CBP is also on the look out for foreign nationals entering the US on visitor’s visas with the ultimate intent to marry their US citizen spouses and overstay their visas. The fact that they’re engaged or have these plans can lead CBP to deny a foreign national entry into the US, because the foreign national is violating the terms of their visa. To obtain a tourist visa, the foreign national had to convince the issuing consulate and the CBP officer at the airport when trying to enter the US that they plan to go back home at the end of their visit (just visiting). Marrying a U.S. citizen shows the opposite of this intent in most situations, unless you can show that the US citizen lives outside of the US or they plan to live elsewhere, which is a difficult burden to meet when faced with a CBP officer.
Attorney Heather L. Poole practices exclusively in the area of U.S. family-based immigration law and citizenship law. Heather is a nationally-published immigration author, frequent lecturer on immigration issues, and member & officer of the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Southern California Chapter. For more information about Heather and the services offered, visit www.humanrightsattorney.com
