ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresK-3? K-1?
My fiance is from the UK; sorry for not mentioning that before.

I'm getting to be rather well-versed in the basic functions of the K visas, however I'm still not sure which is the best avenue for my fiance and I. I was once told by a lawyer during a consultation that marrying her first and trying to bring her here thereafter is easier than getting a K-1 visa, but I'm worried that marrying outside the country will look suspicious to USCIS when later trying to apply to bring her here to stay...

I've heard stories of people in the army and navy that marry overseas and bring their spouses back with them no questions asked, but is being married the trump card to all the K visa complications?

I'm not married to her yet, but assuming I want to have her living here by September next year... What's the fastest, safest route to making that happen?
aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-07 15:05:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresK-3? K-1?
I'm confused as to what the best-possible approach is to bringing my foreign fiance into the US... I'm reading various, mixed opinions on which visa allows for fastest access, and which overall procedure is the most clear-cut for allowing my fiance residence.

I've asked her to marry me, but we're still a world apart! If I file for a K-1 visa I can bring her here to start the ~getting married process, but would it be easier to marry in another country and bring her here on the K-3? If I chose the K-3 option, would it be okay to bring her to the US, take her to Canada and marry, then come back and apply for it?

I would like to be sharing a home with my fiance by September of next year... How can I assure that all my next steps are in the right direction?

Thank you all for your time!
aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-07 02:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCertificate of Approval, then CR-1
Hello,

I recently took a month's vacation to see my fiancée in the UK with the intent to marry and discovered the unfortunate mandate of a "certificate of approval" as part of the marriage process. Apparently this document gives me the UK government's permission to marry with either the intent to leave or remain (the details are whatever I make of them, so I would choose to leave). I assumed this was the UK's version of the K-1 visa and yet I'm not sure how to apply for it, or even if I can while abroad. My vacation time ran out before I had a chance to put anything in motion and I'm scrambling for information about how to get through this process.

My intention would be to marry in the UK and leave, then apply for a CR-1 visa in the US to bring my wife here with me and yet I'm not able to determine if and how I can obtain a certificate of approval while in the US. It'd be really difficult to negotiate going back to the UK to undergo an open-ended waiting process on this certificate if it somehow got tied up - What am I supposed to do?

It was devastating to be told that I'd missed a detail about marrying in the UK and then having to cancel our wedding plans... I'd just like to have all my ducks in a row to not have to suffer that again, but there's a severe lack of information about how to go about this and I'm still waiting on replies from the UK officials on what I should do next.

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated...
aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-08 01:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 with a Caveat
QUOTE (canadian_wife @ Dec 10 2009, 11:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It sounds like you're in this regardless of what people say. You've been given sound advice on how to move forward legally and even some potential problems that may arise have been explained to you.

Good luck on your future and life with your fiance.

QUOTE (aydi @ Dec 10 2009, 10:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Close to four years from this point makes her 13 when we first spoke. The year isn't an exact number unless she was born on the first of January, but now we're just splitting hairs and reinforcing an age stereotype, which is why I mentioned being friends from a certain point and then beginning a relationship together.



Thank you for your comments... I appreciate both sides of the argument much more than I'm letting on, and I'm thankful I've gotten more than just a stern scolding out of this discussion.

Edited by aydi, 10 December 2009 - 11:48 AM.

aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-10 11:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 with a Caveat
QUOTE (leith@Ievgeniia @ Dec 10 2009, 11:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
not looking at the moral side of this!! which is huge.

here is a suggestion. if you love her and you can marry in few moths to to england and marry her and live there. support her as wife and let her stay with her fiends and family for a few years. then apply for married visa and bring her to here. that way you can easily prove and show you are in long term committed relaitonship.

and you will know if she is right one for you and she is right for you. DUDE 15 yrd old girl will change as often as weather.

and why are u intrested in somebody so young? just intrested on that is all


I considered the option of moving there once, but I couldn't find a visa I deemed myself acceptable to apply for. A student visa seemed to require full dedication to education and, although I might be a bit hazy on this detail, something about not being able to work while under that visa, and although I could apply to go over for the purpose of employment, I imagine that nobody would want to hire or sponsor a foreign, 21 year old software developer with nothing but work experience to his name when they have their choice of many local and more qualified people. Aside from going over as a visitor, which means I can't settle in a place for a given time, I wouldn't be allowed to stay.

In all honesty... I never expected I would fall in love with someone so much younger than me, but through the course of our communication it happened. I didn't go looking for it, but sharing what we have is something significant, and her age was something I decided, after much consideration, can't be an issue if I want to move forward with her. I'm aware of what scrutiny I can and will face, but in two or three years, the immorality of our love will have been long forgotten about...
aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-10 11:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 with a Caveat
QUOTE (canadian_wife @ Dec 10 2009, 10:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
She made the decision to marry when she was 15 correct? You met her when she was 11

Yes, in my opinion, it is so hard to believe


Close to four years from this point makes her 13 when we first spoke. The year isn't an exact number unless she was born on the first of January, but now we're just splitting hairs and reinforcing an age stereotype, which is why I mentioned being friends from a certain point and then beginning a relationship together.

Edited by aydi, 10 December 2009 - 11:01 AM.

aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-10 10:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 with a Caveat
QUOTE (Neal M @ Dec 10 2009, 10:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (aydi @ Dec 10 2009, 08:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Neal M @ Dec 10 2009, 09:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
As previously stated, to even petition you need to demonstrate that you are legally able to marry. So you'll need to wait until she's 16.

Michigan law also states that her parents will need to appear IN PERSON to give consent - so I suggest they fly out to Michigan and do this BEFORE you petition. Without their consent, you aren't legally able to marry and so it's likely your petition would be denied.

That's the legal side.

I know you don't want "moral comments", but frankly you post something like this and you are going to get them. Like most of the previous comments I think this whole thing is nuts and needs a serious rethink. What's wrong with a long engagement? See who you both really are in a couple of years? If you are still together and in love, then petition when she's 18 or 19 or 21. As the "adult" in this relationship, you owe her that.

BTW - what's happening with her education? Was she planning on leaving school after GCSEs anyway? Or will she enrol at high school in MI? How easy will that be? Will she make friends being a "recently arrived 16 year old married Brit"? Will those unusual circumstances mark her out for shunning at best/ bullying at worst? All things you need to SERIOUSLY consider.


Morality applied to this circumstance seems to disregard that both she and I have arrived at this decision through careful consideration and a long time spent deciding on future compatibility. It's easy to say that she's acting irrationally, or that I'm acting irresponsibly, but in either case, are you judging our ages, or our experiences? Is it really so hard to believe that a 16 year old can make the decision to marry? Law makers in various states still see it fit to deem that an appropriate age, and a person's age is least of all determinate of if that person can fall in love. If we're all bound to marry off eventually, why do we have to be alone for so long before society lets us do it without staring down their noses at us?

Most of you have a love you've had to overcome obstacles for; consider yourselves lucky that your happiness isn't the subject of moral outrage and please bear in mind that I didn't come to this forum to be reminded that my fiancée's age makes her subject to a 16 year-old's lack of maturity. It's the lowest hanging fruit of this subject and not something helpful to my cause.

We hope to be together by late fall of next year. She finishes school before then in the UK, and we'll deal with the US high school equivalence details as soon as we've settled the matter of her residence.


She's only 15 for a start.


I'll ask the question again with that in mind... Is it really so hard to believe that a 15 year old can make the decision to marry? Kindly replace "16" with "15" in all prior references I made, however the point I'm trying to make remains relevant. We're pursuing the prospect of marriage when she's 16, so that's the mindset I was working with.

Edited by aydi, 10 December 2009 - 10:48 AM.

aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-10 10:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 with a Caveat
QUOTE (Neal M @ Dec 10 2009, 09:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
As previously stated, to even petition you need to demonstrate that you are legally able to marry. So you'll need to wait until she's 16.

Michigan law also states that her parents will need to appear IN PERSON to give consent - so I suggest they fly out to Michigan and do this BEFORE you petition. Without their consent, you aren't legally able to marry and so it's likely your petition would be denied.

That's the legal side.

I know you don't want "moral comments", but frankly you post something like this and you are going to get them. Like most of the previous comments I think this whole thing is nuts and needs a serious rethink. What's wrong with a long engagement? See who you both really are in a couple of years? If you are still together and in love, then petition when she's 18 or 19 or 21. As the "adult" in this relationship, you owe her that.

BTW - what's happening with her education? Was she planning on leaving school after GCSEs anyway? Or will she enrol at high school in MI? How easy will that be? Will she make friends being a "recently arrived 16 year old married Brit"? Will those unusual circumstances mark her out for shunning at best/ bullying at worst? All things you need to SERIOUSLY consider.


Morality applied to this circumstance seems to disregard that both she and I have arrived at this decision through careful consideration and a long time spent deciding on future compatibility. It's easy to say that she's acting irrationally, or that I'm acting irresponsibly, but in either case, are you judging our ages, or our experiences? Is it really so hard to believe that a 16 year old can make the decision to marry? Law makers in various states still see it fit to deem that an appropriate age, and a person's age is least of all determinate of if that person can fall in love. If we're all bound to marry off eventually, why do we have to be alone for so long before society lets us do it without staring down their noses at us?

Most of you have a love you've had to overcome obstacles for; consider yourselves lucky that your happiness isn't the subject of moral outrage and please bear in mind that I didn't come to this forum to be reminded that my fiancée's age makes her subject to a 16 year-old's lack of maturity. It's the lowest hanging fruit of this subject and not something helpful to my cause.

We hope to be together by late fall of next year. She finishes school before then in the UK, and we'll deal with the US high school equivalence details as soon as we've settled the matter of her residence.

Edited by aydi, 10 December 2009 - 10:29 AM.

aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-10 10:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 with a Caveat
QUOTE (canadian_wife @ Dec 10 2009, 09:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I don't doubt that you absolutly love this girl and want to bring her to the US. I am concerned about her. I am concerned that, although she may say she is, she is not emotionally ready to be a wife. It is a huge committment and one that she may not be prepared for once she arrives in the US. Plus, she's a high school student, let her be a high school student and enjoy all those wonderful parties, football games, homecoming, prom, etc.

If you honestly want to marry this girl and aren't going through the 'oh my gosh, I love her and HAVE to be with her' impulsivity then please follow your heart - but be prepared for a trying journey and marriage

If this is truly love, then a few years won't be a drop in the bucket for your relationship

How long have you known her? How much time have you spent with her?


I've known her for close to four years now. We'd met in an online art community and shared common interests in drawing and animation. We remained friends for the first couple of years, but with our interests and experiences came a very strong bond, and eventually love. I'm not the kind to go looking for a socially inappropriate relationship, but I fell in love with who I did for the same reasons anybody else finds love, and a person's age is sometimes only a number, not a reflection of their character or demeanor.

We've spent over a month's time together in person, with countless phone calls, text-messages and instant messages in between. I have a good relationship with her parents, who I've cooperated with every step of the way, and they know and approve of our plans to marry.

Every few years after this point is more time spent apart, but not wanting to be. Why let that bucket fill on loneliness and longing when we have the option to be together?
aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-10 10:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 with a Caveat
I've considered the possibility of marrying in her country and filing for a separate visa, like perhaps the K-3, or CR-1, but I couldn't get a clear answer from lawyers I've consulted about whether that process would appear underhanded (i.e. visa fraud) to the parties reviewing my petition. I've surmised by both legal advice and that of this forum's users that the K-1 visa is overall the least amount of hassle in efforts to bring her here; we're facing many biases with our relationship, but truly there's no legal thing preventing us from pursuing it. If marrying in another country and applying for a visa other than the K-1 were a way of avoiding prejudices I'd gladly go for that, but I'm not sure there's any avenue that makes things easier for us, and I'd just like to be with her, all in all.

I have all the appropriate means and permissions by law and I've been lead to believe the K-1 is the path we have to take to be together. Maybe there's a thing or two I don't know about what options I have... I'm certainly interested in knowing if there's a better option than a long and complicated wait!

Edited by aydi, 09 December 2009 - 11:42 PM.

aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-09 23:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 with a Caveat
QUOTE (Chica Yeyé @ Dec 9 2009, 06:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (aydi @ Dec 9 2009, 03:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Regarding my age... I'm 21.

I'm aware of the stereotypes of what I'm trying to do and taking that into consideration... I'd appreciate legitimate responses, but kindly save the obnoxious jabs. I'm asking for guidance, not ridicule.


Like Rhiann said, wait until she is at least 16. You will face an uphill battle. Do you have enough income to sponsor her?


I do, yes. I believe I meet all the petitioner qualifications to bring her here, however I haven't gotten very sure-footed answers from legal consul regarding her age and whether it's an issue. The most positive advice I've been given it to try and see what happens. We have her parent's approval to marry and the means to do so; our only hang-up is legally being able to live together in the US. The K-1 seems to be the answer to that issue, and perhaps you're right about waiting 'till she's 16 at the earliest to file...

Thank you for your advice...
aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-09 18:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 with a Caveat
She's from the UK.
aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-09 18:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 with a Caveat
Regarding my age... I'm 21.

I'm aware of the stereotypes of what I'm trying to do and taking that into consideration... I'd appreciate legitimate responses, but kindly save the obnoxious jabs. I'm asking for guidance, not ridicule.
aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-09 18:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 with a Caveat
I'm interested in petitioning for a K-1 visa for my fiance and I'd like to submit it as soon as I can, however I'm concerned that her age at the time I submit my be an issue...

My fiance is currently 15 years old and a resident of the UK. She'll be 16 in two months and, in her country and my state, a legally marriable age with parental consent.

I've researched and determined that the K-1 has no minimum age requirements, and I'd like to complete this process as smoothly as possible... We hope to be together by September of next year, but if I submit the paperwork now, would her current age cause any holdups that being 16 wouldn't?
aydiMaleUnited Kingdom2009-12-09 16:28:00