Mk

Hi all,

My girlfriend (originally from Argentina) recently got a job
offer from a US company. She currently lives and works in Argentina,
and is an accounting professional with a big accounting firm.

I'm from the Czech republic and currently live and work in
Germany. I'm an IT professional, hold a 4-year university degree
and work for a smallish IT firm in Nuremberg.

We've been together for two years now. Since she lives
in Argentina and I live in Europe, we've been visiting each other
two times per year, either in Europe or Argentina. We can
document this with photos and emails. We are still not married,
however. (But plan to.)

Question: is it possible for us to start living together in US,
after she arrives in US? If yes, what would be the best way
to do it?

Sincerely,
MK

Duckie

with that imformation you provide it is not possible for you both to immigrate to the usa based on marriage. if any of you would be us citizen it could work.

good luck

Sarahstokes3107

I don't claim to be an expert on this but my cousin (from the UK) got
transferred to the USA by his company, he had a long-term partner and they had
to get married for her to be allowed to accompany him, and she wasn't allowed
to seek employment in the USA as it was HIS visa. I hope you get more specific
feedback but just thought I'd share this similar case scenario.

Mk

"Duckie" wrote



    > with that imformation you provide it is not possible for you both to
    > immigrate to the usa based on marriage. if any of you would be us
    > citizen it could work.


Hi

Our intention (for now) is not to immigrate to US, but
simply to stay and live in US for some time.

Later on, we'll most probably finish in either Brazil, or
Czech Republic, or Canada.

Mk

"Sarahstokes3107" wrote

    > I don't claim to be an expert on this but my cousin (from the UK) got
    > transferred to the USA by his company, he had a long-term partner and they
had
    > to get married for her to be allowed to accompany him, and she wasn't
allowed
    > to seek employment in the USA as it was HIS visa.


I see. In that case, I can't work, since my girlfriend is the person
getting the visa.

Is there any workaround? It that helps, she is not being
transferred; she'll get an H-1B visa.

lairdside

You would qualify for an H-4 visa as a derivative of your gf's H1-B once you marry (I'm not sure if the marriage would have to occur before visa issuance or if you would still be eligible if the marriage occured after visa issuance - hopefully someone can clarify this).

To work you would need to obtain a visa of your own which would enable you to do so. Obtaining a H1-B of your own seems most common. You can change to H1-B after arriving in the US from a H-4 provided you can find an employer willing to sponsor you and proof that you meet the qualifying criteria.

Mrtravel

Sarahstokes3107 wrote:
    > I don't claim to be an expert on this but my cousin (from the UK) got
    > transferred to the USA by his company, he had a long-term partner and they had
    > to get married for her to be allowed to accompany him, and she wasn't allowed
    > to seek employment in the USA as it was HIS visa. I hope you get more specific
    > feedback but just thought I'd share this similar case scenario.

Yes, the spouse of an H1B holder can get a visa.. I think it is H4.
They would apply at the US consulate or embassy serving their area.

Mrtravel

Duckie wrote:

    >
    > with that imformation you provide it is not possible for you both to
    > immigrate to the usa based on marriage. if any of you would be us
    > citizen it could work.
    >

Stop guessing. The spouse of an H1B holder can get a visa. H1B is dual
intent, so it would be possible to immigrate this way.

Mrtravel

lairdside wrote:
    >
    > You would qualify for an H-4 visa as a derivative of your gf's H1-B once
    > you marry (I'm not sure if the marriage would have to occur before visa
    > issuance or if you would still be eligible if the marriage occured after
    > visa issuance - hopefully someone can clarify this).
    >

Marriage can occur before or after.

Mrtravel

MK wrote:
    > "Sarahstokes3107" wrote
    >
    >
    >>I don't claim to be an expert on this but my cousin (from the UK) got
    >>transferred to the USA by his company, he had a long-term partner and they
    >
    > had
    >
    >>to get married for her to be allowed to accompany him, and she wasn't
    >
    > allowed
    >
    >>to seek employment in the USA as it was HIS visa.
    >
    >
    >
    > I see. In that case, I can't work, since my girlfriend is the person
    > getting the visa.
    >
    > Is there any workaround? It that helps, she is not being
    > transferred; she'll get an H-1B visa.
    >

Not really. An H4 visa (spouse of H1B) does not permit work.
The only workaround would be to get your own work permitting visa.

Jason121

Very difficult without getting married or you getting a H1B visa


"MK" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi all,
    > My girlfriend (originally from Argentina) recently got a job
    > offer from a US company. She currently lives and works in Argentina,
    > and is an accounting professional with a big accounting firm.
    > I'm from the Czech republic and currently live and work in
    > Germany. I'm an IT professional, hold a 4-year university degree
    > and work for a smallish IT firm in Nuremberg.
    > We've been together for two years now. Since she lives
    > in Argentina and I live in Europe, we've been visiting each other
    > two times per year, either in Europe or Argentina. We can
    > document this with photos and emails. We are still not married,
    > however. (But plan to.)
    > Question: is it possible for us to start living together in US,
    > after she arrives in US? If yes, what would be the best way
    > to do it?
    > Sincerely,
    > MK

Ingo Pakleppa

Yes, it is possible. First, you can try and get an H-1B independent of
her.

Alternatively, you can apply for a B-2 (tourist) visa and specify as
reason "plan to get married to an H-1B non-immigrant and change to H-4
status" (assuming that her status will be H-1B, of course!) This is
permissible because an H-1B is a non-immigrant (planning to get married to
a US citizen or Green Card holder would not be permitted this way,
though!)

If you don't plan to get married any time soon, you could instead give as
reason "plan to join my unmarried partner, who holds H-1B status".

However, I recommend that you get married as soon as possible; it is
generally much easier that way.

On Fri, 04 Jul 2003 13:12:24 +0200, MK wrote:


    > Hi all,
    >
    > My girlfriend (originally from Argentina) recently got a job offer from
    > a US company. She currently lives and works in Argentina, and is an
    > accounting professional with a big accounting firm.
    >
    > I'm from the Czech republic and currently live and work in Germany. I'm
    > an IT professional, hold a 4-year university degree and work for a
    > smallish IT firm in Nuremberg.
    >
    > We've been together for two years now. Since she lives in Argentina and
    > I live in Europe, we've been visiting each other two times per year,
    > either in Europe or Argentina. We can document this with photos and
    > emails. We are still not married, however. (But plan to.)
    >
    > Question: is it possible for us to start living together in US, after
    > she arrives in US? If yes, what would be the best way to do it?
    >
    > Sincerely,
    > MK

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