Bob Reid

Hi,
This visa stuff is doing my head in and I hope someone can clarify some
of this for me.

I am British and I met my boyfriend, who is from New York, two years ago.
Since then, he has made three trips across here and I've been over to the
States twice; once on a 90 day tourist visa and once on a J1. Now we want to
live together and start a life in the States (with some travelling mixed
in). We don't particularily want to get married just yet, especially when we
know that it would be the easy way out, as it were.

I have a degree but, having just graduated this summer, not enough
experience in anything to qualify for the H1-B. I know that, where my
boyfriend lives, there is no particular problem in getting work off the
books so I have no qualms about coming over here on a tourist visa and
trying to find work. However, I am finding it increasingly difficult to find
a way to stay in the country for more than 3 months. I heard that it is very
difficult to get a B2 visa if you qualify for visa free travel since you
have to explain why you want to stay for longer than 3 months without any
income.

I also heard that if you come into the States from Canada or Mexico, you do
not have to provide proof of a return journey and can just hop over the
border to renew the visa every 90 days. Is this true? I don't want to face
deportion and possible complications with marriage visas by overstaying.

Is there any other way I can stay in the country for an extended period of
time just to be with my boyfriend? Three months is just not long enough to
decide whether we want to get married!

I know that most people post and not too many reply, but if anyone could
help me with this I would be really greatful.

JR.

Stuart Brook

bob reid wrote:
    >
    > Hi,
    > This visa stuff is doing my head in and I hope someone can clarify some
    > of this for me.
    >
    > I am British and I met my boyfriend, who is from New York, two years ago.
    > Since then, he has made three trips across here and I've been over to the
    > States twice; once on a 90 day tourist visa and once on a J1. Now we want to
    > live together and start a life in the States (with some travelling mixed
    > in). We don't particularily want to get married just yet, especially when we
    > know that it would be the easy way out, as it were.

You can't until you commit to get married, or you get a work visa of
your own. Immigration law was not designed to satisfy long distance
relationships.

    > I have a degree but, having just graduated this summer, not enough
    > experience in anything to qualify for the H1-B. I know that, where my
    > boyfriend lives, there is no particular problem in getting work off the
    > books so I have no qualms about coming over here on a tourist visa and
    > trying to find work. However, I am finding it increasingly difficult to find
    > a way to stay in the country for more than 3 months. I heard that it is very
    > difficult to get a B2 visa if you qualify for visa free travel since you
    > have to explain why you want to stay for longer than 3 months without any
    > income.

If you attempt to work and are caught you can end up in bigger trouble
... like a lifetime ban.

    > I also heard that if you come into the States from Canada or Mexico, you do
    > not have to provide proof of a return journey and can just hop over the
    > border to renew the visa every 90 days. Is this true? I don't want to face
    > deportion and possible complications with marriage visas by overstaying.

You heard wrong ... very wrong.

    > Is there any other way I can stay in the country for an extended period of
    > time just to be with my boyfriend? Three months is just not long enough to
    > decide whether we want to get married!

Nope. Sorry.

J. J. Farrell

"bob reid" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I have a degree but, having just graduated this summer, not enough
    > experience in anything to qualify for the H1-B.

You don't necessarily need experience to get an H1-B.
Finding a job with a company that will sponsor you
for an H1-B os probably your best bet for spending
time in the USA.

    > I know that, where my
    > boyfriend lives, there is no particular problem in getting work off the
    > books so I have no qualms about coming over here on a tourist visa and
    > trying to find work.

That would be a remarkably stupid thing to do if you
you have any intention to visit the USA again or to
attempt to settle there.

    > I also heard that if you come into the States from Canada or Mexico, you
do
    > not have to provide proof of a return journey and can just hop over the
    > border to renew the visa every 90 days. Is this true?

No.

    > I don't want to face
    > deportion and possible complications with marriage visas by overstaying.

You'll get those by working illegally on a B2 or
a visa waiver.

sneaker

This is an old post, but when i first came to the states, i got a something called anextended visitors visa, this initialy lasted 6 months with an option for extension for 6 more months.

It did require a fairly straigh forward interview at the US embassy in London, but nothing to hectic. Just proof of intention to return etc etc

p