I have a friend at work who’s fiancee is back home and they have been planning on getting married sometime in the coming couple of years. However, post 9/11 he doesnt want to go back home cause he would have to go through the whole “security check” thingy which may take him a few months (that he cant take off from work). She is not likely to come here just cause of all the difficulty of getting a visa to the states.
So today he was sharing his woes with me. Since the company is sponsering him for a greencard, he has to make up a decision sometime soon. He cant travel till he gets his greencard but then if gets his greencard before he marries, she cant included on his application (which would basically means she would end up waiting about 8 yrs at the current rate before she could join him here). Right now hes trying to decide if he should go get married and just hope that it doesnt take too long to get the security stuff done or perhaps move to Canada. Though I sympathize with him, I just dont see this long distance relationship working out…Funny how little things like the INS’s rules can mess up peoples lifes.
hes been here a couple of years and they have known each other a while. There was a mutual agreement of getting married and having the gal come over but now they are trying to figure out how they can do that without him ending up spending time in pakistan or her waiting 8 yrs.
Ummm if they are both ready to marry eachother may be they can get married via telephone or internet for legal purposes and apply for green card together? and have a proper nikkah+wedding done later on. Don't know just a thought.
He can marry her without going back to Pakistan. She will attach a copy of the certified nikahnama and a copy of his passport to get an H-4 (which is arguably the easiest visa to get) and fly over to US to be with him. Then they can apply for 2nd and 3rd stage of GC together. Once they get their Green Card, they can then go back to Pakistan and arrange just one function for their walima alongwith the third birthday of their eldest daughter, all at one time.
somewhat I suppose.... My friend was not telling me the complete story. Apparently its an arranged marriage in which both parents like each other and the guy/gal are quite interested but he cant quite make himself take the step without having met her once!.. I believe they have spoken/chated/emailed each other and he would like to go meet her in person and get married. Hence the dilema. My suggestion to him is if he thinks its worth it, he should just go to Pakistan meet the gal and get his H1 stamped (and hopefully it wont take too long otherwise he can be on unpaid leave I suppose).
Then he can go later on next year and get married.