Expired opt, effect on marriage greencard?

[Gkhyun 0]

 

.Hi my name is Jihyun. I graduated from four-year college this May, 2019, and my OPT started July 8, 2019. Around the time I graduated, my boyfriend, who is a US citizen, proposed me, and we decided to get married.

 

The problem is, my major is very specific (art therapy) and requires a master's degree to be able to work as a clinician. At my Bachelor's degree level, any job I can find only requires high school graduates (such as activity leader at a nursing home). My unemployment period will end in early October, and I'm afraid I won't be able to find a job even by then. My boyfriend (now my fiance) and I are getting married on paper in August and we are trying to start the process of marriage greencard by September.

 

My question is, if my unemoloyment period ends and I still don't have a job... will this effect the greencard process..?? We already moved to a new place together, and I'm really scared to lose everything we've had together. 

Edited July 29, 2019 by Gkhyun

[arken 4,197]

9 minutes ago, Gkhyun said:

 

.Hi my name is Jihyun. I graduated from four-year college this May, 2019, and my OPT started July 8, 2019. Around the time I graduated, my boyfriend, who is a US citizen, proposed me, and we decided to get married.

 

The problem is, my major is very specific (art therapy) and requires a master's degree to be able to work as a clinician. At my Bachelor's degree level, any job I can find only requires high school graduates (such as activity leader at a nursing home). My unemployment period will end in early October, and I'm afraid I won't be able to find a job even by then. My boyfriend (now my fiance) and I are getting married on paper in August and we are trying to start the process of marriage greencard by September.

 

My question is, if my unemoloyment period ends and I still don't have a job... will this effect the greencard process..?? We already moved to a new place together, and I'm really scared to lose everything we've had together. 

If by married on paper, you mean the marriage is done just for immigration purpose and not in real, then you will run into issues. If the marriage is real, you running out of status would not affect the GC process.

[Boiler 43,433]

No

 

As part of the process you will get an EAD allowing you to work but that takes about 6 months.

[Gkhyun 0]

1 minute ago, arken said:

If by married on paper, you mean the marriage is done just for immigration purpose and not in real, then you will run into issues. If the marriage is real, you running out of status would not affect the GC process.

I meant getting married on paper as in getting married at a courthouse. We are doing it this way because neither of us wants to spend thousands of money for one day ceremony. We've been dating for 3 years, and we thought this is the right time to get married. 

[arken 4,197]

14 minutes ago, Gkhyun said:

I meant getting married on paper as in getting married at a courthouse. We are doing it this way because neither of us wants to spend thousands of money for one day ceremony. We've been dating for 3 years, and we thought this is the right time to get married. 

Yup, there you have it. You are going thru a legal marriage and should have no issues then. Just the use of terminology affects a lot especially if used during the interview. Good luck. 

[Gkhyun 0]

1 minute ago, arken said:

Yup, there you have it. You are going thru a legal marriage and should have no issues then. Just the use of terminology affects a lot especially if used during the interview. Good luck. 

Yeah i just realized that was very ambiguous term to use.... sorry for the confusion,  and thanks for bringing that up! 

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas forum.