Immigration Site

Hi all

I currently have an F1 visa and am studying in the USA. I will be going back to my home country for holiday, and I am considering getting married to a US Citizen later on, when I am back in the USA again.

Since my money situation has become very bad, and non-resident tuition is very high compared to resident tuition, can I cancel my F1 visa even though it is still valid for another 2 years, enter on a tourist visa (normally my passport has an automatic tourist visa which lasts for 90 days), then get married while on a tourist visa, wait or work until I am resident, then eventually continue my education. Is this possible and is it a good idea?

I want to save money so I want to work, or just wait, before I continue my education..

But what if I get married while on the F1 visa, how long will it take until I am considered resident of a state and can pay the resident tuition fees at university?
-Is it a better idea to get married while on an F1 visa than on a tourist visa?
-Should I wait a certain number of months after entering the USA until I get married and apply for Green Card? Does it matter how quickly I get married if I am on the F1 visa? What if Im on a tourist visa?

The other option I have is to continue school and pay for another semester, then get married during that semester. Can I quit going to school as soon as I have gotten married/applied for green card, without the risk of getting deported? (Can you apply for a green card just the day after you have gotten married?)

When you get a GC through marriage (or while you wait for getting it), do you have to work or go to school in the USA, or can you travel around inside the USA and visit different states?


A few more questions:


- Can you travel outside the USA while waiting for Green Card?
- Once you have your Green Card can you travel outside the US and how long time? I heard you can be outside 6 months at a time. Would a 1 day reentry into US be enough to allow 6 more months of travel?
- Is the Green Card you get through marriage a permanent one or when does it have to be renewed? When you renew it, is the next Green Card you get "permanent"?
- How long from the moment you are married until you can become citizen?ome time?
- How long until you get a green card after marriage?
- How long until you can legally work in the USA after marriage?

WHOA, too many questions! First things first ...

I currently have an F1 visa and am studying in the USA. I will be going home to my family for the summer on holiday, and am planning on coming back and getting married to a US citizen. That is preconceived immigrant intent, which youre not supposed to have with an F1 or tourist visa. If they know your plans they wont let you back into the US with the visa.

My question is, since I want to save money (non-resident tuition is very high compared to resident tuition), can I cancel my F1 visa even though it is still valid for another 2 years, enter on a tourist visa (normally my passport has an automatic tourist visa which lasts for 90 days), then get married while on a tourist visa, wait or work until I am resident, then eventually continue my education. Is this possible and is it a good idea? If you quit school, then attempt to enter soon after with a tourist visa, theyre likely to get suspicious at the port of entry and ask invasive questions.

Once inside the US and youre married to a US citizen and youve filed the appropriate green card paperwork, you dont have to attend school to stay legally, and you can work inside the US or travel outside the US while the GC is in process when youve received the relevant work and travel documents (which typically take 2-3 months to arrive).

Maybe that wasnt the best wording.. Im not planning an exact date or anything like that, I just want to know the process.

What about a fiance visa, how does that work? Do you think that would be better in my case?

....
Can anyone help me with the other questions in my first post?

Yes, the fiance visa would likely be a better option in your case if you plan to travel outside the US before beginning the GC process. Basically, your USC fiancee would file I-129F and some associated documents, then a few months later you would show up at the consulate in your country to interview for the visa (you can stay in the US while the I-129F is being processed, as long as you maintain your legal status).

Then you would return to the US with the visa, and you have 90 days after entry to get married within the US. Then after getting married you file I-485 and other related green card paperwork. When you are on the fiance visa you dont have to study, and the work/travel documents later obtained from your GC paperwork will allow you to work or travel before the GC is granted.

See http://www.immihelp.com/visas/kvisa/...-petition.html