Confused plz help my fiancee is in New Zealand :)

[usaandnz 0]

Hi all what a great forum I just have some questions that I hope someone can help me with.

Basically,

I'm a US Citizen from I live in California my fiancee lives in New Zealand she is a NZ Citizen. We have been pen pen pals for years and met last year and fell in love now I'm going back in June for 3 months I will have a leave of absence from my job. I want us to live here in California due to my job. I want her to have permanent residence on the day she arrives so we can live stress free here in the States.

In June we plan on getting married and I'm guessing she will be interviewed in Auckland?

So far this is what I understand and correct me if I'm wrong. We get married in June then in September when I get back to Cali I file a petition for a spouse. And we provide all information, proof and medical and proof of income etc... Then she will be interviewed then most likely approved.

Okay now how long do you think it will take for her to get her residency via Auckland? We really don't mind anything that is 12 months or less as it will give us time to save money etc... I'm not open to the idea of any other visa as I want her to have Permanent residence when she arrives not get it after.

Thanks so much,

Michael

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

If you want her to have permanent residency on arrival, you most certainly do not want a K3. Only a CR1 will allow permanent residence on arrival.

Start with the guide: CR1/IR1 Guide Read, digest, and ask any further questions in the IR1/CR1 Forum.

Good luck!

[No-Where-Man 147]

If you want her to have permanent residency on arrival, you most certainly do not want a K3. Only a CR1 will allow permanent residence on arrival.

Start with the guide: CR1/IR1 Guide Read, digest, and ask any further questions in the IR1/CR1 Forum.

Good luck!

this the the route u must follow

but PLEASE be adviced ..CR-1 or IR-1 apply for married ppl which means u must get married first whtever in the us or in NZ then apply for this

Good Luck

[Mononoke28 135]

Definitely file for a CR1 visa, that way your wife will get her green card and SS card in the mail a few weeks after she arrives. A K3 visa takes just as long as a CR1 visa to process but your wife will have to file for Adjustment of Status which is another $1,010 and a minimum wait of 3-6 months for her work permit, longer for her green card.

Diana

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

Yep, CR-1 is right for you.

BTW, you can file the day after you get married rather than wait until you get back to the USA, as long as you have a US mailing address for any correspondence (like parents or a friend's address or something).

[RickD 0]

I agree. You don´t have to wait to apply. Get married in NZ and file the I-130 right away. Make sure you hve copies of all of your documents so you have all the information you need with you (you will probably need the same documents for the marriage, anyway).

The sooner you file the faster your application will be approved. Carefully read the guides and dot every "i" and cross every "t". As elmcitymaven suggests, after you have read the guides, then post any questions in the CR1 forum. It is possible that if your paperwork is filled out properly with all of the necesary evidence, you could get throught USCIS in less than 60 days if your petition is routed through the California Service Center. As you can see at the bottom of our time line, our I-130 was approved 46 days from our NOA-1. Best wishes.

RickD

IR-1 / CR-1 Visa

Event Date

Service Center : California Service Center

Consulate : Bogota, Colombia

Marriage : 2008-12-18

I-130 Sent : 2009-01-06

I-130 NOA1 : 2009-01-12

I-130 Approved : 2009-02-27

NVC Received : 2009-03-10

Received DS-3032 / I-864 Bill : 2009-03-17

Pay I-864 Bill 2009-03-17

Receive I-864 Package :

Return Completed I-864 : 2009-03-24

Return Completed DS-3032 : 2009-03-19

Receive IV Bill : 2009-03-31

Pay IV Bill : 2009-04-03

Receive Instruction Package :

Case Completed at NVC :

NVC Left :

Consulate Received :

Packet 3 Received :

Packet 3 Sent :

Packet 4 Received :

Interview Date :

Visa Received :

US Entry :

Comments : 01/26/2009 Touched

Processing

Estimates/Stats : Your I-130 was approved in 46 days from your NOA1 date.