I have no idea what I'm doing! Bringing my SO to the US

[Coraliine 1]

Hello everyone!

I'm an American citizen who has been living abroad in Europe for the last 3 years. While here I met a wonderful Dutch man and we are currently living together in the Netherlands. I am graduating from college in February and have started to look for jobs in the US. I've already received offers from a few companies, but have not accepted one yet, as I'm trying to get a timeline as to when I can move.

My boyfriend and I have discussed marriage in the past and it's something we definitely want to do, but we didn't expect to do it so soon - I wanted to be graduated before I got married. It seems to be that this is the easiest (I use that word lightly) way to bring him along with me to the US.

I have never had a full time job in the United States (as I left when I was 20), so from my looking around it seems I will need a co-sponsor. This is no issue, as my parents have agreed to co-sponsor a spouse visa if this is something that we wish to do.

My father holds government office and works with several national Senators and Congressman who have all offered to write a letter of recommendation for my bf (I suppose now fiance). Does anyone know if this is normal? I don't want to include these only to find out that the government thinks we're trying to bribe them or something.

How long does the process usually take? I need to give some sort of a timeline to my potential employers, as I will not be moving without my SO.

As we live in the Netherlands and it is not a country with a USCIS Interntional facility, are we required to send it by mail to the Chicago office or can we just go to the international office in Germany?

My fiance is a Senior System Administrator with a technical school degree (the Dutch school degree he has is somewhat higher than an American vocational school, but less than a BA) and over 7 years of work experience in the industry. Are we better off just trying to find a company to sponsor him? How easy is this to do?

[HafsaJawwad 39]

See if you can do DCF in Germany. If you can it would most likely be faster.

[kzielu 1,147]

Can't obviously do DCF in Germany since you do not reside there.

Marriage / fiance visa is much simpler and actually also may be quicker than work sponsored visa. Process will take from ~6 months up to a year.

Letters of recommendation won't carry much weight, after all they probably never met your boyfriend.

Bottom line - if you're ready for marriage, that is definitely the easiest way to go.

[Boiler 43,434]

They are in Holland.....

I would always go for an internal Company Move if he can do it, quickest and his Employer picks up the costs.

Otherwise seems to be taking about a year once you start the process.

[HafsaJawwad 39]

I was going off of this

http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/germany-frankfurt-field-office

It still doesn't work for her? If I'm totally off then sorry about that.

[HafsaJawwad 39]

Ohhh I see now. It says Jurisdiction over Netherlands but still must be living in Germany to file I130. I didn't understand that part very well. Sorry about that

[David & Diana R 1,005]

Hello everyone!

I'm an American citizen who has been living abroad in Europe for the last 3 years. While here I met a wonderful Dutch man and we are currently living together in the Netherlands. I am graduating from college in February and have started to look for jobs in the US. I've already received offers from a few companies, but have not accepted one yet, as I'm trying to get a timeline as to when I can move.

My boyfriend and I have discussed marriage in the past and it's something we definitely want to do, but we didn't expect to do it so soon - I wanted to be graduated before I got married. It seems to be that this is the easiest (I use that word lightly) way to bring him along with me to the US.

I have never had a full time job in the United States (as I left when I was 20), so from my looking around it seems I will need a co-sponsor. This is no issue, as my parents have agreed to co-sponsor a spouse visa if this is something that we wish to do.

My father holds government office and works with several national Senators and Congressman who have all offered to write a letter of recommendation for my bf (I suppose now fiance). Does anyone know if this is normal? I don't want to include these only to find out that the government thinks we're trying to bribe them or something.

How long does the process usually take? I need to give some sort of a timeline to my potential employers, as I will not be moving without my SO.

As we live in the Netherlands and it is not a country with a USCIS Interntional facility, are we required to send it by mail to the Chicago office or can we just go to the international office in Germany?

My fiance is a Senior System Administrator with a technical school degree (the Dutch school degree he has is somewhat higher than an American vocational school, but less than a BA) and over 7 years of work experience in the industry. Are we better off just trying to find a company to sponsor him? How easy is this to do?

With all due respect. I have heard this time and time again. "I want to graduate before I get married." I'm sorry but I just don't get it. You are so in love with this great guy. Why the hesitation? What are the advantages to waiting until you graduate before getting married? You are already living together so really nothing will change. I recall years ago when girls wanted to get married and their parents would not allow it because back then it probably would have interfered with their schooling. But in this day and age? Had the two of you gotten married two years ago your fiance would have entered the US on a IR-1 spousal visa and there would be no ROC required as in a CR-1. But now in my humble opinion I would get married and apply for a CR-1. Forget the company sponsor thing. Just get married and it DCF is available there do that. Of course this is all my humble opinion.

[Coraliine 1]

With all due respect. I have heard this time and time again. "I want to graduate before I get married." I'm sorry but I just don't get it. You are so in love with this great guy. Why the hesitation? What are the advantages to waiting until you graduate before getting married? You are already living together so really nothing will change. I recall years ago when girls wanted to get married and their parents would not allow it because back then it probably would have interfered with their schooling. But in this day and age? Had the two of you gotten married two years ago your fiance would have entered the US on a IR-1 spousal visa and there would be no ROC required as in a CR-1. But now in my humble opinion I would get married and apply for a CR-1. Forget the company sponsor thing. Just get married and it DCF is available there do that. Of course this is all my humble opinion.

It's about practicality. I still am receiving financial aid and if I am married to him before that ends then I stop receiving it. I get grants from the government to help cover my school costs, so I don't want to risk losing them because I am married to a man with an income (I have none at the moment due to being a full time student).

It has nothing to do with my parents, they absolutely love him and have told me numerously and emphatically that they would love to have him as a son-in-law soon. In fact, my father (when told today that we were, in fact, moving to the US within the foreseeable future) suggested that we get married to speed up the process. But my mom, always the voice of reason, reminded me about the loan and scholarship issues that I'd face.

I think that once I take out my final loan (should be in a few weeks) I am safe to go down to the town hall and sign the marriage papers. But we still won't view ourselves as married. I want that to be when I we have a ceremony. For all intents and purposes, we'll be married, but I will not share that with anyone other than my parents, as they'll most likely have to co-sponsor him.

We also only started dating two years ago, and in my opinion, you can't know someone well enough within the first year of dating to know you'd want to spend forever with them.

Another side question: How long after receiving his green card (if it should happen) do we have to enter the US? Is it a set and defined amount of time, or is it pretty lenient?

[CAMama3 1]

He could try and get a work visa, but it'll be hard and it has to be dual intent.

Spouse visas are taking about a year and a bit, if you can't DCF. Can you stay in the Netherlands for that long after you finish school? Once approved, the IR1/CR1 visa is valid for 6 months (that is what he uses to enter the country). He gets his greencard upon entry to the US. During the process, you will need to prove domicile in the US (or intent to re-establish domicile) if you stay abroad the whole time.

Fiance visas get processed at Texas Service Center and California Service Center. Which one would you be at? (Search for what state you plan to live in to see what it is assigned to). CSC is going really quick right now. That will get him in faster than the spousal route (maybe around 6-8 months if everything goes smoothly). But he won't be able to work or travel for 2-3 months while his EAD and AP are processed when you file for AOS after you are married in the US. It also costs more than the spousal visa. You'll also need to check that the embassy there accepts co-sponsors for K1s. If it's TSC, then time-wise it probably doesn't matter that much and will be similar to the spousal visa. Once approved for the K1, he has 6 months to enter and then you must marry in 90 days. AOS (getting his greencard) is taking something like 5 months now?

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Edited for clarity.

Edited October 17, 2014 by CAMama3

[Coraliine 1]

He could try and get a work visa, but it'll be hard and it has to be dual intent.

Spouse visas are taking about a year and a bit, if you can't DCF. Can you stay in the Netherlands for that long after you finish school? Once approved, the IR1/CR1 visa is valid for 6 months (that is what he uses to enter the country). He gets his greencard upon entry to the US. During the process, you will need to prove domicile in the US (or intent to re-establish domicile) if you stay abroad the whole time.

Fiance visas get processed at Texas Service Center and California Service Center. Which one would you be at? (Search for what state you plan to live in to see what it is assigned to). CSC is going really quick right now. That will get him in faster than the spousal route (maybe around 6-8 months if everything goes smoothly). But he won't be able to work or travel for 2-3 months while his EAD and AP are processed when you file for AOS after you are married in the US. It also costs more than the spousal visa. You'll also need to check that the embassy there accepts co-sponsors for K1s. If it's TSC, then time-wise it probably doesn't matter that much and will be similar to the spousal visa. Once approved for the K1, he has 6 months to enter and then you must marry in 90 days. AOS (getting his greencard) is taking something like 5 months now?

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Edited for clarity.

Sorry for the late response, life has been hectic!

I really don't know. I have 6 months after graduation before I have to start paying back loans and there are literally zero jobs here for me. My boyfriend doesn't seem to understand the gravity of the situation and is dragging his feet a little and wants to try the diversity lottery visa before having to get married.

The issue is working. He has to be able to get a job as I wouldn't be able to support him on an entry level salary (I have a degree in writing, and we're not paid phenomenally). The fiance visa is simply out of the quest. It's either marriage or diversity lottery visa.

[Boiler 43,434]

What does he think his chance is of coming up in the lottery?

[Coraliine 1]

I tried to be realistic with him and told him it's around a 1% chance (which it was for the most latest statistics I could find), but he still thinks that's a decent chance.

[Boiler 43,434]

I guess there is no right or wrong answer. Depends on where you are coming from and what other options you may have.

[d3adc0d3 186]

Sorry for the late response, life has been hectic!

I really don't know. I have 6 months after graduation before I have to start paying back loans and there are literally zero jobs here for me. My boyfriend doesn't seem to understand the gravity of the situation and is dragging his feet a little and wants to try the diversity lottery visa before having to get married.

The issue is working. He has to be able to get a job as I wouldn't be able to support him on an entry level salary (I have a degree in writing, and we're not paid phenomenally). The fiance visa is simply out of the quest. It's either marriage or diversity lottery visa.

If your s/o is avoiding marriage, than I would recommend that he consider, as one IT professional to another, looking into a work visa. Many companies in the US would hire a sysadmin from another country on a work visa, if they speak fluent English and have good qualifications. Robert Half International has a "base" in the Netherlands and happily sponsors qualified IT and Executive level candidates.

You can consider marriage as a last ditch effort, since it seems like both of you want to marry, just not right now. I understand that sentiment; I was never one to jump into marriage either - it's a big commitment and a big expense! I'd rather be settled and stable before jumping into a whole new phase of my life.