Marrying a foreigner
#1
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Is/has anyone married a person from another country? My g/f is from Germany and I was wondering what things needed to be done before getting married. Will she have to give up her citizenship or can she have a dual citizenship? What kind of Visa will she need? The endstate I would like is for her to live here w/ me and be able to work.
I was looking on the US passport site, but didn't come across the right info.
I was looking on the US passport site, but didn't come across the right info.
#2
~Da Nocturnal Cheetah~
Originally Posted by sho_nuff1997
Is/has anyone married a person from another country? My g/f is from Germany and I was wondering what things needed to be done before getting married. Will she have to give up her citizenship or can she have a dual citizenship? What kind of Visa will she need? The endstate I would like is for her to live here w/ me and be able to work.
I was looking on the US passport site, but didn't come across the right info.
I was looking on the US passport site, but didn't come across the right info.
#3
Go Giants
#5
Go Giants
Yep...She looks German...
#6
Senior Moderator
You don't need to do anything...unless her visa runs out before you get married.
I don't know if Germany allows dual citizenship, but forget that anyway. The first thing to do once you're married, is to start applying for a green card. Once you have a green card, you can work in the country. It could take several years before you get a green card. Once she gets a green card, she can decide whether or not to apply for US citizenship.
I don't know if Germany allows dual citizenship, but forget that anyway. The first thing to do once you're married, is to start applying for a green card. Once you have a green card, you can work in the country. It could take several years before you get a green card. Once she gets a green card, she can decide whether or not to apply for US citizenship.
#7
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This guy I know is going to ask this chick from China to marry him. Only known her for 4 months
But I'm sure she love him long time. Ill prob see him this week and I'll try and get details.
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#8
~Da Nocturnal Cheetah~
#9
~Da Nocturnal Cheetah~
Originally Posted by sho_nuff1997
she's the one in the front. it's not a very good pic, though.
[
![](https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/sho_nuff1997/image043.jpg)
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#11
Just dial 1911
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Originally Posted by Berner
This guy I know is going to ask this chick from China to marry him. Only known her for 4 months
But I'm sure she love him long time. Ill prob see him this week and I'll try and get details.
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#12
~Da Nocturnal Cheetah~
#13
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i met her when i was stationed over there in the army. we have been together for 2.5 years. we have been doing the LD relationship since i got out of the army. we see each other about every 4 months. either i go there or she comes here.
#15
Team Owner
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I'm a foreigner and married an American.
I think she can have duel citzenship. It depends on the country. My mom has duel citizenship and so will my son after I get off my ass and file for his Trinidad Passport.
For the first couple years she will have to be here on a resident visa (Green Card). During this time she will not have a US passport, but will have a card and a stamp in her passport indicating that she is a resident of the US.
There are some visas that can be filed for so she can come to the US prior to your wedding and be able to work. But like previously posted, once she had her Green Card she can leagally work in the US.
Your first Green Card is a Conditional one and will expire after 2 years. At this time you need to file to have the conditional status removed and it becomes permenant. I think 3 years after that she can file for her citizenship.
PM me if you have any more questions. There will be a lot of legal issues in filing. It is NOT required to get an attorney. There are a lot of people that are very capable of filling out the forms for you if you are not able too. I had someone do ours and instead of it costing me thousands in legal fees plus the filing fees, I was able to get it all done for less than $2000.
I think she can have duel citzenship. It depends on the country. My mom has duel citizenship and so will my son after I get off my ass and file for his Trinidad Passport.
For the first couple years she will have to be here on a resident visa (Green Card). During this time she will not have a US passport, but will have a card and a stamp in her passport indicating that she is a resident of the US.
There are some visas that can be filed for so she can come to the US prior to your wedding and be able to work. But like previously posted, once she had her Green Card she can leagally work in the US.
Your first Green Card is a Conditional one and will expire after 2 years. At this time you need to file to have the conditional status removed and it becomes permenant. I think 3 years after that she can file for her citizenship.
PM me if you have any more questions. There will be a lot of legal issues in filing. It is NOT required to get an attorney. There are a lot of people that are very capable of filling out the forms for you if you are not able too. I had someone do ours and instead of it costing me thousands in legal fees plus the filing fees, I was able to get it all done for less than $2000.
#17
Senior Moderator
It's not hard filling out the paperwork. Save a few bucks.
Unless you have a complicated situation, a lawyer is not required.
Unless you have a complicated situation, a lawyer is not required.
#18
Team Owner
iTrader: (4)
Originally Posted by Infamous425
wow $2k !?
my dad does this paperwork for people all the time. he only charges $600.
you can fill out the forms yourself but it is pretty time consuming.
my dad does this paperwork for people all the time. he only charges $600.
you can fill out the forms yourself but it is pretty time consuming.
Aside from my Green Card I had to file for Employment Authorization so I could work whild my files were being processed.
#19
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iTrader: (4)
Originally Posted by F-C
It's not hard filling out the paperwork. Save a few bucks.
Unless you have a complicated situation, a lawyer is not required.
Unless you have a complicated situation, a lawyer is not required.
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I only did because it wasn't too much more than the USCIS fees and I was running short on time.
#21
Senior Moderator
I would suggest you get these books:
http://www.nolo.com/product.cfm/obje...81082EA22/118/
http://www.nolo.com/product.cfm/Obje...B1AB24AB9/118/
They are really useful in walking you through the whole process. Because the process takes so long, I would suggest filing paperwork immediately after you get married.
http://www.nolo.com/product.cfm/obje...81082EA22/118/
http://www.nolo.com/product.cfm/Obje...B1AB24AB9/118/
They are really useful in walking you through the whole process. Because the process takes so long, I would suggest filing paperwork immediately after you get married.
#22
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Rates just went up in July. Me and my wife started just before that. We did all the work ourselves. It's not too hard if you do your research.
You can apply for a greencard and a change of status simultaneously. This way she can get a work permit before the greencard gets done. This is what we did. She has the permit but not the greencard yet. INS is way behind on greencards right now. We have our interview the end of this month.
You can apply for a greencard and a change of status simultaneously. This way she can get a work permit before the greencard gets done. This is what we did. She has the permit but not the greencard yet. INS is way behind on greencards right now. We have our interview the end of this month.
#23
I Did
I did all the paperwork myself and it was not difficult at all . After we got married the whole process was about 5-6 months . I think the fees are a lot higher now .
#24
fap fap fap
Originally Posted by RaviNJCLs
The $2K including all the USCIS fees for filing as well as my medical, etc.
Aside from my Green Card I had to file for Employment Authorization so I could work whild my files were being processed.
Aside from my Green Card I had to file for Employment Authorization so I could work whild my files were being processed.
yeah the $600 includes all filing fees. not sure about medical. then again he does work for a govt agency so maybe he gets a discount?
#25
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First you have to make sure she can run... Swimming will be the issue because the Atlantic is significantly larger then the Colorado River...
Either way... Everyone above is correct... File for residency then if she wants citizenship file that right when you get the residency... or you can go through the process every 2 years and re-new your residency... that's what my uncle does... it costs him around $300 bucks to re-new everytime it expires...
Paperwork and other stuff: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
About double citizenship, she'll have to go to the German building thing... Embassy???
don't know what it is called but you can get the answer there... I know Mexican/American have the chance to do this...
That reminds me... i have to go get my double citizenship
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Either way... Everyone above is correct... File for residency then if she wants citizenship file that right when you get the residency... or you can go through the process every 2 years and re-new your residency... that's what my uncle does... it costs him around $300 bucks to re-new everytime it expires...
Paperwork and other stuff: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
About double citizenship, she'll have to go to the German building thing... Embassy???
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That reminds me... i have to go get my double citizenship
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#27
Burning Brakes
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I know the US allows dual citizenship but not sure if Germany has any caveats. I am in a similar situation but my gf is from Austria. I had a conversation with my attorney some time ago and if I recall correctly he said there were some forms you can file if you are engaged while she is abroad which will allow her to enter the US longterm but than have to marry within 30 days to expedite the process to convert to
Below is a link I found on the German Embassy site under consular services.
http://www.germany.info/relaunch/inf...mation.html#q3
Below is a link I found on the German Embassy site under consular services.
http://www.germany.info/relaunch/inf...mation.html#q3
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