Herzchen

I am a permanent resident of the United States. I received my status about a year ago. My fiancee is a British citizen, so he does not need a visa to enter States for 6 months. But we want to stay in the States and get married, so he needs to find a job. Is there any way for him to stay legally and work in the US while we are proceeding with his documents, or while we are waiting on my citizenship?
Thank you all in advance for help. I can find a way.. Please help me...

Herzchen

I mean I can't find a way out, I am getting a little hopeless...

Elvira

http://britishexpats.com/articles/us...rk-in-the-usa/

Ray

He DOES need a visa to enter for 180 days ...
He can use the visa waiver for 90 days ...

Get your citizenship first .......

Bob

As Ray said, he'll need a visa to stay in the US past 90 days, it'll take years to petition him as an LPR, but much quicker once you get US citizenship.

Herzchen

Thank you all for help.

Does that mean that for 4 years till I get my citizenship, we won't have an opportunity to see each other?

Ray

He can visit you (for 90 days)..you can visit him ....

Elvira

He can come and visit you, you can visit him.

Have you looked at my link? Does he perhaps have the qualifications for an H1b?

Herzchen

thanks again.

I have looked at that link. He might have qualifications for that visa so we are planning to go to a special event in his area of work in the States, so maybe we could find an employer to sponsor him. He is, however, quite sure that not many companies decide to bother.

But if we decide to go to the UK, can we get married now or is it better to do after I get a fiancee visa? Or it does not really matter?

Herzchen

And one more concern that I have: if we decide to go for it and get married and I'll file the petition for him, would they (INS) still let him in for 90 days to visit? Or they will not allow him enter the US?

Elvira

Not sure about your comments re. the H1b. Seeing that (I think) about 65000 visas are issued every year, there must be lots of employers who do bother - though I agree it is not easy without specialist qualifications and relevabnt experience. In other words, the employer has to REALLY want to employ the applicant, plus the next application period does not start until next April, with an October 1, 2007 start date. (Except universities which are excempt from the cap.)

If you are both EU citizens, AFAIK you can get married anywhere and settle/work in any EU country. If you are not a EU citizen, he would have to obtain a spousal visa for you, but those are easy to get for the UK.

Ray

That willl be a roll of the dice ... maybe ..maybe not ...

Elvira

It could become more difficult. He would have to convince the officer at the POE that he will go back, i.e. bringing lots of proof of employment, residence, bank accounts, regular bills being paid etc. There is no guarantee though...

Herzchen

But when he usually enters the country they just ask him where and for how long he is planning to stay. That is it! He does not fill any application where he must state that he has a wife in the US.... Can they automatically check that at the immigration services in the airport? Can they arrest him for not telling them about me (because they just do not ask him about those things)?

Elvira

He only has to answer the questions asked.

Frequent visits might eventually trigger questions.

I was nearly always asked the purpose of my visit; I am surprised your fiance has never been asked this question.

NB: It is absolutely vital never to lie to an immigration officer.