Could anyone enlighten me as to the procedures or in's & out's of an H-2B (or J-1) visa applicant already married abroad to a U.S. citizen?
Details as follows:
1. U.S. citizen and foreign national married over 5 years ago and lived together for almost 2 years. This marriage has been submitted and noterized at the local U.S. Consulate.
2. Afterwards, the U.S. citizen returned to U.S. for work and continued to support their family for 3 years (regular travel to visit family)
3. Today the U.S. citizen is again working outside the U.S. in another country and continues to support their family. They have shared finances and property they own together.
4. Currently they are considering multiple options to include jointly immigrating back to the U.S.A. (beyond scope of this thread), applying for Green Card (beyond scope) or a H-2B or J-1 Visa
5. As regards H-2B or J-1 Visa they have identified a sponsor (hotel/resort) that will sponsor the applicant to work in F&B section of hotel/resort, the applicants profession is F&B.
Question 1# - How will the U.S. citizen effect the non-U.S. citizen's non-immigration visa application process? The majority of threads are addressed to engagements (not marriages) that have happened in the U.S.A. while under a non-immigrant visa.
Question 2# - How difficult is it to transfer from a non-immigrant status to immigrant status?
Question 3# - Will this U.S. citizen's employment overseas effect this transfer process?
Thanks to you all in advance and I look forward to any valuable insights or feedback.

