Getting married in Colombia. Questions

[Sven79 0]

Hello all, this is my first post as well as my first time visiting the site. I was born and raised in NY

In the summer of 09 I met a wonderful Colombian Au Pair and we started dating. We fell in love and I asked her to marry me last month. She since has gone Back to Baranquilla to finish her lawyer tests, and we will be getting married this summer. We decided to get married in her home city because she has more family there than I do here, so from a financial standpoint it made more sense haha. Actually the woman gets to make the wedding decisions, so thats what she wanted to do. After we get married we will live in NY.

My question is which visa should she apply for?, being that when we come to the US we will be married already, does the US accept that?. We are getting married in a church as well as in a civil court, Or whatever the equivilent is down there. She has an active tourist Visa now, but it expires at the end of April. I dont know if she should do K-1 or the CR-1. And once I get the info, I can take the required steps for that particular visa.

Thanks,

Sven

[sdw 10]

K1 you would have to get married in the US. Cr1 is for spouses you would start the process after you are married.

[Sven79 0]

K1 you would have to get married in the US. Cr1 is for spouses you would start the process after you are married.

So If we get married in Colombia can she come back with me while visa status is pending? If she had an active tourist visa she could come back with me, but it takes quite a few months to hear back.. So would she have to leave when the tourist visa expires, or can she stay while we wait to hear?

[milenaY 0]

CR1 Visa is the right for you, so check this link they will help you with the process

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=175556

Or if your fiancee wants to know more about the process she can check this one, it is in Spanish.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=231722

Good luck

[dakay ♥ 10]

So If we get married in Colombia can she come back with me while visa status is pending? If she had an active tourist visa she could come back with me, but it takes quite a few months to hear back.. So would she have to leave when the tourist visa expires, or can she stay while we wait to hear?

CR1 Guide and also read the flowchart

Am not sure if she can stay while you're waiting for the interview, but she can't stay in US if her tourist visa expire

[PeruvyandGringa 25]

So If we get married in Colombia can she come back with me while visa status is pending? If she had an active tourist visa she could come back with me, but it takes quite a few months to hear back.. So would she have to leave when the tourist visa expires, or can she stay while we wait to hear?

For the CR-1 she could come back with you on the tourist visa she already has, and would have to leave before it expires. Her interview and medical, etc will be in Colombia anyway.

[Sven79 0]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone. Its just so frustrating, I mean we had a wedding planned in June, but I dont know whats going to happen now. I know how you guys must have felt while going through all this red tape. All I want to do is spend the rest of my life with this girl, and they make it so hard to do.. I just want her here with me... So Im thinking the CR1 would be the best bet(someone mentioned that), because we will already be married. And then then we can start the process the day after we get married.if Im not mistaken..

[dakay ♥ 10]

I share your feelings, everyone here we have had to wait, more or less time, some cases get the approval within 37 days (k1 Visa) so any decision you make will take time to be together legally in U.S.

good luck!

[edward toro 3]

Hello all, this is my first post as well as my first time visiting the site. I was born and raised in NY

In the summer of 09 I met a wonderful Colombian Au Pair and we started dating. We fell in love and I asked her to marry me last month. She since has gone Back to Baranquilla to finish her lawyer tests, and we will be getting married this summer. We decided to get married in her home city because she has more family there than I do here, so from a financial standpoint it made more sense haha. Actually the woman gets to make the wedding decisions, so thats what she wanted to do. After we get married we will live in NY.

My question is which visa should she apply for?, being that when we come to the US we will be married already, does the US accept that?. We are getting married in a church as well as in a civil court, Or whatever the equivilent is down there. She has an active tourist Visa now, but it expires at the end of April. I dont know if she should do K-1 or the CR-1. And once I get the info, I can take the required steps for that particular visa.

Thanks,

Sven

OK This is how it works:

First: any route you are about to take takes lots of time. K1 visa (fiance visa. you have to get married in the U.S) may take 6 up to 12 months and CR1 (spouse visa you can get married in Colombia) 8 to 12 months.

Second: You mentioned that her VISA is about to get expired. I strongly suggest you to tell her to re-apply for her tourist visa BEFORE you guys start doing ANYTHING. It will be very, very difficult for her to get a tourist visa approved while an immigrant visa application is pending. I speak from experience here. So let her apply for tourist VISA and then start the immigrant visa application.

Third: Make sure you understand the benefits of both visas routes before you take any decision. CR1 Visa may be longer but it pays off at the long run. K1 Visa is usually faster but at the long run will cost you more. Bottom line read the guides and choose wisely.

Last: Enjoy Colombia is a beautiful place. take lots of pictures of both of you when you go to see your love one.

Good luck!

Edited March 12, 2010 by edward toro