What is the best way to get married and bring my Japanese Girlfriend to the U.S.?

Question

I am a U.S. citizen that has recently moved back to the United States after living in Japan for ten years. I met my girlfriend in Japan about five years ago and we have lived together for the last two.

I have returned to the U.S. and now want to bring her over. We intend on getting married, but would rather wait a while to save up for the wedding. It seems to me that there are three options:

1. Apply for the Fiance Visa and go through that process

2. Get Married by Proxy in Japan and then apply for the spousal visa

3. She comes over on an F-1 visa to study and we get married in the U.S. after a couple of months and then apply for a change of status.

What is the best route to take in terms of processing time, cost, and legality? Also, would it be possible for us to get married if she were here on a on an F-1 or would it be fraud as suggested by other posts?

Any information or advice would be great!

Answer 1

Any route you choose will take time, but I think if you are already married the process is streamlined a bit, and as an American you have every right to expect your wife to live here with you. Congratulations and good luck.

Answer 2

I would opt for #2.  My brother is currently living in Japan.  He and his wife met and got married while living in Ireland.  After the wedding, they moved to Japan to live with her family for awhile and to immerse their daughter into the culture for a few years.  She is five now and we are hoping they will move to the US soon.  We love them all and miss them terribly.  

Best wishes to you whatever you decide.

Answer 3

Option one is the fastest,easiest and legal.

Not sure what "married by proxy" means. But if it's going to Japan and getting a civil wedding first that would also work. But it takes a few months longer to process. Besides having things "officially translated" and the Japanese not believing in anything but original forms. Well lets just say it's expensive and very time consuming.

Option 3 don't evan consider it. It could be viewed as fraud by DHS and you'll never get her a visa.