where to begin, just joined this site

[brainiac 0]

Hi, i just signed up here. I read the options for bringing a foreign bride into the US. I would like to have the marriage in Colombia then stay down there with her until everything is resolved and then fly back to the US and start our life together. I am wondering which route is the least painful:

- Apply for fiancee visa, K-3

- Marry her in Colombia and get the K-1 visa; this seems the way to go to me right now

Could someone help me out? I am sure there are plenty of things to consider.

Umm, just in case, i am a citizen of the USA and she is in Colombia. Little confused by the profile question.

thank you all

Edited February 20, 2009 by brainiac

[john & jean 37]

start by reading the guides section of this site, click on guides at the top of the page! if you get married in another country k1 is not available....

[YuAndDan 153]

Hi, i just signed up here. I read the options for bringing a foreign bride into the US. I would like to have the marriage in Colombia then stay down there with her until everything is resolved and then fly back to the US and start our life together. I am wondering which route is the least painful:

- Apply for fiancee visa, K-3

- Marry her in Colombia and get the K-1 visa; this seems the way to go to me right now

Could someone help me out? I am sure there are plenty of things to consider.

Umm, just in case, i am a citizen of the USA and she is in Colombia. Little confused by the profile question.

thank you all

You got them backward, K-1 is for fiancees and K-3 is for spouses.

The way USCIS and NVC have been processing I-130, you may be better off simply marrying first and then filing an I-130 for a CR-1 visa.

For the most part CR-1 tends to take a bit longer (Less than 30 days) than K-3 to get if you prepare for NVC when they request I-864 fee, and Visa fee, as well as documents requested by NVC. In many cases the CR-1 petition reaches the consulate just before K-3 interview, which causes K-3 to get dropped and the interview becomes a CR-1 visa interview.

K-1:

I-129F: $455

Consulate: $131

Adjustment Of Status: $1010 I-485

($1596)

K-3:

I-130: $355

I-129F: NONE

Consulate: $131

Adjustment Of Status: $1010 I-485

($1496)

CR-1

I-130: $355

NVC I-864: $70

NVC Visa fee: $400 ($355+$45)

($825)

I see many posts from K-3 holders stating, "Wow this sucks, I am stuck at home because I don't have EAD, DL, etc, or I am having hard time getting added to bank accounts because of NO SSN." K-3 has a 90 day or longer period of limbo while waiting for EAD or Green-card.

K-3 was developed at a time when CR-1 was taking much longer that today, NVC has greatly streamlined the CR-1 process to the point where K-3 becomes irrelevant. And lately USCIS has been holding both (I-129F and I-130) and approving them at the same time, eliminating the other reason for K-3, the long approval time for I-130.

Keep this in mind in this economy, the CR-1 with it's instant green-card looks very attractive considering the cost savings, and the ability of the immigrant being able to take a job shortly after entry to the USA. K-3 has the down-side of added cost, and NOT being able to legitimately take a job until they have EAD or green-card, EAD can take 90 days or longer to get.

[pushbrk 13,252]

Hi, i just signed up here. I read the options for bringing a foreign bride into the US. I would like to have the marriage in Colombia then stay down there with her until everything is resolved and then fly back to the US and start our life together. I am wondering which route is the least painful:

- Apply for fiancee visa, K-3

- Marry her in Colombia and get the K-1 visa; this seems the way to go to me right now

Could someone help me out? I am sure there are plenty of things to consider.

Umm, just in case, i am a citizen of the USA and she is in Colombia. Little confused by the profile question.

thank you all

According to your stated goal of marriage in Columbia followed by you remaining there until she has a spouse visa, CR1 would be your route. K1 requires the marriage take place in the USA after she obtains the visa.

Unless you're rich or something though, your time in Columbia could hamper your ability to qualify to sponsor your wife. If so, you'll need a joint sponsor who does qualify.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Indeed, if you have the ability to fly to Colombia and get married there, go for the CR1 since it is the best visa and does nto need adjustment of status (she would be able to work, study, etc. once in the US). And like someone suggested, they are quite helpful.

Welcome to VJ!

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

How long would you want to/ could you stay in Colombia? If you can stay for a little more than 6 months, you can file DCF for your CR1, which is the fastest way to get a visa, and as others have said, it is the best visa to get because she can work right away and gets a green card without further fees.

[pushbrk 13,252]

How long would you want to/ could you stay in Colombia? If you can stay for a little more than 6 months, you can file DCF for your CR1, which is the fastest way to get a visa, and as others have said, it is the best visa to get because she can work right away and gets a green card without further fees.

Since you have to wait six months to file, it would have to be more than six months faster to be "faster". It could be but I wouldn't bet my future on it. I'm amazed this little piece of arithmetic is so commonly overlooked.

[brainiac 0]

Indeed, if you have the ability to fly to Colombia and get married there, go for the CR1 since it is the best visa and does nto need adjustment of status (she would be able to work, study, etc. once in the US). And like someone suggested, they are quite helpful.

Welcome to VJ!

Len, there seem to be two paths for obtaining the CR1 visa. Look at the attachment i uploaded, the flow chart. I would like to take the second path. Can you help explain what is involved with the two paths? I.e., what is the difference?

thanks

NVC_Process_Flowchart_v1_2.pdf

[pushbrk 13,252]

Indeed, if you have the ability to fly to Colombia and get married there, go for the CR1 since it is the best visa and does nto need adjustment of status (she would be able to work, study, etc. once in the US). And like someone suggested, they are quite helpful.

Welcome to VJ!

Len, there seem to be two paths for obtaining the CR1 visa. Look at the attachment i uploaded, the flow chart. I would like to take the second path. Can you help explain what is involved with the two paths? I.e., what is the difference?

thanks

This is only about the NVC portion of the process which comes months after you begin the process by filing an I-130 petition. If I were you, I'd read the CR1/IR1 guide here on VJ for starters. Just click on the word guides at the top of any page. For the NVC stage, go to the VJ Wiki and look for the LingChe shortcuts.