Ilona Bray - Fiancé and Marriage Visas: A Couples Guide to U.S. Immigration

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Ilona M. Bray, J.D.

Updated by Attorney Kyle A. Knapp

ISSN: 2168-6025 (print)

ISSN: 2325-3959 (online)

ISBN: 978-1-4133-2673-4 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-4133-2674-1 (ebook)

This book covers only United States law, unless it specifically states otherwise.
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Please note

We believe accurate, plain-English legal information should help you solve many of your own legal problems. But this text is not a substitute for personalized advice from a knowledgeable lawyer. If you want the help of a trained professionaland well always point out situations in which we think thats a good ideaconsult an attorney licensed to practice in your state.

Special thanks to recently retired Judge Miriam Hayward, who taught me how to do these visas in the first place.

For help making sure this tenth edition is comprehensive and up to date, thanks go to updater Kyle A. Knapp, an attorney based in Ohio. Id also like to thank the many people who contributed their knowledge and experience to this book, including attorneys Angela Bean, Camille Kim-Cook, Carl Falstrom, Kristina Gasson, Barbara Horn, Jacqueline Newman, Lynette Parker, Robert L. Herreria, and Carmen Reyes-Yossiff; the staff at the International Institute of the East Bay; and Mark Demming and Djamila Gonzalez.

Thanks also to Amien Kacou, a Florida-based attorney who lent his experience, intelligence, and sharp eye to updating past editions.

Finally, a huge round of applause to my colleagues at Nolo, for the energy they put into this project and for making the process fun: Jake Warner, Spencer Sherman, Janet Portman, Catherine Caputo, Jaleh Doane, Andr Zivkovich, Terri Hearsh, Susan Putney, and Toni Ihara.

Ilona Bray, J.D., came to the practice of immigration law through her interest in international human rights issues. Before joining Nolo as legal editor in charge of immigration, she ran a solo law practice and worked for nonprofit immigration agencies including the International Institute of the East Bay (Oakland) and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (Seattle). Ms. Bray was also an intern in the legal office at Amnesty Internationals International Secretariat in London. She received her bachelors degree in philosophy from Bryn Mawr College, and her law degree and a Masters degree in East Asian (Chinese) Studies from the University of Washington. Ms. Bray is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). She has authored other books for Nolo, including Becoming a U.S. Citizen: A Guide to the Law, Exam & Interview, and Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits: Real-World Strategies That Work.

Kyle A. Knapp is an experienced immigration attorney who earned his law degree from Capital University Law School in 1998 and is licensed to practice in Ohio and Florida.

An important part of his practice is assisting individuals sponsor relatives for lawful permanent resident status or apply for naturalized U.S. citizenship.

Kyle also helps organizations hire non-U.S. citizens, and advises them on the requirements to ensure that their employees have authorization to work in the United States. (The former sometimes is referred to as visa processing, while the latter is referred to as I-9 compliance.)

His areas of expertise additionally include helping applicants obtain a wide range of nonimmigrant (temporary) and immigrant (green card or permanent resident) visas. In the nonimmigrant category, he has extensive experience with B/Visa Waiver (visitors for business or pleasure), E (treaty traders and investors), F (students), H (specialty occupation workers for individuals with relevant college degrees), J (exchange visitors), L (intracompany transferees from affiliate organizations abroad), O (individuals of extraordinary ability), R (ministers and religious workers), and TN (professional workers from Canada and Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement).

Find Kyle at www.knapplawco.com

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The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.

William E. Borah, former U.S. Senator from Idaho

Youll notice I havent started this book with a quote about love or marriage. Its not that Im a cynicits just that falling in love is the easy part.

Obtaining the right to live happily ever after in the United States is more complicated than even the most difficult courtship. Thats because it involves more than just you, your beloved, your families, and friends. You will also be inviting the U.S. immigration authorities into your lives for as long as it takes to convince them that you are in love, want to be married, and are eligible to enter and live in the United States. And believe me, this is a lot more complicated than simply saying, I do.