Hi All, I am new to this forum and would appreciate any advice you might be able to offer. I'll start from the beginning. I completed my undergraduate studies in the US in 2009 then received a job offer. I have been working on OPT for the last year or so and due to my field of study I was fortunately able to have my OPT extended through the STEM extension program through June of 2012. My fiance and I have been together for the last 5 and half years or so and are planning to get married next June 2012. We realize that this process can take a while so we have decided to have a civil ceremony prior to our wedding date. We are planning on being married sometime in the next month. How soon after should we begin the process of adjusting my status to PR? How is my OPT status affected during this adjustment period I have always remained in good status and would like to continue to do so? Am I able to work during this time? Additionally, I have considered returning to school to pursue a new career am I able to do so during the conditional period of PR or am I required to maintain employment? Thank you in advance for any assistance. Also does anyone know of a good and reasonably priced lawyer in Chicago whom might be able to help through this process. Do I need one or can this be done without the aid of a lawyer?
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Getting Married What's Next?
- Thread starter gyllborgm
- Start date
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
Is your fiance a US citizen? Did you enter the US recently (within the past 3 months), or do you expect to travel outside the US anytime soon?
To acquire and maintain a green card based on marriage, you are not required to have any kind of employment during the conditional period or anytime thereafter.Additionally, I have considered returning to school to pursue a new career am I able to do so during the conditional period of PR or am I required to maintain employment?
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Yes my fiance is a US citizen, and I last entered the US summer of 2009 prior to the completion of my degree. I do not expect to travel outside the US anytime soon, although if it is a possibility I would like to. Thank you for the clarification as to whether or not I am required to have employment during the conditional period or after the GC is issued. An additional question if anyone out there has any experience. Since my fiance and I are having a civil ceremony prior to having our wedding celebration how will that affect the perception of our marriage? (ie., we won't have "wedding" pictures prior to our interview however, we should have engagement photos at that time)
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
Since my fiance and I are having a civil ceremony prior to having our wedding celebration how will that affect the perception of our marriage?
It may be a little bit of a problem, but can easily be resolved with sufficient other evidence of your relationship and marriage. Did you both attend the same college? Do you have pictures of both of you together at famous landmarks? Are you going to start living together soon after the civil ceremony, with joint lease/mortgage, joint bank account (even if you also maintain separate individual accounts), jointly owned car, etc. or are you already living together?
Jackolantern: Yes we have many pictures from all over the US and and few places in Europe. We attended the same college and have lived together for the past 3 years or so. We have joint ownership on two cars and requisite insurance. Once we get married we will be combining our accounts although we might do so prior to our marriage. Although we don't have kids yet we do have a dog. I think we can show enough evidence that this marriage is in good faith and we love each other. I was just worried about how it would look to an IO if we don't have "wedding" pictures. We are saving for the wedding so we cannot afford to have it until next June. She has a very large family.