of meeting her

The F-1 is a non-immigrant visa. Your girlfriend would have to apply to a US school, be accepted, and then begin the F-1 process. SHE would have to show how she can finally support herself while in the US (which can require her to show $20,000 in available funds per year - at least that is what it was when I applied in 2005). Plus she would have to show strong and compelling ties to China to show that she MUST return after the F-1 terms have been met

Now, are you looking into an F-1 student visa or a K-1 fiance visa, they are 2 very different visas

Good luck

I'm sorry, I meant to say K-1 visa. I believe an F-1 visa wouldn't work since we would intend to get married.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

You're looking at a fiance visa with a co-sponsor for the financial requirement

Look at the top of the page, fine the word 'guides'. Click on it and start reading about the fiance process

good luck

[TwoCats 55]

Also, I would need to apply within 2 years of meeting her but that would mean I will still be in college with no job by the time I apply. Can anyone suggest what steps I should take? Any help is greatly appreciated.

I think you are confused on the K-1 visa requirements.

The requirement is /not/ that you have to file within two years of first meeting your fiance(e).

You just have to have seen each other, in person, sometime within the two years prior to filing the I-129F.

So it is not a problem to wait, and then file once you are out of school, if that is what you are worried about.

[YuAndDan 153]

A recommendation, I would Join: http://candleforlove.com And study as much as you can over there, Candle specializes in China --> USA immigrations topic.

Here is my take, you have been over there for some time, why not marry, and then file an I-130 petition to the Embassy or consulate over there, and then be able immigrate to the USA? This is the common approach for many who are over there studying and find something, this approach will save you time, and a lot of $$$$ as in over $900 in fees. Your GF/Wife would get a green-card upon entry to the USA.

DCF Spouse has a much higher success rate at the Guangzhou consulate than K-1.

[lostinchina 0]

A recommendation, I would Join: http://candleforlove.com And study as much as you can over there, Candle specializes in China --> USA immigrations topic.

Here is my take, you have been over there for some time, why not marry, and then file an I-130 petition to the Embassy or consulate over there, and then be able immigrate to the USA? This is the common approach for many who are over there studying and find something, this approach will save you time, and a lot of $$$$ as in over $900 in fees. Your GF/Wife would get a green-card upon entry to the USA.

DCF Spouse has a much higher success rate at the Guangzhou consulate than K-1.

I'm not sure if I can file an I-130 since I only lived 4 months in the city I met my girlfriend and now I live in Hong Kong (will stay for 5 months) which is technically owned by China but US immigration has separate consulates.

[YuAndDan 153]

I'm not sure if I can file an I-130 since I only lived 4 months in the city I met my girlfriend and now I live in Hong Kong (will stay for 5 months) which is technically owned by China but US immigration has separate consulates.

Yep, you need to be residing in a counselor district for at least 6 months.

Again visit the site I linked you, there you will find out how to avoid pitfalls with the Guangzhou consulate, they like handing out denials to K-1 like candy.

Your GF is mainland Chinese so should be dealing with Guangzhou, not HK.

[lostinchina 0]

Thanks for all of the help. I'm not sure if I'm ready to start this process right away since I still have 2 years of college left. If I wanted my girlfriend to come to the US to get married in the summer of 2012, when should I start the K-1 process?

[Darnell 8,478]

August 13, 2011.

[lostinchina 0]

Would it be possible to get her a travel visa before applying for the K-1 or would that be very difficult since she is Chinese?

[pushbrk 12,111]

Would it be possible to get her a travel visa before applying for the K-1 or would that be very difficult since she is Chinese?

Virtually impossible. Plan on you doing the international travel for visits.

[lostinchina 0]

Virtually impossible. Plan on you doing the international travel for visits.

Should I even have her apply for a tourist visa or would that mess things up for the K-1 if she gets denied?

[pushbrk 12,111]

Should I even have her apply for a tourist visa or would that mess things up for the K-1 if she gets denied?

It won't mess anything up except somebody's calendar and bank account.