Confused and Need Visa Journey members advice

[SLICKENYCE 0]

Hi my name is Al , Im from Jamaica. I am an american citizen. My fiance is Tashika and she is still in Jamaica. Im wondering which is better? should I apply for a fiance visa or should I marry her in jamaica and then file for her?

any suggestions will be appreciated.

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

Hi my name is Al , Im from Jamaica. I am an american citizen. My fiance is Tashika and she is still in Jamaica. Im wondering which is better? should I apply for a fiance visa or should I marry her in jamaica and then file for her?

any suggestions will be appreciated.

Hi Slick (mawnin) and welcome to VJ -- it's really up to you. It took a little under 6 months for our K-1 from start to finish. Did you talk with your fiancee to see what she think. The K-1, in most cases take less time.

[Leafgal 3]

I only have experience with the K-1 and it too only took about 6 months. Either way I wish you the best of luck and speedy journey so you can be together.

[jundp 191]

Here are some things for you and your fiancee to consider:

Do you want to get married in Jamaica or are you okay with getting married in the US and her remaining in the US until her Advance Parole (permission to leave the country legally) is granted? If it is important to get married in Jamaica, then you will want to apply for a spousal visa. The upside of that is that you can have your wedding with your Jamaican family and when she enters the country with her visa, she will be ready to work. The downside is you must return to the US without her and wait until her application is approved (unless you can stay in Jamaica).

If you don't want to be separated after marriage or if the location of the wedding doesn't matter, then you can do the K1. As others have said, it usually takes about 6 months to process.

The guides at the top of the page are an excellent source of information and go into much more detail, as are the FAQs. It *is* confusing when you first start, that's for sure!

Best of luck to you.

[Brad and Vika 129]

K-1 seems to be a faster way to get her here, but K-3 or CR-1 cuts down the wait for a green card. You can always have a ceremony back in Jamaica when it is convenient later too. Good Luck!

[DedicatedWife 4]

Morning Al! VJ is a great source of information. Like others have stated, it's really up to you and your fiancee as to what you guys want to do. We did the K1 and it took about 8 months but I know of plenty of people that was complete in about 6 months time frame. Best wishes to you on whichever decision and direction you decide.

[Lucky couple 1]

Hi my name is Al , Im from Jamaica. I am an american citizen. My fiance is Tashika and she is still in Jamaica. Im wondering which is better? should I apply for a fiance visa or should I marry her in jamaica and then file for her?

any suggestions will be appreciated.

I just came to US with a K1 visa and got married. I can tell you that its easier to do the K1 visa because at the interview your fiance would be asked fewer questions concerning you as you would not be yet married and therefore they would not expect her to know you as a wife should. If you marry her and do the k3, you may be required to show joint bank statements, insurance, and other stuff u have in common.This is just my belief. good luck

[hopps 0]

Hi my name is Al , Im from Jamaica. I am an american citizen. My fiance is Tashika and she is still in Jamaica. Im wondering which is better? should I apply for a fiance visa or should I marry her in jamaica and then file for her?

any suggestions will be appreciated.

honestly I'm on a K-1 and it isn't taking much time so far...my opinion would be to just do the fiance visa. I read somewhere that the fiance visa takes about 6 months or less and to get married in your fiance's native country takes about 1 to 2 years for her to get to the USA. I might have read it here..I don't remember. sorry I couldn't have been more help.

[*JG* 2]

I vote for the K-1 too.

But, as you are both from Jamaica, would you prefer to marry in front of family and friends there?

[dakay ♥ 10]

k1 is the best option, is my personal opinion. I got the visa on 8 march, the process took almost 6 months.

good luck!

[SLICKENYCE 0]

Hey thanks for the Welcome. I did talk with her and she prefers over here being she has no mom,dad,grandma,grandpa. Im going over in August.

Hi Slick (mawnin) and welcome to VJ -- it's really up to you. It took a little under 6 months for our K-1 from start to finish. Did you talk with your fiancee to see what she think. The K-1, in most cases take less time.

Wow 6mos would really be nice..thanks for the comment.

I only have experience with the K-1 and it too only took about 6 months. Either way I wish you the best of luck and speedy journey so you can be together.

Hi, I heard that if she flies into NY, then she cn get the work permit at the same time. Does this still hold true?

Here are some things for you and your fiancee to consider:

Do you want to get married in Jamaica or are you okay with getting married in the US and her remaining in the US until her Advance Parole (permission to leave the country legally) is granted? If it is important to get married in Jamaica, then you will want to apply for a spousal visa. The upside of that is that you can have your wedding with your Jamaican family and when she enters the country with her visa, she will be ready to work. The downside is you must return to the US without her and wait until her application is approved (unless you can stay in Jamaica).

If you don't want to be separated after marriage or if the location of the wedding doesn't matter, then you can do the K1. As others have said, it usually takes about 6 months to process.

The guides at the top of the page are an excellent source of information and go into much more detail, as are the FAQs. It *is* confusing when you first start, that's for sure!

Best of luck to you.

So how long once she comes over does it take to get the green card?

K-1 seems to be a faster way to get her here, but K-3 or CR-1 cuts down the wait for a green card. You can always have a ceremony back in Jamaica when it is convenient later too. Good Luck!

Thanks you guys I really appreciate the helpful comments.

Morning Al! VJ is a great source of information. Like others have stated, it's really up to you and your fiancee as to what you guys want to do. We did the K1 and it took about 8 months but I know of plenty of people that was complete in about 6 months time frame. Best wishes to you on whichever decision and direction you decide.

Wow the K1 seems to be a headache. then why do some people opt for this option?

I just came to US with a K1 visa and got married. I can tell you that its easier to do the K1 visa because at the interview your fiance would be asked fewer questions concerning you as you would not be yet married and therefore they would not expect her to know you as a wife should. If you marry her and do the k3, you may be required to show joint bank statements, insurance, and other stuff u have in common.This is just my belief. good luck

Hey dont be sorry I appreciate your kind words.

honestly I'm on a K-1 and it isn't taking much time so far...my opinion would be to just do the fiance visa. I read somewhere that the fiance visa takes about 6 months or less and to get married in your fiance's native country takes about 1 to 2 years for her to get to the USA. I might have read it here..I don't remember. sorry I couldn't have been more help.

Nah not really cuz I been here for a long time so most of my family is here. As for her she doesnt have much family left in JA.

I vote for the K-1 too.

But, as you are both from Jamaica, would you prefer to marry in front of family and friends there?

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

All the K1 does is get you over here on US soil. After arriving and getting married within the 90 days, this is when the real paper work begins at a additional cost of 1010.00 us dollars to you. This process is called the Adjustment of Status (AOS),this process at the end that will get you the green card(Gc). While you are going thru this process you will receive 2 temp documents that will be of value to you,the EAD card which is your work permit and the Advance Parole paper, which will allow you to travel outside of the US. This entire process can take an additional 3 to 5 months to complete. So if you add the inital 90 days that most people take to get married and the additional 3 months for the AOS, you will see that you now have added 6 months to getting the GC.

I personally would not recommend K1 and we did not do the K1, for the simple fact that I wanted to have everything done when my husband touch down on US soil. This worked for us, because visting him in Jamaica was not a hardship on us. You will have to weight what will make you'll happier in the long run, having your wife here with you and going thru the last stage of the process or having a LDR with your wife being in Jamaica while you are waiting for the process to complete. Note the CR1 is only for your spouse, so if you don't want to get married before your SO arrives on US soil, then the only way yopu can go is the K1. Then the AOS process will be your gateway to getting the correct documents to enable your wife to work.

To answer your question about recv the stamp at JFK to work, that doesn't work any more. All companies are being required to submitt documentaion to Home land security to show that their employees are legally able to work in the US. The stamp along doesn't cut it any more. Plus she will need a SS card to work, and w/o the proper documenations SS won't issue her a card. So you will be like a rat chasing his tail, one might give you part of the documents to work, while the other won't.

The AOS-EAD card or CG are the only and correct way to work legally in the US, when your status is that of a LPR. To me the entire process for the K1 and the AOs are equal or more than the time for the CR1. This will have to be your call. Good luck on whatever decision you'll arrive at.

[SLICKENYCE 0]

Wow thank you for that great piece of information.

All the K1 does is get you over here on US soil. After arriving and getting married within the 90 days, this is when the real paper work begins at a additional cost of 1010.00 us dollars to you. This process is called the Adjustment of Status (AOS),this process at the end that will get you the green card(Gc). While you are going thru this process you will receive 2 temp documents that will be of value to you,the EAD card which is your work permit and the Advance Parole paper, which will allow you to travel outside of the US. This entire process can take an additional 3 to 5 months to complete. So if you add the inital 90 days that most people take to get married and the additional 3 months for the AOS, you will see that you now have added 6 months to getting the GC.

I personally would not recommend K1 and we did not do the K1, for the simple fact that I wanted to have everything done when my husband touch down on US soil. This worked for us, because visting him in Jamaica was not a hardship on us. You will have to weight what will make you'll happier in the long run, having your wife here with you and going thru the last stage of the process or having a LDR with your wife being in Jamaica while you are waiting for the process to complete. Note the CR1 is only for your spouse, so if you don't want to get married before your SO arrives on US soil, then the only way yopu can go is the K1. Then the AOS process will be your gateway to getting the correct documents to enable your wife to work.

To answer your question about recv the stamp at JFK to work, that doesn't work any more. All companies are being required to submitt documentaion to Home land security to show that their employees are legally able to work in the US. The stamp along doesn't cut it any more. Plus she will need a SS card to work, and w/o the proper documenations SS won't issue her a card. So you will be like a rat chasing his tail, one might give you part of the documents to work, while the other won't.

The AOS-EAD card or CG are the only and correct way to work legally in the US, when your status is that of a LPR. To me the entire process for the K1 and the AOs are equal or more than the time for the CR1. This will have to be your call. Good luck on whatever decision you'll arrive at.