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madowlspeaks
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Location: Somewhere in time and space
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 Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 12:10 am Post subject: Korean marriage then going to America:Tourist Visa okay??? |
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I am posting this on Daves because the Embassy is being useless and
not answering my question.
My fiance and I have bought tickets to America for June 9th. We plan to get married this Friday (we are doing the civil thing by simply going back and forth to the embassy and City Hall), and then we plan to fly to the States on June9th.
Here is the catch-He already has his tourist visa and had it before we planned to get married.
Does anyone know if he (a Korean-I am the American) can still travel to the States on a tourist visa if
we are married?
Last edited by madowlspeaks on Tue May 27, 2008 12:56 am; edited 1 time in total |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 12:44 am Post subject: Re: JKorean marriage then going to America:Tourist Visa okay |
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| madowlspeaks wrote: |
I am posting this on Daves because the Embassy is being useless and
not answering my question.
My fiance and I have bought tickets to America for June 9th. We plan to get married this Friday (we are doing the civil thing by simply going back and forth to the embassy and City Hall), and then we plan to fly to the States on June9th.
Here is the catch-He already has his tourist visa and had it before we planned to get married.
Does anyone know if he (a Korean-I am the American) can still travel to the States on a tourist visa if
we are married? |
Don't update your passport to your married name and they will never know the difference.
IF they (USCIS) know that you are married they MAY give you a hard time or even refuse him entry IF they suspect that he will use it to back-door into a residence visa (inside application for a spousal green card).
IF you can show proof of your intent to return to Korea (house, lease, property, job contracts, F2 visa on your part, even a car registration) it will make the refusal much less likely.
Then it is just a matter of you going home for a honeymoon and to visit your family after the wedding to show off your new spouse.
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 12:58 am Post subject: |
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My wife and I are going through this EXACT same thing. Please let me know how it goes for you. We haven't gotten any straight answers either.
Luckily, my wife works for an international company and is well-grounded in Korea. We will bring letters proving such, including one from her boss, as well as a letter of employment from my school (should there be problems). We have our return tickets to Korea -- everything. To be safe, we're not walking anywhere near each other when we get off of the plane, although one of the questions they ask is if we are travelling with anyone or not. It's not fun -- they split you up according to citizen/non-citizen, and I will cruise through. She will be questioned more, which takes time. They always exit you to the baggage area and the guards are trained to specifically watch for stragglers who might be waiting on a potential wife/mate/whatever. It's nerve-racking.
My wife has traveled to the USA and back at least 3 times on her tourist visa. This, however, will be the first time we will do so after registering our marriage with the US Embassy. You bet -- we're as nervous as you are!
You guys are more lucky though... if she has a tourist visa, then just wait until after you return to register your marriage. How would they ever know? |
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hellofaniceguy
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 1:07 am Post subject: |
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You are at the whim of the immigration officer. Period.
It will be automatically suspected that he married to expidate getting residence status.
It's best to volunteer no info. But...if asked, DO NOT lie! He will never get a resident card!
USCIS already feels that he will return to korea having issued him a tourist visa!
But his visa was approved when he applied as a single person. Marriage changes it.
You will not be with him when he enters the U.S., you are directed to another kiosk.
He will be asked many questions by the immigration person before entering the U.S. How he answers them will or will not allow him to enter.
I do know this for a fact....having a visa is not a gurantee to enter! He can be turned away at the kiosk! And it happens all the time......
koreans get scruntized more than other nationalities. Especially korean women....they get hassled! |
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madowlspeaks
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Location: Somewhere in time and space
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 1:25 am Post subject: |
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| bassexpander wrote: |
My wife and I are going through this EXACT same thing. Please let me know how it goes for you. We haven't gotten any straight answers either.
Luckily, my wife works for an international company and is well-grounded in Korea. We will bring letters proving such, including one from her boss, as well as a letter of employment from my school (should there be problems). We have our return tickets to Korea -- everything. To be safe, we're not walking anywhere near each other when we get off of the plane, although one of the questions they ask is if we are travelling with anyone or not. It's not fun -- they split you up according to citizen/non-citizen, and I will cruise through. She will be questioned more, which takes time. They always exit you to the baggage area and the guards are trained to specifically watch for stragglers who might be waiting on a potential wife/mate/whatever. It's nerve-racking.
My wife has traveled to the USA and back at least 3 times on her tourist visa. This, however, will be the first time we will do so after registering our marriage with the US Embassy. You bet -- we're as nervous as you are!
You guys are more lucky though... if she has a tourist visa, then just wait until after you return to register your marriage. How would they ever know? |
Yes, right, that is what I am thinking...how will they ever know?
The only thing that makes me nervous is that the embassy might do something to his passport while we are going through the process. (He is the Korean, I am the American)
So..... does your wife still have the tourist visa? Her visa has not been changed since you were married? Since registering your marriage with the embassy did they stamp something on her passport?
I don't understand how you guys got married without registering with the embassy in the first place.......
How do you get married? Did you do the City Hall/Embassy shuffle?^^
Last edited by madowlspeaks on Tue May 27, 2008 1:28 am; edited 1 time in total |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 1:28 am Post subject: |
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Yes, we registered with the embassy.
We didn't get a straight answer on her tourist visa being changed. Maybe we should ask again? |
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madowlspeaks
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Location: Somewhere in time and space
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 1:31 am Post subject: |
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| bassexpander wrote: |
Yes, we registered with the embassy.
We didn't get a straight answer on her tourist visa being changed. Maybe we should ask again? |
When you say that your wife has traveled back and forth to the USA 3 times on her tourist visa was this before you were married? Were you together when you traveled or did she go alone? |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 1:52 am Post subject: |
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She went to the USA at least once before she met me (she has a 10-year tourist visa for work). She also went there with me to meet my family a few years ago (before marriage). The next time she went was on our honeymoon to Hawaii (but we weren't registered as married yet).
This time, we will have been registered for 3 months. I'm nervous, and as was said before, we just plan on volunteering as little info as possible and if they ask questions, just to answer truthfully and provide proof that she's planning to return to Korea. We're even getting banking and investment statements. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 1:55 am Post subject: |
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What a mess.
If a Korean gets married to an American, is it difficult for her to get into the USA? |
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cisco kid
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Location: Outlaws had us pinned down at the fort
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 2:03 am Post subject: |
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It's not hard if you go back home, apply for the fiance visa and wait six months for it to arrive. Once it arrives, if you want the least amount of hassles, hire an immigration attorney - your life will be much easier. Within a year, she'll be able to get her work permission, then she can apply for permanent residence (3 years) and once she has that, it's smooth sailing.
Good luck |
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madowlspeaks
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Location: Somewhere in time and space
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 2:07 am Post subject: |
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| cisco kid wrote: |
It's not hard if you go back home, apply for the fiance visa and wait six months for it to arrive. Once it arrives, if you want the least amount of hassles, hire an immigration attorney - your life will be much easier. Within a year, she'll be able to get her work permission, then she can apply for permanent residence (3 years) and once she has that, it's smooth sailing.
Good luck |
Yes but we are returning to Korea in a month.
No one is staying in the USA.
We are just traveling there |
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madowlspeaks
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Location: Somewhere in time and space
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 2:11 am Post subject: |
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| bassexpander wrote: |
She went to the USA at least once before she met me (she has a 10-year tourist visa for work). She also went there with me to meet my family a few years ago (before marriage). The next time she went was on our honeymoon to Hawaii (but we weren't registered as married yet).
This time, we will have been registered for 3 months. I'm nervous, and as was said before, we just plan on volunteering as little info as possible and if they ask questions, just to answer truthfully and provide proof that she's planning to return to Korea. We're even getting banking and investment statements. |
I guess I am confused as to what 'marriage' means.
You say you got married then went on a honeymoon to the USA.
How did you get married with out registering your marriage?
Did you have only a ceremony at one of those wedding halls
but did not do the registration/paperwork? ??? |
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Dazed and Confused
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 2:12 am Post subject: |
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My husband travels on a tourist visa to the US. However it was issued after we got married and he had a hard time getting it. Once he's upon US soil they don't look at him twice!  |
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madowlspeaks
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Location: Somewhere in time and space
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 2:14 am Post subject: |
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| Dazed and Confused wrote: |
| My husband travels on a tourist visa to the US. However it was issued after we got married and he had a hard time getting it. Once he's upon US soil they don't look at him twice! |
What kind of visa is it? B-1 or B-2? NIV (Non-immigrant visa?)
There are different kinds of tourist visas..... |
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Atavistic
Joined: 22 May 2006
Location: How totally stupid that Korean doesn't show in this area.
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 2:46 am Post subject: |
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| cisco kid wrote: |
It's not hard if you go back home, apply for the fiance visa and wait six months for it to arrive. Once it arrives, if you want the least amount of hassles, hire an immigration attorney - your life will be much easier. Within a year, she'll be able to get her work permission, then she can apply for permanent residence (3 years) and once she has that, it's smooth sailing.
Good luck |
Why would anyone think that a MARRIED couple should get a FIANCE visa? |
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