Marriage on visa waiver program?

[Kim and Nath 0]

Hello,

I'm seeking some help concerning a K1 or K3 visa.

Due to surrounding circumstances, my fiancé & I would like to marry January 3rd, 2009 in the US. However, it's difficult to plan a wedding if I don't know when/if the K1 visa will be approved in time! My fiancé is a UK citizen, and is allowed entry to the US on the visa waiver program.

My question is, if we marry while he's on the visa waiver program, returns to the UK - will this jeopardize the K3 process?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[pushbrk 13,079]

Hello,

I'm seeking some help concerning a K1 or K3 visa.

Due to surrounding circumstances, my fiancé & I would like to marry January 3rd, 2009 in the US. However, it's difficult to plan a wedding if I don't know when/if the K1 visa will be approved in time! My fiancé is a UK citizen, and is allowed entry to the US on the visa waiver program.

My question is, if we marry while he's on the visa waiver program, returns to the UK - will this jeopardize the K3 process?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

No problem as long as he leaves the USA before his leave to stay has expired. You need not wait until he leaves to file the petition.

[Mononoke28 135]

Exactly. He can marry you as long as his permission to stay doesn't expire and you can file for his K3 visa once you're married. Many people do this and is perfectly legal.

Diana

[PetersBride 0]

Hello,

I'm seeking some help concerning a K1 or K3 visa.

Due to surrounding circumstances, my fiancé & I would like to marry January 3rd, 2009 in the US. However, it's difficult to plan a wedding if I don't know when/if the K1 visa will be approved in time! My fiancé is a UK citizen, and is allowed entry to the US on the visa waiver program.

My question is, if we marry while he's on the visa waiver program, returns to the UK - will this jeopardize the K3 process?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Hi,

My fiance and I are in a similar situation. We plan to file for the K1 next month (we'll be together on a visit and want to complete the paperwork and documentation together). From what I can gather from the email responses, thus far, is that it is possible to "plan" a wedding while the K1 is being processed, even if the K1 is not completed by the date of marriage. We want a religious ceremony, which takes time and preparation.

Does this mean the K1 processes is "all for not"? Or, does my fiance show up at the interview at the embassy and say, oh, by the way, I married my fiancee x weeks ago? Wouldn't the K1 one be discontinued and my fiance informed that I need to file the K3, instead?

Any assistance through this hazy and confusing process is much appreciated!

Cheers!

[Reba 2]

You cannot be married and apply for a K1 visa. k1 visa is for fiances Only. If you get married before you get your K1, you will have to start all over again for a K3.

[pushbrk 13,079]

You cannot be married and apply for a K1 visa. k1 visa is for fiances Only. If you get married before you get your K1, you will have to start all over again for a K3.

That is correct. If your wedding plans are the priority and will take a long time, you can set the date and complete the plans after the visa is in hand. He'll have six months to use the visa and three months to get married. If you can't plan a suitable wedding in nine months time, something's wrong. Lots of pre-planning can be done but it's unwise to set a date until the visa is in hand.

Edited June 7, 2008 by pushbrk

[PetersBride 0]

You cannot be married and apply for a K1 visa. k1 visa is for fiances Only. If you get married before you get your K1, you will have to start all over again for a K3.

That is correct. If your wedding plans are the priority and will take a long time, you can set the date and complete the plans after the visa is in hand. He'll have six months to use the visa and three months to get married. If you can't plan a suitable wedding in nine months time, something's wrong. Lots of pre-planning can be done but it's unwise to set a date until the visa is in hand.

Thank you. This was my initial understanding. I was just trying to put the original poster's inquiry into context given what I currently understand. I think we'll be sticking with the K1 process then.

Cheers.