Penguin_ie

Hi penguin! I noticed you are Irish! I am a dual Irish/UK citizen (lived most of my life in Northern Ireland) and my wife is American. We married 2 months ago. I've been here in the US on an O-1 visa the past year and a half and it expires in Mar2018. I'm looking through the options of the best way to continue living here. Options include trying for another O-1 visa / an AOS and obtain a GC / return to Northern Ireland and apply for a spousal visa from there. I am shooting a movie in Morocco Jan+Feb so I can't apply for an AOS right this moment as leaving the country would cancel it. I could return to the states immediately after filming and apply then but then I only have a week or so left on my O-1 visa!

All options are troubling as the AOS could leave me here in the States past my visa expiry date unable to work or leave until everything is processed, and returning back to NI would mean a long time separated from my wife, house, life etc.

I'm wondering if there is anything in the US-Ireland relations that speed the processes along so we won't have to be separated for too long. Do processing times differ depending on nationality? Or is it possible to go through the US embassy in Dublin or is there a different type of work visa available to the Irish that would allow me to return and work in the States sooner?

I'm going to see a lawyer on Tuesday to get some help on what to do but any help would be greatly appreciated as you are a pro on here!

Thanks

Mark