S.Cook

Please forgive me if I ask the most basic of stupid questions, but I have some queries I could do with some help with. I met a girl and I want to leave the UK to live in California for good. Naturally, marriage is a given.

1) How do I go about getting the ball rolling on the UK side of the Atlantic? Do I need a solicitor or anything?

2) How would I take/transfer any monies I have?

I realise these questions will probably have been answered over and over, but this forum, to a newbie, is a bit daunting.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

sime303

Do a bloody search lol

Should've posted this in marriage based visas.

Basically she has to get the ball rolling her side. I can't remember what form it is she has to file right now though. Someone will come along and tell you or you can search the USCIS website.


http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

S.Cook

I'm wading through it as best as I can, but it's daunting - there's so much to read!!

Octang Frye

It all depends: is she hot?

Hair color. Height. Weight, proportional to height? Inside leg measurement.
Does she put out?
All these will have a bearing on whether a visa can be issued.

EJ3

Hi,

Start by reading this:

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...iv/fiance.html

Also, as said above, use the 'search'. Type in K1 (fiance visa) or I-129F and look for threads. Many questions have been posted from people in similar situations so you will probably find some answers on previous threads.

Good luck.

BritishGuy36

2 basic choices:

1) Get married somewhere then you return to the UK while the "spousal visa" (CR-1) processes. You will not be able to reside in the US for about 9 months after marriage.

If she comes to the UK for marriage she will need a UK fiance visa for that - she can't get married on the VWP. If you go to the US you can get married on the US VWP as long as you leave before your 90 days is up.

2) Get a fiance visa (K1). You travel to the US and get married within 90 days, then apply for adjustment of status (AOS). You will not be able to reside in the US for about 9 months before your visa is granted.

Comparison:

Length of time is about the same. Method 1 is cheaper. Method 1 allows you to live, work and travel from day one upon entering the US, the paperwork is all done before you enter the US. Method 2 requires you to adjust status, and you have to get work authorisation etc and possibly advance parole if you want to travel outside of the country before your AOS completes.

Generally, method one is considered superior due to the lower costs and less hassle.

With both methods, you can visit the US on the VWP while your application is processing, but you must have on your person proof of strong ties to the UK, to prove that you will not overstay the 90 days, such as property rental agreement, letter from employer stating the date of your expected return to work etc.

If you don't have a crimnal record, you will be able to do it yourself with assistance from forums like this one and VisaJourney.

~~~~~

Transferring money:

Open a bank account in the US (quite difficult from the UK, you may need a trip over there, or you can open a US-based account at branches of Wells Fargo or Wachovia in London if you can get there easy enough). You just do a wire transfer using a dedicated foreign exchange agent such as UKForex or XEtrade. You send pounds and the dollarz get put in your US account. Don't use your bank to send the money as they will charge you much more for the privelege.

cranston

As above, get married.

Ray

Basically to start you do nothing ..it down to her

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/K1

Bill_S

Well, he could propose to her, if he hasn't already.

Bill_S

Good answer from Britishguy36 if you're talking about a lot of money. If it's not a lot, how about getting a bank draft and carrying it with you?

BTW, many on here recommend keeping at least one UK bank account open if you can.

Noorah101

It's the USC who gets the ball rolling first. If you are unmarried and want to do a fiance visa (and you have met in person within the past 2 years), she starts by filing an I-129F form.

If you want to do a spouse visa, then you'll have to get married first (doesn't matter where), then she will file an I-130 form.

She eventually needs to meet the requirements for the Affidavit of Support (form I-864) for either method, so that's a very important one to look at also.

All the forms can be found at www.uscis.gov, Immigration Forms.

Best Wishes,
Rene

squentna

I suggest reading all the papers currently required for all the steps you will be doing. There are some odd little twists in the process and quirky contracts involved in the entire process. This will assist with blunders and stumbling blocks further along. Previous poster said "All the forms are available..." and I'll add with emphasis, "READ ALL the papers"..both of you.
What's really irritating is sometimes as we approach the next -checkpoint- they change the rules just a little to mess us up! Don't be discouraged.

Noorah101

What are they?

Rene

Songbird

Actually it's quite straight forward for the OP (if they get married or go via the fiancé visa) as was posted by BritishGuy36 - nothing to get 'discouraged' about at all as far as I can see.

As for them 'changing the rules just to mess us up' ..

To the OP : just decide on which path (spousal or fiancé ) that works best for your particular situation and circumstances and proceed from there

BTW - Welcome to the board!

The_English_Bride

He did post in Marriage Based Visas!