Top Questions About Sponsoring a Boyfriend/Girlfriend to the US

By Travis P September 18, 2018 (Updated May 27, 2023) 3 min. read

Thousands of people contact VisaPlace each year with a similar question: how can I bring my boyfriend or girlfriend to the US? Although it seems like there could be an easy answer it can be a bit more difficult because there are many different options. Love is a powerful thing that makes people do crazy things – including going across the world to see their loved ones. Although love is so powerful, immigration regulations do not bend the rules for people in love. Unfortunately, most of your girlfriend or boyfriend’s chances of being able to come to visit you in the US depends on their nationality.

Difference Between Visiting the US and Living in the US

If two people from different countries come together and choose to live in the United States it is extremely necessary to deal with immigration statuses so that you or your partner will not be banned from entering the US again. It is important to not overstay your legal days allowed to stay in the US or else you could be deported or not allowed to enter the US again for many years or possibly forever.

FAQ About Getting Your Boyfriend or Girlfriend to the US

My boyfriend/girlfriend wants to move to the United States permanently but we are not ready to get married yet. Is there a visa they could get that will allow them to live here so that we can date?

Depending on what country they are from, if your partner is from one of the 38 countries they may be exempt from needing a visa. Your significant other can travel to the US as a visitor without any visa at all under the visitor visa program.

If your partner is from one of the 38 countries in the Visa Waiver Program you can easily apply online for the travel electronic authorization, ESTA, using your partner’s passport, an email address and a debit or credit card.

Can my significant other live with me once they come to visit?

You cannot sponsor your significant other to live with you, only visit. At the moment there isn’t an unmarried partner visa available. Your partner should be your legal spouse or your fiancé. As a general rule, you will have to complete an I-130 Form (Petition for Alien Relative). This document establishes the relationship between you and your partner. This process is necessary if you want your domestic partner to stay legally in the United States.

How long can my girlfriend stay in the US to visit me?

If your boyfriend/girlfriend has come to the US under the Visa Waiver Program, then he or she is only allowed to stay up to 90 days at a time, visa-free. For the government to issue her any visa, there must be an advantage to the U.S. government. What would be the advantage to have her be in the U.S. longer than a short visit? One choice would be to have her enroll in school in the U.S. and pay international tuition. This would help give financial support to our educational system.

Can we apply for a fiancé visa once my significant other is in the US on a visitor visa?

If you are not married yet, there’s the possibility to bring your fiance(é) to the United States to marry and live here. In this case, you must apply with a nonimmigrant visa for a fiancé(e) visa (K-1) and an I-129F fiance(é) petition is compulsory.

@visaplaceimmigration

We get this question a lot from long distance couple who are not ready for the #k1visa 👫 #immigration #immigrationlawyer #familysponsorship

♬ original sound – VisaPlace

Do You Want To Bring Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend to the US?

If so, Contact VisaPlace today. All our cases are handled by competent and experienced immigration professionals who are affiliated with VisaPlace. These professionals consist of lawyers, licensed paralegals, and consultants who work for Niren and Associates an award-winning immigration firm that adheres to the highest standards of client service.

Ready for the next step? Book your 1 on 1 consultation now or call us at 1-877-296-0874.

Have a Question related to your Immigration Needs?

Click here to fill out the FREE Immigration Assessment form below and get a response within 24 hours to see if you’re eligible.

The assessment form should take approximately 5-7 minutes to complete. We will get back to you within one business day to let you know if we are able to help.

Wasi Mesbahuddin Avatar

Wasi Mesbahuddin

Second time working with Visaplace, and was successful again with a visa application for parents (2 out of 2). Worked with Felicita and Mansi, strong guidance, very detailed approach to putting together a very thorough and comprehensive application. Good feedback and support throughout the full process. Highly recommend Visaplace!

Maria Accounting Avatar

Maria Accounting

We are incredibly grateful to Attorney Felicita and her outstanding team for their exceptional legal support. Thanks to their expertise, professionalism, and efficiency, we were able to secure two work visas and a visitor visa for our family members — all within a remarkably short period of time.

Attorney Felicita’s leadership, attention to detail, and deep knowledge of immigration law made the entire process smooth and stress-free. The team was responsive, thorough, and truly committed to achieving the best outcome for us.

We highly recommend Attorney Felicita and her team to anyone in need of skilled and reliable legal representation. Their dedication and results speak for themselves.

Thank you 🙏

Maria El khazen

Manale Avatar

Manale

Felicita and her team are amazing. They’re so professional. It’s not the first time that i refer to them to submit my applications and never fail to achieve satisfying results

Ljiljana Pavkov Avatar

Ljiljana Pavkov

I have nothing but praise! The entire team was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and kind, especially Mansi Sanghiv. She patiently explained everything I needed to know and resolved all of my concerns. I felt safe and well taken care of throughout the entire process. I am extremely satisfied with the service and experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking for quality, dedication, and trust.

Lisanne Cholette Avatar

Lisanne Cholette

Mansi has been helping me navigate through a new chapter in my life. It has been a huge comfort to be able to lean on her knowledge and expertise and I would highly recommend her to anyone!

BERLITA COLLADO Avatar

BERLITA COLLADO

I am so very thankful to the VISAPACE team for making it all come true and possible from my Open Work Permit to my Permanent Residence, you make it all happen .Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart , Thank you for being part of my achievements. Now I am now a Permanent Residence through the effort, power and knowledge of VISAPLACE LEGAL TEAM.
Sending you my best appreciation and thank you.

Berlie Collado

Shahrzad Sh Avatar

Shahrzad Sh

“I truly want to thank Mansi. Her patience and thoughtful advices made a big difference for me. Her recommendations were not only helpful but also gave me clearer insight. Words can’t fully express how grateful I am for her support.”