GF coming on student visa...want to marry

Hello all... here's my question:

11 months ago I met a lovely young lady from Brazil that was here in the states working as an intern. We met, fell in love and we've been together ever since. This past December her internship was up and she had to return to Brazil. She has applied to numerous colleges around the country to try and pursue her Master's degree or at the least do a 2-3 year residency. (She's a veterinarian doctor in Brazil). She will get an answer from the colleges in March, and if accepted, she will start school in July. We have talked seriously about getting married, and I have her father and family's blessing.

If she comes back for school in July on a student visa, can we get married and apply for her adjustment of status? She has a friend that went to vet school with her in Brazil and she is currently living in Texas, married to an American and that's what they did. They met in college and got married and filed for an adjustment.

Do you think we would have any problem doing this? She will already be here on a student visa, good for 2-3 years depending on the school program.

Anything we should be wary of?

Thanks for helping me in advance!

p.s. I am flying to Brazil on the 22nd to visit her and her family. I'm going to propose to her there!

[Cubafro]

Patriot,
first of all congrats for the proposal and wish you all the best!!
Now regarding this issue I do not think that there will be a problem and this is just my thoughts tho...While in FRANCE i REMEMBER that legally it was not an issue as long as you do marry her when she comes and not few days prior her departure because then they will suspect a arranged wedding just for the paper!!
I hope it will help if you didn't alreadythought about it
Take care and BTW welcome on board!!


CUBA

[Micky10]

Pat0173 -

I wish you well with your women. There are some here that KNOW about different visa processes, I am not one of them. This is just my advice, go to embassy, consulate, state dept. web sites and get requirements that are current. They will sometimes also post proposed changes and the dates changes take place. Someone here may give you the straight stuff, if it were last year. So check your information, there certainly guys here that can help you with much info. Again, the very best to you and your novia.

Love - Micky

[GrizGator]

Congratulations and best of luck. I've been through the visa process, but through the more traditional marriage visa. I "think" there would be a problem if she was here on a tourist visa, but there might be latitude for those here on a work visa or education visa who decide to marry a gringo and stay. Problem is that I don't know that for sure.

As Micky said, there may well be a few guys on this board who actually know the answer. However, this is not really a visa board. I always suggest that anyone with serious visa questions check out visajourney.com. I relied heavily on this board when I first went to Colombia and eventually found and married my wife. However, when it came to the visa process, I relied heavily on that board. I am sure someone could answer your question very quickly. Just do us a favor....when you find the answer, let us know. It's an interesting question.

Good luck,
Griz

[LastLion]

Hey Patriot, congradulations! I think it would be awesome if you posted on how this process goes for you!

ALthough really if she is coming on a student visa, you don't need to up and get married so quick, you can just really get to know each other while she is still in school!

Good luck and again congrats!

Thank you to everyone... I hope I can find a definitive answer. If I do, I'll be sure to let everyone know!

[Supermary]

Personally, I don't know anything about the process, as all I have is a tourist visa for the USA, but I have a friend that went to the US as an Au Pair for one year, got a one year extension on that, applied for college, changed her visa to a student visa, and while she was still a student, she got married to her boyfriend and got her status adjusted, and while I was there last month, she was just filing for her permanent green card so apparently it is not impossible nor all that complicated... I just have no clue how she went about it exactly.

But as LL mentioned, I wouldn't rush into it. If she is going to have a student visa that is valid for 2 or 3 years, there is definitely no rush to get into anything. Just take your time Usually, the worse part is getting a visa to come back, and evidently that is being sorted already, so why rush into a marriage?

Here is a little I know. I believe the student visa is called F-1. Keep in mind the F-1 visa students pay top dollar tuition (and then some) to attend college in the U.S. I am not an attorney but, I would agree with Supermary. It probably would not be that difficult to swap the F-1 visa for something else. Also, the F-1 students must have a good size bank account to prove they will be able to support themselves while attending college. F-1 is not that easy.

[Secret Agent 001]

My experience with the visa process was 11 years ago, so things may have changed. My wife entered the country on a tourist visa and we got married while she was here on that visa. Your not supposed to enter the country on a tourist visa for the purpose of getting married, or doing anything other than being a tourist. However, the INS didn’t hassle us about it. (Of course, we didn’t admit that her intent was to come here to get married, but it was obvious). After marriage she applied for permanent residency and had no problem, but it took 2 years. I agree with what LL said about taking your time.

[Tinto]

Patriot,

You might check out VISAJOURNEY.COM.