Canadian visiting the States and I would like to marry my girlfriend.

[Vespiano]

Hello, all! I recently made the decision to visit my girlfriend living in Alaska for 6 months. (As a Canadian I'm allowed here for up to 6 months). I've been here for 3 and we've decided to get married. We don't even know where to start.

We've known each other for 4 years and we've visited each other back and forth throughout those years. I would like to stay in Alaska and live with her and start a life. Can I apply for an adjustment after we get married? Will I be allowed to stay in the USA past the 6 months? There's so much conflicting information on all these websites, we don't know what to do.

[Trinity71]

Hello, all! I recently made the decision to visit my girlfriend living in Alaska for 6 months. (As a Canadian I'm allowed here for up to 6 months). I've been here for 3 and we've decided to get married. We don't even know where to start.

We've known each other for 4 years and we've visited each other back and forth throughout those years. I would like to stay in Alaska and live with her and start a life. Can I apply for an adjustment after we get married? Will I be allowed to stay in the USA past the 6 months? There's so much conflicting information on all these websites, we don't know what to do.

If you go ahead and marry while you are here within your allowed 6 month window, then once married you would file for adjustment of status. Basically you would be applying for a conditional green card now that you have married an American citizen. You would stay in the U.S. until the green card is issued. Then if you need to travel back to Canada after it's issued to take care of anything you could at that time. If you do not marry during the 6 months or remaining 3 months in this case, for example to plan a wedding for a future date etc., then you would not overstay the 6 months, return home to Canada and she would petition you on a K1- fiance visa. Processing for a K1 can take awhile, like months so if you go this route be prepared for the time it can take.

Congratulations and Good Luck to you both.

This is my opinion and not legal advice. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk.

Trinity71

[Vespiano]

If you go ahead and marry while you are here within your allowed 6 month window, then once married you would file for adjustment of status. Basically you would be applying for a conditional green card now that you have married an American citizen. You would stay in the U.S. until the green card is issued. Then if you need to travel back to Canada after it's issued to take care of anything you could at that time. If you do not marry during the 6 months or remaining 3 months in this case, for example to plan a wedding for a future date etc., then you would not overstay the 6 months, return home to Canada and she would petition you on a K1- fiance visa. Processing for a K1 can take awhile, like months so if you go this route be prepared for the time it can take.

Congratulations and Good Luck to you both.

This is my opinion and not legal advice. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk.

Trinity71

This is all amazing advice, I'm glad I do not have to return home, since it was a very stressful environment. I'm planning on getting my mother to mail me my things once it's final and I can get my green card. We just want a very small "courthouse" wedding since neither of us really care about making it a huge party. We'll get on that asap.