DutchietoAmerica

I understand exactly where you're coming from, I've been there myself, however, while marriage holds a deep cultural meaning and what not (huge step in life, I agree), I have come to accept that it's really just a matter of formality and paperwork (since in the U.S. it can be undone just as easily). Don't let it get in between you and your loved one. I did that myself, where I waited to "do the right thing" and I ended up losing her because we could barely see each other, the whole overseas thing was killing us, the distance can play a huge role in destroying relationships, especially at a younger age (early 20s).

Anyway, enough with personal opinions, for your question / situation I think the best option I honestly see is either L-1 or H-1B. Once he is here, he can apply for a Green Card on the EB2 category you mentioned above. Or if things go well, marriage.

Sorry to hear about your relationship. Long distance is incredibly hard, so I completely understand where you are coming from when you say that it destroys relationships and that it may be better to go ahead and get married anyways. I would actually be receptive to it, but not sure if he will be. That'll have to be a conversation that happens in the near future. I'm assuming he is going to try for a L-1 or an H-1B. He is not one to rush into anything, so I can't see him deciding to get married just to get a visa (and because he loves me and all of that of course...but it definitely wouldn't be this soon).

Your best bet is for you and your SO to get married (whether via fiance visa or CR1). All the scenarios you are discussing are a serious hassle and not guaranteed either. Not many European companies will send a finance guy (or gal) to the States unless they have been working at the company for several years or if they are sending employees as part of a temporary, rotational program, meaning your SO will have to go back to Europe anyways. If your SO goes to one of the top 20 business schools in Europe there may be opportunities for expat work via recruiting, however those spaces are very limited. If your SO wasn't already enrolled in business school, the other option would've been to apply to an MBA program in the States. I think that ship has sailed. If you get married in Europe, for instance, you could time your application to coincide with your SO's graduation date, so that upon issuance of the degree he/she can arrive in the US and begin to look for work immediately.

Idk. You have many options.

He is in one of the top 20 business schools in Europe, so there is a chance (no matter how small) that he could be recruited. Ship has definitely sailed on him coming here for his degree though. Even if we decide to go the marriage route, I don't think we'd be ready within the next year to make that step. It would probably be a worst-case scenario if he doesn't find a job/get a visa, so getting married in the next few months doesn't seem like a realistic option for us right now. I'm hoping that he will find find a company that would be willing to send him over or one here that would take him right away. Cross your fingers for us! It seems that the next few years are going to be stressful

The reason why I suggested the tourist / visit visa, is because you mentioned you're not at the marriage stage yet, so I figured a 1 month or so visit would do the trick to enjoy time together every now and then. But if you just want him here permanently without marriage, that's a tougher one, then he really only has the option of F1 student visa or finding a job (L1 or H1B).

EDIT: Also when I said "ties", I meant, in order for people to get approved for a tourist / visiting visa, they need to show that they have strong ties to their home country NOT to the U.S.! They need to show that they intend to go back home and not stay in the U.S. etc.

Oh. That was stupid of me. Ha. His whole family is over there, so that shouldn't be a problem. I get what you are saying, but it's mostly our age and not necessarily our commitment/spending time together that stops us from taking the plunge. If all went according to plan, it would be in another 5 or so years before we would actually get married, as we would prefer to be in our late 20's. Obviously, that may change if that's our only option to get him over here, but I think we both agree that if it is in any way possible we'd like him to be here before we made a decision about marriage. Marriage in and of itself is a huge, life-changing decision. I would hate to rush it just so that we can get him here. But like I said, It's not out of the realm of possibility.

He did study here for a year, so he does have some ties here, although nothing permanent such as family. However, a tourist visa will not work for us for that extended period of time. Neither of us have enough funds saved up to support ourselves for six months at a time without him working (as I will be going to school). Plus, i'm pretty sure he would go crazy not being able to work for six months.

I thought there was a 5 year requirement due to this website: http://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-second-preference-eb-2

One year is much more managable than 5, so i'm happy about that. Seems that the L-1 would make the most sense for us. I know that they're really picky about doing other things than the intended visa, so what happens if we get engaged/married while he is on an L-1?

If he finds an employer who is willing to host the H1B, is it possible he'd get the visa? or are the chances about as good as getting a lottery visa since he is in business?

Thanks again for all of your help!

Thank you for your response! I will tell him to look into US companies. If he does find a job through a US company based in the Netherlands, does that mean that he would need still need 5 years of work experience with them in order to transfer to the US? Or is it different since he would already technically be employed? Unfortunately, I'm in the midwest, not New York. But a foot in the door is a foot in the door, right? At least travel would be substatially cheaper than it would be between countries.

As far as my schooling goes, I am already going there for a semester during my undergrad. After I'm finished, I will be attending grad school, so it won't be very likely/easy to study in the Netherlands. I have looked into doing my whole graduate degree there, but I need to be able to speak Dutch. I should be getting better while living there for six months, but I don't think I'm going to be anywhere near the level that I need to be since I don't speak it at all right now.

Hello! This is my first post and my first time looking into visa options. I am an American citizen, and my SO is Dutch. He finishes school in a year and then the intention was for him to move here to be with me through a work visa. We are both in our early 20's and not ready to marry yet, so that was the best option for us vs a K-1 visa.

I've have started to do some research about the visas, and I'm getting concerned. Based off of what I'm reading, he can't join me in the US until he's had five years of work experience (he is currently getting his MBA, so he will have an advanced degree) and finds an employer who will sponsor him. If this is true then it makes for sense for us to just get married: I can't do long distance for 5 more years. It's even more complicated because I will be a student for 4+ more years, so I won't have any funds to support him and would need a co-sponsor even for a K-1.

Basically, I just need some help. This is all very overwhelming, and everything I read makes the dream of him moving here appear further and further away.