Marriage in the USA (not with K-1). Looking for other similar couples. Not sure where to post this question.

[chel0524 82]

My hubby and I got married here in the u.s. And we planned a big wedding. He came here from England and we had our wedding. He went back to England and his job and I filed the i-130. We've not gotten to be together since. It's hard, but I know we'll make it through this process.

[mallafri76 1,012]

I always wonder about those who visit and then decide to marry and stay, like how is it possible without planning?! I don't mean this in a bad way, I'm just curious. We did the IR-1 visa and for me it was months of preparation before I could move over. I had to sell my apartment, my car, furniture, pack up and ship the stuff I wanted to bring with me, quite my job, wrap things up with my bank etc etc. I always wonder how people move halfway around the world, or even just next door like you did, without planning? Because now you can't leave the US for months so what do you do with everything back home? I'm not judging, just interested in how it works and you seem like an open person, so figured I'd put the question out there.

[D&H 2]

I always wonder about those who visit and then decide to marry and stay, like how is it possible without planning?! I don't mean this in a bad way, I'm just curious. We did the IR-1 visa and for me it was months of preparation before I could move over. I had to sell my apartment, my car, furniture, pack up and ship the stuff I wanted to bring with me, quite my job, wrap things up with my bank etc etc. I always wonder how people move halfway around the world, or even just next door like you did, without planning? Because now you can't leave the US for months so what do you do with everything back home? I'm not judging, just interested in how it works and you seem like an open person, so figured I'd put the question out there.

Totally a valid question. My situation is unique in that I had already completely downsized my life before any of this happened. I sold everything I owned, and was traveling around the world for a couple years. So, I am on a leave of absence, have no property, or any other complicated ties to my former home city. When it came time to determine if my partner and I were going to get 'serious' we just started to have the conversation and figure out what made the most sense. Since I had no 'job' to go back to, we decided getting married and staying made sense - We're also not in our 20's (I don't mean that negatively) -- and the decision to get married and to know that we were each ready for it, was natural.

[Adequate Canadian 6]

**This is going to get kind of personal, but I honestly don't care at this point!**

At the time (Which was only a few months ago, but it seems like a lifetime - in a good way), I was living in Ontario, Canada. The USC, in the Buffalo, NY Area... So only an hour away from one another, with a border at the half way point.
I quit my job in February 2016 because it was making me miserable, I was living with my parents (who are psycho) and my fiance (at the time) was just going to pay my way (I was paying rent whilst employed- understandably so) until I could come over legally because everything was just too much to handle, as we were going through the K1 Visa process.

Lo and behold, after a huge family fight while my fiance and I were at my house in Canada, we decided to leave pretty much as soon as we arrived, leaving my vehicle behind as I was too emotional to drive.

After some issue at the border (because I kept crossing so frequently *Due to toxic living conditions* and was honest with them about my employment status, they gave me a hard time about crossing.
They allowed me to go through this time, but on my departure from the states and re-entry I was to provide proof of ties to Canada.

Looking back on it now, I was so lucky to be allowed entry. That night at customs it took everything within my being to hold it together and not break down in tears. One of the worst nights of my life.
The next day I received an email from my loving mother stating I was kicked out without any notice (even though I paid rent) and I had 2 1/2 weeks to get rid of my animals that currently resided there.

I was in a panic, my fiance and I were at wit's end. We attempted to look for an apartment that was animal friendly that was still relatively close and everything fell through.
Turns out Visa Journey saved me. We were running out of options and I figured as I told customs I would only be here a week, I was wary about overstaying (However, I still had a few months on my Visitor Visa)

I was honestly a nervous wreck, I posted on here if there was anyway we could expedite the K1 Visa process, but a few users on this forum advised me to just stay and get married.
I didn't know that it was a viable option. I thought I was going to have to live in a grungy motel until we could find a better living situation for me. I thought I was going to have to give away my beloved pets.

Entering the states on March 21st, I got married to my hero and best friend on April 8th!!

My mother-in-law, who I consider more of a mother than my biological one, offered to hire a lawyer so I didn't have to stress over paper work.

We withdrew from the K1 Visa and now we await for the next steps.

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

**This is going to get kind of personal, but I honestly don't care at this point!**

At the time (Which was only a few months ago, but it seems like a lifetime - in a good way), I was living in Ontario, Canada. The USC, in the Buffalo, NY Area... So only an hour away from one another, with a border at the half way point.

I quit my job in February 2016 because it was making me miserable, I was living with my parents (who are psycho) and my fiance (at the time) was just going to pay my way (I was paying rent whilst employed- understandably so) until I could come over legally because everything was just too much to handle, as we were going through the K1 Visa process.

Lo and behold, after a huge family fight while my fiance and I were at my house in Canada, we decided to leave pretty much as soon as we arrived, leaving my vehicle behind as I was too emotional to drive.

After some issue at the border (because I kept crossing so frequently *Due to toxic living conditions* and was honest with them about my employment status, they gave me a hard time about crossing.

They allowed me to go through this time, but on my departure from the states and re-entry I was to provide proof of ties to Canada.

Looking back on it now, I was so lucky to be allowed entry. That night at customs it took everything within my being to hold it together and not break down in tears. One of the worst nights of my life.

The next day I received an email from my loving mother stating I was kicked out without any notice (even though I paid rent) and I had 2 1/2 weeks to get rid of my animals that currently resided there.

I was in a panic, my fiance and I were at wit's end. We attempted to look for an apartment that was animal friendly that was still relatively close and everything fell through.

Turns out Visa Journey saved me. We were running out of options and I figured as I told customs I would only be here a week, I was wary about overstaying (However, I still had a few months on my Visitor Visa)

I was honestly a nervous wreck, I posted on here if there was anyway we could expedite the K1 Visa process, but a few users on this forum advised me to just stay and get married.

I didn't know that it was a viable option. I thought I was going to have to live in a grungy motel until we could find a better living situation for me. I thought I was going to have to give away my beloved pets.

Entering the states on March 21st, I got married to my hero and best friend on April 8th!!

My mother-in-law, who I consider more of a mother than my biological one, offered to hire a lawyer so I didn't have to stress over paper work.

We withdrew from the K1 Visa and now we await for the next steps.

You entered and married after submitting a K1? Can you prove your intent wasnt to adjust in this case?

[Bluey 2]

Wow that was so quick! it only took you like 6 months for the entire process?

I came to the US in August 2015 and we got married in October 2015. I never left since then. We applied for AOS and after 4 months 1/2 I received my Green Card. Stressing procedure as I didn't know what could possibly happen but as long as you enter legally, your relationship is true, you supply all the documents required, you don't have any red flags, you have finances to do it, and you do what is asked, you should be fine.

I'm now a permanent resident, I can see my husband every day I work full time, and I help my community whenever I have free time. I would have never thought of this a year ago

Good luck!

[Adequate Canadian 6]

Anitafeliz:

I mean, I still have the email where my mother states that I was kicked out without notice, the day after my arrival into USA as I stated in my previous message.

I was only supposed to be staying a week.

My intention was not to adjust, only to visit. I had a place to live in Canada at the time of my arrival.

The next day, I did not.

I spent the next week contacting apartments/house rentals that I still have correspondence with.

Why would I go into the states with the intent of marriage and ruin my chances of getting approved for the K1 Visa when we were in the process?

Things happen.

[Marc_us82 49]

I always wonder about those who visit and then decide to marry and stay, like how is it possible without planning?! I don't mean this in a bad way, I'm just curious. We did the IR-1 visa and for me it was months of preparation before I could move over. I had to sell my apartment, my car, furniture, pack up and ship the stuff I wanted to bring with me, quite my job, wrap things up with my bank etc etc. I always wonder how people move halfway around the world, or even just next door like you did, without planning? Because now you can't leave the US for months so what do you do with everything back home? I'm not judging, just interested in how it works and you seem like an open person, so figured I'd put the question out there.

My story: didn't have a car or a house to sell back home, been traveling around the world (63 countries) for the past ten years (studied in Sweden for two years), met my husband here in LA, traveled some more in South America, came back, got married, and filed for AOS. I still do have bank accounts back home tho, so I didn't exactly 'wrap things up'. Life is about spontaneity sometimes. Carpe diem.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,370]

You entered and married after submitting a K1? Can you prove your intent wasnt to adjust in this case?

It does not matter. Intent alone is not a reason for denial, anyway.

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

Anitafeliz:

I mean, I still have the email where my mother states that I was kicked out without notice, the day after my arrival into USA as I stated in my previous message.

I was only supposed to be staying a week.

My intention was not to adjust, only to visit. I had a place to live in Canada at the time of my arrival.

The next day, I did not.

I spent the next week contacting apartments/house rentals that I still have correspondence with.

Why would I go into the states with the intent of marriage and ruin my chances of getting approved for the K1 Visa when we were in the process?

Things happen.

thats good then as long as your safe

It does not matter. Intent alone is not a reason for denial, anyway.

I didnt say it was i just asked if she had proof incase it comes up... Just a question

[EM_Vandaveer 2,370]

I came to the US in 2011 with my boyfriend. We met in a third country and he invited me to visit TX with him & bought me a plane ticket. I was lucky enough to be eligible for the VWP, so I applied for ESTA & came with him. We were talking about possibly getting married while here.

However we were blissfully unaware how the immigration system worked. Our original plan was to go to Hungary together before my 90-day stay was up, so he could meet my family (he had only met my mom at this point who came to visit us in the third country we met in).

After getting married we enjoyed the summer as newlyweds. As we were approaching the end of 90 days we finally did some research about immigration. Realizing that once I left I would need a spousal visa to come back and getting that would take a year, we quickly decided that I would stay instead & file for AOS.

I have not left the US since. I became a US citizen since and we had two kids. My husband has still not met the rest of my family, but my mom visited us four times on the VWP.

[Maria2012 16]

Most people I see who have gone through AOS process (I-130/I-485) have done it through K-1 or IR-1/CR-1. My situation was, we met, and on one of my stays in the USA we decided to get married and filed immediately after marriage. I was within my legal stay (Canadian on a B-2). I'm just wondering if a case like mine presents any issues since I see most people don't do it this way. Obviously, we didn't plan it - it just happened.

Anyone else out there who did it the same way willing to share their experience and maybe give me a little encouragement that what we've done isn't crazy haha (We did talk to an attorney - but it's nice to hear from real couples).

Look at my signature and you can see my journey. Married on B1/B2 about 6 weeks after entering the country.

[southcoast 27]

It does not matter. Intent alone is not a reason for denial, anyway.

The OP said that she had non-immigrant intent, and so it is not an issue here. But why would it not be grounds for denial. If she made a representation of non-immigrant intent in order to gain entry, then why would she not be excludable for willful and material misrepresentation. I have seen this a number of times on this site and am hoping for an explanation. Thanks.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,370]

The OP said that she had non-immigrant intent, and so it is not an issue here. But why would it not be grounds for denial. If she made a representation of non-immigrant intent in order to gain entry, then why would she not be excludable for willful and material misrepresentation. I have seen this a number of times on this site and am hoping for an explanation. Thanks.

No. It's USCIS' policy NOT to deny an immediate relative to USC's AOS application if the only negative factor in the case is immigrant intent. I am guessing the reason would be because the applicant would otherwise be eligible for an immigrant visa were they applying abroad, so the end result is the same.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

The OP said that she had non-immigrant intent, and so it is not an issue here. But why would it not be grounds for denial. If she made a representation of non-immigrant intent in order to gain entry, then why would she not be excludable for willful and material misrepresentation. I have seen this a number of times on this site and am hoping for an explanation. Thanks.

Because once you're here intent is not enough to deny aos as per matter of cavazos Edited June 10, 2016 by Transborderwife