After Marriage
Adjusting to Life in the US
Your new wife will need your help in adjusting to life in the US. Several things work differently from what she is accustomed to. She may not have driven a car before so she will need to get some practice so she can take the test and get a drivers license. She will also need you to show her how some of the appliances work around the house. The mechanics of the thermostat, stove, washer, dryer and dishwasher are quite different than the appliances made in Europe.
References to temperature both for the weather and in cooking can be difficult to adjust to. You can experiment with this table to see how dramatic the numbers differ.
Forms and Processes
After marriage, there are several forms to submit in order for your new wife to begin the process of establishing her residency in the United States. The request for adjustment of status, work permission and advanced parole (if she wishes to visit her family before the adjustment is approved) can be filed after the wedding. Some people file all the forms at once but the cost of the forms can be exorbitant when all are filed at the same time.
This is the best time to help your new spouse to acclimate to life in the United States. Keep in mind, everything familiar to her is now several thousands of miles away, including her most valued possessions: friend and family. Foreigners are not as materialistic as Americans, so they have a higher value for the people they are close to. While you can’t replace their friends or family, you can help them adjust by providing calling cards so they can keep in touch over the phone. You can also seek out their language groups in your area.
Work Authorization
Also known as “Permission to Work” the I-765 can be filed prior to marriage, but there is a chance it will be held until the marriage is decided, since permission to work is not the same as permission to stay in the US. You will also be required to re-apply for a new authorization after the marriage since the conditions of your wife’s stay in the US have changed. The typical processing time is between 2 and 3 months, and once granted the card is good for one year. The Immigration Form I-765 is not a complicated form, in fact it’s 10 pages of instructions and only 1 page for the form but it does require a few additional items to be processed smoothly. For example, photos are required just as they were with the K-1 application. You will also be asked for a copy of the I-94 which is placed in her Passport upon entry to the US. A copy of the Adjustment of Status form is also required as these applications usually follow each other or are filed at the same time.
Note: It’s recommended that you wait until after the marriage to apply for the Employment Authorization due to the waiting time and requirements to resubmit your application after marriage. Since Adjustment of Status proceeds Work Authorization in the natural flow of events, the USCIS is more accustomed to approving Employment Authorization after the Status Adjustment has been submitted. You will however, receive work Authorization before your Adjustment of Status is approved.
Advanced Parole
The I-131 Application for Travel Document is required before your fiancé or spouse leaves the country unless they have a her green card. Since the green card or Adjustment of Status takes a great deal of time, you will need to submit the I-131 to protect your spouses re-entry to the United States should they take a trip outside the US Borders. (The Fiancé visa is a one time only entrance to the US)
Note: If your spouse leaves the US without a travel document, it will be viewed as abandonment of their adjustment of status and they will not be permitted to re-enter the US. Correcting this issue will have to be done from their home country and can be very difficult to resolve.
Version 6: Published October 2009 
