After serious thinking thenuts wrote :
> Hi to anyone that may be able to help
> I travel to the states regularly, at least once or twice a year and have met
> a lady who is a US citizen, we've fallen head over heels, have known her for
> a cuple of year (soppy, i know!). We want to be together as soon as
> possible. .i have looked at the K1 option but to me (the novice) that process
> involves me staying here in the UK while the long process gets into gear so
> to speak. I have looked at the USCIS web site and it appears quite
> complicated. Anyway to cut to the chase so to speak, i plan on travelling to
> the states later in the year (spring time) on a tourist visa for a vacation
> and obviosly to see the lady in question again......now...is it possible to
> get married whilst there and then fill out the relevant paperwork whilst in
> situ, without me having to leave the country therefore enabling us to remain
> together without me having to return to the UK?
> I mean ..i'm not saying we will marry so as far as immigration authorities
> are concerned i entered the country legitimatly, but then we decided to get
> married whilst i was there.
> To my knowledge she, as the US citizen. can file a petition whilst i'm
> there, but i am not sure.
> Help please!!
Yes. What you suggest IS possible, but.... and it is the but that can
bite you in the butt.
If, by some chance, the officer at the POE or even at the interview
feels you entered the U.S. as a tourist just to marry you could be
denied entry and/or sent back home. Posting a message here in a public
forum gives them every opportunity to know you are not a tourist on
your next trip.
Do what many have done. Go the K-1 route and be safe rather than sorry.
It took me a year from the time I sent the application until my wife
and I could get married. Some of that delay was our fault, but waiting
a year is better than the alternative.
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