I'm America, she's Russian and we want to marry in China

[mrathell 0]

I am an American living in Beijing on a Z visa (work). I have been here in China almost five years.

My fiancee' and I are planning to get married here in Beijing in April or May.

My fiancee' of five years is Russian.

My questions are:

1) Can I apply for the I-130 (k3 visa) for her here in Beijing? (we will be married in Beijing)

2) I plan to go back to America (Wisconsin) in June, so can I begin the process in China and finish it in America?

3) What is the current wait time for doing it in China versus America?

I am trying to determine if it is easier and quicker to:

1) get married first in Beijing and then file the I-130 (K3 spouse)

or

2) Do not get married in China, go back to America in June and file a I-129F(K1 fiancee visa).

Also, she has never been to the US (although she speaks perfect English), She has never tried to come to America and she doesn't have any kind of criminal records. Both of us are here in Beijing working with valid work permits.

*** Although I file my US taxes every year, my income the past five years has been paid to me in cash (RMB) by my Chinese employer. None of my income has been US earned income.

*** China does not do 'Direct Consular filing'

[MEDSHE20 0]

Unless either of you have residency in China, you will not be able to marry in China. I would suggest you marry in Hong Kong. My husband and I got married in Hong Kong because he was in China on a work visa as well and did not have residency papers in China. Hong Kong was alot easier and quicker. We filed first on a K1 and was denied because China said they weren't used to foreigners filing. So we married in Hong Kong and filed K3. It only takes a month at the most from the time the paperwork goes from the NVC center to the consulate till an interview, compared to China that took about 6 months.

Just my opinion.

Edited April 16, 2009 by MEDSHE20

[pushbrk 12,881]

I am an American living in Beijing on a Z visa (work). I have been here in China almost five years.

My fiancee' and I are planning to get married here in Beijing in April or May.

My fiancee' of five years is Russian.

My questions are:

1) Can I apply for the I-130 (k3 visa) for her here in Beijing? (we will be married in Beijing)

2) I plan to go back to America (Wisconsin) in June, so can I begin the process in China and finish it in America?

3) What is the current wait time for doing it in China versus America?

I am trying to determine if it is easier and quicker to:

1) get married first in Beijing and then file the I-130 (K3 spouse)

or

2) Do not get married in China, go back to America in June and file a I-129F(K1 fiancee visa).

Also, she has never been to the US (although she speaks perfect English), She has never tried to come to America and she doesn't have any kind of criminal records. Both of us are here in Beijing working with valid work permits.

*** Although I file my US taxes every year, my income the past five years has been paid to me in cash (RMB) by my Chinese employer. None of my income has been US earned income.

*** China does not do 'Direct Consular filing'

China does do Direct Consular Filing. Check first with the Chinese authorities about whether two foreigners can legally marry in China. I doubt they can.