L1B & L2 Visa's - Not yet married.

[gaffs]

Hi

Im from the UK and my company will be sponsoring my move to NY. I am just starting the process so I am quite new to all this. My company expect that I will receive a L1B visa and start work in March 2014.

I have been with my girlfriend for a couple of years and I want her with me.

She could get a B-2 visa, but that would not entitle her to work, which is no good for her.

The only option I can see to bring her with me and allow her to work, is to get married.

Would she be entitled to a L-2 visa if we had only been married for maybe a month or even a few weeks before we move? How long would it take for her to get the visa and how much does it cost?

Also, if she moved with me in March without a work visa, could we marry in the US and she then apply for one? Or would it be best to marry in the UK in the next couple of months?

Thanks

[gaffs]

Guys
Any help appreciated.
Thanks

[rayb]

It doesn't really matter where you marry, UK or USA, but your new wife's eligibility for spousal status on a derivative L visa will depend on the L1 rules. It's been several years since I worked on L1 visas, but spouses and dependent children were not eligible to work "back then." Some clarifcation from recent users of the L-type visas would be more appropriate.

--Ray B

Hi

Im from the UK and my company will be sponsoring my move to NY. I am just starting the process so I am quite new to all this. My company expect that I will receive a L1B visa and start work in March 2014.

I have been with my girlfriend for a couple of years and I want her with me.

She could get a B-2 visa, but that would not entitle her to work, which is no good for her.

The only option I can see to bring her with me and allow her to work, is to get married.

Would she be entitled to a L-2 visa if we had only been married for maybe a month or even a few weeks before we move? How long would it take for her to get the visa and how much does it cost?

Also, if she moved with me in March without a work visa, could we marry in the US and she then apply for one? Or would it be best to marry in the UK in the next couple of months?

Thanks

[raghvi]

Hi

Im from the UK and my company will be sponsoring my move to NY. I am just starting the process so I am quite new to all this. My company expect that I will receive a L1B visa and start work in March 2014.

I have been with my girlfriend for a couple of years and I want her with me.

She could get a B-2 visa, but that would not entitle her to work, which is no good for her.

The only option I can see to bring her with me and allow her to work, is to get married.

Would she be entitled to a L-2 visa if we had only been married for maybe a month or even a few weeks before we move? How long would it take for her to get the visa and how much does it cost?

Also, if she moved with me in March without a work visa, could we marry in the US and she then apply for one? Or would it be best to marry in the UK in the next couple of months?

Thanks

As long as you two are married before she attends the L2 visa interview and can prove the same through certificates/photos etc it should be fine. It would certainly be easier to get an L2 if you two marry in UK and then apply L2 for her.

You two can get married in US too but getting a B2 visa will depend entirely on her reasons to visit US and her financial and family ties to US.

This is my opinion not legal advice.

- - - Updated - - -

To Rayb's observation: and L2 dependent visa holders are allowed to work. H4 visa holders dependent upon H1 are not yet allowed to work.

This is my opinion not legal advice.

[cevans]

Additional question

Just wondering if you resolved this and how? My boyfriend and I are in the same position.

He has already started work in the US. Do you know if it would be ok for me to enter on a tourist visa, get married in the US then return to the UK to apply for my L2?

Help much appreciated.

[Dubraska]

Hi! I was wondering if it would be possible to know your experience with this? I am going through the same situation with my fiancé

[miss_Gala]

I would suggest to get married before entering USA it can save your future spouse a lot of time for getting work permit( EAD) in case it's an issue.
Now the processing time for getting work permission is enormously long https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/ pick I- 765 and any center from dropdown
(it's the form your spouse will be filling for obtaining work permit.) It depends on the processing enter but anyway it's long enough.