here on H1B visa,can i get married on that visa

[bremie2003]

Hi,

Afriend of mine is over here on a H1B visa and has met a girl who he is considering marrying.
He is from the UK and needs to know if he can get married on that visa or does he have to file for a K1 fiancee visa.

If he has to file for K1 does he have to leave the country and apply from the UK?

Will this affect his work status or will he be able to work as normal?

Help on any of these matters will be appreciated

Thanks a lot

Chris

 

[Raist01]

no

no he doesnt have to leave the country and get a K1, he can marry at any time, as long as his visas still current. i did. Though i heard that if you get married within 60 days of entering the US you have alot of problems trying to convince the BCIS that the marriage is legitimate.
But to answer you yeah he can get married, then he will have to file the appropriate forms I485 (adjustment of status), EAD, sponsorship forms etc....im sure theres some sites to tell ya what you need. but all those forms will cost about $500 in filing fees.
After that you wait for the receipt and EAD approval so he can work . Better to send those forms in as soon as possible. Alot of people use a immigration attorney but i didnt. I just called INS, ask what forms i needed, got them sent to me. filled em out and got all the neccessary documentation (its a pain in the butt but it has to be done) and send them off.
The biggest problem is when the AOS interview arrives (anytime from 6 months to 3 years after filing your paperwork and getting your receipts) basically because he has to prove that the marriage isnt a sham. So he'll need to get joint bank accounts, joint ownership on things such as cars or house or name on the lease, that sorta thing.
It is a long and annoying process but thats the way to do it without having to leave the country.
Hope that helps.

 

[nkm-oct23]

Originally posted by bremie2003
Hi,

Afriend of mine is over here on a H1B visa and has met a girl who he is considering marrying.
He is from the UK and needs to know if he can get married on that visa or does he have to file for a K1 fiancee visa.

If he has to file for K1 does he have to leave the country and apply from the UK?

Will this affect his work status or will he be able to work as normal?

Help on any of these matters will be appreciated

Thanks a lot

Chris

Getting married on H1 visa is no problem. Spouse gets H4 visa if she is not a US citizen/permanent resident. K1 visas are for fiancees of US citizens only. It will have no effect on his work status in US.