American (tourist) marrying Russian in Russia

[Molly Zuckerman 2]

Hi all.

 

I'm an American, currently living in Russia on a tourist visa (which lasts for three years, 6 month stays at a time). My fiance is Russian, and we plan on getting married here in Russia this summer, and staying in Russia for the next few years (once married, I can get temporary residence status for 10 years).

 

Our question is--what kind of visa does my future husband need in order for us to have a symbolic wedding in the US next year? We've done some light research, and the fiance visa doesn't work (because I am not in the US), and even the immigrant visa seems wrong, since we don't want to live in the US for the next few years. Eventually, he will need to get a green card, but it's unclear if this process can be started from Russia (which currently has no USCIS office) and whether (if by some miracle, we can get the immigrant visa from the overcrowded US embassy in Moscow), if we'd have to live in the US for a certain amount of time, or could just enter, have a wedding, and go back to our home in Russia with his green card.

 

If anyone has any general advice along these lines--a couple marrying abroad, briefly entering the US for a wedding with no current plans to move there, and then returning to their foreign country with long term plans for a green card, it would be much appreciated. While I'd love to get the green card process started as soon as possible, neither of us are ready to live in the US right now (my future husband doesn't speak English). Our current idea is to get him a tourist visa after we are married, but I'm afraid of breaking some sort of law that would prevent him from getting a green card in the future if he enters the US as a tourist while married to an American.

 

If anyone has any Russia-specific advice as well, we are all ears.

[Boiler 47,592]

B2

[payxibka 10,048]

No such thing as a "symbolic" marriage Visa 

[Lil bear 4,588]

6 minutes ago, payxibka said:

No such thing as a "symbolic" marriage Visa 

Agreed. You are not marrying again in the US.. you would be celebrating the marriage with a party. You need to apply for  a visitor visa and demonstrate string ties to the home country to overcome assumed immigration intent 

[Molly Zuckerman 2]

based on these replies and some googling, I'm getting the idea that it may be better for him to apply for a tourist visa before the marriage, when I'm just his American girlfriend and not American wife

[Boiler 47,592]

I doubt it would  make any difference.

[Lil bear 4,588]

7 minutes ago, Molly Zuckerman said:

based on these replies and some googling, I'm getting the idea that it may be better for him to apply for a tourist visa before the marriage, when I'm just his American girlfriend and not American wife

Yes ... but if asked specifically if he is visiting his girlfriend / fiancé he must answer Yes. Doesn’t need to offer information if not specifically  asked .. can offer visiting friends 

[Ontarkie 14,967]

~~Moved to Tourist Visas, from DCF~~

[SusieQQQ 11,588]

5 hours ago, Lil bear said:

Yes ... but if asked specifically if he is visiting his girlfriend / fiancé he must answer Yes. Doesn’t need to offer information if not specifically  asked .. can offer visiting friends 

He’s traveling with her, not visiting her. 

[SorrowL 138]

You could get married in Russia, stay there for X time. Maintain your domicile in the US, keep your bank accounts, address and other US ties. Travel home every so often.
 

When you’re ready to move to the US, you can file I-130s from abroad with the USCIS Chicago lockbox. I also think you can file online with the USCIS website. If you can’t find a joint sponsor for I-864, you’ll need to travel ahead of your spouse and get a job with enough income to prove you can support your partner, or have existing assets to support the immigrant. 
 

depending on where your I-130 petition is filed, it could take many many months/year(s) before your partner gets a CR/IR-1 visa. 
 

if you’re looking to move to the US next year, get married, and just file the I-130 now. You can delay some processes such as the NVC for quite some time (I think up to a year), so you could theoretically file in summer 2020, and plan your case to finalize in 2022. 
 

also don’t expect your partner will get a green card and you can both just keep living in Russia without going back to the US. 

Edited January 5, 2020 by SorrowL

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

He would need a tourist visa B2 as he would just be visiting the US.

Once you are ready to settle in the US (years down the road as you indicate) you would apply for a spousal visa. Please note this is when you are ready to live in the US- it’s not meant for him to occasionally travel to the US- you guys would need your residence to be in the US along with you having a job in the US (or a joint sponsor) Down the line you may want to see if you living in the US will void your Russia temporary residence. Also don’t forget to keep filing your taxes while you live in Russia. Just food for thought 🙂 good luck!

[implife 318]

20 hours ago, Molly Zuckerman said:

based on these replies and some googling, I'm getting the idea that it may be better for him to apply for a tourist visa before the marriage, when I'm just his American girlfriend and not American wife

Keep in mind, it is extremely unlikely he will be granted a US tourist visa either as your boyfriend or as your husband, since immigration intent will be suspected.

Edited January 6, 2020 by implife

[SusieQQQ 11,588]

13 minutes ago, implife said:

Keep in mind, it is extremely unlikely he will be granted a US tourist visa either as your boyfriend or as your husband, since immigration intent will be suspected.

Girlfriend /wife by that time?should be sure to show the interviewing officer husband’s permanent visa to stay in Russia.

[Beth & Achraf 328]

20 hours ago, Lil bear said:

Yes ... but if asked specifically if he is visiting his girlfriend / fiancé he must answer Yes. Doesn’t need to offer information if not specifically  asked .. can offer visiting friends 

Visiting girlfriend or a fiancé' don't make a difference to USCIS, they are not naïve.

Never lie to USCIS, it comes back to haunt you.

 

 

[carmel34 3,741]

As others have said, it will be difficult to get a B tourist visa for him with a US citizen girlfriend or spouse since there will be assumed immigration intent, as others have bypassed the spousal visa process that way which is illegal.  So others' bad actions make it difficult even though your intention is not to do that, you only want to visit with him and have a marriage celebration, then return to Russia.  He can try, but it may be denied so be prepared for that likely outcome.  Showing strong ties to Russia will help, but having a US citizen spouse or even girlfriend will be a challenge especially for countries like Russia where so many have violated the terms of their tourist visas.  Good luck!