meauxna

What else did you have in mind?

If you want to immigrate *based on this relationship* it must be as a spouse, or a fiancee.

If you want to look at the other possibilites for immigrating to the US on your own, please see this article in the wiki:
Pulaski's Ways: How to Live and Work in the USA

Noorah101

Those are your only two options for immigrating based on your relationship with him. If you can qualify for your own visa, such as work or student, you can come to the USA independently and continue to date him while you're here. If you decide to marry after that, you can adjust your status to permanent resident.

Rene

Thwups

I didnt know what else my options were.... I thought this would be the best place to start for information and I was right Thank you everyone for your help.

snowbunny

I just wanted to mention that US immigration does not recognise same-sex marriages or domestic partnerships -- only legal marriage. Since this is different from other countries, I thought I'd mention it.

Question: if someone enters the US on a K-1 and does not marry, but DOES leave within 90 days, are they penalised? I'm thinking about the folks who get cold feet once domestic bliss becomes imminent.

Noorah101

There are no negative repurcussions for someone who enters on a K-1, does not marry, and leaves before the 90 days are up. That's all fine. Both the USC and the alien would have to declare the event, if they ever go through the immigration process again with someone else, but it shouldn't have any negative consequences.

Rene

fatbrit

What is there you don't know about him? You've been in a relationship with him for at least half a dozen years. At this stage the other person usually knows the other's opinions on everything from aardvarks to zoos!

Thwups

Youre absolutely right. But being with someone 3,500 miles away and only seeing each other on high days and holidays isnt really a true representation of what it would be like to live together 24/7 or be able to see eachother whenever we want. Thats why i put it in ' '. I thought it would be understood.

snowbunny

Well, looks like the K-1 would be your de facto "getting to know you" visa, although it's an awful lot of money and paperwork to go through should you call it off. You probably would not be the first, though.

fatbrit

Left a newish car with the then wife's step father when I moved countries once -- I hadn't got round to selling it before I left, knew he wouldn't be piling too many miles on it since he didn't go out that much, and thought it better than leaving it in storage.

Didn't return for two years as I was a busy boy. So when I got back he'd put a measly 10k km on it, and I offered it to him at an incredible discount (like less than half its value). Told me he'd like to test it out for a bit longer -- so I went and sold it to someone else. Still, I digress.

Either marry the bugger or call it a day would be my advice. Your testing time has already expired!

meauxna

Cute <g>. I'll have to get your whole story one day... Right swashbuckler, I'll guess.

Noorah101

Just be aware that as part of your K-1 petition package, you both will need to make written statements that you intend to marry within 90 days of arrival on the K-1. Of course, no one will really hold you to it, things can and do go wrong, and people end up not getting married. But if you do want to stay, you must marry within 90 days, and the longer you leave it, the longer it will take to get work authorization and green card.

Rene

cindyabs

Amen to that.

snowbunny

Double amen, and there are many that wish that they could live together without 1) getting married 2) going through the USCIS hassle or 3) both before making a commitment. I honestly do wish there were some sane Solomon who could grant people "getting to know you" visas. Unfortunately there are only civil servants who work for a massive bureaucracy in a tidal pool of changing policies.

Bluegrass Lass

Triple amen! We only spent a total of 4months together in the same country in the 18mo period prior to us getting married. Met in Nov. '02, married in May 04 - had no choice but fiance visa to be together. Would have loved a 'getting to know you' before jumping into marriage. So far, so good, but one never knows.

Folinskyinla

Hi:

That is a nice turn of phrase, especially the words "de facto." When the K-1 was created in 1970, the idea of "living together" or a "trial relationship" was considered not to be within the "normal" course of events [although it happened all the time -- the couple wouldn't tell tell their parents].

As a mild rant -- However, an intent to marry on the "more likely than not" standard would be fine IMHO. I will admit to being bothered with a widespread practice of certain US Citizens [usually men] to travel to certain countries to meet people of the opposite gender, "try out the goods," and them bring them here on a K-1 to further "try out the goods" in the US. However, this practice resulted in so many called-off engagements and allegations of spousal abuse, the "IMBRA" legislation was passed.