I am engaged to a man from Ghana (I am from the USA). I will be returning to Ghana next month and we are planning to marry in Ghana, late Dec/early Jan. I will be spending about two months there, then we both plan to move back here. My question is, what is the immigration process like? He does not have a visa yet, and I want to know what we have to do to get this. What is the process like and what financial requirements are there? Thank you for your help.
2006-11-15 08:48:12 · 5 answers · asked by KylieM 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
this is a serious question. i don't need any smartass comments like the first one. thank you to all who are giving helpful feedback!
2006-11-15 09:23:42 · update #1
Here's a serious answer for you.....
This is the proper way.
You get married in Ghana. You return to the USA alone. You submit a visa sponsorship application to CIS for your husband.
The visa application will be processed in the United States. It will then be forwarded to the embassy in Ghana. They will send your husband a package of instructions. Once he has completed everything (police clearance, physical examination, photos, finger prints, etc...) and submitted it to the embassy they will process the application and notify him to make an appointment for an interview at the embassy with an American Consular Officer.
He will be interviewed by an American Consular Officer.
Assuming everything is okay he'll be issued a visa and allowed to travel to the USA.
It should take about 6 months from start to finish.
You've going to need money for fees.
You are also going to need to prove adequate income (150% of the poverty level for your family size ... about $18,000 a year for a family of 2) to sponsor him and execute an affidavit of support.
2006-11-15 10:41:23 · answer #1 · answered by Yak Rider 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He'll need a marriage visa to come back with you could take a year ot two. A finance visa is much easier and the time frame is much shorter.
A Marriage Visa allows the foreign spouse of a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Resident to enter the United States for the purposes of immigrating permanently. Oddly enough, the processing time to gain a spouse’s entry into the U.S. is significantly longer than for a fiancé. Congress created the K-3 visa program to ameliorate the harshness brought about by the long processing times. That program has largely been a failure in that regard; its own processing times offer little advantage to simply applying for a marriage-based visa. Nonetheless, if you are already married, or do not want to pursue a fiancé route for other reasons, the marriage-based visa route will be the only way to gain your spouse lawful status in the United States.
The Marriage-Based option will take between 8-21 months from the time the I-130 Petition is filed at a USCIS Service Center to the day the Marriage Visa is issued. The process of acquiring a marriage-based visa involves three steps, not unlike the steps for a fiancé visa. The website below is from a lawyer specializing in Marriage and Finance visas from Ghana to US
My dad is going through the same but they chose to post pone the wedding until the finance visa is issued and she comes to the states. Its been about a year and they are thinking the visa should be approved and issued sometime in feb or march. Good Luck. And I'm sorry if any of this is a disappointment, there are soooo many people going through the same thing.
2006-11-15 09:01:48 · answer #2 · answered by Kristin Pregnant with #4 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what the regulations for a Citizen of Ghana would be, but if you are a US Citizen, why would you put your life in jeopardy by going to a foreign country where your have no rights that will protect you. You are taking a big chance by doing this in "reverse". Please re-think before you are in too deep & you are on foreign soil, where no one can OR will help you!
2006-11-15 08:57:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He won´t be able to get on the plane with you when you go back to the US after your wedding. The immigration process is long and drawn out, even for married couples. You will have to go to www.uscis.gov and print out Form I-129 Petition for Alien Fiance, and then as soon as you get married file Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (for your husband). The process could take up to a year. You need to start ASAP and be prepared to spend some time in the US without him!
2006-11-15 08:53:24 · answer #4 · answered by Double 709 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Get an attorney, there has recently been a great deal of fraudulent marriages from Ghana and depending on where you live, your marriage might get automatically challenged.
2006-11-15 09:13:25 · answer #5 · answered by grdnoviz 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋