F-1 Student marrying U.S citizen

[Don shikari 0]

Hello, I'm new to this website in need of some information. I'm sorry if you've answered this question before. I've lived in America under a student F-1 visa for 2 years, I'm studying in a school in Oklahoma. I work my 20 hours allowed on campus and that helps pay the bills for our house and living, school is paid for through a soccer scholoship I earned. I have a wonderful girlfriend who is an American citizen, we've been together and lived together for well over a year and I think it might be time to get engaged, we love each other very much and want to begin our future. I wish we could be engaged and then have the wedding like normal but I know it's not going to be that easy. We want to stay in school and continue to work on our degrees. Please could someone help me with this situation, maybe someone who has gone through this or is very knowledgeable on this matter, I would gratley appreciate it.

My concerns our violating my F-1 status.

Being able to work off campus as hours our limited on.

the whole sponser thing, we are students, adn our families have limited resources.

What order should everything be done.

Thank you

[Messybrownhair 251]

You can get married and file Adjustment of Status but it will be pricey, AOS fees plus medical will cost something like $2000. Your USC wife will then need to fill up an affidavit of support and she needs to make 125% above the poverty line for two people, which is over $18k. If she doesn't make that much, then you can look for a co-sponsor who makes enough money. You can ask around at the forum called adjustment of status from work, student and tourist visas to get more valuable information. Congrats on the engagement and goodluck on everything!

Edited May 7, 2011 by messybrownhair

[Messybrownhair 251]

Double post. I responded to this in the student visa thread.

[Don shikari 0]

So with what you know on this subject and me telling you she definatly doesnt earn that and our families our of middle class we dont really have a chance. is there another way, or anything you could sujest?

[Don shikari 0]

Hello, I'm new to this website in need of some information. I'm sorry if you've answered this question before. I've lived in America under a student F-1 visa for 2 years, I'm studying in a school in Oklahoma. I work my 20 hours allowed on campus and that helps pay the bills for our house and living, school is paid for through a soccer scholoship I earned. I have a wonderful girlfriend who is an American citizen, we've been together and lived together for well over a year and I think it might be time to get engaged, we love each other very much and want to begin our future. I wish we could be engaged and then have the wedding like normal but I know it's not going to be that easy. We want to stay in school and continue to work on our degrees. Please could someone help me with this situation, maybe someone who has gone through this or is very knowledgeable on this matter, I would gratley appreciate it.

My concerns our violating my F-1 status.

Being able to work off campus as hours our limited on.

the whole sponser thing, we are students, adn our families have limited resources.

What order should everything be done.

Thank you

IM SORRY THIS IS IN THE WRONG FORUM.

[Messybrownhair 251]

So with what you know on this subject and me telling you she definatly doesnt earn that and our families our of middle class we dont really have a chance. is there another way, or anything you could sujest?

Well I went through a K1, and my hubby was a student then and he definitely didn't make that much as well, so we used his dad as a co-sponsor. We are middle class too, and most people on here are, don't worry Unfortunately no matter which route you take whether it be getting married and adjusting status now (Which I suggest because I don't see why you should leave the country when you are already here), or a k1 (fiancee visa), CR1 (spouse visa).. they ALL require the affidavit of support. Do you guys not know ANY person who is a USC who can sponsor you as well? It can be anyone. The affidavot of support also includes 2010 tax returns, most recent pay stubs and an employment letter. The forms you will need to fill are the I-485, I-130, I-864, I-765.

[velnoure 2]

IM SORRY THIS IS IN THE WRONG FORUM.

You can arrange a formal wedding. It saves a lot of time, money, and quite easy to prepare. You must bring witnesses (not biologically related, like maybe your parent's friends, or some close friends preferably 21 or older), and take as much pictures are possible during the wedding ceremony. You can have a more fitting wedding later on, maybe after you get your undergraduate degree or when you guys are more financially stable. I'm not sure what it's like in your state, but we got married in Nevada. Good luck!

I know how your situation is. I've gone through almost the same thing, but my wife works full-time so we didn't need a sponsor, and at a really young age (we married when I turned 18, she's 19 at the time).

[velnoure 2]

I can't edit the post on top for some reason... But I meant to say courthouse wedding and not formal wedding

Edited May 7, 2011 by velnoure

[Don shikari 0]

Well I went through a K1, and my hubby was a student then and he definitely didn't make that much as well, so we used his dad as a co-sponsor. We are middle class too, and most people on here are, don't worry Unfortunately no matter which route you take whether it be getting married and adjusting status now (Which I suggest because I don't see why you should leave the country when you are already here), or a k1 (fiancee visa), CR1 (spouse visa).. they ALL require the affidavit of support. Do you guys not know ANY person who is a USC who can sponsor you as well? It can be anyone. The affidavot of support also includes 2010 tax returns, most recent pay stubs and an employment letter. The forms you will need to fill are the I-485, I-130, I-864, I-765.

It just seems harsh, the way we live now we support ourselfs fine, we contribute to the commuinty we are model students,my im from a family who all work and so is she, we just dont have large sums of money behind us.

[Don shikari 0]

So with a court house wedding, you are offically married have the benifits of being married. This is a good suggestion, have the wedding she's always wanted after we graduate. The biggest hurdle it seems is the sponser! im from a family who are all in full time work and so is she, we just dont have big sums of money in savings, is this what they are looking for?

[Blake and Jeanie 4]

Hey

I was on the F-1 visa when we got married, and am somewhat familiar with the circumstances. Why do you think you will be violating your F-1 status? You can get married and file for Adjustment of Status. If you want to work off campus now, you can try to get work authorization based on economic hardship (you can ask about this at the international student office at your university- they should be familiar with the process and the forms you need to file). As far as the sponsor deal goes,it has to be a USC, so your family won't be able to help here. Take a look at the income guidelines for petitioners/sponsors- perhaps, you are overestimating how much they really need to make. Have you considered waiting to get married? If you wait, you can go for Optional Practical Training (you apply through your school and depending on your degree, this could extend your post-graduation stay in US for quite some time). This would give your girlfriend a chance to work and make enough to meet the guidelines for whenever you file. I'm sorry I can't really answer your questions in more detail, I'm not quite sure what exactly you want to do and when.

I hope you find this info somewhat helpful. Good luck!

[Don shikari 0]

Hey

I was on the F-1 visa when we got married, and am somewhat familiar with the circumstances. Why do you think you will be violating your F-1 status? You can get married and file for Adjustment of Status. If you want to work off campus now, you can try to get work authorization based on economic hardship (you can ask about this at the international student office at your university- they should be familiar with the process and the forms you need to file). As far as the sponsor deal goes,it has to be a USC, so your family won't be able to help here. Take a look at the income guidelines for petitioners/sponsors- perhaps, you are overestimating how much they really need to make. Have you considered waiting to get married? If you wait, you can go for Optional Practical Training (you apply through your school and depending on your degree, this could extend your post-graduation stay in US for quite some time). This would give your girlfriend a chance to work and make enough to meet the guidelines for whenever you file. I'm sorry I can't really answer your questions in more detail, I'm not quite sure what exactly you want to do and when.

I hope you find this info somewhat helpful. Good luck!

[/quote

Hey and thanks for your post. I was doing some reading and the reason i ask the question about violating is because i signed to be here to study then return home (my F-1) if i then start making plans to be here i read that might be seen as doing this. I obviously didnt even know my partner exsisted before i came here. Ive asked about the economic hardship, and my advisor told me that its only for people who are from say japan(recent earthquake) or a country in that situation, or for a medical bill that there is no way you can afford to pay. We originally talked about getting married after our bachelor's (in 2years) and have only recently talked about doing it sooner, we have lived together for well over a year, we pay our bills, living costs, school costs nd we cope just fine. Weve just completed our asociates degree's and about to move ready for the fall semester, and our new school only allows me to work up o 10 hours, not 20 like i do here, so we plan to move into a small aprtment so we can cope, but we talked about getting married sooner, so i can work as i please and save money, thats why this has come about.

[velnoure 2]

Do not worry about the income requirements for now. It is better for your case that you marry as soon as possible if you think it's the right time. Then, you can file for permanent residence later.

Take a look at the links below for some info on the income requirements

http://www.cundyandmartin.com/immigration/family/immigration-sponsorship-income-requirements.php

http://www.ehow.com/list_6316756_income-requirements-immigration-sponsorship.html

If you live in a residence occupied by two people, the income requirement is quite low.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Don - you don't need huge sums of money. Your wife needs to make 125% of the poverty line per year, which for two people is $18,212. You can also add your income to hers, if it will continue after you get your GC, to equal the $18,212. Or, if that still doesn't add up, then you can ask a relative to help you out - they would have to qualify on their own merits, for their household size plus you. This is the same for all intending immigrants - you need to show that you will not become a burden on our welfare system.

If your relatives are middle class as you say, you should be fine... you just need to make a bit over the poverty line - not huge sums of money. The co-sponsor can be a USC OR a LPR. Read the guides up top for Adjustment of Status in the USA.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I can't edit the post on top for some reason... But I meant to say courthouse wedding and not formal wedding

You have 5 minutes to edit a post.