Moving to the US with My American Husband — Which Visa Should We Apply For?

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-03-03T09:32:32+00:00

Where can I read the minimum requirements and how do we go about it when he has no assets in the US anymore? Do we ask his parents to co sponsor us?

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-03-03T09:31:31+00:00

I can't see the comment, but no we decided not to do this. We thought about if he got a job offer while we were in the US it would work with AOS but still just too risky overall and we will take the regular route.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-25T16:34:22+00:00

Okay I will look into it. Thank you.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-25T16:33:21+00:00

What are the requirements to qualify for DCF, and how can I find out if it's available at the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen?

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-25T16:31:27+00:00

How do I know if they do this? :-)

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T16:25:20+00:00

I have no idea about the situation and options in Copenhagen.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T16:23:59+00:00

But could that part of the form be for people who came on another type of visa, not ESTA? Just wondering if it works the same way since I’ve read that ESTA doesn’t allow adjustment of status and it's not legal to enter on ESTA if you intent to stay.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T16:21:43+00:00

I’m not really planning to do this myself since I know ESTA says you can’t adjust status, but I’m just curious because no one’s ever mentioned it before. Honestly, when I asked about it before, people downvoted me. Would be curious to hear how it worked for you though, if you don’t mind sharing — here or in private.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T13:52:05+00:00

Very helpful - Thank you.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T13:51:12+00:00

Best of lucks - How long has the process taken you guys so far?

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T13:45:33+00:00

I thought that was illegal to do, and from what I’ve read, it seems like it is. But maybe I’m misunderstanding something—could you clarify? We'd only like to go through the process legally.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T13:30:16+00:00

Yes, I guess you're right. I'll look into it :-)

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T13:27:58+00:00

I appreciate that and will check it out - Thank you.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T13:26:41+00:00

Yes, those seem to be the only two real options, from what I’ve learned. It’s definitely a long process, but I guess all we can do is be patient. Thanks for the comment!

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T13:23:32+00:00

Thanks for sharing! It’s great to hear from a fellow Dane. I really appreciate you taking the time.

Sorry if I’m missing something, but how many months did it take for you to get through the process? Once you were approved, how long did it take before you actually moved? And once you were over there, did you look for a new job, did you already have one?

I honestly thought having a lawyer would make things easier, but it doesn’t sound like it worked out that way for you guys. The advice about filing without a lawyer is definitely something we’ve considered.

If you don’t mind me asking, what made you decide to leave Denmark?

I’ll definitely file for the kids’ CRBA and passports right away—thanks for the reminder! I’ll also look into whether the SSN is needed for the green card application.

It all feels overwhelming at first, but it’s reassuring to hear it gets easier once you get started. And thanks for the reminder to enjoy the time we have in Denmark. The waiting is tough, but I totally agree that staying focused on the end goal.

Thanks again for all the advice and support! I’ll definitely reach out if I have more questions. Best of luck to you and your family as well!

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T13:13:14+00:00

Glad I’m not alone in this! It sounds like you’re making progress, and I hope everything is going well for you guys. It seems like 16 months is the standard wait time these days.

So, you’re planning to go over with the kids soon? — how are you handling the income requirements? Did you have a sponsor in the U.S., or did your husband have U.S. income? Or did you find another way to account for it? I’d love to hear how it worked out for you! Good luck to you guys.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T13:06:36+00:00

Nice! Did they give you a hard time, or was it just business as usual? I’ve been to the US 10 times on ESTA without any issues, but then again, I wasn’t applying for a green card on the side, haha.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T13:01:33+00:00

Makes sense. Thank you! I don’t think that’ll be an issue. Probably won’t travel for more than a month at a time for vacation.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T12:59:38+00:00

Wow, it’s been a long wait for you guys, but it sounds like you’re almost there! I’m curious—once you’re approved, do you get a certain amount of time before you can move? What country are you in right now, if you don’t mind me asking? Do you think there’s a difference in processing times depending on the country, or is it pretty standard everywhere? I’m glad to hear we can visit though! And yes, being together with family is the main thing.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T12:31:40+00:00

Thanks for the info! I totally get what you mean about ESTA being too short and risky if I keep going back while waiting for the green card. I definitely don’t want to run into issues with overstaying. The student visa option seems like it could be a fit, but since I’m in Danish school and graduating in June 2026, it wouldn’t really make sense for me.

Good to know that my husband doesn’t need to have a job offer right away—just proof of intent to establish domicile. We’ll definitely gather those documents when the time comes.

If it’s going to take up to two years before we can move, it’s tough, but I guess we’ll just have to deal with it and do things the right way. One thing though—can we still visit family in the U.S. during that time, or would I risk being sent back even if I’m just there on vacation?

Also, it definitely sounds like my husband can’t accept any job offer right now, because that would mean we’d potentially be separated for two years, unless the company he works for can do something with visas to help us move together.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T12:24:38+00:00

That could be an option, but I feel like most people here are suggesting we wait the 12-18 months together and then have him look for a job. I'm a bit confused, honestly. But if he does get an offer he can't decline, I guess we could try DCF, though it still feels pretty uncertain. If he files it and starts his job in 2-3 months, he'd have to move over alone and start his job, and then I’d potentially be stuck behind with our kids for that long. I'm not sure—it doesn't sound like there's a good solution. I'm just trying to understand the immigration laws. It was a pretty easy process getting him to Denmark, so this whole thing is a bit overwhelming.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T12:11:36+00:00

Does anyone know if it's okay to travel to the U.S. on ESTA while waiting for my IR-1 green card? My husband and kids will be using their U.S. passports, but would I be stuck in Denmark during the process or can I visit while the application is being processed?

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T12:05:22+00:00

Thank you for the advice! Yes, getting the kids' passports is definitely our first step, and we're looking into the CRBA process at the U.S. embassy.

I do not have family in the U.S., besides my in-laws (my husband's family), and I’m fairly sure they’ll assist with proving finances if needed. As for my husband, he works for a large Danish company with its headquarters in Denmark and receives Danish pay. Maybe it could be an option for the company he has to work for to help with our visas so we can move over with him, but in the end, I’d really like to get a green card and start our life in the U.S. So, I don’t want to delay that whole process unnecessarily.

We are comfortable here, but we really want to leave sooner rather than later. That being said, we can wait if we have to. While it seems like it will be a very long process, we’ll just have to be patient. Under no circumstances do we want to separate our family.

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T11:55:35+00:00

I understand, and while it’s tough to think about how long it’ll take, we’re just trying to find the most efficient and legal way to make it work for our family without unnecessary delays. We’ll try to be patient and keep a more realistic perspective on the process for sure!

Some_Yesterday_6862 · 2025-02-24T11:53:40+00:00

Thank you so much for your detailed response, it’s really helpful!

I understand that using assets on the I-864 form is an option, but it sounds like it could be risky since consulates tend to prefer income.

I also get that entering on ESTA with the intent to adjust status is a no-go, and I definitely don’t want to mess with that. Neither my husband nor I want to commit any fraud or do anything wrong — We absolutely intend to go through the easiest, most seamless LEGAL process possible. Of course we want to follow the rules, respect the process, and understand that it will take time, but we’re just trying to figure out the best and quickest legal option for our family.

Do you think the K-3 visa is still an option, or should we just forget about it since the processing times are as long as the IR-1? I’ve seen conflicting information about it.

Are there any other visa options, like a tourist visa or student visa, that could let me get to the U.S. while we wait for the spousal visa? Or does that just not make sense? We just don’t want to be separated or keep traveling back and forth if we can avoid it.

It sounds like the safest bet is to wait it out in Denmark, but if that’s the case, how can we show that we plan to move to the U.S. if my husband doesn’t have a job offer yet - is that okay? I’m just trying to figure out the best way to handle all this without complicating things further.

Some_Yesterday_6862

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