UK citizen wanting to marry a Romanian lady living in the US, please read on

[yorkshireman]

I apologise if this is in the wrong section, if it is can the Mods please move it to the correct section.
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I have undertaken numerous researches but I can?t find an answer to either of my problems / questions, then I came upon your very knowledgeable website.
The background first, the lady that I intend to marry is living in the US.
She is originally from Romania, she got married to a US citizen then 5 years later he became ill and passed away.
She has been living in the US for 5 years; I would not be so crass as to ask her about her status.
She is not without means; she has just flown out of the US to attend a memorial service in Romania.
I am a UK citizen, with UK Passport, Full UK Driving Licence, etc. I ran my own very successful M & E Contracting company till 2008 when I closed it down putting all my workforce on the unemployment register, BITTER you bet I am, that?s one of the reasons why I want get out of the UK.
At the end of everything I fully intend to take up US citizenship, I have already taken a ?mock citizenship test? to see how I would fare when I come to have the proper exam, I scored 80% and that was without any revision.
1. Can I marry the lady without any problems?
2. Will I be able to pay US Income Tax?
3. Will I be able to apply for a US driving Licence, although I am led to understand that a UK driving licence is valid?
4. Will I be able to apply for a Social Security Card, I will not need any financial help whatsoever?
5. Once we are married can I work either at her firm or elsewhere?
6. Will the US Government ask that I bring a substantial amount of funds after or before my marriage?
7. What is the correct Visa number and associated paperwork

[rayb]

You can marry your Romanian lady, after which she needs to submit form I-130 to apply for a spousal visa to bring you to the U.S. for Permanent Resident status.

--Ray B

I apologise if this is in the wrong section, if it is can the Mods please move it to the correct section.
>
>
I have undertaken numerous researches but I can?t find an answer to either of my problems / questions, then I came upon your very knowledgeable website.
The background first, the lady that I intend to marry is living in the US.
She is originally from Romania, she got married to a US citizen then 5 years later he became ill and passed away.
She has been living in the US for 5 years; I would not be so crass as to ask her about her status.
She is not without means; she has just flown out of the US to attend a memorial service in Romania.
I am a UK citizen, with UK Passport, Full UK Driving Licence, etc. I ran my own very successful M & E Contracting company till 2008 when I closed it down putting all my workforce on the unemployment register, BITTER you bet I am, that?s one of the reasons why I want get out of the UK.
At the end of everything I fully intend to take up US citizenship, I have already taken a ?mock citizenship test? to see how I would fare when I come to have the proper exam, I scored 80% and that was without any revision.
1. Can I marry the lady without any problems?
2. Will I be able to pay US Income Tax?
3. Will I be able to apply for a US driving Licence, although I am led to understand that a UK driving licence is valid?
4. Will I be able to apply for a Social Security Card, I will not need any financial help whatsoever?
5. Once we are married can I work either at her firm or elsewhere?
6. Will the US Government ask that I bring a substantial amount of funds after or before my marriage?
7. What is the correct Visa number and associated paperwork

[krypton9591]

You can marry your Romanian lady, after which she needs to submit form I-130 to apply for a spousal visa to bring you to the U.S. for Permanent Resident status.

--Ray B

I apologise if this is in the wrong section, if it is can the Mods please move it to the correct section.
>
>
I have undertaken numerous researches but I can?t find an answer to either of my problems / questions, then I came upon your very knowledgeable website.
The background first, the lady that I intend to marry is living in the US.
She is originally from Romania, she got married to a US citizen then 5 years later he became ill and passed away.
She has been living in the US for 5 years; I would not be so crass as to ask her about her status.
She is not without means; she has just flown out of the US to attend a memorial service in Romania.
I am a UK citizen, with UK Passport, Full UK Driving Licence, etc. I ran my own very successful M & E Contracting company till 2008 when I closed it down putting all my workforce on the unemployment register, BITTER you bet I am, that?s one of the reasons why I want get out of the UK.
At the end of everything I fully intend to take up US citizenship, I have already taken a ?mock citizenship test? to see how I would fare when I come to have the proper exam, I scored 80% and that was without any revision.
1. Can I marry the lady without any problems?
2. Will I be able to pay US Income Tax?
3. Will I be able to apply for a US driving Licence, although I am led to understand that a UK driving licence is valid?
4. Will I be able to apply for a Social Security Card, I will not need any financial help whatsoever?
5. Once we are married can I work either at her firm or elsewhere?
6. Will the US Government ask that I bring a substantial amount of funds after or before my marriage?
7. What is the correct Visa number and associated paperwork

Yes you can marry her, and like Ray b said she should definitely submit the I-130 for spousal visa intending to come to the US. However keep in mind that that is for your Green-card. you cannot immediately gain citizenship, that will take time. but you will be able to get a US DL and SSC as a Green-card holder. Best of luck.

[yorkshireman]

Good advice from Ray B and krypton9591

Hi there Ray B and krypton9591
I am not going to use the "quote" facility because it will inevitably get to lengthy.
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Many thanks for contributing to my thread, I am now going to go away and really study these documents.
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Will the I-130 and my ability to get a US DL and SSC as a Green-card holder cover all my items 1 to 7 ?
Or am I jumping the gun ?

Yorkshireman

[yorkshireman]

Forms now printed

Hi there
Thanks for your help.
I have now printed off the following;
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative.
I-130A Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary.
I-130/I-130A Instructions for Form I-130,Petition for Alien Relative I-130A Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary.
Form G-1145 e-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance.

I have read and digested them, but what really puzzles me is I thought that the US had such stringent immigration criteria, or am I missing something.

Something else that puzzles me is that there is no mention of Driving Licence or certain other factors i.e. driving convictions, criminal convictions, County Court Judgements, Social Security, Bankruptcies, debts need I go on.
If I am going to work which I will be doing I obviously need to get set up for Tax purposes.

Regarding the details of my Mother and father my Mother passed away I can remember she was 83 but nothing else place of birth etc. my father no knowledge of him place of birth or even if he is still alive.
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The above line alone will that cause me any problems.

They make it complicated in the wording of I-130 Petition for Alien Relative Part 1 Relationship (You are the Petitioner. Your relative is the Beneficiary)
Why cant they just say "husband" or "wife"
OR


Going back to the forms am I right in thinking these are the only ones, surely there must be more.

on the I-130/I-130A Instructions for Form I-130,Petition for Alien Relative I-130A Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary. they talk about "he" or "she" so you can see how it can get confusing.
Well not to you good people but you can see what I mean.

[newacct]

Hi there
Thanks for your help.
I have now printed off the following;
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative.
I-130A Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary.
I-130/I-130A Instructions for Form I-130,Petition for Alien Relative I-130A Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary.
Form G-1145 e-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance.

I have read and digested them, but what really puzzles me is I thought that the US had such stringent immigration criteria, or am I missing something.

Something else that puzzles me is that there is no mention of Driving Licence or certain other factors i.e. driving convictions, criminal convictions, County Court Judgements, Social Security, Bankruptcies, debts need I go on.
If I am going to work which I will be doing I obviously need to get set up for Tax purposes.

Regarding the details of my Mother and father my Mother passed away I can remember she was 83 but nothing else place of birth etc. my father no knowledge of him place of birth or even if he is still alive.
>
The above line alone will that cause me any problems.

They make it complicated in the wording of I-130 Petition for Alien Relative Part 1 Relationship (You are the Petitioner. Your relative is the Beneficiary)
Why cant they just say "husband" or "wife"
OR


Going back to the forms am I right in thinking these are the only ones, surely there must be more.

on the I-130/I-130A Instructions for Form I-130,Petition for Alien Relative I-130A Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary. they talk about "he" or "she" so you can see how it can get confusing.
Well not to you good people but you can see what I mean.

You are outside the US, right?

After you guys marry, her filing the I-130 petition would only be the first step. This is only to establish a genuine relationship between you and her, and not otherwise about your eligibility to immigrate. Then you will go through Consular Processing at the US consulate in the UK for an immigrant visa. On your immigrant visa application, you will be asked many more questions about yourself (though criminal convictions are asked, bankruptcies or debts are not relevant to immigration). If she is a US citizen, it will go to consular processing right after the I-130 is approved. If she is a permanent resident, you have to wait until a visa number is available (for that category, it is about 2 years after the I-130 is filed) before you can go through consular processing; the I-130 approval does not itself allow you to do anything.

If she is a US citizen, another option would be for her to petition you for a fiance visa with I-129F, and you would go to the US on a K-1 fiance visa, get married within 90 days, and then you would file for Adjustment of Status in the US. If she is a permanent resident, this is not possible.

The I-130 is used for all types of relative petitions: spouse, parent, child, sibling, so the word "relative" is used. If you are not sure of something regarding a parent, just put "unknown" or "not sure" or something like that; it's not that important.

[yorkshireman]

Further detail

Hi there
Thanks for your help.

You are outside the US, right?

Yes I live in South Wales in the UK.

After you guys marry, her filing the I-130 petition would only be the first step. This is only to establish a genuine relationship between you and her, and not otherwise about your eligibility to immigrate. Then you will go through Consular Processing at the US consulate in the UK for an immigrant visa.

Does that mean that I attend the interview in the UK i.e. with both of us flying from her home in the U.S to attend the interview at the US Embassy situated in the UK , or have I read that wrong.

On your immigrant visa application, you will be asked many more questions about yourself (though criminal convictions are asked, bankruptcies or debts are not relevant to immigration).

In terms of convictions what will I be asked, plus I had a bankruptcy which was no fault of mine i.e. I was forced into this and I can show documented proof I can clarify if needed. I am now several years discharged, I know you said ?not relevant to immigration? but I want to be open up front and honest from the very start.

If she is a US citizen, it will go to consular processing right after the I-130 is approved. If she is a permanent resident, you have to wait until a visa number is available (for that category, it is about 2 years after the I-130 is filed) before you can go through consular processing; the I-130 approval does not itself allow you to do anything.

The term ?permanent resident? intrigues me somewhat she has an address and zip code ( Ihave even Googled Street viewed her address) and I do believe she has a business, although I have not been so crass as to ask her about that yet.

If she is a US citizen, another option would be for her to petition you for a fiance visa with I-129F, and you would go to the US on a K-1 fiance visa, get married within 90 days, and then you would file for Adjustment of Status in the US. If she is a permanent resident, this is not possible.

So to clarify this paragraph if this lady is not a permanent resident we can both go down the 90 day route, this really is so puzzling

The I-130 is used for all types of relative petitions: spouse, parent, child, sibling, so the word "relative" is used. If you are not sure of something regarding a parent, just put "unknown" or "not sure" or something like that; it's not that important.

Thanks for clearing that up

All in all I just want to get married to the lady and at some point in time get a job, but I will need Social Security Income Tax details etc. regarding that. I think I understand the rules for working at her business i.e. it being offered etc.
Something else that I think reading between this is a one chance option, I fill out the forms have the interview or interviews etc. and if I mess up on anything then that?s me scuppered no second chance.
When I ran my very successful M & E Contracting company I checked and double checked all paperwork before it went out, that?s why I firmly believe we successfully traded for 30 plus years without even a visit from the Health & Safety Executive.
Re-reading the above all that I can think of would be a simple flow chart starting from now till me finally obtaining citizenship / residency, something like this
Fill out form 123 sign and date and post > form 123 approved > fill out form abc sign and date and post > form abc approved > fill out form 456 for supplementary information sign date and post > form 456 approved > get an interview date > acknowledge interview date > go to interview > get results of interview in the post (I think)
I have just read the above paragraph and burst out laughing because although it looks good enough it does not make sense, but I sincerely hope that you can see what I am trying to get across.