Getting Started with everything K3 CR1 or K1

[gumbi2400 1]

Hello all!

I've been reading this forum for a while now and it has provided a wealth of information. I do apologize in advance if this post rambles on for a while as my significant other always says, I do have a tendency to waffle on a bit. I should also warn you the story can be a bit upsetting for some.

Like many of you here I met someone very special, and it wasn't in my native country. I've been visiting the UK for a few years now with my now ex-wife and I had come to fall in love with both the country and its people. The last time I went to visit was in May I went in with my wife at the time only expecting to stay for a couple weeks and my wife left and I stayed for the rest of my tourist visa (till November). My reason for staying behind is that I fell in love with a close friend. Not something I'm proud of but my ex and I were having lots of problems and, well it doesn't matter now its all in the past.

So I stayed in the UK and it turned out to be the best decision of my life. Things progressed quite quickly and now we have decided to just go for it and get married. A bit crazy but sometimes love is just like that, not to mention we had a lot of things happen while I was there and even more since. Well my divorce has been final since November, and she finally took care of her divorce and it was completed in December (they had been separated for a number of years). I am back in the states now and as I'm sure most of you can relate to we miss each other terribly.

I just now landed a new job and so now the fun with Immigration begins.

We have done lots and lots of research and have considered all of our options. Though it was tempting to bring her out here and get married after 60 days and file for AOS, the questionable legality and the fact that I can't afford to pay for all her bills while waiting has ruled that one out. We are thinking that we want to be able to get started with life immediately after she gets out here (job for her and all that) so we are leaning towards just going for the CR-1 visa. The plan as it stands is for her to come out here in a couple months do a quickie Vegas marriage and then she heads back to England for the long wait. We have also considered the K-1 route but it just seems so expensive and such a long time until she finally gets the greencard.

With all that being said here are my questions.

1) will we have any problems with approval after being so recently divorced?

2) on Address history for me what do I say for that 6 month period of time while I was in the UK

3) On my tax returns because I was married for the past 3 tax returns (and had a bad year of unemployment due to the economy) it does not adequately show my financial situation, My mother agreed to be a joint sponsor, will this be a problem?

4) How in the world do I prove a bonafide marriage when we haven't owned property or have any accounts together yet?

5) Is it possible to visit my new wife while the visa is in progress?

6) Any other tips, suggestions, etc?

Thank you in advance for all your responses.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

1. No problem, plenty of people start new relationships while still married, especially when the divorce is complicated or your country requires a time of legal separation.

2. From what I understand, you were "only" a tourist in the UK, did not work or anything, so you had a legal address in the USA and should put that down.

3. You can use your mother as co-sponsor.But also, they care most about what you earn now, and going forward; so if you can provide a recent few paystubs and a letter from your employer stating what you make now, you shouldn't even need a co-sponsor.

4. First, think about a bonafide relationship rather than marriage; they know that people who do not/ cannot live together after the wedding due to immigration won't have much joint stuff. So show photos of you two together,, not just at the wedding but through your relationship, and ideally with eachother's families in the photos too. Hotel receipts and plane tickets are good too, showing you stayed together, as is proof that you communicate a lot (chat logs, emails, phone bills). Once you are married, you can also add eachother to some stuff such as next-of-kin info at your doctor's, life insurance etc.

5. Absolutely, you can visit eachother as UK and US visitors need no visa. I suggest bringing some ties to home (letter from employer stating when you are expected back, lease or rental agreement, ongoing bills etc), in case you get questioned at the border.

6. Check out the UK timelines on here and the UK forum for some country specific info, and read the guides for timelines and knowing how to fill in forms. I agree with you in your situation, the CR-1 is the best.