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Hi,
My girlfriend, fiance, is not a citizen. I have questions regarding the process and forms but we aren't at all to that point yet. First, I want to explain our situation and get input and information from you all. My fiance is very scared about being denied and we've had many disagreements about this. I want to help her so much.
I'm a 25 year old male citizen,, born and here my whole life. She is 23, came to US ILLEGALLY when she was 9. Lived here 14 years, and has a 7 year old son who is a citizen born in USA.
My fiance's mother is not a citizen and brought her here when my fiance was 9. She is fluent in English and Spanish, and completed high school.
We have been in a relationship for over a year. We want to get married. For financial reasons, and other reasons, we are not able/ready to have a real ceremony. We are however, able to go to the courthouse in our state, and have a legal marriage.
One of our issues is getting advice about whether or not we would have to have an actual ceremony. Our plan would be to get married, then after we have saved money, have a "regular" ceremony and renew our vows.
Also, she has "tried" twice before to get started in the process. These were both before I met her. She tells me that "the first time, it was denied but I don't know why. The second time, after I paid the lawyer and met with him once, he moved and I have never been able to contact him, so I don't know"
She thinks that those two "failures" will make her case harder, but I don't think she was denied twice, the second lawyer almost assuredly did not even submit any papers or documents.
We are young, and make low-level income. We live together and share our names on an apartment lease. We didn't do our taxes together last year/this past January 2014 for 2013 taxes. Although, I did claim her son because I took care of him. We plan to do a joint file next year. We are soon to open a checking account jointly. We have no credit cards jointly, or even at all. I have 0 she has 0.
MY QUESTIONS:
Does she have to hire a lawyer? My friends at work went through the process w/o lawyer, just through marriage and mailed forms to immigration. But that was several years ago.
Do we have to have a wedding ceremony, or is marriage at the courthouse with certificate of authenticity good enough.
Thank you for reading and this will help us very much. I am very happy that a website like this exists!!!
Garrett
My girlfriend, fiance, is not a citizen. I have questions regarding the process and forms but we aren't at all to that point yet. First, I want to explain our situation and get input and information from you all. My fiance is very scared about being denied and we've had many disagreements about this. I want to help her so much.
I'm a 25 year old male citizen,, born and here my whole life. She is 23, came to US ILLEGALLY when she was 9. Lived here 14 years, and has a 7 year old son who is a citizen born in USA.
My fiance's mother is not a citizen and brought her here when my fiance was 9. She is fluent in English and Spanish, and completed high school.
We have been in a relationship for over a year. We want to get married. For financial reasons, and other reasons, we are not able/ready to have a real ceremony. We are however, able to go to the courthouse in our state, and have a legal marriage.
One of our issues is getting advice about whether or not we would have to have an actual ceremony. Our plan would be to get married, then after we have saved money, have a "regular" ceremony and renew our vows.
Also, she has "tried" twice before to get started in the process. These were both before I met her. She tells me that "the first time, it was denied but I don't know why. The second time, after I paid the lawyer and met with him once, he moved and I have never been able to contact him, so I don't know"
She thinks that those two "failures" will make her case harder, but I don't think she was denied twice, the second lawyer almost assuredly did not even submit any papers or documents.
We are young, and make low-level income. We live together and share our names on an apartment lease. We didn't do our taxes together last year/this past January 2014 for 2013 taxes. Although, I did claim her son because I took care of him. We plan to do a joint file next year. We are soon to open a checking account jointly. We have no credit cards jointly, or even at all. I have 0 she has 0.
MY QUESTIONS:
Does she have to hire a lawyer? My friends at work went through the process w/o lawyer, just through marriage and mailed forms to immigration. But that was several years ago.
Do we have to have a wedding ceremony, or is marriage at the courthouse with certificate of authenticity good enough.
Thank you for reading and this will help us very much. I am very happy that a website like this exists!!!
Garrett
