Do I need a visa or I can use the VWP (ESTA) to get married to an F1 or H1b visa holder? Is it possible to stay in the USA after that or I have to go back to my European Union country? Thank you.
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If you enter on the VWP, you'll have to leave the US after you are married, to apply for an F-2 or H-4 visa. If you enter on a B-2 or other nonimmigrant visa, you will be eligible to apply to change your nonimmigrant status to F-2 or H-4. This is more expensive, though, so you have to weigh that cost against the cost of travel if you take the VWP route. Anyway, you should probably discuss this with an immigration lawyer, as there are probably other factors you'll want to consider.– phoogNov 30, 2015 at 16:53
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Careful: Doing this means you're lying to the immigration authorities as marriage is not a valid reason to enter on the VWP or even a B-2 visa.– Loren PechtelDec 1, 2015 at 3:08
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@LorenPechtel: "marriage is not a valid reason to enter on the VWP or even a B-2 visa" Yes it is, as long as they are visiting the US for a limited time.– user102008Dec 1, 2015 at 10:38
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1@LorenPechtel what other visa would you suggest?– phoogDec 1, 2015 at 13:36
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1@LorenPechtel The petitioner fiancé must be a US citizen. The fiancé of an F-1 or H-1B visa holder is not eligible for a K-1 visa. Besides, K is an immigrant visa. To enter the country to marry a nonimmigrant, one would need another type of nonimmigrant visa. Since the fiancé is not yet eligible for F-2 or H-4, the only option really is B-2 or VWP.– phoogDec 1, 2015 at 22:44
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1 Answer
If you enter on the VWP, you'll have to leave the US after you are married, to apply for an F-2 or H-4 visa. Those who have entered on the VWP are not permitted to extend their stay or change to another nonimmigrant status; see http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visa-waiver-program.html for more information.
(There are exceptions. For example, one can extend one's stay if required to do so by a medical emergency, but that is not relevant to your question. Immediate family members of US citizens can also adjust status despite having entered under the VWP, but that doesn't help you since you are planning to marry a nonimmigrant.)
If you enter on a B-2 or other nonimmigrant visa, you will be eligible to apply to change your nonimmigrant status to F-2 or H-4. Changing status is more expensive, though, so you have to weigh that cost against the cost of travel if you take the VWP route. For more information about changing nonimmigrant status, see http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/C2en.pdf.
The fee for B and F visa applications is currently $160, while the fee for H visa applications is $190 (source: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/fees-visa-services.html). The fee for a change of status application is $290 (source: http://www.uscis.gov/i-539).
Anyway, you should probably discuss this with an immigration lawyer, as there are probably other factors you'll want to consider. A lawyer might be able to advise you on the processing time you could expect with each option, for example.
