Ian Cleary

Hi,
I am currently in a situation needing worthy advice. I am a 29yr old
duel passport holder Australian/British. I entered Canada on a 1 year
work visa through my australian passport, whilst in Canada I met an
American girl to whom I am now engaged to become married. I am
currently in the US with her residing in Seattle on my second visitors
visa, we have a ceremonial wedding booked in August 2005 but we were
hoping to go and have a courtroom marriage here in the US to allow me
to stay before my current visitors visa expires on the 15th Nov 2004,
My Canadian work visa doesnt expire until Oct 15th 2004.I do not want
to leave the US and therefore my fiance, please could you help me with
my best options.
Thanks Ian Cleary.

Just Jenney

Did you enter the US most recently with the intention of marrying your fiancee so you could stay in the US with her?

The answer to this question is critical to letting you know what your options are.

~ Jenney

Noorah101

Hi Ian,

Be careful about where you say you reside. You're not supposed to reside in the USA on a visitor's visa.

Best Wishes,
Rene

meauxna

One option is to marry now, book tickets to Australia and take her home to meet the family. While there, she is eligible to file her petition at the Consulate and you can apply for an Immigrant Visa on the same day (assuming all police checks etc are gathered). When the visa is granted (often same-day in Sydney) you use it to re-enter the US, this time as a Permanent Resident/Green Card holder and start your new life. Australia is the easiest place in the world to do this (can't do it everywhere anyway).

This process is sometimes called DCF/Direct Consular Filing. You can find an outline/explanation here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?pg=dcf
And first-hand experiences here: http://www.kamya.com/interview/intro.html by clicking I-130/DCF Abroad and then Australia. Newest stories at the bottom of the list.

IMO, this is superior to adjusting your status in the US and waiting in limbo for X period of time PLUS your new wife gets a trip to Australia! But, these are just things that are important to me

Ian Cleary

meauxna <member1851@british_expats.com> wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    > > Hi,
    > > I am currently in a situation needing worthy advice. I am a 29yr old
    > > duel passport holder Australian/British. I entered Canada on a 1 year
    > > work visa through my australian passport, whilst in Canada I met an
    > > American girl to whom I am now engaged to become married. I am
    > > currently in the US with her residing in Seattle on my second visitors
    > > visa, we have a ceremonial wedding booked in August 2005 but we were
    > > hoping to go and have a courtroom marriage here in the US to allow me
    > > to stay before my current visitors visa expires on the 15th Nov 2004,
    > > My Canadian work visa doesnt expire until Oct 15th 2004.I do not want
    > > to leave the US and therefore my fiance, please could you help me with
    > > my best options.
    > > Thanks Ian Cleary.
    >
    > One option is to marry now, book tickets to Australia and take her home
    > to meet the family. While there, she is eligible to file her petition
    > at the Consulate and you can apply for an Immigrant Visa on the same
    > day (assuming all police checks etc are gathered). When the visa is
    > granted (often same-day in Sydney) you use it to re-enter the US, this
    > time as a Permanent Resident/Green Card holder and start your new life.
    > Australia is the easiest place in the world to do this (can't do it
    > everywhere anyway).
    >
    > This process is sometimes called DCF/Direct Consular Filing. You can
    > find an outline/explanation here:
    > http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?pg=dcf
    > And first-hand experiences here:
    > http://www.kamya.com/interview/intro.html by clicking I-130/DCF Abroad
    > and then Australia. Newest stories at the bottom of the list.
    >
    > IMO, this is superior to adjusting your status in the US and waiting in
    > limbo for X period of time PLUS your new wife gets a trip to Australia!
    > But, these are just things that are important to me :)

Thanks for the advice, can the DCF process be done through the embassy
in Vancouver Canada? The pair of us heading back to Australia right
now is a cost that we cant afford. Which embassy would we be applying
through? Australian or American embassy. You mention this being a
'superior option' but can my status be adjusted without me leaving the
States (from a visitors visa)

Anonymous

ian cleary wrote:

    >
    > Thanks for the advice, can the DCF process be done through the embassy
    > in Vancouver Canada?

No

The pair of us heading back to Australia right
    > now is a cost that we cant afford.


>Which embassy would we be applying
    > through? Australian or American embassy.

Which country would you be trying to live in?

You mention this being a
    > 'superior option' but can my status be adjusted without me leaving the
    > States (from a visitors visa)

yes