She Has A J1, How Can She Stay?
So I want to marry this girl and she's already here in the US on a J1 visa that expires January 2009. I'm guessing the way it works is that we get married like normal, and then I file the I-130 form to petition for a relative to stay here, since marrying turns her into my wife, which means family right? And then also at the same time I file the I-485 form for permanent residence? Those things are expensive to file too, just want to make sure I'm not throwing $1,500 away here.
So if those two forms are what I need to fill out after I marry her, uh... how exactly do I go about actually getting married? I guess I gotta fill out and submit forms for that too, but where?
Re: She Has A J1, How Can She Stay?
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I'm guessing the way it works is that we get married like normal, and then I file the I-130 form to petition for a relative to stay here, since marrying turns her into my wife, which means family right? And then also at the same time I file the I-485 form for permanent residence?
Correct.
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uh... how exactly do I go about actually getting married? I guess I gotta fill out and submit forms for that too, but where?
I've had a long, stressful day, jman, and you just made me smile. Thank you. This was really cute - you had the hard part all figured out, but not the easy part!
Getting all hitched up is the easy part if you're not interested in the gigantic sugar coated nightmare that is so popular for weddings these days.
You both go down to the local courthouse, usually to the Probate office, and apply for a marriage license. Rules and fees vary from county to county, but the procedure is typically this:
-- take your birth certificate and your DL/ID with you
-- answer a few questions, swearing under oath that you're not already married, that you and your intended are not first cousins or closer, that you're not drunk or high or being coerced in any way (obviously, this will be in much politer language).
-- pay your fee. This can be anywhere from $25 - $50.
Some counties require a blood test, followed by a 24 hour waiting period before you can make it legal. Others will point you down the hall at a rent-a-pastor or a judge, and you can make it all legal on the same day.
Once it's all done, the officiant signs the license and sends it off to be filed and registered. Voila, you're hitched!
Re: She Has A J1, How Can She Stay?
We're assuming to this point that the J1 doesn't have a two year foreign residency requirement. If it does, that's not waived by marriage. Information on waivers is available here.