retzie

Okay, thanks for the explanation.

At the risk of being nosy, what exactly is it you plan to do when you get to the US? Do you have a career path in mind? Depending on the field, that may offer its own employment-based visa pathway (though, that would be unlikely for a fresh graduate).

Do you have any interest in further study? As I mentioned, there are many affordable avenues to a PhD in the US. And yes, costs will be different at every school -- welcome to the United States! Just wait until you see the health "system"... That just means you have to do your research.

The GRE is a standardized test, which has general and subject-specific versions. The scores from one/both are usually required to apply to grad school in the US. Like most standardized tests, it's an obnoxious money-spinner. You get no real academic benefit, but you need to pay through the nose for the privilege of jumping through some hoops. For many, it can be a hurdle to applying at all (it is why I didn't). Mercifully, grad programs are starting to drop it in increasing numbers, since it's not a particularly good indicator of success anyway.

I know you're thinking hard about the visa---it is a big factor, after all---but I would encourage you to give some thought to what might be on the other side. A lot of family-based immigration involves couples, and we see time and again on here that it can be very hard for the foreign spouse to gain a foothold in the workforce/socially. You don't want to land yourself in the same situation, where you are just relying on your parents. If you can line up a job, or further studies, you would be laying the foundation for starting a life here. Not to mention, potentially opening pathways until a visa number became available.

I came over as a maths postdoc, btw, if you're wondering why someone who clearly has nothing to say about your I-130 is commenting

scrubbedexpat099

I am trying to think how any of the issues covered by the I-817 could possibly apply to your situation.

SanDiegogirl

If you click on the link given you for the I-817, and then click on Instructions, half way down the page it gives details of how one is eligible to apply uner the 'Life Act' (which is what this form is all about)

S Folinsky

Hmm. That question strikes me as coming from left field.

That said, the mention of I-817 reinforces my notation that one should act to maximize flexibility to account for changes in law or circumstances in the future before visa issuance.

S Folinsky

Visa availability can go all over the place - it can shorten or lengthen. The law can change. A long time ago I litigated a case where visa availability (under prior system) alternated between cut-off availability and total UNavailability. See Olivares v INS. The curious thing in Olivares was that nobody could explain the visa number alchemy within the visa office therefore nobody could object to the magic involved.

I know this makes it hard to plan. The reason I suggest legal consultation is to maximize flexibility and provide for the shortest, albeit indeterminate, waiting/processing time.