I am a 20-year-old US citizen planning to marry my 19-year-old fiancé who is currently here on an F-1 student visa. She comes from a country that is currently on the visa ban list or faces very high scrutiny. We are debating between filing for Adjustment of Status immediately or marrying and letting her travel home for the summer before refiling for her student visa. She really wants to visit her family, but I am worried that marrying will prove immigrant intent and prevent her from getting a new F-1 visa to return. What is the safest route to take in this situation given the country restrictions?
Realizing this is not just about standard marriage procedure but involves a high-scrutiny country, you need to be extremely careful.
Has anyone from her specific region actually attempted to renew an F-1 after marrying a US citizen recently?
I was informed of a very similar case involving a peer from my region who attempted this. He departed the US in good faith to visit ailing parents after marrying a citizen. Upon applying for the visa renewal, he was informed that his ties to the US were now stronger than his ties to his home country.