K1 or K3?

[pargi1 0]

Hi,

I am a south african citizen and have been in a relationship with a U.S. citizen for three years now. She is back in America, and I am currently in S.A. We wish to get married. I currently have a tourist visa that I got last year for the purpose of short term visits (which I have done one of so far). We were thinking of getting married in August, after 6 weeks of me being there on a tourist visa and then I would return to S.A. and go through the K3 process (after filing for an I-130 after the marriage in the states).

Does anyone have advice on this option?

Second. Can she come to South Africa for say three weeks, we get married here, she goes back and then she files for the I-130 from the states whilst I wait here in S.A?

We were trying to avoid the fiance visa as it takes extra waiting time, and involves an extra bureaucratic step

[Tygrys 143]

Either way will work.

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

Either is fine, but you'll be applying for the CR-1 spousal visa, the K3 no longer exists.

[payxibka 10,047]

moving from AOS forum

[sachinky 465]

K-1 or CR-1. Whichever works for you is fine. You can read through the guides regarding what to expect and see which one makes more sense for the two of you.

[Sunshine Girl 0]

I'm still clueless on all this talk of "K-3 is dead". what is the purpose of the K-3's existence if no one is encouraged to use it?

[sachinky 465]

The K-3 was introduced when the CR-1/IR-1 used to take YEARS as a way to reunite families during the waiting period. Nowadays, the difference is barely a month, if you're prepared for NVC. Since there is no point to the K-3 anymore, it has been closed. Capish?