French citizen getting married to a US citizen

[JeanneAdil 7,234]

It does take time -more than we would like- but all here that have done it say its well worth it and those that have done the K1  for fiancee wish they had done the spouse visa 

 

since the US citizen has to do the petition for the beginning of this process, it is advised he come to VJ and learn the steps 

lawyer is not needed 

[ZeldaLara 0]

24 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

Which visa? K-1 and spousal visa both lead to permanent residency ('green card'), you don't need to come back to France with them. 

 

If you mean the VWP, then yes, you can just visit on that, you can't stay longer. It's up to 90 days, but the recommendation would be less than that, partly so you don't risk overstaying (if for example, you stayed until day 89 and your flight was delayed, you could never use the VWP again and it would make it MUCH harder to visit in the future). But also because it's only for visiting, and any implication that you're trying to live in the US as a visitor could be being refused entry. So you can visit whilst you wait for your visa to be processed, but keep it to shorter visits with large gaps just to be safe. 

I mean lets say we start applying next month for spousal visa .. can i move with him in May ? June ... I really thought id be easier than that ... 

Edited yesterday at 02:46 PM by ZeldaLara

[appleblossom 4,860]

8 minutes ago, ZeldaLara said:

I mean lets say we start applying next month for spousal visa .. can i move with him in May ? June ... I really thought id be easier than that ... 

 

No. If you get married and submit the I-130 next month, figure about 15 months minimum before you can move, probably nearer 18 months, so the end of next year or early 2027 as a very rough guide. 

[JD2 175]

41 minutes ago, ZeldaLara said:

I really thought id be easier than that

You do have a big advantage compared to most since you are from an ESTA country which means you can visit for up to 90 days during this process.  If I were you, I'd come to the US as soon as possible, get married, file the I-130 and get the ball rolling.

[mam521 2,646]

35 minutes ago, JD2 said:

You do have a big advantage compared to most since you are from an ESTA country which means you can visit for up to 90 days during this process.  If I were you, I'd come to the US as soon as possible, get married, file the I-130 and get the ball rolling.

Just for clarification: 

 

Premeditatively entering the US with the intent to marry and adjust status is immigration fraud.  

 

Premeditatively entering the US with the intent to marry and return to their home country to complete their immigration journey is fine.   

Edited yesterday at 04:09 PM by mam521

[smilingstone 733]

You can:

• Enter the US on a tourist visa or ESTA and marry. But you must then return to France before or at the end of your admittance and then pursue the spousal visa.

 

OR

 

• Have your USC visit France, marry, and then pursue the spousal visa, with you remaining in France (with them as long as their admittance to EU allows). 

 

OR

 

• Enter the US as above and get engaged, file I129f (fiancé visa), and return to France before or at the end of your admittance and wait out fiance visa processing. 

 

You can't:

• Enter the US as above with the intent of marrying AND adjusting status to allow you to stay. 

 

• Expect this to be a quick or easy process. You cannot expect to be in the US by May or June. You could maybe expect I129f approval by then, but then you have to apply for the K1. I have heard Paris has long waits.