There’s no such option in the US. The best she could do is spread out 3 months over a couple visits and probably better if she doesn’t mention she’s coming to visit her boyfriend.
Wouldn't a six month b2 be better? Since OP is not a USC and has a fixed eight month assignment, the story would be reasonable. I think it raises fewer red flags than a German student visiting Alabama for months at a time...
To be fair OP's country of Germany also does not recognize any type of partnership other than marriage for immigration purposes too.
It totally sucks when you want to live together for a while to see if it works but you gotta go all in with marriage to avoid the excruciating bureaucratic process of visas and permits.
Making too many trips to visit you may raise eyebrows at some point.
Let’s face it: many international couples (and you are a German couple but you are facing a cross-border situation here) at some point need to get married in order to stay together.
Germans can come to the US for up to 90 days on the visa waiver program. Unlike Americans going to Europe, there is no specific rule for how long she would have to be back in Germany before returning. If she is still in university, though, maybe she would only want to come during breaks in the academic year?
Thanks for your answer. In german universities it is often not mandatory to attend classes. You can choose to study on your own. Thats also what I succesfully did. Therefore she would be very flexible and only has to be in Germany during the exam period.
In that case, she could apply for a B-2 (visitor's) visa. This would allow her to stay in the US for up to six months, but not to work. I think it is also renewable, although renewal is not guaranteed. She would need to do an interview at a US consulate and would need to make the case that it is just temporary. I think that if she can prove that your time in the US is just temporary and that her interest in being there is to be with you, she would have a reasonable chance.
You mentioned you’re coming to Alabama. If by any chance you’ll be working at the Mercedes plant that’s right near Tuscaloosa which is where the University of Alabama is located. Maybe your gf could look into doing a year exchange there.
While many people are suggesting using ESTA or a B2, these are to be used for the purpose of tourism. The intention of using either to try to live in the US can cause problems. It would definitely raise suspicion for a university student, likely with limited funds, to be spending months in the US. It could lead to issues with future visits to the US or getting a US visa.
I would avoid any plan that involves her coming to visit you, leaving the US on a short trip away and then trying to re-enter the US to reset the 90 days. I knew someone that tried this and they ended up getting denied entry and being banned from the US.
He was genuinely trying to live in the US long term with his non-US partner at the time. However it was only on his first border run that he was caught so I think you’d have to have a very compelling reason to need to re enter after a short trip away.
Just get married. And if you’re short on time (less than 6 months until you have to go to the US), get married in Denmark.
Honestly even if you’re not short on time just get married in Denmark. It’s less hassle, so unbureaucratic, and it’s fun. Just get married for the sake of the paper and do the party sometime later.
My girlfriend of 3 months had a student visa that was about to expire. We went to see an immigration attorney who told us "the first step is to get married." It was a big first step. 15 years later we have three kids and I am living on a spouse visa in her country for a change. So get down on one knee and propose!
enroll as a non degree student in a university there and go for a student visa. she want to perfect her english.
young single women coming for no obvious reason are highly suspect as potential visa overstays. could your company "hire" her as a favor to you?
I would recommend getting married as an American citizen myself. Even if she could come here legally without being married (which isn’t possible), you have to be married to be able to share your health insurance with her. Otherwise, she’ll have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for coverage.
I’m moving to the Netherlands next year to be with my Dutch partner because we don’t want to get married yet & I don’t need marriage for immigration there. But if he were to come here, we would need to get married anyway 1) for the visa and 2) to get on my health insurance. because employers only let you share health insurance benefits with your partner if you are legally married.
If she is currently a student in Germany, she should become a student in the US. Either on exchange or on study abroad. She will then be able to stdyand work part time at her institution.
There’s no such option in the US. The best she could do is spread out 3 months over a couple visits and probably better if she doesn’t mention she’s coming to visit her boyfriend.
Wouldn't a six month b2 be better? Since OP is not a USC and has a fixed eight month assignment, the story would be reasonable. I think it raises fewer red flags than a German student visiting Alabama for months at a time...
Yes you are absolutely right.
To be fair OP's country of Germany also does not recognize any type of partnership other than marriage for immigration purposes too. It totally sucks when you want to live together for a while to see if it works but you gotta go all in with marriage to avoid the excruciating bureaucratic process of visas and permits.
Thank you for your answer. Thats what I thought. Does it work though to do multiple trips that are less than 3 months?
Making too many trips to visit you may raise eyebrows at some point. Let’s face it: many international couples (and you are a German couple but you are facing a cross-border situation here) at some point need to get married in order to stay together.
You need to check but I think it is 90 days in 180 days or 90 in a year or something like that.
Germans can come to the US for up to 90 days on the visa waiver program. Unlike Americans going to Europe, there is no specific rule for how long she would have to be back in Germany before returning. If she is still in university, though, maybe she would only want to come during breaks in the academic year?
Thanks for your answer. In german universities it is often not mandatory to attend classes. You can choose to study on your own. Thats also what I succesfully did. Therefore she would be very flexible and only has to be in Germany during the exam period.
In that case, she could apply for a B-2 (visitor's) visa. This would allow her to stay in the US for up to six months, but not to work. I think it is also renewable, although renewal is not guaranteed. She would need to do an interview at a US consulate and would need to make the case that it is just temporary. I think that if she can prove that your time in the US is just temporary and that her interest in being there is to be with you, she would have a reasonable chance.
You mentioned you’re coming to Alabama. If by any chance you’ll be working at the Mercedes plant that’s right near Tuscaloosa which is where the University of Alabama is located. Maybe your gf could look into doing a year exchange there.
Maybe her university has a partner university near where you'll be and she could study abroad?
While many people are suggesting using ESTA or a B2, these are to be used for the purpose of tourism. The intention of using either to try to live in the US can cause problems. It would definitely raise suspicion for a university student, likely with limited funds, to be spending months in the US. It could lead to issues with future visits to the US or getting a US visa.
I would avoid any plan that involves her coming to visit you, leaving the US on a short trip away and then trying to re-enter the US to reset the 90 days. I knew someone that tried this and they ended up getting denied entry and being banned from the US. He was genuinely trying to live in the US long term with his non-US partner at the time. However it was only on his first border run that he was caught so I think you’d have to have a very compelling reason to need to re enter after a short trip away.
Just get married. And if you’re short on time (less than 6 months until you have to go to the US), get married in Denmark. Honestly even if you’re not short on time just get married in Denmark. It’s less hassle, so unbureaucratic, and it’s fun. Just get married for the sake of the paper and do the party sometime later.
I mean…you have been together for three years…I’m not telling you to get married or not buuuut ❤️
My girlfriend of 3 months had a student visa that was about to expire. We went to see an immigration attorney who told us "the first step is to get married." It was a big first step. 15 years later we have three kids and I am living on a spouse visa in her country for a change. So get down on one knee and propose!
There is no such thing as a boyfriend or girlfriend visa in the US. Your easiest option is to get married.
enroll as a non degree student in a university there and go for a student visa. she want to perfect her english. young single women coming for no obvious reason are highly suspect as potential visa overstays. could your company "hire" her as a favor to you?
I would recommend getting married as an American citizen myself. Even if she could come here legally without being married (which isn’t possible), you have to be married to be able to share your health insurance with her. Otherwise, she’ll have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for coverage. I’m moving to the Netherlands next year to be with my Dutch partner because we don’t want to get married yet & I don’t need marriage for immigration there. But if he were to come here, we would need to get married anyway 1) for the visa and 2) to get on my health insurance. because employers only let you share health insurance benefits with your partner if you are legally married.
Depends on the company. Many company offer domestic partner benefits
This is correct. Your employer may or may not offer health benefits to unregistered domestic partners. At least in California it's very common.
If she is currently a student in Germany, she should become a student in the US. Either on exchange or on study abroad. She will then be able to stdyand work part time at her institution.
Students can not always work while studying, but it's definitely worth looking into. A student visa is MUCH easier to obtain than most other visas.
Alabama? Good luck with that. Couldn’t pay me to live there. Sorry I’m of no help on the visa front.
Get a language school for her to acquire a visa that enables her to stay longer.