ChrisL101

I’m freaking out a little bit. I’m flying into the US in a couple of days to visit my fiancé. I’ll be staying for 5 weeks. In that time we will be getting married. After the 5 weeks I’ll be flying home and applying for a U.K. spouse visa for my wife to live with me in the UK.  

Because I’ll be entering on an ESTA I’ve read a lot of posts online saying that if I can’t prove that I am leaving the country on entry then after the 5 weeks that I’ll be instantly sent home and banned from the country for 7 years etc...

Is immigration really that strict? 

If it’s legal to marry on an esta with the intent of leaving the country then how can I prove it other than my return flight?? 

On 7/29/2019 at 7:45 AM, SusieQQQ said:

Always be honest. 

They keep notes.

lying to immigration has serious consequences. 

 

Make sure you have plenty of evidence as to why you will return home after the marriage.

What kind of evidence? I can show the return flight? Maybe the contract from our lawyer saying we’re applying for the U.K. spouse visa? 

You guys are all amazing! 

So when I arrive in the US if they ask at imagination why I’m entering the country should I just be honest and say I’m getting married or I should I just say visiting my fiancé? 

Ive heard somewhere that if you enter the country with the intent of getting married on an ESTA it could effect your Green Card application? Because there's evidence that we have been engaged for 8 months. Even though we do plan to have a very small wedding it wouldn't be 'spontanious'

Amazing quick answers. Here's one more quick question. Why then is it so frowned upon to marry on an ESTA?

Hi everyone,

                    I am sure this question has been asked far too much and so I apologise in advance I'm just still so confused/concerned. I am a UK citizen and I am planning on marrying my US fiancé. Our plan though is to get her a UK Spouse visa and live in the UK. My concern is our lawyer has suggested that I enter the US on an ESTA to marry her. I believe it is perfectly legal to marry on an ESTA with the intent on leaving the country. I'll only be there for around 4 weeks anyway before I have to return to the UK to work. My worry is that theoretically speaking in 5 years time after we have been living in the UK with her Visa what if we decide that we want to move to the US. Can I legally apply for a US Green Card a couple of years down the line from the UK even though I got married on an ESTA? Another worry is what if our UK visa application gets denied and as a plan B we decide to move to the US? Will I have a problem applying for a US Green Card from the UK since I got married on an ESTA?

My questions broken down are; 

1. Is it legal to marry on an ESTA with the intent of leaving the US?
2. Is it legal to marry on an ESTA then leave and apply for a US Green Card outside of the country?

3. If I get married on an ESTA with the intent on leaving. After living with my wife in the UK for a few years can we then still legally apply for my Green Card?

4. If I marry on an ESTA then leave the country but our UK Visa application gets denied can I legally apply for a Green Card straight away from the UK?

Thanks again for answering what Im sure are common questions.