Apply as Fiancee or Spouse? Which is faster?

[Tommy + Stefania 0]

Hello all,

I am an American citizen engaged to an Italian woman. We are investigating starting the process to gain her authorization to live and work in the US. I have been reading the forums and info here, but am still uncertain.

Background: We met at UW-Madison when she was doing an internship and I was in school. We have dated for 3 years and both have visited each other multiple times. I am in Italy with her on tourist visas, and she has at various times received A Student Visa and two separate internship visas in the U.S. Proving/verifying our relationship should be simple in any circumstance.

Outlook: We are hoping to move together to the U.S. ASAP. Initially we were thinking of doing the K-1 visa, but I am wondering if getting married in Italy and then applying as spouse would be quicker and more efficient. She has a successful career started in logistics, and wants to be able to work in the US as soon as possible.

Question:

Which approach will get her to the U.S. and legally working the fastest? (Considering the legal marriage process separate from an awesome wedding celebration...)

A. Get legally married in Italy soon, then apply as a married couple for residency and work authorization.

B. Apply as fiancée, get legally married in the U.S., then apply for change of status (residency, EAD, etc.)

If anyone could fill me in that would be great. I have seen the various tables and everything, but I am still unsure.

Cheers,

Tommy

[Oksana & Max 94]

Hello all,

I am an American citizen engaged to an Italian woman. We are investigating starting the process to gain her authorization to live and work in the US. I have been reading the forums and info here, but am still uncertain.

Background: We met at UW-Madison when she was doing an internship and I was in school. We have dated for 3 years and both have visited each other multiple times. I am in Italy with her on tourist visas, and she has at various times received A Student Visa and two separate internship visas in the U.S. Proving/verifying our relationship should be simple in any circumstance.

Outlook: We are hoping to move together to the U.S. ASAP. Initially we were thinking of doing the K-1 visa, but I am wondering if getting married in Italy and then applying as spouse would be quicker and more efficient. She has a successful career started in logistics, and wants to be able to work in the US as soon as possible.

Question:

Which approach will get her to the U.S. and legally working the fastest? (Considering the legal marriage process separate from an awesome wedding celebration...)

A. Get legally married in Italy soon, then apply as a married couple for residency and work authorization.

B. Apply as fiancée, get legally married in the U.S., then apply for change of status (residency, EAD, etc.)

If anyone could fill me in that would be great. I have seen the various tables and everything, but I am still unsure.

Cheers,

Tommy

There are 2 different approaches you can take.

CR-1 visa which is a spousal visa. Slightly longer in the process, but a little bit cheaper on the processing or K-1 fiancee visa, slightly faster, but somewhat more expensive, and takes sometime before your fiancee will be able to start working.

Look at those guides they are quite helpful in describing the process.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/NVC_Process_Flowchart_v1-2.pdf

Good luck on your journey

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello all,

I am an American citizen engaged to an Italian woman. We are investigating starting the process to gain her authorization to live and work in the US. I have been reading the forums and info here, but am still uncertain.

Background: We met at UW-Madison when she was doing an internship and I was in school. We have dated for 3 years and both have visited each other multiple times. I am in Italy with her on tourist visas, and she has at various times received A Student Visa and two separate internship visas in the U.S. Proving/verifying our relationship should be simple in any circumstance.

Outlook: We are hoping to move together to the U.S. ASAP. Initially we were thinking of doing the K-1 visa, but I am wondering if getting married in Italy and then applying as spouse would be quicker and more efficient. She has a successful career started in logistics, and wants to be able to work in the US as soon as possible.

Question:

Which approach will get her to the U.S. and legally working the fastest? (Considering the legal marriage process separate from an awesome wedding celebration...)

A. Get legally married in Italy soon, then apply as a married couple for residency and work authorization.

B. Apply as fiancée, get legally married in the U.S., then apply for change of status (residency, EAD, etc.)

If anyone could fill me in that would be great. I have seen the various tables and everything, but I am still unsure.

Cheers,

Tommy

Read the guides before you do anything

This question gets asked about 4,583 times per day.

The K-1 is "faster" to get someone into the US, and that's all. If your GOAL and main driving consideration above all others is to get her in the US as fast as possible...K-1.

K-1 is also the ONLY choice IF she has children aged 18-21 who she wants to come with her. (O am guessing she is barely 21 herself so that is probably not an issue)

A K-1 does not allow her to work until after you get married and file for AOS and receive a green card or EAD. In terms of making her a resident with full benefits (work and travel) neither is faster. With the K-1 you do part of the process while she is in the US.

About 2,467 times per day someone asks "You mean my fiancee/wife cannot work for 4 months???!!!!! How are we supposed to live???"

So decide YOUR priorities and choose accordingly.

Choosing on the SPEED (relative term since either takes MANY months) is foolish.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of both and make a wise choice. Either requires a lot of patience, be prepared for that. If you get nervous waiting for someone to answer a text message, this process will be miserable for you.

FYI Italy is a VWP country so she can visit whenever she wants during the process.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello all,

I am an American citizen engaged to an Italian woman. We are investigating starting the process to gain her authorization to live and work in the US. I have been reading the forums and info here, but am still uncertain.

Background: We met at UW-Madison when she was doing an internship and I was in school. We have dated for 3 years and both have visited each other multiple times. I am in Italy with her on tourist visas, and she has at various times received A Student Visa and two separate internship visas in the U.S. Proving/verifying our relationship should be simple in any circumstance.

Outlook: We are hoping to move together to the U.S. ASAP. Initially we were thinking of doing the K-1 visa, but I am wondering if getting married in Italy and then applying as spouse would be quicker and more efficient. She has a successful career started in logistics, and wants to be able to work in the US as soon as possible.

Question:

Which approach will get her to the U.S. and legally working the fastest? (Considering the legal marriage process separate from an awesome wedding celebration...)

A. Get legally married in Italy soon, then apply as a married couple for residency and work authorization.

B. Apply as fiancée, get legally married in the U.S., then apply for change of status (residency, EAD, etc.)

If anyone could fill me in that would be great. I have seen the various tables and everything, but I am still unsure.

Cheers,

Tommy

Read the guides before you do anything

This question gets asked about 4,583 times per day.

The K-1 is "faster" to get someone into the US, and that's all. If your GOAL and main driving consideration above all others is to get her in the US as fast as possible...K-1.

K-1 is also the ONLY choice IF she has children aged 18-21 who she wants to come with her. (O am guessing she is barely 21 herself so that is probably not an issue)

A K-1 does not allow her to work until after you get married and file for AOS and receive a green card or EAD. In terms of making her a resident with full benefits (work and travel) neither is faster. With the K-1 you do part of the process while she is in the US.

About 2,467 times per day someone asks "You mean my fiancee/wife cannot work for 4 months???!!!!! How are we supposed to live???"

So decide YOUR priorities and choose accordingly.

Choosing on the SPEED (relative term since either takes MANY months) is foolish.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of both and make a wise choice. Either requires a lot of patience, be prepared for that. If you get nervous waiting for someone to answer a text message, this process will be miserable for you.

FYI Italy is a VWP country so she can visit whenever she wants during the process.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello all,

I am an American citizen engaged to an Italian woman. We are investigating starting the process to gain her authorization to live and work in the US. I have been reading the forums and info here, but am still uncertain.

Background: We met at UW-Madison when she was doing an internship and I was in school. We have dated for 3 years and both have visited each other multiple times. I am in Italy with her on tourist visas, and she has at various times received A Student Visa and two separate internship visas in the U.S. Proving/verifying our relationship should be simple in any circumstance.

Outlook: We are hoping to move together to the U.S. ASAP. Initially we were thinking of doing the K-1 visa, but I am wondering if getting married in Italy and then applying as spouse would be quicker and more efficient. She has a successful career started in logistics, and wants to be able to work in the US as soon as possible.

Question:

Which approach will get her to the U.S. and legally working the fastest? (Considering the legal marriage process separate from an awesome wedding celebration...)

A. Get legally married in Italy soon, then apply as a married couple for residency and work authorization.

B. Apply as fiancée, get legally married in the U.S., then apply for change of status (residency, EAD, etc.)

If anyone could fill me in that would be great. I have seen the various tables and everything, but I am still unsure.

Cheers,

Tommy

Read the guides before you do anything

This question gets asked about 4,583 times per day.

The K-1 is "faster" to get someone into the US, and that's all. If your GOAL and main driving consideration above all others is to get her in the US as fast as possible...K-1.

K-1 is also the ONLY choice IF she has children aged 18-21 who she wants to come with her. (O am guessing she is barely 21 herself so that is probably not an issue)

A K-1 does not allow her to work until after you get married and file for AOS and receive a green card or EAD. In terms of making her a resident with full benefits (work and travel) neither is faster. With the K-1 you do part of the process while she is in the US.

About 2,467 times per day someone asks "You mean my fiancee/wife cannot work for 4 months???!!!!! How are we supposed to live???"

So decide YOUR priorities and choose accordingly.

Choosing on the SPEED (relative term since either takes MANY months) is foolish.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of both and make a wise choice. Either requires a lot of patience, be prepared for that. If you get nervous waiting for someone to answer a text message, this process will be miserable for you.

FYI Italy is a VWP country so she can visit whenever she wants during the process.

Sorry for multiple posts...computer issue. Moderator please remove multiple posts