Just starting and just wanting to get married

[mrs.jayb 0]

hey!

Totally new at this but my fiance and I are just starting this long journey of visa processing. We want to have a wedding for my family in California but do not neccessarily want to live there after. Is the K-1 neccesary and as far as you know, would getting married first in his country better as far as visa processing or does it make a difference?

Thanks!

[nowhereman 1]

hey!

Totally new at this but my fiance and I are just starting this long journey of visa processing. We want to have a wedding for my family in California but do not neccessarily want to live there after. Is the K-1 neccesary and as far as you know, would getting married first in his country better as far as visa processing or does it make a difference?

Thanks!

Not really sure what you are asking, but if you get married you can't file for a K1 visa (married = K3).

[Otto 83]

A K-1 visa is not necessary if all you want to do is get married in the US.

As for getting married in his country - not sure it's better, but it would make getting a K-1 (Fiancé) Visa impossible. If already married (here in US or abroad) your options would be a spousal visa; K-3 or CR-1.

"Better" is relative, both have pluses and minuses.

[imaisha 0]

do you mean you don't necessarily want to live in california or do you mean you don't want to live in the united states at all?

if you're just getting married in california and then moving to his country, you don't need the k-1 at all. he can just enter on the visa waiver program (if applicable) or a visitor visa and leave after that.

the k-1 is only for if you plan on adjusting status after marriage so that he will be a permanent resident of the u.s.

Edited April 30, 2009 by imaisha

[mrs.jayb 0]

Ok

To more clear, we do not want to live in the United States but we want to get married there for my family. We are waiting a some years to live in the states since both of us are working internationally.

Edited April 30, 2009 by mrs.jayb

[Otto 83]

Ok

To more clear, we do not want to live in the United States but we want to get married there for my family. We are waiting a some years to live in the states since both of us are working internationally.

All you will need is a visitor's visa of some sort (what ever is needed for a citizen of your country; i.e., visitors visa, VWP, etc.) - same thing you'd need if you wanted to come to visit Disney Land.

[imaisha 0]

Ok

To more clear, we do not want to live in the United States but we want to get married there for my family. We are waiting a some years to live in the states since both of us are working internationally.

in that case you do not need to go through this process now. depending on where your fiance is from, he should enter as if on a regular visit and you will be free to marry here with your family. check out this link for info on getting a marriage license in california:

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathm...eneralinfo.aspx

for you to be able to move back to his country though you'll have to check out your visa options there.

[mrs.jayb 0]

Hey thanks guys!

We hope to have two weddings; one in the Ivory Coast and one in California. Later on down the line we hope to do the K-1 visas. However, it is terribly hard to get visitor visas from the Ivory Coast as I have heard. But I don't really know if there are ways to make it easier. We do live together here and its been about a year and we share a bank account together here. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[msu17 0]

Your only option is a visitor's visa. A K1 is for those intending on staying and it's an aweful waste of money and time to get it just to come to the US for what you intend and then leave. In addition it is an abuse of the visa. If you guys do decide to move to the US in the future, you would need either a K3 , CR1 or DCF. A K1 is for fiance's only, which you no longer would be

[iLoveAPolishGirl 0]

Yes, a B-2 Visitor's visa is the appropriate option. However, if you have (or expect to have) difficulty in your fiancee getting one, you should go with to the interview. See this thread about how one member overcame his fiancee's difficulties at the US Embassy in Warsaw, Poland and managed to get them to issue her a 'multi-visit' visa ....

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=188490

dvc