learning english

[mck]

Before your novia comes up here it does help if you practice english on the phone. With a cheap phone card, that has alot of time I am amazed at how quickly she is learning english. I was in Guadalajara when I met her at the end of March. Since about March 25 I have been calling her 3 hours a day 6 days a week. When I met her she was able to speak 50% English. Now after only about a month her english is already up to about 65%. Another two months she will probably be employable in the states. I think it is well worth the $300 or so I have spent on phone cards. She has her appointment with the consulate in Guadalajra on the 13th and has all the paper work to renew her tourist visa. Hopefully everything will go according to plan. We have decided it is best to live together 5 months while she is on the tourist visa and then get married the 5th month right before her tourist visa expires and do an adjustment of status. I think my situation was different then proposing after 3 days lol. I just asked her to move in with me after 3 days. There is a big difference between asking someone to live together after 3 days and proposing after 3 days.

[FredFresno]

... in response to learning english, posted by mck on May 3, 2002

I agree that, for someone who already has the rudiments, the phone can be useful practice;  I've used it to try to maintain progress in Spanish.  Several of my novia's family speak English más o menos, and she's trying, but I think it will be easier for her to learn up here.

I was more curious about your intention to get married on the tourist visa.  My colombiana novia also has a tourist visa, and is using it to visit the US.  However, reading the FAQ at http://k1.exit.com/touristframes.html (which, of course, I only do when I'm in Dallas, TX), it appears that that's a more risky strategy in that it leaves more to the whims of individual bureaucrats.  Have you researched it?  Comments from others?

[FredFresno]

... in response to No K1?, posted by FredFresno on May 4, 2002

Red Clay and mck, I appreciate your response.  Like Buck, I remain somewhat skeptical.  For one thing I'm concerned that with Colombianas, unlike mexicanas and peruanas, the attitude of many INS officials will be a presumption of guilt.  I hope I'm wrong.  At any rate, thanks all.

[mck]

... in response to No K1?, posted by FredFresno on May 4, 2002

Yes I have researched it. That page also advertises for k1 visa lawyers to so it is slightly one sided. Actually only 2% of all the marriages to foreigners are on the K1. The majority are on tourist visas and other visas. I have talked with four different lawyers and they all say it is a piece of cake, also I have a few connections in immigration because my father used to work for customs. If you marry on a tourist visa you should wait at least 4 months and she should never ever say she has a boyfriend in the U.S.

[Buck]

... in response to No K1?, posted by FredFresno on May 4, 2002

I have heard of bad stories as well.If some hard ass gets ahold of the case,he can deny her entrance for up to 6yrs.Or so I understand.Any one got definite facts.

[Red Clay]

... in response to No K1?, posted by FredFresno on May 4, 2002

Fred,
 I married my novia while she was here on her tourist visa, but she was here for almost a year before we married. Our attorney said that was a key point in showing the INS that our marriage wasn't planned when she arrived [which it wasn't] Had we wanted to marry soon after her arrival, I'm not sure our attorney would have taken our case. A few other attorneys we talked to were reluctant to advise us that it was OK, most said to just have her return to her country and file for a K1, then re-enter the US on the K1.

I would wait as long as possible before marrying her on her tourist visa. BTW, our petition was approved April 18, she is now a permanent resident. There were never any real problems along the way, just required paperwork and patience.