Interesting F1 Visa situation

S

Sunbeam2

New Member
Hi

I do hope i can get some insight into my situation - I've read past threads but not sure I've found my answer

Situation:

(a)I have only previously travelled to the US on a visitors visa
(b) I plan to get married (outside of the US) to an LPR
(c) I've applied for an F1 visa and been approved (at the time of applying the embassy knew i had a fiancee who is an LPR)
(d) We will be entering US for honeymoon, I on my visitors visa
(e) I plan to leave and re enter on my F1 Visa ( I can't enter before on F1 visa as the honeymoon period is more than 30 days before the program starts)

Question 1: Just checking if there will be any issues?

(i) Also My F1 visa is for a 6 month period But the program (GMAT) is only 3 months.

Question 2: If I finish the program in 3 months can I stay the extra 3 months with no problems OR must I transfer my F1 within the 'extra 60 day period' that one has ?

Thnaks in advance
 
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F1 is my speciality.
Once your program is over, you have, as you say, that 60 day grace period. During that time, you have basically only 2 choices

1. get into another program - sign up for a degree of some kind, with good GMat scores it's really not difficult to get into Masters Programs.
What this does, is that the new school will issue you a new I-20 form , and you are then free to stay as long as that I-20 is current/ that is, valid.

It's best at that time to get back to home country and re-apply for a new F-1 visa that will be for a few years, (however long the program is). You may stay here only on that I-20, but if you do that, you will be best advised to travel only for real emergencies, because once out of the country, you will have to re-apply again anyway for a new F-1 visa. and on and on :)

2. Choice #2: Leave the country

Best of luck
 
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Thanks very very much

Do you for see any issues re Question 1 entering on the F1, for the 1st time, after I'm married to the LPR?
 
When you enter, you make NO mention of your marriage. anyway you enter at separate gates.
also, if you are a woman, it's best to keep your own last name in the mean time. Show NO SIGNS of intent to immigrate
read read study study, read every thing you can find about F-1.

but other than that there should be no problem. F-1 is a valid status, and as long as you maintain that status all should be well with you.
I've been on F-1 now since 2003.
 
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Entering the US as non-immigrant while having immigrant intent is considered immigration fraud. Better talk to an attorney before you make any decisions that might get you bared for life from entering the US.
 
That is true nscagony. Very true, and I agree with you. I would like to offer another point of view.

Few years back, when we wanted to marry (me F-1, hubby at time Just got his GC), I called 3 lawyers, and one said these words:
I understand that your religion or culture may demand you get married before living together, but this is immigration, Don't be stupid. we heeded his advice.
We waited until he was citizen, the families were outraged, but we got married in the end anyway once he became a citizen 5 years down the line.

On the other hand though nscagony, won't you agree that most people with immigration intent - or at the very least migration out of their country intent - have to go through a non-immigrant visa first to get into the country of their desire? This serves a few purposes. You get to see what it is like in that country to determine if its a fit for you, and you get to live there while finding a way to get that immigration done. this is true for all countries, not just the USA. Australia, England, New Zealand, Canada! Heck, India doesn't even allow immigration as I understand it - and they are sitting on one booming economy right now.

if home countries were such a wonderful fit for all its citizens, there would be no need for F-1 visas and the like to begin with. the reason why the Americas even have people at all is because of human migration since the first humans walked out of Africa how many thousands of years ago. Migration has and will always be part of human nature. Ever changing laws will not change that.
 
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