Filing for K-1 while living abroad

[shearoberts 0]

Hello everyone, I currently am living in Japan and am employed by a Japanese company. I met a wonderful woman here who I am wanting to take back to the States with me. My contract at my present company expires in December.

I have a few concerns however. We both have plenty of documentation and proof that we have met and have every intention to marry once back in the States. But since I live abroad, how exactly can I pay the petitioners fee by check/money order? I still have a permanent residence in the US, and an open US Bank Account, so will I have to pay through that or is there some other method in which I can pay from Japan? I live close to Tokyo so getting to the US Embassy shouldn't be a problem.

Also, will living in the same country and city as my fiancee be beneficial in expediting our visa process? Since Japan is an industrialized country, there shouldn't be a need for any vaccinations I believe. I didn't have to get any when moving here.

The payment method is the only snag so far, but another concern arises in that I still don't have a job lined up for me when I return to the States. I have a good chance of acquiring one and I have plenty of assets I've saved while working in Japan. I have more than enough for several months of support.

Any help would be much appreciated, thank you!

[Anh map 2,098]

The best thing that you can do is That will answer a lot of your questions.

If you do the fiancee visa she will likely not be able to go to the US in December. If you are a legal resident in Japan and get married there you could do a CR-1 visa. That would get your then wife a green card after entering the US.

You are going to have to show a current US income of at least $18,212 at the time of the interview or at least $54,636 (3 x $18,212) in assets to pledge for the affidavit of support.

Again, and example forms. That will give you a great base of knowledge.

Best of luck.

[Leo&Farah 0]

Hi,

I'm not sure about the K1 while living abroad thingy but since you mentioned living in Japan and such, you might wanna consider filing DCF. You have to be a resident, although on some websites, I have read you have to have lived there at least 6 months. Not sure exactly what the circumstances are.

But if you surpass that requirement and are willing to marry, traditionally DCF is faster than K1 and K3/CR-1. Takes about 3 months I believe, sometimes less. Only problem if I remember correctly is if they deny you at DCF, you cannot appeal unlike the rest. So if you do decide to do it, make sure you have joint bank accounts, joint leases, joint insurance etc to prove real marriage beforehand.

Just putting that idea out there.

[Anh map 2,098]

Yes, DCF as Leo&Farah stated. Don't know why I typed CR1. Thanks for the correction L&F.

DCF will also save you about $1K in filing fees.

[shearoberts 0]

Hi,

I'm not sure about the K1 while living abroad thingy but since you mentioned living in Japan and such, you might wanna consider filing DCF. You have to be a resident, although on some websites, I have read you have to have lived there at least 6 months. Not sure exactly what the circumstances are.

But if you surpass that requirement and are willing to marry, traditionally DCF is faster than K1 and K3/CR-1. Takes about 3 months I believe, sometimes less. Only problem if I remember correctly is if they deny you at DCF, you cannot appeal unlike the rest. So if you do decide to do it, make sure you have joint bank accounts, joint leases, joint insurance etc to prove real marriage beforehand.

Just putting that idea out there.

Hello! Thanks for the reply! I've been living in Japan for 10 months or so, so that shouldn't be a problem. When you say "resident" does that mean citizen? Because Japan does not allow dual-citizenship. I have a work visa that is valid for up to 3 years and an alien registration card that shows I can legally live in Japan for up to 5 years. Would that count as enough?

Also, if we get married here, I don't think 4 months or so is going to be enough time to set up joint bank accounts and such. I live alone and she still lives at home with her parents, so no living together as of now. I understand my situation is time pressing, so thank you for the replies.

Also, I've read through the guides and they're quite helpful.

[Leo&Farah 0]

No, legal resident basically means you can legally reside there in that country without being a citizen of it, basically what you have.

You should be good to go on DCF, I would double and triple check with embassy on requirements for DCF there beforehand, before settling on that option alone, some consulates have different requirements.

As for joint everything, well that was intended after the marriage bit. Like when you are living together after marriage etc. Its not expected to have joint things before marriage. Basically acting like married couples do who wanna share everything. If I'm not mistaken, there is a way to open bank accounts in US overseas, you could look into that for joint bank accounts, or simply just open one up there. Either way, I'm not well versed on stuff like that since I'm only engaged at this point.

Keep all the proof of a valid relationship as well. Also if I'm not mistaken, people applying for AOS (adjustment of status form K1/K3 for green card) have also used affidavits from people they know stating the genuine nature of the relationship etc. Things married couples use can range from joint tenancy leases, joint bank accounts, insurance, joint memberships, joint bills but in your case, since you're planning to relocate back to stateside, it will be abit tough and redundant to opne all those there.

My suggestion is contact embassy on requirements for DCF to expand your knowledge on the option and then try searching these boards for DCF topics, maybe some others can shed some light into it. As I know, it is the easiest(less paperwork) and fastest way to get to go stateside with you.

[shearoberts 0]

No, legal resident basically means you can legally reside there in that country without being a citizen of it, basically what you have.

You should be good to go on DCF, I would double and triple check with embassy on requirements for DCF there beforehand, before settling on that option alone, some consulates have different requirements.

As for joint everything, well that was intended after the marriage bit. Like when you are living together after marriage etc. Its not expected to have joint things before marriage. Basically acting like married couples do who wanna share everything. If I'm not mistaken, there is a way to open bank accounts in US overseas, you could look into that for joint bank accounts, or simply just open one up there. Either way, I'm not well versed on stuff like that since I'm only engaged at this point.

Keep all the proof of a valid relationship as well. Also if I'm not mistaken, people applying for AOS (adjustment of status form K1/K3 for green card) have also used affidavits from people they know stating the genuine nature of the relationship etc. Things married couples use can range from joint tenancy leases, joint bank accounts, insurance, joint memberships, joint bills but in your case, since you're planning to relocate back to stateside, it will be abit tough and redundant to opne all those there.

My suggestion is contact embassy on requirements for DCF to expand your knowledge on the option and then try searching these boards for DCF topics, maybe some others can shed some light into it. As I know, it is the easiest(less paperwork) and fastest way to get to go stateside with you.

Great! Thanks a bunch! This seems to be my best option, I really appreciate all of the help!

[Leo&Farah 0]

Oh, apparently we have a forum on DCF as well. Didn't know that.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I would suggest the OP come on over to the DCF forum and post any questions about DCF in Japan -- I'll leave this thread here for the time being. There have been several DCF folk who went through Tokyo recently and they should be able to answer questions. We're also pretty friendly over there -- since there are fewer of us, and each country has its own little quirks, we're good at lending a hand. It is blessedly one of the lowest-drama places on VJ!