Visa for Girlfriend of a Spanish J1 visa (uscis, application, requirements)

[hisholiness]

Hi, I’m a Spanish guy who may be moving to LA to work with a J1 visa (I guess) in some months. I have a girlfriend who I would like to come with me. We’ve been together for more than 3 years. She is a travel agent. How can I do? It is possible for her to get a “fiancée” kind of visa or so? Will it take too long?


Thanks

[STT Resident]

Go to the uscsis website linked in the first "sticky" on this forum page for all details on your visa requirements and restrictions. I very much doubt that your girlfriend would qualify for anything other than a restricted visitor non-working visa. Cheers!

[sponger42]

Nope. If you want her to come with you, you must get married. Only spouses are recognized by USCIS as legitimate partners of J-visa holders, not girlfriends or fiances.

If you do get married, she can apply for a J-2 visa based on your J-1 visa, which would allow her to accompany you and also look for employment (if she fills out an additional, different, application).

USCIS - Exchange Visitors