American to wed Mexican

[Tomacorn 0]

Hello all and thank you for reviewing my question. I am an American man who resides in the U.S. and I have been in a relationship for several years with a Mexican woman who has applied 3 times to obtain a visa to come to the United States. She has never left her country, Mexico. They turn it down every time. I want her to come here to the U.S. and am thinking about marriage. Is this our only option and if so, what will she be allowed to do? Just visit or work here as well. Will I have any legal economical ties to her once married. What do I need to know?

Thanks again!

Edited June 4, 2012 by Tomacorn

[Boiler 45,663]

First you need to read the guides.

She could obtain a job with a company who would sponsor her, assuming she is suitably qualified.

And yes, if you marry and she gets here through that route you will be her Financial Sponsor.

[Lalo & Susana 50]

I am not exactly sure which is the best way but I work with an American citizen who got married to her Mexican boyfriend in Mexico and it took her more than 3 years from him to be able to come into the USA. I think if you are looking at marriage as your option I would look into a K-1 visa and get married in the USA. But since she has applied time and time again they might assume she is trying any and everything to get into the USA. I would just stay away from the visa where you marry her in Mexico and then try bringing her over because you aren't proving a relationship but a marriage which is much harder.

[Darnell 8,478]

has she tried for a TN-1 visa?

[Tomacorn 0]

I have a landscape company and am able to live in Mexico for 3.5 months a year because we do not work in the winter. I lived with her during the last 2 winters in Mexico. I want her to visit me for 3 months in the U.S. while work is slow in her country. Every time she applied for a visa at the consulado in Guadalara, Mexico they tell her she does not have a good reason to return. She is the owner of two houses, has bank accounts and a job.

If I marry her and it does not work out, will I still have any financial obligations for her? I have never been married and do not know the guidelines.

Even if we are married, she will need to look for someone to sponsor her in order to work? How long must she live here without the need of a sponsor to find work?

Thanks again for your help everyone. This is really difficult.

[Boiler 45,663]

I am going to suggest you talk with an Immigration Lawyer.

You are her financial sponsor, she never needs to work if she does not want to.

You would be her sponsor until she does 40 quarters of SS contributions, becomes a US Citizen, dies or leaves the country.

[pushbrk 12,975]

I have a landscape company and am able to live in Mexico for 3.5 months a year because we do not work in the winter. I lived with her during the last 2 winters in Mexico. I want her to visit me for 3 months in the U.S. while work is slow in her country. Every time she applied for a visa at the consulado in Guadalara, Mexico they tell her she does not have a good reason to return. She is the owner of two houses, has bank accounts and a job.

If I marry her and it does not work out, will I still have any financial obligations for her? I have never been married and do not know the guidelines.

Even if we are married, she will need to look for someone to sponsor her in order to work? How long must she live here without the need of a sponsor to find work?

Thanks again for your help everyone. This is really difficult.

Yes, no matter where or whom you marry, you will have financial obligations. It's unlikely your bride will ever receive a tourist visa to "visit" the USA. If you want to marry and have her come live in the USA, then you marry and follow the CR1 visa guide here. If you don't want to marry, then YOU will be the one traveling for any "visiting".

[Darnell 8,478]

Hello all and thank you for reviewing my question. I am an American man who resides in the U.S. and I have been in a relationship for several years with a Mexican woman who has applied 3 times to obtain a visa to come to the United States. She has never left her country, Mexico. They turn it down every time. I want her to come here to the U.S. and am thinking about marriage. Is this our only option and if so, what will she be allowed to do? Just visit or work here as well. Will I have any legal economical ties to her once married. What do I need to know?

Thanks again!

what was the visa type that she applied for, earlier?

and

are you aware of K-1 visa and CR-1 visa, what both types require?

is marriage the only option? no. is she allowed to come to usa and marry with you? yes, only if proper paperwork is submitted.

legal, economic ties to her. yup. study the i-864 instructions .

re: what you need to know - well, choose a visa type, then read a lot, then __DO__ something to facilitate the visa.

Good Luck !

[JlovesL 0]

plus do not forget that to marry in Mexico you need

to obtain permission from the Mexican government which

takes a few weeks and theirs a fee also(not cheap).

i went the CR-1 way. took about 10 months to get my interview date

at the consulate in Ciudad Juarez!

[Tomacorn 0]

I want to thank everyone again for your replies. They have been helpful! I have more questions for anyone available. Lorena lives in Mexico and Applied for the CR1 Visa. I was thinking of getting the fiancé Visa but would she be required to live in the U.S. for one year after marriage or will she be able to return to Mexico after only one month in the U.S.? If we divorce, would I be financially responsible to pay all her bills along with any bills for her two children (aged 20, 22) for 10 years after the divorce? Since she cannot come here I will travel to Mexico in September only for a few days. I plan on living in Mexico for 3.5 months in December but do not want to wait that long. She has the entire month of September off from work. Is there something I should do or bring with me to start the process of marriage? Thank you again!

[Boiler 45,663]

Lorena lives in Mexico and Applied for the CR1 Visa.

She can not apply.

I was thinking of getting the fiancé Visa but would she be required to live in the U.S. for one year after marriage

Not so

or will she be able to return to Mexico after only one month in the U.S.?

She can return after one day if she wants to.

If we divorce, would I be financially responsible to pay all her bills along with any bills for her two children (aged 20, 22) for 10 years after the divorce?

No

Is there something I should do or bring with me to start the process of marriage?

That would depend on what the Mexican Authorities require.

[belinda63 3,039]

You can marry her in Mexico, ask in the Mexico forum for the procedures, and file a petition for a CR-1. Or you can file now a petition for a K-1 and marry if she obtains the visa and after she arrives in the US. The advantage to the CR-1 is she will receive the green card shortly after arrival and thus can start work. She should also receive a stamp in her passport that works as a temporary green card so she could leave the country as soon as the passport is stamped. With the K-1 you would have to file for AOS to obtain her green card after you marry in the US and she would have to wait about three months after filing to obtain paperwork allowing her to re-enter the US if she leaves.

The I-864 is a contract between you and the US government that if she receives any means-tested benefits the government can sue the sponsor to regain the money. This contract is valid until she works 40 quarters, obtains US citizenship, or loses her green card or dies.

As to any other financial responsibilities that would be decided by a Court during the divorce proceedings.