If i go over to america from uk on holiday and marry a US citizen .. ?

Donna

If you are coming from the UK for "holiday" the usual amount of time given under the visa waiver program is 90 days. If you decide you can't be separated again, and do something "spontaneous" like getting married while you are here, make sure you get married within this 90 days, and your paperwork is properly filed before the end of the 90 days. (just as a side note, do not get married the minute you step in the US. This will look like your intentions were to get married all along..which is not technically allowed. You can't come under the visa waiver with the intentions of getting married. But once here, people do decide they want to spend the rest of their lives together. Wait about a month or so..then get married and file the papers to adjust your status)
Next thing is when you come over, do not have a return plane ticket for 90 days. A week or 2 max. If they suspect you are coming for any other reason other than for a holiday you are liable to be bounced back to the UK. You are a tourist <wink> You know no one in the US if asked. <wink>
Have with you your hotel reservation (which you will need because you will need the address for the landing card. Also since you know no one in the US you obviously will be staying in a hotel <wink>
Have a few things printed out that you wish to do..you know..touristy things.
Fly into a big tourist destination, like Orlando, or Vegas. This will help with the whole you are a tourist thing. If you have a friend who can accompany you, even better. Very few people actually like to go on holiday alone.
Once you are inside the US you can cancel your hotel reservation. You may loose a little money but it is better than being bounced back to the UK.
Do not bring your birth certificate with you. Mail it to your bf. Having a birth certificate with you will raise suspicions.
Do not bring things like a wedding dress. If you have one you want to wear, mail it in advance. Better yet, wait till you are here and buy one.
Do not bring too much luggage. You are on holiday remember. If you have a friend with you, her luggage can contain a good bit of your stuff as well.
Once inside the US, getting married is very easy. Some locations just require a photo ID. Some require a photo ID and a birth certificate. (that's why mail it to your bf in advance. You will also need it for when you file to adjust your status)
After you are married, make sure you file the appropriate paperwork before the 90 days is up. DO NOT LEAVE THE US DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. Once you file the paperwork, you need to remain inside the US until you receive your green card. The whole process can take 4-6 months..sometimes a little longer. During this time you will have to have a physical..and your biometrics captured. You will also have to have an interview. During this interview you are going to have to convince the interviewing officer that you did not have intentions of coming to the US to get married and stay. If you can do this, then you will be granted a green card. (oh and make sure you have proof of your relationship,..like letters, emails, photo's,.plane tickets etc)
About 2 months after you file the paperwork (even before you get the green card) you will receive work authorization. This gives you permission to get a social security number, a job and a drivers license.
It is not that hard, but it isn't that simple either. You have to do the right things at the right time. We hired an attorney when we adjusted my husbands status. He is also British, and we got married when he came over under the visa waiver program.
Oh and some people will tell you that you can't get married under the visa waiver program then stay and adjust status. It will even say so on the back of your landing card. It is rubbish. It is doable. We know many couples, other than ourselves, who have done it. As late as last fall even. So don't get freaked out by this common misconception.
If you have any other questions or concerns, just email or IM me.
Donna

ibu guru

If your boyfriend wants to marry you, he must apply for a fiance visa. You should not enter on Visa Waiver or you have to go home while your paperwork is processed. VWP is ONLY for tourism! Any other action which indicates an intent to remain can be prosecuted as fraud. More likely, however, instead of jail, you get barred.

Your bf has to prove he has sufficient income & assets to guarantee your support. You both have to prove how you met, when & where & how long you have been together, etc. Basically, you need to show that this is a "till death do us part" love of your life.

A fiance visa, if you are a British citizen, may take 6 months or so. Often it can take closer to a year, especially if you do not have all your ducks in a row.

After you get the fiance visa, you may enter the US, and you have 90 days to marry and file for change of status. After 6 months or so, you get a temporary green card valid for 2 years. If the marriage goes bust, you go home.

This is the proper way to do it, the fastest, easiest and cheapest. It is, however, still pretty expensive. Make sure your bf has a good, reliable income and you two need to save up quite a bit of money for immigration fees and all. Don't spend all your money on the wedding & honeymoon.

David

What you are sugesting is an illegal method....some try it and get away with it ..some dont ... Its better to do properly
Follow the flowcharts here

http://familybasedimmigration.com/forum/index.php

Joey F

You asked a different question on this forum already. You're dying to live here in the US, aren't you ?... Just study hard, and get your higher education, and hopefully You might find an employer to sponsor you for a Visa, and I'm sure there are enough Americans in Scotland, you might want to look for. Sorry, but moving to the US isn't that easy.

Tom

If you are coming with intent to marry, you would not be admitted as a
visitor. If you enter as a visitor by concealing you intent to remain
permanently and marry, you can apply for permanent residence
but it may not be granted. It would be more appropriate for him to
file a fiance petition on your behalf. Based upon it you could obtain to proper visa .

Cali

No. You still have to apply for a green card, pay certain fees and undergo an interview with ICE. You must be in the US legally at the time of the marriage. If you are a British citizen you won't need a visa to enter but make sure you tie the knot before your 6 months expires.

Chuckles

The US citizen has to apply. He has to get you a K-1 visa before you go over. If you enter as a tourist and intend to marry after you arrive, that is visa fraud and you will not get the green card.

ivo

fiance visa?is just let u to stay for 90days and u need to get married in this period,but with the visa waiver u can stay 90 day so i dont c the reason why should u pay 340 dollars to get a fiance visa and wait for it like 6months. what is if i get married with out it?

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: