I just might say yes if he should ask me to marry him. BUT. I live in Norway. He lives... well.. on death row. The prison will approve marriage, but then there is all the other fuzz with the INS. I have tried to understand all I have to do and what not to do, but as I understand most people are talking about marry someone and STAY in USA.

I don't want to live in USA. I am VERY happy in Norway. When Stanley gets off he will come and stay with me here. What are the chances that INS will understand that I simply want to get married and then willingly go back home where I belong? (Smile).

Anyone who knows if long distance marriage can get approved?

You do not need a visa to come to the US. You also do not need approval from INS to get married in this country, regardless of your immigration status. Illegal aliens get married here all the time. I do not see any problems arising from INS. You may however want to contact the state or facilitu he's in and see if you living in another country is an issue. I do not think it will be

You DO need a Visa to get into the USA!! - - it's called an I-94 and you fill it in on the plane coming over.

The cabin crew usually passes the forms out in flight, however some airlines give it to you just before boarding together with the white Customs form.

The I-94 is a long green card....top half is torn off and the INS keeps that, the other bit is stapled into your passport.

When you leave the country, the INS match the two pieces up and that's how they know you have left the country.

Make sure (1) you don't lose it! and (2) that the airline staff remove it before you leave the country because if you leave still with it, the INS will think you are still here and that can cause a delay at the airport next time.

Norway is one of the 29 countries whose citizens are granted this quickie "Visa Waiver" - i.e. you don't have to go the long route and apply via the US Embassy as someone from, say, Russia would.

Most of the 29 countries are European ones.

The I-94 is valid for 90 days, anything longer than that, you need to apply to the US Embassy in the country of origin.

The I-94 asks you to make certain declarations of intent about what you want to do in the USA and signing it like signing an affidavit of intent. Telling lies on the I-94 is a no-no, it can get you chucked out for good.

The questions are real simple and do not ask about marriage. However it does ask you to declare that you will not seek work or seek to stay beyond the 90 days.

While you have no intention of staying in the USA, you should be aware that the INS reserves the right to make decisions about "intent" even when the intent is not yet proved.

You marrying a prisoner could spook them into thinking you wanted to stay.

I recommend you keep your own name and not advertize your marriage to the authorities any more than you need to.

I'd also advise you carrying with you proof of where you work in Norway.....it's always good if you can show an INS Officer that you have a job and a home to go back to.

Thank you for good advice, Red Rose. I will just wait and see what the future holds, but I will make sure I remember what you said about the Visa. I don't want anyone to believe I didn't go home! I have five wonderful children that will be waiting for me at home, so moving to USA is OUT of the question regardless how hard or easy it would be.

You car correct Redrose the I-94 is technically a visa. My apology I tend to assume when people say visa they are referring to applying.
I agree that you definatley should not advertise you marragie to this man as they may become suspicious. However I also find it very unlikely that they will question you about this.

Bella, I was referring to applying. I know we had to apply for a visa to go to USA before. I wasn't sure how it was these days. Now I know.

Okay. So - IF I should marry him and we get that done without problems. What is the catch here? IF INS finds out that I did marry him, could they deny me to enter USA even though I can prove that I have a job, five kids and a home in Norway? I guess they CAN, but would they likely if I can prove that I have been travelling back and forth and that I always go home?

Ha - ha - this is probably impossible questions to answer. But if I don't ask I won't learn anything, right??

There are plenty of woman married to guys both on the Row and off who travel backwards and forwards to the U.S. from Europe.
I'm not yet married to my guy but one thing I NEVER do when filling in the forms on the plane is say I'm visiting someone in jail. I just say I'm visiting, that's all.
I've heard horrific stories from people who have admitted where they're going so, I won't be doing that. I've never had any problem so far (touching wood as I'm writing this).
I changed my name to that of my fiance a few months ago so all my documents are in my new name,
That was done mainly because we weren't allowed to marry when we wanted to but I've found it was quite a sensible thing to do as no name change has to be announced when we do eventually tie the knot, and I don't need to say anything about my husband. His name is mine, legally, without marriage.

Rose

That was a good idea! Changing names before - I will ask Stan if I should do the same. LOL.

Rostenhall gives excellent advice here.......tell the INS the truth - that you are going to visit friends.

Just don't volunteer where your loved one actually spends his life!

I too have heard similar stories from women were pulled over and questioned about their business when they've declared they're visiting a prison.

You'll be asked the purpose of your visit when you hand your paperwork to the INS official at the airport.

"Visiting friends" or "vacationing with friends" is a perfectly acceptable and truthful reply.

You're also likely to be asked either "how long are you staying" or "what date are you leaving", so make sure you have your return dates right in your mind.

They may also ask "what are you going to do while you are here", so (as you wont' be at the prison all time) have some leisure activities planned and tell them what you are going to do while visiting your friends.

One thing INS border officials look for is weird things to do with destination addresses.

I know of two women who have been questioned about why they have given a motel address when they've already said they are visiting friends.....it gives the indication that the visitor is not staying with those friends and that's a little weird.

So....make sure you have a proper mailing address.

If you are staying in a motel, you don't need to add the name of the motel, just the address....but it must be a full address with a street number and zip code.

If you use the motel's name, it's acceptable to the INS to state (for example) "Day's Inn, Blogsville, Indiana" (or wherever :) ) That is a traceable address.

However, as I said, they may then ask why, if you are visiting friends, are you staying in a motel. The logical thing is that you would stay at your friend's house.

So, be truthful, put the address of the motel, but find out the street address and write it like this..........

1470 East Whatever Street
Blogsville
Indiana
12345

You have not lied to them, that is where you are staying.

It just means you won't get questioned about why you are staying in a motel to visit friends.

..........and don't worry if you are nervous going through INS.

Because they have the power to detain, question and deny entry, they are used to looking at a lot of nervous people!!

I will be MORE than happy to say I will be staying with friends, cause I will. No motel for Renegades_Sunshine. :)

You know, my ex husband was in USA last year and he told me about this form he had to fill out. One of the questions were: Are you a terrorist?
HELLO! What do they expect people to answer here? YES? Hehe. My ex husband said he had this compelling urge to say yes, but then again he thought he would never make it to the courses he was there for. LOL.

So I can tell the truth about visiting friends. I will visit a lot of friends and one of the happens to be in prison, but they don't need to know that. :)

Thank you for all the good advice you have given me here!

you need to have a visa before you enter the US to marry your fiance. you need a fiancee visa issued by INS (I-129-F) and your boyfriend has to file those petitions for you to get the fiance visa.once it is issued to you (which can take several months) you can enter the US and you gotta get married within 90 days or otherwise the visa expires and you can´t stay in the US any longer ( you gotta apply for a new visa if that is that happens).check if you can get married in ohio by proxy. in some states you can only get married to someone in prison by proxy. once you have your marriage license you can travel back to norway and come back whenever you want.

When you are putting the address of where you are staying, make sure you put an actual address and not a PO Box No. A friend of mine went over intending to stay with friends but only knew their PO Box no. as that was where she wrote to. She was stopped and had a real job convincing them that she really was staying with friends. Fortunately they were picking her up from the airport so I think they were able to satisfy the immigration authorities.

You DO NOT need a fiance visa because you are not going to stay in the US. ALL the women I know from Europe who have married inmates have done so by entering the country on the temporary visa issued on the plane. As long as you don't intend taking up residency you won't need the fiance visa.
Your fiance has to fill in ONLY the application to marry, nothing else
Please don't listen to what Dreary says, it doesn't apply.

Rose

Thank you Rostonhall! I most definitively don't intend to live in USA. When Stanley gets out he will come live here!