To Marry or Not to Marry

[C.D 1]

Hi New Family!

Not sure if this is the right forum. But I have a question that'll help me make a decision on the next step.

I have visited my finacee 3 times last year in the UK.

I plan to visit her (in Nigeria) but this time we plan to get traditionally weded (only family and friends, no registry, or court), and then get married (Church Wedding in the States)

I guess my question is:

1. Is this wise to get traditionally married (no court papers or church, only family) and File the K1 visa or,

2. Stop the plans for the traditional marriage and just file the K1 visa or,

3. Get traditionally married (no court papers or church, only family) and file for the K3/CR-1 visa?

[Sand 5]

and why dont u marry her and file I-130 and I-129F. so maybe she will get the I-13o Approved and when she come to the states she will get a 2 years green card. which is better than later u have to apply for it and go thru interview and thru papers and this and that.. plus u will not pay for it .. but if she come here u have to apply I-485 for green card and will cost u $1010, so save ur money and get married and make sure u have the marriage certificate with u

Just an opinion wait for the best

Good Luck.

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

I would get legally and traditonally married and then file the CR-1 spousal visa, as it leads to an automatic green card upon entry. You can stil have a church wedding blessing once you come to the USA, it just won;t be a legal one as you are married already.

[mrs. wife! 3]

Hi New Family!

Not sure if this is the right forum. But I have a question that'll help me make a decision on the next step.

I have visited my finacee 3 times last year in the UK.

I plan to visit her (in Nigeria) but this time we plan to get traditionally weded (only family and friends, no registry, or court), and then get married (Church Wedding in the States)

I guess my question is:

1. Is this wise to get traditionally married (no court papers or church, only family) and File the K1 visa or,

2. Stop the plans for the traditional marriage and just file the K1 visa or,

3. Get traditionally married (no court papers or church, only family) and file for the K3/CR-1 visa?

If you want to follow the spouse visa route, you need to be legally married. COURT PAPERS will be needed. If you don't plan to do that, then file for K1 visa. What matters for immigration are papers, not church =)

Good luck!

Edited January 28, 2010 by mrs. wife!

[Nik+Heather 121]

I think you should check with other people going through Nigeria. My casual reading of their embassy reviews is that K-1s are frequently confused with people who are married because the legality of any ceremonies is in question. Better to make an air-tight marriage with all the paperwork and seals so there is no question, in my opinion. Also, the CR-1 visa is one process that results in a green card. We went the K-1 route, but I'm learning now that CR-1 would have been a lot cheaper and a lot less hassle.

If your Nigerian fiancee is going to be interviewing through London, please know that the relationship and other evidence will be scrutinized orders of magnitude more closely.