leedsforever

OK my friends have just got back from LA which the loved so so much!! They are going back again soon.... this evening they were making jokes on how they actually would marry an American man to stay in the country!!

well at least I hope they were making jokes

However surely its not as easy as that?? Or is it?? If the marriage ended surely they would have to come back to England!! How would it work??

Anyone have any knowledge on this??

thanks... Im just really intrigued!!

Suz

I think that it takes time to gain citizanship reguardless on if you married an american or not

rae05

The person she married would have to petition to give her permanent residency in the US. Once she's a permanent resident, it doesn't matter if they divorce at all. She can stay there. She has requirements though, I think she has to live in the US for 2 out of 5 years in order to maintain her residency requirement.

leedsforever

ok a petition?? what would that invovle!!

BTW this really isnt one of those... my friends but really me stories lol!!! I have no plans to move to america and illegally marry lol!!

Vickie

Yep I think Rae has it right, that's what we did for my Canadian residency, took a year and a half to get the residency, and now that I'm a resident I won't be kicked out if we were to get divorced. The US probably has different timelines, but I'm pretty sure the process is very similar. Oh and if the immigration official doubts your marriage they can bog you down for YEARS!

Vickie

It's not really a petition, it's paperwork to authenticate your relationship. You have to prove to immigration officials that you did not get married just to gain access to the country.

leedsforever

gosh a year and half and you were married??

GOOD!!! I really hope my friends are not ACTUALLY thinking of doing this!! But too right.... chuck away the key!!

England are so less restrictive.... personally I think America has it the right way!!

leedsforever

What would that entail?? surely a real good liar could get around this??

rae05

I think its pretty much just a forum and they have to agree to *sponsor* you and help you get on your feet and find a job so you aren't adding to the homeless bum population.

As Vickie said, if they doubt the legitimacy of your marriage, they will make your life hell. You may actually need to have some proof that you knew each other before you got married. Prevents people from *marrying* someone just to get access to the US.

Vickie

Well I did Canadian residency, so the time line may be (and probably is) longer in the US...but I think the process is similar. We were married in January 2006, and I gained my permanent residency in September of 2007. During the time I wasn't a permanent resident I was allowed to stay in the country with Stan, as a visitor, which meant I couldn't work or go to school here (still finished up my degree in the States though )