Living abroad and applying for K3 Visa

[gooldenwending 0]

Hello all. I'm an American living in China, married to a Chinese woman with a newborn baby boy (cute as can be). I'm wondering if it's possible to go through the process of filing for a K3 visa while living in Beijing. I see three possibilities:

1) it's fine to do this outside America and I just mail everything from here.

2) it's not really okay, but I can send all the information to my mother in America and she can send it on for me.

3) the above two will not work and I need a plan B.

Can anyone with experience in such matters help with some insight?

Vitals: I'm 28, my wife 24. I'm a Montana resident (I guess), but I'm an ex-pat who's been living in China for over 4 years. I live in Beijing, but my wife and I were married in Tianjin (also in China, of course).

Thanks for any help that might be forthcoming.

[trinket 30]

Hello,

Please look for DCF (direct consular filling). Since you have been living in China for 4 years, I assume you either have work permit or residential Visa for China. With DCF, you file for immigration visa that is I-130 directly in China at the American embassy/consulate.

You will also need to show residential ties to USA, so if you have any running bank account or D.L or a house on your name or even rental lease those things will work. DCF is much quicker and you won't even have to worry about AOS after your family arrives in USA, just lifting condition, if the marriage is less than 2 years, if the marriage is more than 2 years then your wife will get unconditional 10 years green card.

[Dakine 26]

Hello all. I'm an American living in China, married to a Chinese woman with a newborn baby boy (cute as can be). I'm wondering if it's possible to go through the process of filing for a K3 visa while living in Beijing. I see three possibilities:

1) it's fine to do this outside America and I just mail everything from here.

2) it's not really okay, but I can send all the information to my mother in America and she can send it on for me.

3) the above two will not work and I need a plan B.

Can anyone with experience in such matters help with some insight?

Vitals: I'm 28, my wife 24. I'm a Montana resident (I guess), but I'm an ex-pat who's been living in China for over 4 years. I live in Beijing, but my wife and I were married in Tianjin (also in China, of course).

Thanks for any help that might be forthcoming.

As silent said! Check on doing a DCF [i-130]. PLAN B!!. If you've been married for more than 2 years she'll get a 10 year green card upon arrival in the US.

You will apply in person at the US embassy near you.

[gooldenwending 0]

Please look for DCF (direct consular filling). Since you have been living in China for 4 years, I assume you either have work permit or residential Visa for China. With DCF, you file for immigration visa that is I-130 directly in China at the American embassy/consulate.

This sounds great. However, I'm currently on an "L" Tourist Visa that's given for "visiting" relatives, and not on the "Z" work visa and don't have a resident permit, though I am registered at the local Public Security Bureau as living where I am. I'm not sure if that works or not. If so, great. If not, do I have any other options?

[MaxOnline 0]

As long as your mother will be receiving the Notice of Actions that the USCIS will send you and keep you updated, so why not? you can go for it! but you seem eligible for DCF... which in my opinion is a good option as my fellow VR's mentioned above

[Todd-Leah 0]

Please look for DCF (direct consular filling). Since you have been living in China for 4 years, I assume you either have work permit or residential Visa for China. With DCF, you file for immigration visa that is I-130 directly in China at the American embassy/consulate.

This sounds great. However, I'm currently on an "L" Tourist Visa that's given for "visiting" relatives, and not on the "Z" work visa and don't have a resident permit, though I am registered at the local Public Security Bureau as living where I am. I'm not sure if that works or not. If so, great. If not, do I have any other options?

Explore the DCF option first. You can check with GZ consulate whether you qualify for DCF. I think the L tourist visa qualifies you to be "more than a tourist".

DCF is the fastest and least expensive way to bring your spouse to US.

Leah

[pushbrk 13,043]

Please look for DCF (direct consular filling). Since you have been living in China for 4 years, I assume you either have work permit or residential Visa for China. With DCF, you file for immigration visa that is I-130 directly in China at the American embassy/consulate.

This sounds great. However, I'm currently on an "L" Tourist Visa that's given for "visiting" relatives, and not on the "Z" work visa and don't have a resident permit, though I am registered at the local Public Security Bureau as living where I am. I'm not sure if that works or not. If so, great. If not, do I have any other options?

Explore the DCF option first. You can check with GZ consulate whether you qualify for DCF. I think the L tourist visa qualifies you to be "more than a tourist".

DCF is the fastest and least expensive way to bring your spouse to US.

Leah

For China, any interview would be in Guangzhou but DCF petitions can be filed in Beijing or any Consulate in China. I suspect you don't qualify but as has been said, you may petition for CR1 and K3 or just CR1 as long as you have a US mailing address. Since you'll be together most or all the time anyway, I'd stick with the CR1 even though it takes a little longer.

Eventually, you'll need to deal with the sponsorship issues. Have you thought that through yet?

[gooldenwending 0]

For China, any interview would be in Guangzhou but DCF petitions can be filed in Beijing or any Consulate in China. I suspect you don't qualify but as has been said, you may petition for CR1 and K3 or just CR1 as long as you have a US mailing address. Since you'll be together most or all the time anyway, I'd stick with the CR1 even though it takes a little longer.

Eventually, you'll need to deal with the sponsorship issues. Have you thought that through yet?

Why would you recommend the CR1 over the K3 exactly?

As for the sponsorship, I'm assuming this means someone in the US of financial means to sponsor? (is this what you mean?) I was thinking I would have my father help me with this--he would be more than happy to and his savings and assets will be more than enough.

Sorry for some of the questions, but I'm just kind of getting the ball rolling on this and am not totally familiarized with the whole process yet. All of your responses are greatly appreciated.

[pushbrk 13,043]

For China, any interview would be in Guangzhou but DCF petitions can be filed in Beijing or any Consulate in China. I suspect you don't qualify but as has been said, you may petition for CR1 and K3 or just CR1 as long as you have a US mailing address. Since you'll be together most or all the time anyway, I'd stick with the CR1 even though it takes a little longer.

Eventually, you'll need to deal with the sponsorship issues. Have you thought that through yet?

Why would you recommend the CR1 over the K3 exactly?

As for the sponsorship, I'm assuming this means someone in the US of financial means to sponsor? (is this what you mean?) I was thinking I would have my father help me with this--he would be more than happy to and his savings and assets will be more than enough.

Sorry for some of the questions, but I'm just kind of getting the ball rolling on this and am not totally familiarized with the whole process yet. All of your responses are greatly appreciated.

Since you're just getting started, I recommend the Guides here. They show a comparison of the visas but in short, the CR1 costs less and has fewer steps from petition to green card, working, a SSN etc.

[gooldenwending 0]

Since you're just getting started, I recommend the Guides here. They show a comparison of the visas but in short, the CR1 costs less and has fewer steps from petition to green card, working, a SSN etc.

Okay, I'll take a look again. I read through yesterday and it seemed like K3 was the way to go in my first read. I'm glad you pointed this out, I'm gonna look over it in more detail. From what you've said above CR1 definitely sounds like a better way to go.

Was I write in my assumption of what you meant by sponsorship? I'm assuming it's mostly an economic thing, yes? If my own economic situation was one in which I had lots of money (it's not, but I just want to understand this) would I still need a sponsor?

[pushbrk 13,043]

Since you're just getting started, I recommend the Guides here. They show a comparison of the visas but in short, the CR1 costs less and has fewer steps from petition to green card, working, a SSN etc.

Okay, I'll take a look again. I read through yesterday and it seemed like K3 was the way to go in my first read. I'm glad you pointed this out, I'm gonna look over it in more detail. From what you've said above CR1 definitely sounds like a better way to go.

Was I write in my assumption of what you meant by sponsorship? I'm assuming it's mostly an economic thing, yes? If my own economic situation was one in which I had lots of money (it's not, but I just want to understand this) would I still need a sponsor?

You are the primary sponsor. Sounds like what you need is your father to co-sponsor.