Expat Community > Ukraine

extremevx
Joined 2015
Posts: 141

Immigration questions

8 years ago

In December I married my wife Olga here in Nikolaev. For now we plan to live here in ukraine as my wife has a good business and her ex will not give permission for her son to leave ukraine. I understand when he is 14 he can choose what he wants. We don't necessarily want to go back to the states to live but only to visit and let her meet family and get a taste of america. I know that she as my wife and I a US citizen she is entitled to a green card but you have to live in the US after its issue. So the next option is for a tourist visa, but then with this you are bound by its expiration date and usually it is only good for one trip and you have to apply again.
Before we were married and I was on the states we tried to get her a tourist visa to come to America for a visit but she was denied at the embassy because the consular officer said she had no real ties to ukraine because she had no husband even though she had a bussiness, son and family here.
I guess my question is, what have some of you living here in ukraine done in order to be able to take your wife to America for a visit anytime you wish? Do you go ahead and file the I-130 and it's $420 fee and show proof your married and upon acceptance then file for the immigration visa based on her being a spouse of an American citizen, go live in america 2 years and then come back to ukraine? I understand I need to also file the for her son as well and pay the 420 also.
I do want her and her son to have the option of going to America one day to live but just not now.

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