Im new! I need some help!

[I+H 11]

I have been talking to a man in Dubai for a while now. We would like to meet one another and if that goes well we would like to be married. What is the best way to go about this and what kind of obstacles are we going to encounter along our way? Is it easier for me to go to Dubai first or is it just as easy for him to come here to me? If we decide to marry should it be here or there?

All help is appreciated.

[Boiler 45,402]

A Passport

An Airline Ticket

A visa if needed

Marriage, worry about that much later.

[I+H 11]

Is it that easy though? I mean for him to get a visa to come here? Everyone I know is telling me that this is going to be much harder than I think. I am just trying to gather all the facts so I can make more informed decisions and prepare myself for the obstacles that we may or may not face. Thank you for your response.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

To get a tourist visa is quite difficult, unless he can show significant ties to his home country (owns property, letter from employer, enrollment in university etc). It may be better that you visit him, then you can also learn more about his family and culture. Take lots of photos, including with his friends and family; they will come in handy if you later decide to apply for a fiance or spousal visa for him to come to the USA.

Getting that fiance or spousal visa will depend on showing a bonafide relationship; lots of communication is key here (keep copies of emails, phone bills etc), but visits are important too. Also you will need to be able to financially sponsor him.

In terms of where to marry, that is your choice. I would probably suggest marrying over therer, as unless his family is rich, it will be easier for your family to travel over there for the wedding than his to get tourist visas and travel to the USA.

[smoahmad 0]

Also something to keep in mind, the nationality of your prospective fiancé will go a long way in determining whether or not he would be be more likely to receive a tourist visa. My fiancé, a UAE citizen, was just denied the tourist visa in Dubai, and he had fairly strong ties to the UAE (but no property ownership). We're going ahead with the K-1.

On your question of marriage, getting married in the UAE can range from easy to impossible depending on your SO's country of origin. Even during my year and a half of residency in Dubai, if we had tried to marry in the UAE, the local government would not have allowed us to be married, since Emiratis are more or less forbidden from marrying foreigners IN the UAE.

If your prospective fiancé is from another country and lives in Dubai, you would be able to get married. If he is actually from Dubai with UAE citizenship, I would suggest you consider alternative locations for a wedding... maybe a country equidistant from Dubai and the US?

Best of luck to you!

[I+H 11]

Since the non-immigrant visa will more than likely not be approved if he applies for it, would an immigrant visa be easier, student visa? I really don't understand how any of this works. I have been doing lots of research online, but it is just so overwhelming!!!! I just do not want to do anything to redflag our situation and bring us problems in the future provided that we do decide we absolutly want to marry.

I know that we have to meet at least once in a 2 year period to be eligible for the fiance visa. That may be all we can afford as well, more than just financially. The time off work and everything that goes along with it. With this in mind, will they approve the fiance visa if we have only met once? I have a ton of saved chat logs, text messages, I use a prepaid phone account to call him, but I believe I can view my call history online and I have saved the receipts of packages I have sent.I was advised that early on that all of these things are very important to keep track of and hold on to.

Thank you so much for all of your help!

P.S. You said nationality is a factor...he's Pakistanian.

Edited May 19, 2010 by dubaibaby

[faithinGod 8]

Hello and welcome,

my oppinion is that it`s best f you visit him in Dubai and keep all boarding passes, all receipts when you use your credit card over there, receipts from hotel with both your names on them, take lots of pics with him and his family if possible, preferably dated .You will need them fpr proof of meeting in the last 2 years.

also start by reading the guides on this site!they are very very expilcit and might help you choose the visa that best suits you!

good luck!

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

A student visa is NOT an immigrant visa. That being said, they are fairly easy to get once you have the money for the expensive college fees and upkeep. Does he? If so, what I would suggest is that you go see him in Dubai. If you like eachother once you met in person, he could apply for a student visa, which would enable you to see more of eachother/ live together for a while.

We cannot tell you if you will be approved with only one visit; plenty of people have, especially if they have a lot of other bonafide relationship evidence. But, quite a few couples have not been approved, especially if there are other red flags (one thing that comes to mind- are you both of the same religion? If he is Muslim and you are not, there will be questions about that, and about whether his family approves). Personally, I'd suggest at least two meetings- you could meet him a second time for the interview for example, and go a few days before so you can take more photos.

The fact that he is Pakistani means that he is very likely to have extra security checks done (Homeland Security name check etc); this happens to almost all Muslim men. This would likely happen after the visa interview, and delay you being together, but doesn't mean he won't get the visa.

[Boiler 45,402]

Hold your horses!

They have not even met yet.

First stop would be arranging a trip to meet, everything else is extremely premature.

[I+H 11]

I truely do appreciate your help. This enter situation was quite unexpected at the time and how to get around these obstacles is quite confusing. By the way, your babies are gorgeous!!!!!

[patient2010 93]

I truely do appreciate your help. This enter situation was quite unexpected at the time and how to get around these obstacles is quite confusing. By the way, your babies are gorgeous!!!!!

I agree with Boiler first thing first get a visa and go and visit him that is the first step no matter what visa you decide to shoot for you will have had to meet him in person for sure so start there then once you come from your trip you can settle the rest. But while you are there take pics and keep all boarding passes and anything else that will show that you all have met before.....GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!

[I+H 11]

Don't worry. No rush to get married!!!! We of course want to meet first and put the last piece of our puzzle together so to speak, and see what the big picture looks like. I am just trying to gather information at this point so I can be prepared for what will need be done if we do decide to be with one another.

I do have a new question though....Will previous marriages affect approval for a K-1?

[Missa 0]

no , as long as divorces are finalized BEFORE you apply