Marrying a B1

[Kira]

I recently met an Israeli tourist in the country with a B1 visa, who was here solely for the purpose of seeing what the country was like. As unlikely as it seems, we are now considering a legitimate marriage-that is, not for the purpose of getting him a green card. Is there some sort of time limit we must wait before marrying, in order to avoid getting into legal trouble for fraudulent marriage? Also, is it necessary for him to leave the country to change his status, or can he do it while still here? Thanks

[Allan Samson]

If you are an American citizen you can marry and he can adjust status in the US. That is, he does not have to leave the US. The only cautionary note is not to marry within 60 days of his arrival in the US, which raises the possible interpretation that he came primarily not as a tourist but to get a green card. Good Luck and Happy Marriage, ALLAN SAMSON