Q: I want to marry my US partner on an ESTA, then go back to my home country to finish school. Is this ok?
We've been dating almost 3.5 years, and would like to marry to make immigration go smoother. I plan to marry my partner on an up coming trip. After this, I will go back to the Netherlands to finish my study, then apply for an Immigrant visa for a spouse. We want to make sure just an ESTA will work for this.
A: Yes you can enter the US on ESTA , get married to your US Citizen spouse, return to the Netherlands and be sponsored by her for your spousal visa. Consider working with counsel. Some of us charge a very affordable flat fee to handle the case from start to finish.
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A:
It's great that you're planning your future together. Marrying your partner while on an ESTA is possible, but there are important considerations. The ESTA is a visa waiver program for short visits, usually for tourism or business, not for immigration purposes. If you enter the U.S. with the intent to marry and then return to your home country, this can be seen as acceptable, as long as you genuinely plan to return and not stay in the U.S. without proper immigration status.
However, be careful with your intentions. U.S. immigration authorities may scrutinize your entry if they suspect you're planning to bypass proper immigration processes. Since you plan to return to the Netherlands to finish school and then apply for a spousal visa, this approach might align with legal expectations, as long as your actions match your stated intentions.
After marriage, you can return home and apply for the appropriate visa to join your spouse permanently in the U.S. This method might help avoid complications, as long as you follow the proper legal channels.
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