ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresaccidental K2?

Happened to us.   They listed Rin's children (K4's as she was a K3).  When it came time to file in BKK, we only sent in the paperwork for Rin.   Six months later we filed for the children (follow-to-join).   Follow to join is allowed for one year after K1 approval.  If you and your fiancee want her child to come to the US, you have one year to file at the embassy (assuming you get the child's father to sign off on it - or a court order).


rin and johnMaleThailand2014-01-02 17:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresBuy air ticket before the interview?

We bought ours before the visa was issued.  Picked the visa up around noon and headed to the airport for a flight the same evening.   The decision is a risk/reward decision only the OP can make.  If the loss of a $1000 ticket is a risk he is willing to take, so be it.  I took the risk because the ticket I purchased could be changed to any date within the next year for under $100 dollars.   If it had been a $3000 ticket with no refund or changes, my decision would have been different.  Only the OP can decide how much risk he is willing to take.


rin and johnMaleThailand2013-12-17 22:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMedical Exam

I believe that immigration is based on the CDC list of communicable diseases. If you have one of these, you will be denied.

And HIV has been removed from that list because it is no longer considered a communicable disease.


How about Hepatitis A and B?
MemphisFemalePhilippines2012-06-05 00:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresRelationship evidence for K1
It is much better to be well prepared by sending all related evidences to avoid RFE's, thus causing unnecessary delays in the process.. :thumbs:
MemphisFemalePhilippines2012-07-09 09:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVisa.... APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats! :thumbs:
MemphisFemalePhilippines2012-08-29 21:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCenomar
CENOMAR is only valid for 6months. As your interview schedule w/ the US Embassy nears, Ive read here on VJ that Filipino pre-screeners always ask for a fresh copy of CENOMAR..
NBI clearance has 1 yr validity
Hope this helps! :thumbs:

Edited by Memphis, 23 October 2012 - 06:24 PM.

MemphisFemalePhilippines2012-10-23 18:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHep "B" positive diagonis!

Thanks for the great responces.,..,I have been immunized after I found out her condition..,.,.,and I am "negative".,.,.,.,.,.,and immune.,.,.,.,so I am glad that no one sees.,.,.,. a problem with the medical.,.,.,.,.,with proper documentation.,.,.,,., thanks to all friends of VJ.com..,.,., .,.,.,,. Raven


Pls keep us updated on your fiancee's medical at St. Lukes and her interview at USEmbassy soon.. Good luck on your journey :thumbs:
MemphisFemalePhilippines2012-11-02 12:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresRFE And Beneficiary

 

in what stage did you get an RFE requesting for a copy of the beneficiary's birth cert?

 

Yes, we are under IR1&IR2 category. Our RFE came 6 months after NOA1.


MemphisFemalePhilippines2013-05-18 08:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresRFE And Beneficiary

It is possible.. I think the petitioner will be the one to receive the RFE notice and will be the one to respond to the requested missing document from either the petitioner or from the beneficiary. In our case, we received an RFE requesting for a copy of the beneficiary's birth cert.

Hope this helps.. and good luck smile.png


MemphisFemalePhilippines2013-05-17 19:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshelp!!!!medical condition

 

will they take out blood to test for Hepa? what if it turned out positive?

is that one of the causes for visa denial?

 

Hep B positive will not even cause a denial. You will be referred to a gastroenterologist for further tests. It has been frequently discussed in the Phils forum, you will not be asked about your medical condition during your interview accdg to VJ member Raven ( I forgot).. I think you will just need a medical certificate from the gastroenterologist.

 

For your peace of mind, just search for old threads at the Phils forum or even look for Raven so you could ask.. Hope this helps and good luck!


Edited by Memphis, 20 May 2013 - 03:03 AM.

MemphisFemalePhilippines2013-05-20 02:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan a k1visa petition be stopped without future penalities if you decide to go another route
I am in a similar situation. We aren't sure where we want to live but we want to get the ball rolling. Have you looked into Direct Consular Filing? If you decide not to live in the states and you both get residency in Dubai or wherever, you can apply for DCF which is an expedited process. Faster than the spousal. I have filed for the K-1 and we are going to use it to bring him in and get married, but if we decide to live elsewhere we will just not file for adjustment of status after we get married, leave together and file for DCF whenever we decide we would like to move to the states.
Taylor&JoeyFemaleItaly2013-02-01 08:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresEgypt Police Certificate
Thank you that was immensely helpful and exactly what I needed to know! We will wait until we get the NOA2 then have him go through those steps, and I'm sure someone in his family would be happy to help us.
Taylor&JoeyFemaleItaly2013-02-13 13:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresEgypt Police Certificate
Hello all,

Wondering if anyone can help us. My fiance is from Egypt but has lived in Italy since he was 18. I know he will still need to get a police certificate from Egypt but he doesn't plan to go back there. I have read online that it can take up to 3 months to get a police certificate from Egypt through an embassy, but I also hear that they need to be less that 3 months old at the interview? I got my NOA1 early November, so I am not really expecting to get an NOA2 until at least May, but I'm wondering when he should pull the trigger on asking for his certificate. If he waits until we get the NOA2 we might have to postpone the interview while he waits for it, but if we get it too early it might expire by the time of his interview. Has anyone actually gotten a certificate remotely from Egypt or a country like it?

Thanks!
Taylor&JoeyFemaleItaly2013-02-13 10:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCommunication Method Recommendations After Arrival
He could also get an American SIM card if he already has a phone that holds a SIM card. He can buy one at the airport or you could buy one ahead of time and sent it to him.
Taylor&JoeyFemaleItaly2013-02-25 05:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresName change for petitioner
Thank you both. I had hoped to change my name right away but I don't want to slow down his immigration process. Did you wait for the conditional green card (2 year) or the more permanent one (10 year)?
Taylor&JoeyFemaleItaly2013-03-12 15:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresName change for petitioner
Hello all,

I tried to look up this topic in old posts but I could only find information about beneficiaries changing their names. I am the petitioner and my will be husband is the beneficiary. I want to take his name after marriage but I am worried about it interfering with the process of his adjustment of status. I know to change my name I will have to surrender my passport until I get the new one with the new name. Will I need the passport for his filing AOS? Or for anything else? We want to file AOS as soon as possible after the wedding to decrease amount of time before he will be able to work. But I'm afraid if I wait until after AOS the name change may be more complicated. Anyone been through this?

Also, he kind of has 3 last names as he is Egyptian and I only want to take the first one. That is the only one he normally uses. Do I have to take his full last name or can I choose to just use the first one?

Thanks!
Taylor&JoeyFemaleItaly2013-03-11 07:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK1 Visa Forms presentation
I didn't know about this site before I sent my I129F- wish I did. I didn't make a table of contents or anything. I just made sure everything was there in the same order as the instructions and I think I used a big paper clip or something then put it all in a big envelope. Is that going to be okay? I didn't see anything in the uscis instructions about a table of contents...
Taylor&JoeyFemaleItaly2013-02-20 06:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresProblem

Okay I have posted about this once before but my fiance doesn't believe me so I want to make absolutely sure.  He needs to leave the country after the wedding.  We have already planned the wedding for a certain date that we can't change, and he needs to go back to Italy where he has been working and living for the past 12 years so that he can get Italian citizenship.  He doesn't even want U.S. citizenship we are just trying to get him to be able to live and work in the states temporarily, but we have gone through this whole fiance visa thing in order to do that.  Anyway, what I am trying to confirm is this:  if he leaves the united states before attempting to adjust his status, we will have to start over right?  And we will have to start over with a CR-1 because we will already be married, correct?  Which means he would not be able to live and work in America for like another year?  Anyone know any way around this?


Taylor&JoeyFemaleItaly2013-08-02 02:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresBoarding passes

yes they do, I work for an airline, and we would accept that as your boarding pass to get you on the plane so I do not see why it wont work in this case. It has your seat number, name, city, flight number, and date.


Basa's GurlFemaleJamaica2013-10-04 11:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNOA2

Mmiller is she taking the CGFNS or NCLEX?

 


Nelvie&ChrisMalePhilippines2013-05-19 13:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresForm 1040 correct format

just a note of advice, remove any HR Block cover sheets.

 

Our interviewer didn't realize what he was looking at and just kept stating "this is not a tax return" despite the fact he was holding a legit 1040 accepted by the IRS.

 

had he taken a moment to flip the page, he would have realized we were all set

 

i had the same thought "everyone knows what an HR Block return looks like".

 

advice 2, attach your W2, its not automatically attached on the digital form, you need to add it

 

now we are stuck in administrative processing.


jsceneNot TellingChina2013-10-11 04:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAffidavit of support
I need to send to W2s and bank statements to my fiancée. I do not like the idea of sending documents overseas with my social security and bank account numbers. Do I have any other alternative? How can I prevent my identity from getting stolen and still satisfy the consulate? I am afraid the mail will get stolen while in transit as it has happened before.

Edited by Joshua W, 21 April 2013 - 08:25 PM.

Joshua WMaleIndia2013-04-21 20:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 2

Just wondering what phone cards other people on this thread use to call Thailand. I have been using the Mega Clean and Stable card (www.uniontelecard.com) which charges four cents a minute with no connection or maintence fees. It rounds up to one minute. This card is great if you call Thailand during the day. The connection is usually very clear. The problem is at night you have to call several times before you get a clear connection. Makes no sense to me why it is bad at night. I am calling from California to my fiancee's cell phone. Hoping someone has a better card than this.


I used www.tollthai.com. Can get a number and pin to call for $0.01/minute to mobile phone in Thailand. Used it for over a year before Rin came to USA. She uses it to call back to Thailand now. Same issue, sometimes get a very clear connection, other times takes 3 or 4 attempts to get through with a decent connection but for a penny a minute, I was willing to try again. Had a different calling card prior to that (don't remember the name) that had advertised $0.03 per minute, but frequently charged up to $0.10 per minute. I ended up calling them two or three times; they would credit my account, everything would be ok for a few days, then it would go back to $0.10 per minute. I have never had an issue with the charges on tollthai.

Good luck!
rin and johnMaleThailand2007-05-15 14:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 2

i have another probably dumb question. so my lawyer seems unclear about packet 3, the instructional sheet says do not send anything to the embassy, but in another place we red that you send back the ds230 part 1 but unsigned. we are almost done compiling all of packet 3 and he has his appointment to get his medical on the 17th. he'll pick up his police certificate on the 13th. should we wait until after we have it all done and then go online to make our appointment?

(wish i had not hired a lawyer)



Just went through this in March. We sent back the DS-230 part I (unsigned), a photocopy of Rin's passport (information page), two passport photos (with name and case number written on back), and the checklist, signed/dated/case number/address, indicating we had all documents and were ready for the interview (even though technically we didn't yet have the medical completed). Never received a packet 4, but got an e-mail (after sending 3 or 4 to the embassy) two weeks later advising on the interview date.

Good Luck!
rin and johnMaleThailand2007-05-10 14:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 2

well....

my fiance has lost her main visa appointment letter from packet 4. (the one that must be presented to the office on the appointment date ... the one that has the date/time/case#/applicants on it....)

i have a copy of it here in the states and i'm sending it to her tomorrow. you don't know how lucky i am to even have it. it's like pulling teeth to get her to make copies of anything.

anyway ..

she thinks that the original was actually printed on pink or green paper, but she cannot remember. does anybody know what color it was on and how important the color may be?

she's also freaking out that she won't have the original. i told her that it's no big deal to have a copy and that the paper is probably just used to quickly gather her information on the day of the interview. do you think i'm correct about this?

thanks for any thoughts
dvd


dvd,

Don't worry about it. Rin never received her packet 4. I sent the embassy an e-mail regarding it and they sent an e-mail back and told me to just bring a copy of the e-mail with us. When we arrived, we went to window 5 and turned in Rin's packet and they never asked to see the letter or e-mail.

Good luck,
John
rin and johnMaleThailand2007-04-25 08:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 2
Bill,

Not sure how to do it in the states, probably through the Thai embassy (www.thaiembdc.org). There is a directory where you can call or e-mail the consulate. She'd probably need her Thai ID, marriage certificate, and old passport.

If in Bangkok, then see my previous post (1733) in this section. After we married in Thailand, Rin first went to the Amphur to change her Thai ID card, then took her old passport and her new ID to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Left it there and went back the next day to pick up the new one. In and out both times in less than 20 minutes.
rin and johnMaleThailand2007-03-05 00:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 2

Hello all, how do you renew a Thai passport? We are going back to Bangkok in April and i hear it only takes a couple days at the embassy. I am afraid to let go of it while we are on this trip cause what if they lose it or there is a delay??? Then we can't leave.
Also, does anybody know how to get a transit visa for Tokyo? I fly standby and they won't let me go through Tokyo without it (they do let me go through on the way TO bangkok however).


If you are in Bangkok, you would go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Ayudhya Road, Bangkok 10400 Thailand. Rin went there to get her new passport with her new name (after first changing her ID at the local Amphur). They have a website at http://www.mfa.go.th/web/1.php . Not sure if she had to leave her passport or not, but we went and picked up her new one the next day.

If you are in the US, then I think the Thai embassy is your only option.
rin and johnMaleThailand2007-02-27 06:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 2
I had inquired at NVC via e-mail about Rin's I-130 and I-129F because CIS had her name wrong on the NOA2. Finally reached them on the phone and they said it wouldn't matter as they use the application documents forwarded by CIS, not the NOA2 info. Yesterday I received two e-mails; one stating they did not have the petition (reference to I-130) and the second stating that the petition had been completed and forwarded to the embassy in Thailand (included BNK number, etc). My questions are:

Has anyone recently done a K3 visa in Bangkok that can advise what needs to be returned to the embassy? Is it the same (with regards to the items returned immediately) for the K1 and K3? I wanted to have Rin get everything together and mail as soon as I can verify that they have sent Packet 3. Based on past posts, I am thinking:

1. D-230 part 1
2. Copy of passport information page
3. two passport photos
4. checklist

Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks for the help!

John
rin and johnMaleThailand2007-02-24 11:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 2
I am going to Bangkok next week and wanted to take Rin a notarized copy of the affidavit of support. We will be getting a K3 visa (hopefully NOA2 on 129F will come in January and can finish by late March when I go back to Bangkok for business!). For the K3 visa, does the embassy in Bangkok require the I-134 or the I-864?
rin and johnMaleThailand2006-12-18 12:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 2
Thanks Yodrak. I think that might be my only option. I was going to had my mail held since I will be gone a month, but guess I can have my neighbor pick it up.
rin and johnMaleThailand2006-09-28 22:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 2


Hello all! I arrive Thailand next week and am getting married on October 7. Will be in Thailand until November 5th. I am planning on filing for the K3 visa while in Bangkok. My only issue is filing the 129F requires having the NOA1 from the I-130. As I will file for the I-130 on Oct 8 or 9, the NOA-1 should arrive sometime the following week. However, I will not return home (USA) until early november. Can a copy of the NOA-1 be obtained electronically so that I can file the 129F while still in Thailand??


pls. see belows

http://www.uscis.gov...iles/I-129F.pdf

http://www.visajourn...4visa-I129f.htm

Good luck ;)



OK, have read all over the internet and am not sure if any of this helps. As I will be in Bangkok, I will not receive the NOA1 (I-797?) for the I-130 when it shows up in my mail. Without it, it would seem that I would have to wait until I return to the States in November to mail the I-129F.

The USCIS form says that I must file proof that I have filed the I-130. What else besides the NOA1 from the I-130 might qualify as proof that it has been filed? Or is there a way to get a copy of the NOA1 for the I-130 via the internet once it has been issued?
rin and johnMaleThailand2006-09-27 17:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSAWASDEE 2
Hello all! I arrive Thailand next week and am getting married on October 7. Will be in Thailand until November 5th. I am planning on filing for the K3 visa while in Bangkok. My only issue is filing the 129F requires having the NOA1 from the I-130. As I will file for the I-130 on Oct 8 or 9, the NOA-1 should arrive sometime the following week. However, I will not return home (USA) until early november. Can a copy of the NOA-1 be obtained electronically so that I can file the 129F while still in Thailand??
rin and johnMaleThailand2006-09-26 00:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresplan to live in Brasil
With a pending K-1 visa application, I would bet it is even harder to secure a tourist visa!
rin and johnMaleThailand2009-02-02 11:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMy Fiance's birth certificate............
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Feb 1 2009, 10:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (rin and john @ Feb 1 2009, 07:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The BC is not required for the petition or at most embassies (we did not have Rin's for the interview). So if you don't have the BC, don't let it delay you from filing the I-129F. The consulate will accept documents in the local language, so no need for the translation there. You will need the BC and a translation to English when you file for AOS.



Some Consulates will accept documents in the local language. Many will not.


I was replying to the OP. The embassy in Colombia will accept documents in Spanish or English. I made no reference to what any other consulate in the world would accept.
rin and johnMaleThailand2009-02-02 11:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMy Fiance's birth certificate............
The BC is not required for the petition or at most embassies (we did not have Rin's for the interview). So if you don't have the BC, don't let it delay you from filing the I-129F. The consulate will accept documents in the local language, so no need for the translation there. You will need the BC and a translation to English when you file for AOS.
rin and johnMaleThailand2009-02-01 22:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDoes USCIS take Western Union?
QUOTE (Dan and Tera @ Mar 5 2009, 03:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'm having trouble getting a check or money order from Thailand.

USCIS said that I need a check or money order from a U.S. Financial Institution. Does that mean Western Union counts? Has anyone used them to do this?


I called USCIS in Bangkok today, and I'm only feeling more confused. Please help me with your experiences paying for I-129F from abroad.


Dan - Do you live in Thailand? If you have for more than six months, you may be able to marry there and file DCF.

http://bangkok.usemb...-questions.html

"Q: I am engaged/married to a US citizen. How do I get a visa to live with him/her in the United States?Your spouse or fiancée must file a petition for you with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) in the United States. In some cases where an American resides in Thailand, the American may file the petition in Thailand at the USCIS office in Bangkok. They should go to the USCIS website for information about filing a petition, and refer to this website for information about the immigrant visa interview. The Embassy will only interview you after the petition process is complete, which can take 6 to 18 months depending on the case and the office reviewing the petition."

It is typically much faster than filing with the USCIS in the USA.

Here is USCIS contact info for Bangkok:

http://bangkok.usemb...main/uscis.html

Edited by rin and john, 05 March 2009 - 10:01 AM.

rin and johnMaleThailand2009-03-05 09:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresGot denied on my interview b'coz of not having my decision yet at the court from my previous marriage
OK, if the anullment was finished before the interview, perhaps a visa could be issued. Depends on the interpretation of anullment versus divorce.

An annulment is a legal procedure for declaring a marriage null and void. Unlike divorce, it is retroactive: an annulled marriage is considered never to have existed. Therefore, if the anullment is complete and retroactive, she would have been free to marry at the time of the petition being filed. However, if the anullment was not complete by the interview date, then the petition was fraudulent.


rin and johnMaleThailand2009-02-07 00:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresk1 interview fee
QUOTE (stevedk @ Mar 9 2009, 11:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Does anyone know what is the fee for the fiance vusa interview in Peru? I have 2 different amounts and is confusing

Thanks


It is $131. Apparently in Peru, you have to pay at Banco Continental.

http://lima.usembass...v/wtbring2.html
rin and johnMaleThailand2009-03-10 07:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCo SPonsors allowed
QUOTE (Haole @ Apr 22 2009, 10:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Apr 22 2009, 05:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (San Mig Lite @ Apr 22 2009, 06:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What is verdict?

We ArE GaThErInG PaPeR wOrK


Currently, Bangkok is not accepting co-sponsors in K visa cases. They put out a memo to that effect.

Do you have a link to the memo?


Here is one place it was discussed.

http://www.visajourn...howtopic=141665

and here:

http://www.visajourn...amp;cty=Bangkok


You might also post on the sawasdee 3 thread in the K-1 forum for more recent applicants and their experience or correspondences from the Bangkok Embassy with regards to co-sponsors. The other option for the OP would be to email the embassy directly.

Edited by rin and john, 22 April 2009 - 02:11 PM.

rin and johnMaleThailand2009-04-22 14:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresGirlfriend has a multiple entry visa - can she visit and marry me instead of doing a k1?
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Jun 2 2009, 08:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Gary and Alla @ Jun 1 2009, 10:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Steve Finley @ Jun 2 2009, 12:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My girlfriend lives in the Philippines. While we have not yet visited in person, through our communications, we are both certain we wish to marry. Normally, I'd go visit her and then get her a fiance visa to come here and marry me. However, she already has a multiple entry visa she and her parents got to visit family in the states. In fact, she has been to Los Angeles before.

Now, since she has the visa to come visit here, could we skip the usual lost time and funds related to processing a fiance visa and just have her come visit on her multiple entry visa and marry me while she's here? Then could she stay? Could it be done that way? We'd hate to wait for me to go see her, only then to wait six more months for a fiance visa to go through, not to mention the costs of it all, plus a round trip ticket for me, etc., etc. I'd love to know that we could skip the usual drawn out process if possible! Thanks to anyone who has some answers.

Steve


Anyone can enter on a tourist visa and get married. You can then apply for a K-3 or CR-1. When her visa visit period expires your wife will have to return to the Phillipines and wait for her K-3 or CR-1 visa to be processed, go to th einterview in Manilla, etc., etc. Marriage and immigration are two different things.

It is visa fraud to enter the US on a tourist visa with the intent to get married and adjust status from a tourist visa.


The above is correct but I so wish people would simply quit mentioning the K3 visa at all. It's really obsolete except in the rarest of circumstances. CR1 is the way to go in this instance. I'll add one caution though and that is when the beneficiary has family in the USA, it can be critical for the petitioner to visit the Philippines in addition to the marriage visit to the USA. It will help overcome the presumption the relationship was entered into purely to obtain an immigration benefit for the foreign national.



Why? The K-3 is still a valid option for some people. It would seem more appropriate to advise the OP to investigate all options, evaluate the pros/cons, and decide themselves.

The statistics here on VJ suggest the K-3 would save them more than two months of separation (not the case 4-5 months ago, but today it is).



Assuming that the time from NOA1 to NOA2 is the same whether it is a K-3 or CR-1, the time difference lies in the NVC to interview time. For the past three months, CR-1s in the Philippines have averaged 148 days for NOA2 to interview and K-3s have averaged 71 days.

For the OP, if you marry before filing a petition, your options are either K-3 or CR-1. Based on current processing times, the K-3 route would result in a visa approximately 2 1/2 months sooner than a CR-1 visa. The K-3 is a non-immigrant visa (valid for 2 years) and requires the visa holder to file for adjustment of status (AOS) prior to visa expiry. If AOS is filed and approval occurs prior to the second wedding anniversary, a 2 yr GC will be issued (requiring lifting of conditions to later obtain a 10 yr GC). AOS approval after the second wedding anniversary will result in a 10 yr GC. The visa holder cannot work or obtain a SSN without filing for an EAD first (a fee applies if filed prior to AOS; fee is waived if filed concurrently with AOS).

The CR-1 visa is an immigrant visa that results in a GC upon entry into the USA (a 2 yr GC if entry is within the first two years of marriage; a 10 yr GC if after the 2nd wedding anniversary - if a 2 yr GC is obtained, lifting of conditions will have to be filed later to obtain a 10 yr GC). The immigrant can obtain a SSN and legally work once the GC is received (shortly after arrival in the USA).
rin and johnMaleThailand2009-06-02 14:19:00