I would like to see what my ATRL family has to say on this issue.

I know there's many smart people here and honestly you guys have opened my eyes to many topics (esp abroad)

Here's my dilemma: I'm dating a foreigner who I totally appreciate and care about etc.

So... we began discussing marriage and I'm actually getting cold feet?

My issue is citizenship and my lack of knowledge on the subject. He's not well versed either.

He's African and I'm American. His decision is to leave W Africa for the States, but we don't have much knowledge on how to start the process? (I suggested paying for a lawyer, he told me to shut it & let him figure that part out since a lawyer may not even be neccasary )

Also.. I'm kinda nervous about the whole thing. Like I don't want to drain all my funds to accomplish this (likewise for him also), so I'm not sure if we should do a 2 year travel visa for him? Or marry first..?

His Country, Nigeria, don't allow same sex marriage so that's why we aren't taking that route first.

(I have so many more questions and thoughts but I'll reserve them for those who really care and want to help me)

Thanks in advance for any type of information you guys can provide! Hopefully there's someone on here in my shoes with great first hand experience (gaining citizenship in the US).

best thing for him to do is

fly here
get married with you

and start the paper work

it is a long process since you guys have to prove you didn't just fly him here for a green card

I live in the US, but my dream is to marry a Parisian, Londoner, or a Spanish man

Hm...your situation is tricky..
My mom got married with an American, and they got married in her country and had to prove (in the US Embassy) that the marriage is real in order to get visa to fly to the US
Might not work in Nigeria since it's illegal
Maybe he could ask for an asylum in the US? He could be the gay refugee

How can he easily fly? He keep saying "Nigeria makes it hard for us to fly. Because so many Nigerians screw up when they arrive in the states (crime, advoiding going back etc)" that him being able to come here will be virtually harder than me just hopping on a plane and arriving to Africa.

He did mention a traveling visa tho today, he said a friend of his paid some agent and it was expedited.

What country Mom dukes from?

Also, what you're suggesting is kinda like him and I getting married in Africa first, right?

Bihhhh u trying get me killed?

Although, my guy did say we have to take hella pictures just to prove the legitimacy of our relationship. Sigh.

traveling visa work sometimes but the issue there is
while filing the paperwork some people get sent back for a certain amount of time.. and if he gets sent back and denied then you're out of luck.

Awwww

Thank u

I'm a paralegal in Europe so I could help u if you were European but my knowledge on US law is very limited

Wtf? Omg no, I can't deal with the possibility of him being sent back.

All my research keep proving there's no absolute answer also. Arghh

Thank you. But let me ask you this because this is a long term goal here:

After law school in a couple years I really would like to leave the States for London(?) so hypothetically me being American and him finally getting green card here... is it possible for Americans to move there (without having to marry)?

I'm just over the states at this point.

Well the facts are you can't be together in Nigeria, so he does have to come to you. But American process is completely different from New Zealand with the whole green card fiasco so... good luck! Love always wins in the end!

I think that's the whole thing with citizenship and immigrations - it's on a case by case basis which makes it:

a) extremely slow, and;
b) always uncertain

I'm getting weak just thinking.

Russia
Don't try, you can't get married in Nigeria as a gay couple anyway, unless you want to go to a prison
I wonder if it's possible to get married in the US while having a tourist visa and stay there afterwards. Idk how it works

I'm British, our immigration law is not the same as European immigration law.

It shouldn't be too hard for you to move here if you have qualifications or skills which we need/want, I think if you're married to your partner he'll be able to come too (I'm not sure if it would be easier if he had American citizenship too, or if it would make no difference). Our immigration law is almost certainly going to get stricter/more skills-based (maybe for both of you) upon our exit from the EU.

Wish the best for you.

immigration to the US is tough, everyone I know that has done it got a job in the US first

Like how is this even possible without being a citizen? I've heard this before.

Thank you. And by skills, does collegiate diplomas make a difference??

Also, I'm a bit naive sorry, when you say you're British that does cover London no? Lol