Marriage

[BurningFinger 5]

Hello friends,

As you already know my wife and I got married in Singapore. I am the US Citizen and she is the VN Citizen (starting to regret the marriage location decision )

In any case, I paid for some "consultation" for the CR-1 or K-3 for a few different immigration attorneys and they all tell me the same thing: Your wife's interview will take place in the country where the marriage took place. I thought that if she is a VN Citizen, the interview will be at HCMC, regardless of what country the marriage took place. Put me out of my misery folks. Where does it really take place?? I would really hate it if she has to go to Singapore for this interview.....

-Travis & Trang

[Dai. 7]

I would email the consulate in Singapore to confirm this... One immigration attorney firm has been telling people from Vietnam to go to Thailand and get married and file in Thailand. I believe it's Alan Lolly, is he the one to tell you that you are suppose to file in Singapore? Back when I was doing the CR-1 I consulted a lot of Attorneys but He was the only one to suggest I get married in Thailand and File in Thailand. In the end I ended up going with a different Attorney who has dealt with the Vietnam consulate more. Anyways I would call over to USCIS or Contact the Consulate directly to see if it's possible.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I have never heard of Department of State forcing someone to return to the country where they were married in order to apply for a CR1. I tried to google this, but it's hard coming up with search terms that return relevant information.

I do know there are lots of people on VJ whose wives/husbands are interviewing in countries other than where they were married, but mostly because they were married in countries that don't have a US consulate, like Iran. As far as I know, the interview is supposed to be in the country where the applicant resides. There are plenty of K1 cases of south Asians (mostly Pakistanis and Indians) who are living in the UK, and interviewing in London. I'm also pretty certain she'd have to be a legal resident of Singapore before she'd be eligible to apply at the consulate there. This is to prevent people from "consulate shopping" for an easier consulate. Maybe this is what the lawyers have in mind...

[pushbrk 12,898]

Hello friends,

As you already know my wife and I got married in Singapore. I am the US Citizen and she is the VN Citizen (starting to regret the marriage location decision )

In any case, I paid for some "consultation" for the CR-1 or K-3 for a few different immigration attorneys and they all tell me the same thing: Your wife's interview will take place in the country where the marriage took place. I thought that if she is a VN Citizen, the interview will be at HCMC, regardless of what country the marriage took place. Put me out of my misery folks. Where does it really take place?? I would really hate it if she has to go to Singapore for this interview.....

-Travis & Trang

For the virtually obsolete K3 visa, the interview must take place in the country where the couple marries, unless they marry in the US. For the CR1 visa, the interview is in the country of residence. It's really that simple. If you want her to interview in HCMC, just take the CR1 route. Don't hire an attorney who doesn't know this or who presses you to take the K3 route.

This is really not a regional question. It's a general question best discussed in the CR1 or K3 forums.

Edited November 10, 2009 by pushbrk

[pushbrk 12,898]

I have never heard of Department of State forcing someone to return to the country where they were married in order to apply for a CR1. I tried to google this, but it's hard coming up with search terms that return relevant information.

I do know there are lots of people on VJ whose wives/husbands are interviewing in countries other than where they were married, but mostly because they were married in countries that don't have a US consulate, like Iran. As far as I know, the interview is supposed to be in the country where the applicant resides. There are plenty of K1 cases of south Asians (mostly Pakistanis and Indians) who are living in the UK, and interviewing in London. I'm also pretty certain she'd have to be a legal resident of Singapore before she'd be eligible to apply at the consulate there. This is to prevent people from "consulate shopping" for an easier consulate. Maybe this is what the lawyers have in mind...

This is where the use of the word "apply" can get confusing. The first stage of DCF is not "applying". It's petitioning. Applying is what you do just before the interview. If she is "residing" in a country, she can "interview/apply" there. The US Citizen must be residing in the country to file/petition DCF. Not saying you're confused, just that the term "apply" confuses lots of people here.

[BurningFinger 5]

Okay so for the K-3, she will have to interview at the singapore consulate? Would I also have to file the I-129 and I-130 petition papers at this same singapore consulate or with HCMC? Gosh that would suck....

-Travis & Trang

Hello friends,

As you already know my wife and I got married in Singapore. I am the US Citizen and she is the VN Citizen (starting to regret the marriage location decision )

In any case, I paid for some "consultation" for the CR-1 or K-3 for a few different immigration attorneys and they all tell me the same thing: Your wife's interview will take place in the country where the marriage took place. I thought that if she is a VN Citizen, the interview will be at HCMC, regardless of what country the marriage took place. Put me out of my misery folks. Where does it really take place?? I would really hate it if she has to go to Singapore for this interview.....

-Travis & Trang

For the virtually obsolete K3 visa, the interview must take place in the country where the couple marries, unless they marry in the US. For the CR1 visa, the interview is in the country of residence. It's really that simple. If you want her to interview in HCMC, just take the CR1 route. Don't hire an attorney who doesn't know this or who presses you to take the K3 route.

This is really not a regional question. It's a general question best discussed in the CR1 or K3 forums.

[pushbrk 12,898]

The papers are mailed to a PO Box in Chicago. Check out the filing instructions for the I-130. Unless you personally live in Singapore and have for at least six months, you don't qualify to file directly with any Consulate. (Embassy for Singapore)

Okay so for the K-3, she will have to interview at the singapore consulate? Would I also have to file the I-129 and I-130 petition papers at this same singapore consulate or with HCMC? Gosh that would suck....

-Travis & Trang

Hello friends,

As you already know my wife and I got married in Singapore. I am the US Citizen and she is the VN Citizen (starting to regret the marriage location decision )

In any case, I paid for some "consultation" for the CR-1 or K-3 for a few different immigration attorneys and they all tell me the same thing: Your wife's interview will take place in the country where the marriage took place. I thought that if she is a VN Citizen, the interview will be at HCMC, regardless of what country the marriage took place. Put me out of my misery folks. Where does it really take place?? I would really hate it if she has to go to Singapore for this interview.....

-Travis & Trang

For the virtually obsolete K3 visa, the interview must take place in the country where the couple marries, unless they marry in the US. For the CR1 visa, the interview is in the country of residence. It's really that simple. If you want her to interview in HCMC, just take the CR1 route. Don't hire an attorney who doesn't know this or who presses you to take the K3 route.

This is really not a regional question. It's a general question best discussed in the CR1 or K3 forums.

[BurningFinger 5]

pushbrk,

I understand. So I must file the petition papers with the Chicago office. Okay I understand. Imagine the petition gets approved. Then it will go to the NVC. After that, which consulate will receive the paperwork to ready the interview? I am assuming the Singapore Consulate.

I apologize. I am very new to all of this

-Travis & Trang

[pushbrk 12,898]

pushbrk,

I understand. So I must file the petition papers with the Chicago office. Okay I understand. Imagine the petition gets approved. Then it will go to the NVC. After that, which consulate will receive the paperwork to ready the interview? I am assuming the Singapore Consulate.

I apologize. I am very new to all of this

-Travis & Trang

Nothing wrong with being new but did you read my first post. If you want the virtually obsolete K3 visa the interview will be in Singapore. If you stick with the CR1, the interview will be in the country of your wife's residence. I take it you want the interview in HCMC. If so, definitely do the CR1. If you actually insist on the interview being in Singapore, then she can remain there and interview there for either visa.

[BurningFinger 5]

Thank you very much. I will go for the CR-1. I really dont wanna go back to Singapore

Thank you for your guidance. I appreciate everybody for helping me

-Travis & Trang

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I have never heard of Department of State forcing someone to return to the country where they were married in order to apply for a CR1. I tried to google this, but it's hard coming up with search terms that return relevant information.

I do know there are lots of people on VJ whose wives/husbands are interviewing in countries other than where they were married, but mostly because they were married in countries that don't have a US consulate, like Iran. As far as I know, the interview is supposed to be in the country where the applicant resides. There are plenty of K1 cases of south Asians (mostly Pakistanis and Indians) who are living in the UK, and interviewing in London. I'm also pretty certain she'd have to be a legal resident of Singapore before she'd be eligible to apply at the consulate there. This is to prevent people from "consulate shopping" for an easier consulate. Maybe this is what the lawyers have in mind...

This is where the use of the word "apply" can get confusing. The first stage of DCF is not "applying". It's petitioning. Applying is what you do just before the interview. If she is "residing" in a country, she can "interview/apply" there. The US Citizen must be residing in the country to file/petition DCF. Not saying you're confused, just that the term "apply" confuses lots of people here.

I didn't get the impression he was talking about DCF. If I recall from his previous posts, he met his wife on an online matchmaking service, and they arranged to meet in Singapore and got married. I think he's in the US and his wife is in Vietnam now. I was referring to the visa application stage, which is what I think he was also referring to.

I didn't know that about the K3, though. Thanks!

[BurningFinger 5]

Jim,

I met my wife while I was on business in Vietnam. The member who met his wife at a matchmaking agency is weatherlord or emperor or something like that. I actually talked with him for a while. Good guy.....but still so young. Anyways, I will definitely go for the CR-1. I absolutely do NOT want to go back to Singapore for my wife to interview there. Way too expensive that way. lol

-Travis & Trang

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Jim,

I met my wife while I was on business in Vietnam. The member who met his wife at a matchmaking agency is weatherlord or emperor or something like that. I actually talked with him for a while. Good guy.....but still so young. Anyways, I will definitely go for the CR-1. I absolutely do NOT want to go back to Singapore for my wife to interview there. Way too expensive that way. lol

-Travis & Trang

Ok. Been a hectic day for me, and my memory sucks! I didn't realize there was more than one person who married in Singapore currently posting!

[Anh map 2,098]

I asked pushbrk to come over and offer his advice. He has commented on this type of situation before.

Edited November 10, 2009 by Anh map

[VudoMenudo 0]

Buddy,

I do know that if you file for the K-3, the interview takes place in the country where your marriage took place. What I do NOT know, is if your wife will have to return to Singapore and live there for X amount of time in order to qualify for this. Think about that too. Perhaps mr.push can help you with that. Anyways good luck!!