Jump to content
Kolarka

Croatian came in US on Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) and got married ! Anyone had similar experience, please help?

By Kolarka in Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas

 Share

22 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

powerpuff Mentor

powerpuff   5,990

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Kazakhstan
 Timeline
Posted
5 hours ago, brainilio said:

I had a friend do this, I think as long as your intent of your trip wasn't too get married and the CBP is aware of that, then you should be fine.

Intent to get married is perfectly fine and legal. Thousands have come to the US, gotten married and departed to their countries to complete consular processing. What is not allowed is intent to adjust status when you’re coming on a non-immigrant visa. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
brii Apprentice

brii   34

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Netherlands
 Timeline
Posted
Just now, powerpuff said:

Intent to get married is perfectly fine and legal. Thousands have come to the US, gotten married and departed to their countries to complete consular processing. What is not allowed is intent to adjust status when you’re coming on a non-immigrant visa. 

Oh yea my bad, you're right! I meant adjusting status yea :) I'm going to edit my post

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Crazy Cat Grand Master

Crazy Cat   39,694

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
 Timeline
Posted
5 hours ago, brainilio said:

I think as long as your intent of your trip wasn't too get married

There is nothing illegal about having the intent to marry inside the US.  It is illegal to enter the US as a visitor with the intent to stay and adjust status. 

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

August 7, 2022: Wife filed N-400 Online under 5 year rule.

November 10, 2022: Received "Interview is scheduled" letter.

December 12, 2022:  Received email from Dallas office informing me (spouse) to be there for combo interview.

December 14, 2022: Combo Interview for I-751 and N-400 Conducted.

January 26, 2023: Wife's Oath Ceremony completed at the Plano Event Center, Plano, Texas!!!😁

February 6, 2023: Wife's Passport Application submitted in Dallas, Texas.

March 21, 2023:   Wife's Passport Delivered!!!!

May 15, 2023 (about):  Naturalization Certificate returned from Passport agency!!

 

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
brii Apprentice

brii   34

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Netherlands
 Timeline
Posted
Just now, Crazy Cat said:

There is nothing illegal about having the intent to marry inside the US.  It is illegal to enter the US as a visitor with the intent to stay and adjust status. 

 I'm pretty sure another user pointed it out as well, but I meant adjusting of status. Thanks though. I tried to edit my comment, but found myself not being able to do so.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Crazy Cat Grand Master

Crazy Cat   39,694

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
 Timeline
Posted
Just now, brainilio said:

 I'm pretty sure another user pointed it out as well, but I meant adjusting of status. Thanks though. I tried to edit my comment, but found myself not being able to do so.

I posted before I saw that......Thanks...and good luck.

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

August 7, 2022: Wife filed N-400 Online under 5 year rule.

November 10, 2022: Received "Interview is scheduled" letter.

December 12, 2022:  Received email from Dallas office informing me (spouse) to be there for combo interview.

December 14, 2022: Combo Interview for I-751 and N-400 Conducted.

January 26, 2023: Wife's Oath Ceremony completed at the Plano Event Center, Plano, Texas!!!😁

February 6, 2023: Wife's Passport Application submitted in Dallas, Texas.

March 21, 2023:   Wife's Passport Delivered!!!!

May 15, 2023 (about):  Naturalization Certificate returned from Passport agency!!

 

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Kolarka Rookie

Kolarka   2

Posted
Timeline
  • Author
Posted
21 hours ago, ghostinthemachine said:

You're good as your husband is a USC. I went through the same with my husband last year/this year. Just have a read of the guides on VJ as well as the USCIS guidance for each petition and then file the 485/130 (and also 131/765 for work and potential out of the country travel in case the GC takes forever). It's really not too difficult overall as long as you follow the above.

 

We got married a few days before my I-94 expired and then filed for everything about 6 weeks later. No lawyer, just meticulously organised everything ourselves. The forum here and also some fb groups and/or reddit are really useful resources in case you do run into any issues - most questions have honestly been answered over and over so you'd be able to search for it, unless you situation is something incredibly specific.

 

Good luck & congrats on your marriage!

Thank you so much! 🙏

Link to comment
Share on other sites
 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
“;}
×
×
  • Create New...