New, and researching options

[yuenashleysl 1]

Sorry for a long post. I'm really new to this, and never planned to fall in love with someone so far away. Reading the information on VJ definitely help, but I also would appreciate any recommendations as to the differences between K1 and IR1/CR1

When reading the requirement online (the guide), it seems like it's a lot harder to provide Evidence of a Bonifide Marriage. As list on the guide:

The USCIS now requires that when filing an I-130 for a spouse that you include evidence of a bonifide marriage. They list examples of acceptable evidence as:

1. Documentation showing joint ownership or property; or

2. A lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence; or

3. Documentation showing co-mingling of financialresources; or

4. Birth certificate(s) of child(ren) born to you, thepetitioner, and your spouse together; or

5. Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties havingpersonal knowledge of the bona fides of the maritalrelationship (Each affidavit must contain the full nameand address, date and place of birth of the person makingthe affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner ofbeneficiary, if any, and complete information and detailsexplaining how the person acquired his or herknowledge of your marriage); or

6. Any other relevant documentation to establish that thereis an ongoing marital union

My fiance is living in Hong Kong, there's no way we can provide any of #1-4 item above. Will that be easier to provide proof of Having Met in Person in the Past Two Years and an Ongoing Relationship?

As quoated in the guide:

1. Copies of all airline boarding passes, train passes, itineraries, hotel receipts, passport stamps (make sure you can read the dates on the stamps), and other documentary evidence that you have met within the last two years. You may want to highlight or place post-it notes indicating the dates and locations on the copies (to make the adjudication easier) for the person reviewing your file.

2. Color Photo's of you and your fiance(e) together. Make sure you write your names, date, and location on the back of every photo. Provide two to five photo's. If you only have a single copy of the photo, then make a color copy and send that. If it is a digital photo, have it printed at a company such as kodakgallery.com. You can also make duplicates of photo's at your local photo store (Walgreeens, CVS, etc). Place photo's in a plastic bag or photo sheet and label the sheet. Note that you may not receive originals of photo's back.

3. The following items will not typically show proof of having met in the last two years however will show proof of an ongoing relationship: Copies of phone bills, cell phone bills, emails (you can edit personal info with a marker), letters (edit personal info also), stamps on the letters (to document the date they were sent), and other written documentary proof. Provide a reasonable amount; two to four of each type. Pick a range of dates up to and including the present. You can also include a copy of engagement ring receipt (this is something that is a big optional - do not worry if you do not have a ring yet!)

We are comparing our option and see if it will be better for us to get married in Hong Kong, and go the CR1 route so that he doesn't need to adjust his status once he arrives in the USA. Or, should we go the K1 route which seems to be quicker.

Any suggestiong/recommendations will be helpful! Thanks.

Reposted from previous post:

Hello, I'm totally new to this whole K1 visa process, but after reading on this forum and other sources, it seems like K1 is easier to apply and requirs less evidence to prove the relationship instead of CR1.

Just have a couple question: We met the first time in early Nov 2008 in Hong Kong, and started dating since then. We are so similar and so in love that he actually asked if I want to marry him in mid-December, 2008. I answered yes, and I think that made us officially engaged. Is this going to be a problem for our visa process because we have only been dating for a month before we are engaged? We probably won't be starting the K1 process till later this year because he doesn't have any passport yet, and he's saving money for passport and all the other process, should we tell the office that we are engaged in Dec 2008, or should we pick another date so that the officers won't wonder why we got engaed so soon?

I'm a US citizen, and he's in Hong Kong, but born in China. He's also a few years younger than me, is this going to affect our application as well?

Also, his English is not that good, anyone know if it is possible to get an interpreter for the interview in Hong Kong Embassy?

Thank you very much. I also am thinking maybe I should just put in the paper work now for K1 since it will take a while for it to be processed anyway, and maybe he can just make sure he has a passport before the interview, will this work?

I was born in Hong Kong, immigrated to the USA in year 2000, and became a naturalized US citizen last year. We communicated in our first language -- Cantonese Chinese with no problem. He was born in mainland CHina, but immigrated/moved to hong Kong when he's about 9 years old. He finished school in Hong Kong and is working now in Hong Kong. I think he is a permernanet Hong Kong resident as well.

I am going back to Hong Kong to visit him again in Feb. 3 for about a week. This time we will make sure to get some photos of us together and I'll make sure I save my boarding pass. I don't have the bording pass from my last trip (nov 08), but I do have the stamps on my passport, as well as hotel receipt in Hong Kong.

He is only about 3 years younger than me. I do plan to go back (if possible) for his interview, but I'm not sure if I will be allowed in. I also would prefer to be with him on his flight to USA as well. IT would mean a lot for the both of us.

It's kind of difficult for him to get a tourist visa to USA, but I am planning to go back to Hong Kong about twice a year anyway.

Hope this will help in getting more suggestions from you guys. thanks.

[Gumbolette 58]

All I can say is CR1 is the best route for couples. It might be a long wait for its worth the wait.

[prince+angel 3]

Welcome to VJ & good luck with the process!

[MrsAmera 41]

We did a K1 - in hindsight, a CR1 would have been better because of the ability to get the greencard sooner. However we waited about 9 months to be together with the K1. If we were to have gotten married in my husband's country it would have taken us about a month of steady running from office to office to get married, and then we would have waited much longer (I believe). In the end it did take us about 7 months to adjust his status. So from the time we applied for a visa until he got his GC it was about 1 yr and 4 months.

[Sand 5]

Welcome to VJ and good luck