Considering just getting married in PI & doing K3 rather than K1...

[Matt K 0]

I've been apart from my fiance for nearly a year since my last visit. We've been seeing each other for around 3 years...a bit more. Due to some slow document delivery & financial issues on my end, we haven't submitted the K-1 visa yet. She's getting over a bad case of Dengue Fever & I really want to go over there to help her out & give some direct support. I'm considering just tying the knot there & switching to a K-3 visa to get her over to me. What possible benifits or pros/cons would it get me, other than getting her medical coverage & Dependant rate pay for me (I'm in the Air Force) to put some more money into the relationship. I really want to spend some time with her again & don't want to waste the trip...not to mention that I know she's getting tired of waiting with little progress here. Any advise, experience is greatly appreciated!

[alienlovechild 75]

I've been apart from my fiance for nearly a year since my last visit. We've been seeing each other for around 3 years...a bit more. Due to some slow document delivery & financial issues on my end, we haven't submitted the K-1 visa yet. I'm considering just tying the knot there & switching to a K-3 visa to get her over to me. What possible benifits or pros/cons would it get me, other than getting her medical coverage & Dependant rate pay for me (I'm in the Air Force) to put some more money into the relationship. I really want to spend some time with her again & don't want to waste the trip...not to mention that I know she's getting tired of waiting with little progress here.

Fiance(e) (K-1) Visa

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

You don't need to marry immediately in your Fiance(e)'s country or the U.S.

You bring your loveone to the U.S. as your Fiancee, and both of you have 90 days to get married. This allows you both to get to know each other better and make a decision about whether you want to spend the rest of your lives together.

You deal nearly exclusively with the U.S. immigration system and U.S. immigration officials here, in the United States.

You avoid dealing with local foreign procedures of marriage in a foreign country in a foreign language.

Your fiancee has a chance to see the country and get familiar with U.S. customs and language before the marriage.

Your Fiance(e) needs to make a strong effort to convince the Immigration Officer at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in her home country, that you are both in love and are planning to get married upon her arrival in the U.S.

Close family and friends will NOT see your Fiance(e) get married in the U.S. unless they could manage to obtain another type of visa such as a tourist visa, which is hard to obtain.

Spousal visa (K-3)

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

You are both together immediately. Your wife's family and friends are able to attend your wedding without any delay, which is very important for Russian bride.

Local marriage in a foreign country can sometimes be accomplished in 10 days, or less.

Depending on the U.S. Consulate, the process could take much less time.

Since with a Spousal visa your wife gains U.S. legal residency immediately, future immigration work is substantially reduced. There is no need to file for the Adjustment of Status Application and wait for months during which time your wife cannot travel freely without obtaining travel parole every time she travels outside of the U.S.

Extensive supporting documentation is usually necessary of a U.S. Citizen to get married in a foreign country.

It is a two-step process, instead on one. First, you are required to submit a package for the Form I-130. And, second, upon USCIS Notice of Action, you would need to send I-129F Package. It takes time and a lot of patience from both of you.

This process is very document-sensitive which means that if you are missing a document, you may have to fly back to the U.S. in order to obtain a necessary document before process can be completed.

All your documents must be translated into the native language of that country where you are planning to get married. The translation much be certified with attached apostle.

Your might end up with more expenses for the marriage itself and Embassy visa processing charges and fees.

http://www.visaservice.com/k1_vs_k3.shtml

[Matt K 0]

It just seems to make more sense to me to do the K3. I just would like some people's opinion who've done it & any advise they'd have. Thanks!

[edp333 9]

One advantage of the K3 is that you can have a nice wedding in the Phils for a lot less money than in the US. Having his/her family attend the wedding is a nice touch since your SO will be leaving the Phils.

The K3 process is pretty similar to the K1 process. To save money I would suggest the CR1 visa route. It is only a little slower if you use the shortcuts listed in the CR1/AR1 forum. You get a better visa for less money.

[Stepbrow 0]

Hi Matt,

Here's my two cents worth. The K-1 visa is faster than the K-3. So if you have to get her here right away go with the K-1. the K-3 takes longer because you must first file an I-130, and then wait for the NOA1 before you can file the I-129F.

If I had to do it all over again, since I married in China, I would have just file the I-130 and gone for the CR-1 Immigrant visa. It takes about the same time as the K-3, but once it is issued and she enters the US, she automatically has her green card, and you do not have to file an adjustment of status.

Good Luck

[raquel_1208 1]

Hi Matt,

Here's my two cents worth. The K-1 visa is faster than the K-3. So if you have to get her here right away go with the K-1. the K-3 takes longer because you must first file an I-130, and then wait for the NOA1 before you can file the I-129F.

If I had to do it all over again, since I married in China, I would have just file the I-130 and gone for the CR-1 Immigrant visa. It takes about the same time as the K-3, but once it is issued and she enters the US, she automatically has her green card, and you do not have to file an adjustment of status.

Good Luck

I agree. Adjustment of status will cost you additional $1,010 plus civil surgeon fees here in the US to transfer the medical she will get at St. Lukes. Go with CR1 if you want to get married in the Philippines or K1 if you want her here faster.

[Matt K 0]

Hi Matt,

Here's my two cents worth. The K-1 visa is faster than the K-3. So if you have to get her here right away go with the K-1. the K-3 takes longer because you must first file an I-130, and then wait for the NOA1 before you can file the I-129F.

If I had to do it all over again, since I married in China, I would have just file the I-130 and gone for the CR-1 Immigrant visa. It takes about the same time as the K-3, but once it is issued and she enters the US, she automatically has her green card, and you do not have to file an adjustment of status.

Good Luck

I agree. Adjustment of status will cost you additional $1,010 plus civil surgeon fees here in the US to transfer the medical she will get at St. Lukes. Go with CR1 if you want to get married in the Philippines or K1 if you want her here faster.

Why would I need to pay additional civil surgeon fees? The Air Force can do it all for us...

[N360 0]

I've been apart from my fiance for nearly a year since my last visit. We've been seeing each other for around 3 years...a bit more. Due to some slow document delivery & financial issues on my end, we haven't submitted the K-1 visa yet. She's getting over a bad case of Dengue Fever & I really want to go over there to help her out & give some direct support. I'm considering just tying the knot there & switching to a K-3 visa to get her over to me. What possible benifits or pros/cons would it get me, other than getting her medical coverage & Dependant rate pay for me (I'm in the Air Force) to put some more money into the relationship. I really want to spend some time with her again & don't want to waste the trip...not to mention that I know she's getting tired of waiting with little progress here. Any advise, experience is greatly appreciated!

The best visa is CR1. It takes longer than K3 or K1 but if you're not in a rush, CR1 is the way to go. CR1 is also the cheapest. No expensive "adjustment of Status" fee ($1,010.00)

Speaking of Pros, Your wife will be able to work as soon as she lands at POE. No going back and forth between government offices. After POE, she just waits, usually a couple of weeks, for her green card and SS card in the mail.

In our case, my wife even had full medical and dental insurance coverage from my job right away. You cant do that with K1.

If you marry this year, you will also be able to include her in your tax return for 2008, which means more refund from Uncle Sam.

[simple_melanie 0]

I've been apart from my fiance for nearly a year since my last visit. We've been seeing each other for around 3 years...a bit more. Due to some slow document delivery & financial issues on my end, we haven't submitted the K-1 visa yet. She's getting over a bad case of Dengue Fever & I really want to go over there to help her out & give some direct support. I'm considering just tying the knot there & switching to a K-3 visa to get her over to me. What possible benifits or pros/cons would it get me, other than getting her medical coverage & Dependant rate pay for me (I'm in the Air Force) to put some more money into the relationship. I really want to spend some time with her again & don't want to waste the trip...not to mention that I know she's getting tired of waiting with little progress here. Any advise, experience is greatly appreciated!

The best visa is CR1. It takes longer than K3 or K1 but if you're not in a rush, CR1 is the way to go. CR1 is also the cheapest. No expensive "adjustment of Status" fee ($1,010.00)

Speaking of Pros, Your wife will be able to work as soon as she lands at POE. No going back and forth between government offices. After POE, she just waits, usually a couple of weeks, for her green card and SS card in the mail.

In our case, my wife even had full medical and dental insurance coverage from my job right away. You cant do that with K1.

If you marry this year, you will also be able to include her in your tax return for 2008, which means more refund from Uncle Sam.

Very good points. We didn't even file the K-3 only the CR-1 which turned into a IR-1 at the interview. I think we will get a 10 year residence card. And I hope no more interviews and forms to fillout and pay.

[Tsup2 0]

USCIS will only allow a USCIS designated civil surgeon to transcribe her vaccination records on to their approved form. I am retired Navy and couldnt use a military doctor for this purpose. I contacted a local doctor on the USCIS Civil Surgeon List and it cost me approximately $50. If getting your fiance to the US is your priority, the K1 route is much faster.