Hi,
I'm new to this forum but the chat seems spot on and people seem to know their stuff. I
am a Brit who lived in NY for a year (on a J-1 visa) and came back to Blighty about 2 years ago. I met my girlfriend out there and have been doing the long distance thing since (possibly a record for a long distance relationship!!)
Anyway to cut to the chase we got engaged 3 weeks ago. We are now looking at the options (been chasing an Hb-1 for a while). We are looking at the option of getting married not the ideal way of getting papers but if it works..
Does anyone know any Brits who married a permanent resident/green card holder and how long it took.. We have spoken to a lawyer and he said we are looking at 4 years (obviously if she was a citizen it would be a month or so). Having already done 2 years long distance - 4 years is harsh.
Has anyone got papers quicker than 4 yrs through green card holder sponsorship ??
My other option I am looking at is study but it seems a lot more expensive compared to the UK.
Tks.
Charlie.
Not sure if I read your post correctly but are you saying that your fiance is not a US citizen?
Not sure if I read your post correctly but are you saying that your fiance is not a US citizen?
That's what I understood.
I thought getting engaged meant you would be getting married, so not sure why this would be "not the ideal way of getting papers " :???:
oh, and welcome to Britnet )
Yeah, I was being dense. Read it through again and it is very clear.
As she's not a citizen, that's going to be a toughie and the four years example is probably about right. Shame as you get to jump the visa queue and get a work permit quickly when they are citizens.
Good luck - maybe someone has done it this way quicker than four years or there is an alternative method.
Yes she is not US Citizen. She is Colombian has been living in US for 6 years first as a student then on HB-1 and finally as Permanent Resident.
CB.
The good news is that processing times appear to have speeded up a lot recently, but that said, when they were slow, it took us three years to adjust from an L1A, so the lawyer you spoke to may already be taking this into consideration.
I suspect it will be several years. I'm not sure it will be any quicker if you come on an H1B then adjust status. It's hard to even guessimate the average time because times vary so greatly from case to case for no apparent reason.
If you know you're meant to be together (and presumably you do having got engaged), I'd just bite the bullet and do it through marriage. You never know, processing times may continue to speed up. And you can always continue to chase an H1b while you're waiting....
Sorry not to be much help, but good luck.
Or how about she applies for her citizenship, as she is clearly entitled to - which depending where she files, is taking up to a year! And then she could sponsor you as her fiance?
Just a though 8)
Or how about she applies for her citizenship, as she is clearly entitled to - which depending where she files, is taking up to a year! And then she could sponsor you as her fiance?
Just a though 8)
yes that might be faster -depending when she got her greencard of course. Might be easier regardless.
Yes we have looked at citizenship. She got her greencard last March so the lawyer said she has to wait 4 years from reciept of greencard to apply for citizenship. So it is a similar timescale, but still a good option.
Cheers anyway..
What area do you work in, Charlie? Is there a possibility of getting a job with an American company in the Uk then having them transfer you?
btw, is there any particular reason to wait to marry? It seems that this might be the fastest way and the easiest way to be together and you did just get engaged which is -unless I'm mistaken- a commitment to marry. ???
I work in retail, in supply chain at the moment. Asda is part of Wal-Mart so that is an option that I am pursuing. Previously I had been told there isn't an internal transfer scheme but I have more experience now. I have also been talking to some of my suppliers that are big in the US. So there are already some good options.
I think you are right about the marriage option though.. That way we can get an application in and start the process + she is a cracker! So no reason to wait wink
Would Charlie have to bide his time in England for 4 years? What status would he have if he married her here, whilst their paper work was processing? Whatever you do Charlie don't overstay then marry her straight away apparently immigration doesn't like that.