Legal Question in Immigration Law in Washington

Re: J-1 Visa/Mrriage/Status - Confused or making it to complicated????

You are right to inquire as to the visa situation because this is a very important part of your future plans. The extension is governed by the rules of the original visa so your fiance does not have the two year requirement. Please email us if you have any more questions.

Re: J-1 Visa/Mrriage/Status - Confused or making it to complicated????

I do not think you are paranoid, you are just cautious and rightfully so. Immigration law is often needlessly complex for an attorney, much less a layperson such as yourself.

As far as I can tell from what you wrote, your girlfriend has legal status here through December 2009. The waiver of the two year residency requirement in Japan does not need to be restated. That has not changed.

Once you are married, you may file to obtain a green card for her without her having to leave the United States. If you are interested in hiring counsel to handle that for you, when the time is right, please feel free to get in touch with me and I'd be happy to provide a free telephone consultation after which you will have enough information to make an informed decision about how to proceed.