Need some advice on where to start!

[Luckyirish 0]

So myself and my go have been together for 4 years. Both of us have been back and fourth a number of times. We've both done year long j1 visas to Ireland/California. Now I'm over in California on a tourist visa for the next 4wks or so. I don't know if its valentines day or just how amazing things have been going for us both in the past 12 months - but I am thinking of proposing.

Now hoping she says yes, would it be better for us to get married ASAP and try to adjust my tourist visa while? I'm not really sure of the process from here if we do decide to get married now. Obviously we would want to try and minimize the time out of work as we are 25/26 with about 15k usd in savings. So I would be looking to get a job over here as quickly as possible.

I didn't come here expecting to get married, but now that I feel like the time is right-I want to get all my ducks in a row so we can hit the ground running.

I've had a read through of various guides here, but there are some forms i have no idea if I would need etc.

Thanks for reading!

[blankmedia 41]

So myself and my go have been together for 4 years. Both of us have been back and fourth a number of times. We've both done year long j1 visas to Ireland/California. Now I'm over in California on a tourist visa for the next 4wks or so. I don't know if its valentines day or just how amazing things have been going for us both in the past 12 months - but I am thinking of proposing.

Now hoping she says yes, would it be better for us to get married ASAP and try to adjust my tourist visa while? I'm not really sure of the process from here if we do decide to get married now. Obviously we would want to try and minimize the time out of work as we are 25/26 with about 15k usd in savings. So I would be looking to get a job over here as quickly as possible.

I didn't come here expecting to get married, but now that I feel like the time is right-I want to get all my ducks in a row so we can hit the ground running.

I've had a read through of various guides here, but there are some forms i have no idea if I would need etc.

Thanks for reading!

The easiest way is to adjust status. If you get married, file an I-130, I-485, I-765 and Advance Parole (I think I-131) all at the same time. The total cost will be about $1500. You will need a medical exam as well. Make sure you have your birth certificate (with parents listed) and that you spouse has done their taxes (and has an IRS tax transcript, and/or 1040 with w2's) for the last three years as those are two key things in filing. If you don't have either of those things right now, you can start getting them before you begin the paperwork. Good Luck!

[Luckyirish 0]

Wow, that's amazingly helpful. Thanks very much!! I know there is no simple answer, but roughly how long should it take before I can legally work again? Any other tips or hints you have for me and this long journey?

[Luckyirish 0]

Also, if we got married in CA and then within a month moved to New York, what would be the implications for our application?