To marry her in the philippines or K1? Please help!

[melvs-bhing 0]

Hello everyone!

My friend DJCESS is also a member of this site. She recommended me to join this site and hope you guys can help me too.

Well first of all my girlfriend lives in the philippines. We have met in person twice on April 2007 & Feb 2008. Now im planning to go back to manila this coming April 15, 2009 to celebrate our 2 years anniversary and also to get engaged.

My initial plan was to file a K1 visa for her. But my co-worker told me that the best way to get her is to marry in the philippines. Because her daughter got married in the philippines too last January 2009 eventhough she is a US citizen just like me. The daughter choose this option because based on the story of her 3 friends and also their advice that if you choose the Fiance Visa, it will take atleast 2 years for her to work in the US as the rules have changed. That's what happened to her friend when she did the Fiance visa. So i don't know if they changed the LAW already to 2 years probation for your husband/wife with a K1 visa not to work for more than a year? If someone can verify this, it would be easier for me to decided what is the best course of action.

Also my co-worker mentioned to me that they have a friend (lady) too who got married in the philippines and only took 6 months for her husband to come here in the US. Got his SSN and green card right away and was working now. Didn't pay thousand of dollars just to change the status as what K1 visa are facing. The key was to make sure all your paper work is complete and file it ASAP. So i was really suprised that it took ONLY 6 months. Usually i heard that if you get married in the Philippines it takes more than a year or two for them to come here in the U.S. Am i right or wrong?

Please help me and post your comments here. Also if there is a new LAW in effect for this year please advice me.

Thanks again and more power!

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Hello everyone!

My friend DJCESS is also a member of this site. She recommended me to join this site and hope you guys can help me too.

Well first of all my girlfriend lives in the philippines. We have met in person twice on April 2007 & Feb 2008. Now im planning to go back to manila this coming April 15, 2009 to celebrate our 2 years anniversary and also to get engaged.

My initial plan was to file a K1 visa for her. But my co-worker told me that the best way to get her is to marry in the philippines. Because her daughter got married in the philippines too last January 2009 eventhough she is a US citizen just like me. The daughter choose this option because based on the story of her 3 friends and also their advice that if you choose the Fiance Visa, it will take atleast 2 years for her to work in the US as the rules have changed. That's what happened to her friend when she did the Fiance visa. So i don't know if they changed the LAW already to 2 years probation for your husband/wife with a K1 visa not to work for more than a year? If someone can verify this, it would be easier for me to decided what is the best course of action.

Also my co-worker mentioned to me that they have a friend (lady) too who got married in the philippines and only took 6 months for her husband to come here in the US. Got his SSN and green card right away and was working now. Didn't pay thousand of dollars just to change the status as what K1 visa are facing. The key was to make sure all your paper work is complete and file it ASAP. So i was really suprised that it took ONLY 6 months. Usually i heard that if you get married in the Philippines it takes more than a year or two for them to come here in the U.S. Am i right or wrong?

Please help me and post your comments here. Also if there is a new LAW in effect for this year please advice me.

Thanks again and more power!

If you are married, you cannot use the K-1, you would instead have to use the K-3.

For the record, K-1 usually will take 6 months, not two years.

In respect to working, as soon as you file for the AOS, you can apply for the EAD/AP, which usually comes back in 90 days or so. No waiting 1 year to work.

Check the guides above and explore the two options.

Edited February 12, 2009 by Bobby_Umit

[Jasman0717 9]

I did a K-1 at the time because it was much faster. Take a look at the immigration timelines link at the top of the page, the stats may be helpful.

[dale_trisha 3]

Welcome to VJ. As often the case there is lots of rumor and you certain got some. K3 will take slightly longer than a K1 but that is only because you can not submit the package until you get married. Choice is yours. Look at the guides.

[Loolie 56]

we did cr1..it took 8 months from the filing to the interview date...it took 8 months because i submitted incomplete documents...but other took only 3 months or 5 months..k1 and k3 is faster because you will be the one to call the embassy to scheduled for the interview...unlike cr1 its the nvc which will schedule you for the interview..thats what makes it faster...and it depends on you if you complete all the documents and mail it express and pay online...it will just take as fast as k1 or k3.

[CuriousGuy 0]

Plus, it can take up to a couple of months for your marriage to be officially recorded and recognized in the Replublic of the Philippines. Until your marriage is 'official', it's my understanding that you cannot file from our end here in the USA. That alone will add some processing time to the matter.

If your fiance wants a big wedding, and/or with lots of family and friends to attend, then it's probably best to do so there. It's cheaper, and there's no way you'd get any sort of travel visa permission from our embassy to even bring her immediate family over here.

[ruby_jade 0]

if you want to marry your fiancee here in PI then go for it, then file for a CR1/IR1 after.

a lot of people got fast approvals now like 2-3 months from the date of filing, you can check it out in the CR1/IR1 forum...

if she will enter as a CR1/IR1 which is an immigrant visa then she will received her green card and SSN

4-6 weeks after her arrival in the states and can work right away, the whole process is a lot cheaper too compare to K1 or K3..

my advice is marry her and file a CR1/IR1..

goodluck!!