F1 to H4 but had a court marriage in the US.

[kuku2011]

Hi,

I was hoping someone could help me with my situation.

I am on an F1 visa and I got married (court marriage) in October 2011 in the United States. My husband is on an H1B visa. I am leaving to India in December and will need to go to the consulate to change my visa from an F1 to a H4. My questions are as follows:

1. Will I need to fill in the 'Change of Status' form I-539, even thought my student visa is valid till December?

2. I have pictures taken with the judge who married us. Would that be enough proof to get my H4 stamped at the Chennai consulate?

3. Is my marriage certificate from the United States valid at the consulate, or will I need a marriage certificate from India?

4. What documents will I need at the Consulate?

Any additional information that you can give me that will help me while changing my status.

Thanks in advance!

[pontevecchio]

1. No. Not if you remain a student on F1 till you leave.

2. Yes

3. YES

4. Proof of Marriage and proof of his valid H1 status..petition..stubs..I94. Have a look at the relevant consulate website.

[kuku2011]

Thank you very much. I really appreciate your immediate response.

[mahia123]

Hello,

mine is pretty much same situation

i am on F1 and got married in US in feb 2011.but went out of status after that.

but as husband is on EAD, he also applied to H1....but they approved H1 With a condition to get stamped outside US.

now my H4 is invalid as he needs to get stamped first.

we are planning for stamping next month.....

what steps do i need to do in order to get H4 stamped along with my husband?

currently i am in india with F1 being out of status.....

please advice...

[pontevecchio]

You should go together and get the H1 and H4 visa. Details about the process are on the relevant consulate website.

[Rishi1992]

On 11/8/2011 at 10:15 AM, kuku2011 said:

Hi,

I was hoping someone could help me with my situation.

I am on an F1 visa and I got married (court marriage) in October 2011 in the United States. My husband is on an H1B visa. I am leaving to India in December and will need to go to the consulate to change my visa from an F1 to a H4. My questions are as follows:

1. Will I need to fill in the 'Change of Status' form I-539, even thought my student visa is valid till December?

2. I have pictures taken with the judge who married us. Would that be enough proof to get my H4 stamped at the Chennai consulate?

3. Is my marriage certificate from the United States valid at the consulate, or will I need a marriage certificate from India?

4. What documents will I need at the Consulate?

Any additional information that you can give me that will help me while changing my status.

Thanks in advance!

Hello kuku2011,

 

I'm in the same situation and I would like to know how the stamping process went.

We have the US court marriage certificate but not wedding album and invitation card. We have a couple of pictures with the Judge who certified our marriage.

1)Did VO ask you any of those proofs?

2) Is US marriage certificate valid or do we need to get the certificate from India?

 

Please help.