I am American, fiance is Vietnamese, we live in Japan and want to move to America

[NihonReboot 1]

We are unsure how to go about doing this. My department was let go at the end of 2022 and since I have not been able to find work, I have to go back to America.

 

I am engaged with a Vietnamese girl who wants to go with me. Should we register our marriage in Japan or wait until she visits America and then register it in America?

 

How do I go about getting the correct documents submitted for her?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Boiler 43,453]

 

[NihonReboot 1]

2 hours ago, Boiler said:

 

Thank you for sharing this, but we are not married yet. We are trying to figure out if we need to marry here in Japan, or go to America and register our marriage there.

[Crazy Cat 39,282]

3 hours ago, NihonReboot said:

and register our marriage there.

There is no US marriage registry.  She cannot enter the US as a visitor with the intent to stay.  I suggest you immediately marry either in Japan or via a Utah online marriage, then immediately start the spousal visa process.  In about 2 years, she can enter the US with the visa.  You can enter the US alone, start work, and establish domicile during the wait.

Edited June 20, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[NihonReboot 1]

3 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

There is no US marriage registry.  She cannot enter the US as a visitor with the intent to stay.  I suggest you immediately marry either in Japan or via a Utah online marriage, then immediately start the spousal visa process.  In about 2 years, she can enter the US with the visa.  You can enter the US alone, start work, and establish domicile during the wait.

Unless I find a job in the next 2 weeks, I have to leave Japan by the end of July. She is in the process of getting a tourist visa so we can spend winter together in Florida. During her time here we want to register for marriage and then she would go back to Japan while I continue getting the place ready and doing the paperwork. Would there be any issues? Also would Utah online marriage work if we do not live in Utah? We are planning for Florida since my family is there.

[Boiler 43,453]

17 minutes ago, NihonReboot said:

Unless I find a job in the next 2 weeks, I have to leave Japan by the end of July. She is in the process of getting a tourist visa so we can spend winter together in Florida. During her time here we want to register for marriage and then she would go back to Japan while I continue getting the place ready and doing the paperwork. Would there be any issues? Also would Utah online marriage work if we do not live in Utah? We are planning for Florida since my family is there.

It is not an issue, just unlikely to happen You do not need to live in Utah to go through their process..

[carmel34 3,531]

1 hour ago, NihonReboot said:

I have to leave Japan by the end of July. She is in the process of getting a tourist visa so we can spend winter together in Florida.

The tourist visa will be a big challenge for her.  With a US fiancé, she will be viewed as likely trying to bypass the legal way (K-1 or CR-1) to move to the US, her strong ties to the US will be evident.  A tourist visa is for brief periods of tourism, not for living with you.  The correct process for her to immigrate will take 1-2 years and you will live in different countries, so lots of knowledge and patience is required.  Start with an online Utah marriage now and once you get the marriage certificate, file an I-130 petition for her online.  You can return to Japan to visit her frequently during the 1-2 year process.  Good luck!

Edited June 20, 2023 by carmel34

[Crazy Cat 39,282]

1 hour ago, NihonReboot said:

Unless I find a job in the next 2 weeks, I have to leave Japan by the end of July. She is in the process of getting a tourist visa so we can spend winter together in Florida. During her time here we want to register for marriage and then she would go back to Japan while I continue getting the place ready and doing the paperwork. Would there be any issues? Also would Utah online marriage work if we do not live in Utah? We are planning for Florida since my family is there.

The sooner you marry, the sooner she can enter the US as a legal resident.  I would marry asap and start the process.  Utah online marriage does not require you to live in Utah.  I would marry now, because you must have been together either during or after the marriage ceremony before starting the immigration process. 

[Stein 260]

If the job thing doesn't work out does it make sense for both of you to go to Vietnam, marry there with her family present and then let her stay with her family until she can arrive in the US?  This would be the least expensive while living apart while giving her a support structure while you are not in the same household.  I hate to say your chance of a tourist visa isn't great.  Better than a normal single VN girl who has never left the country but still very slim odds.

[SalishSea 16,776]

15 hours ago, NihonReboot said:

We are unsure how to go about doing this. My department was let go at the end of 2022 and since I have not been able to find work, I have to go back to America.

 

I am engaged with a Vietnamese girl who wants to go with me. Should we register our marriage in Japan or wait until she visits America and then register it in America?

 

How do I go about getting the correct documents submitted for her?

 

Thanks in advance.

Not sure what you mean about registering.

 

She needs a visa to be able to live in the United States.   
 

That process will take at least two years.   I recommend you start reading and researching as much as you can about it.   US immigration is not cheap or fast.

6 hours ago, NihonReboot said:

Unless I find a job in the next 2 weeks, I have to leave Japan by the end of July. She is in the process of getting a tourist visa so we can spend winter together in Florida. During her time here we want to register for marriage and then she would go back to Japan while I continue getting the place ready and doing the paperwork. Would there be any issues? Also would Utah online marriage work if we do not live in Utah? We are planning for Florida since my family is there.

It’s very unlikely she will get a tourist visa.

[Just Paul 4,591]

Figure out how you can spend time together.  If she doesn't have a job or already had a US Visa it will be hard for her to get one.  But try asap and see if you want.   Then look at your realistic options.  You can file for a fiancé visa, or get married anywhere and go for a spousal.  If you had already married and had a job offer to go back to in the US then doing a spousal at the consulate expedited could be an option.   Chances are that there is going to be significant time apart. Pretty common in immigration and where there hasn't been any planning.

[usmsbow 796]

9 hours ago, NihonReboot said:

Unless I find a job in the next 2 weeks, I have to leave Japan by the end of July. She is in the process of getting a tourist visa so we can spend winter together in Florida. During her time here we want to register for marriage and then she would go back to Japan while I continue getting the place ready and doing the paperwork. Would there be any issues? Also would Utah online marriage work if we do not live in Utah? We are planning for Florida since my family is there.

How easy is it to get married in Japan? That's what I'd recommend doing first, if it isn't too difficult. Then apply for a marriage visa. And does she have an appointment yet for her tourist visa interview?

[NihonReboot 1]

52 minutes ago, usmsbow said:

How easy is it to get married in Japan? That's what I'd recommend doing first, if it isn't too difficult. Then apply for a marriage visa. And does she have an appointment yet for her tourist visa interview?

Her interview is in September so she can visit for a week in December. It seems the consensus is to do the Utah marriage now and then do the I-130 instead. What documents do we need to prepare for the Utah marriage?

[Redro 4,600]

19 hours ago, NihonReboot said:

We are unsure how to go about doing this. My department was let go at the end of 2022 and since I have not been able to find work, I have to go back to America.

 

I am engaged with a Vietnamese girl who wants to go with me. Should we register our marriage in Japan or wait until she visits America and then register it in America?

 

How do I go about getting the correct documents submitted for her?

 

Thanks in advance.

How would you register your marriage in the US? Are you planning on going to the US to marry... does she have a tourist visa for the US?

 

10 hours ago, NihonReboot said:

Unless I find a job in the next 2 weeks, I have to leave Japan by the end of July. She is in the process of getting a tourist visa so we can spend winter together in Florida. During her time here we want to register for marriage and then she would go back to Japan while I continue getting the place ready and doing the paperwork. Would there be any issues? Also would Utah online marriage work if we do not live in Utah? We are planning for Florida since my family is there.

What is her current visa status in Japan? Does she have a job she would return to? Would she be able to stay in the US while she waits for the visa to process 18-24 months?

 

49 minutes ago, usmsbow said:

How easy is it to get married in Japan? That's what I'd recommend doing first, if it isn't too difficult. Then apply for a marriage visa. And does she have an appointment yet for her tourist visa interview?

I would recommend getting married via Utah online. 

Getting married in Japan will involve a visit to the US Embassy  where you would need to get a Sworn Affidavit of Competency to Marry.  Your partner from Vietnam will have to go to her embassy to get one, too. And not sure where in Japan you are located but it could be difficult to get everything organized before you leave in July. 

[Redro 4,600]

2 minutes ago, NihonReboot said:

Her interview is in September so she can visit for a week in December. It seems the consensus is to do the Utah marriage now and then do the I-130 instead. What documents do we need to prepare for the Utah marriage?

https://www.utahcounty.gov/dept/clerk/marriage/onlinemarriage.html