Marriage in a U.S. Commonwealth (NOT a State)

[Mayor 0]

I am a U.S. Citizen living and working in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (just north of Guam). Although we are all USC's here and almost everything is considered domestic US, including our courts, mail, phone, etc., we are NOT under the US immigration system. The CNMI manages it's own immigration. My girlfriend is a Philippine national living and working here for ten years. She is a lawfully admitted "contract worker" - renewable annually. I will be going back to Hawaii soon but have gotten several different stories on taking her along. SHe cannot travel beyond the CNMI under her current status.

We are on US soil but there are no US consulates here - not even Guam. Do we need to apply for K-1, or, if married, K-3 Visa. Does she have to return to P.I. first?

Have any of you had an experience of marriage in the CNMI to a foreign national, then going to US???

If marriage comes first, we will be married in a US COURT by a US JUDGE! The marriage will be registered IN THE US, but I can't seem to get an answer from CIS, Guam that means anything.

Thanks,

Mayor

[YuAndDan 153]

I beleive you would either file for a K-1 and she would return to Philippines, or you may want to investigating marriage there and AOS. The closest field office for cases like that is in Agana, they have jurisdiction over your area.

Consulates are in other countries not on US soil as in your case, you would be dealing with USCIS directly at a field office as if adjusting status in the states.

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/guam/aboutus.htm

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=otheraos

Consult an immigration attorney.

Good Luck

[YuAndDan 153]

Also saw another post on this yesterday on a different board.

http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...c=21091&hl=

[limubai2000 0]

Hello fellow Mirconesia-er, something like that. I'm in Guam with a fiance' in the Phils.

I would call the UCSIS office here in Agana, Guam and ask them. They generally are very good for this type of stuff. I think because she is a foreign worker probably you will need to file a K-1 if you are not married or a K-3 if you get married. This one is interesting for sure, please post back here with your findings.

If you want to talk to a good immigration attorney I recommend Mark Kondas of Abugado Associates here in Guam, the number is in the www.guamphonebook.com. He is awesome and didn't charge me for a consult for my petition.