US citizen engaged to a foreigner needs help understanding the different visa options

[Gringo-Expat 0]

Hello all. I'm a US citizen engaged to a Nicaraguan citizen. I can't decide whether we should apply for the K-1 fiance visa and get married in the US or get married in Nicaragua and apply for permanent residence later. Here are some factors affecting our decision. Based on these factors, what do you think would be the best option for us?

--Neither of us have children or have been married before.

--She has never visited the US. She has a valid passport.

--I'm currently in Nicaragua on a tourist visa. In Nicaragua, you can live on tourist visas indefinitely. Get a 90-day visa at the border. Three months later go to the States for a few days. Come back and get a new 90-day visa. Rinse, repeat.

--I'm unemployed, but I'm looking for work in the US. Once I get job, we want to move to the US together.

--We want to get married this year.

--We've been best friends for years and have photos and friends' testimonies to show it. However, we've never lived together nor have we integrated our finances.

1) As I understand it, the K-1 fiancee visa will take up to 6 months to process. Is this correct?

2) It may be denied because I can't prove that I can support her while she's in the States. My bank account is big enough to support us both for about 6 months while I look for a job. Will they accept a large bank balance as proof of support, or will I need to get a job first?

3) USCIS web site says that, once the K-1 visa is approved, we can go to the US and get married there. Once we are married, she can file the I-130. She can stay in the US legally while the I-130 is being processed. Is this true? Or does she have to go back to Nicaragua after we get married? What happens if she flies to Nicaragua on vacation while the I-130 is in process?

4) We don't want to wait 6 months to get married. We could get married here in Nicaragua and then file the I-130 afterward. That would mean that she would have to stay in Nicaragua for the 12 to 18 months it takes to finish processing.

5) While we're waiting for either of those visas, could she apply for a tourist visa? If she has to stay in Nicaragua while I live in the States, it would be nice if she could visit me for, say, three weeks a year, and I could visit her for three weeks a year.

I know similar questions have been answered, and I'm doing research as best I can. I'd appreciate some advice about my particular situation. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

[Patty♥Paul 8]

Hello all. I'm a US citizen engaged to a Nicaraguan citizen. I can't decide whether we should apply for the K-1 fiance visa and get married in the US or get married in Nicaragua and apply for permanent residence later. Here are some factors affecting our decision. Based on these factors, what do you think would be the best option for us?

--Neither of us have children or have been married before.

--She has never visited the US. She has a valid passport.

--I'm currently in Nicaragua on a tourist visa. In Nicaragua, you can live on tourist visas indefinitely. Get a 90-day visa at the border. Three months later go to the States for a few days. Come back and get a new 90-day visa. Rinse, repeat.

--I'm unemployed, but I'm looking for work in the US. Once I get job, we want to move to the US together.

--We want to get married this year.

--We've been best friends for years and have photos and friends' testimonies to show it. However, we've never lived together nor have we integrated our finances.

1) As I understand it, the K-1 fiancee visa will take up to 6 months to process. Is this correct?

2) It may be denied because I can't prove that I can support her while she's in the States. My bank account is big enough to support us both for about 6 months while I look for a job. Will they accept a large bank balance as proof of support, or will I need to get a job first?

3) USCIS web site says that, once the K-1 visa is approved, we can go to the US and get married there. Once we are married, she can file the I-130. She can stay in the US legally while the I-130 is being processed. Is this true? Or does she have to go back to Nicaragua after we get married? What happens if she flies to Nicaragua on vacation while the I-130 is in process?

4) We don't want to wait 6 months to get married. We could get married here in Nicaragua and then file the I-130 afterward. That would mean that she would have to stay in Nicaragua for the 12 to 18 months it takes to finish processing.

5) While we're waiting for either of those visas, could she apply for a tourist visa? If she has to stay in Nicaragua while I live in the States, it would be nice if she could visit me for, say, three weeks a year, and I could visit her for three weeks a year.

I know similar questions have been answered, and I'm doing research as best I can. I'd appreciate some advice about my particular situation. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

Maybe this could help you to make a decision,

http://www.visajourn...content/compare

God bless

Patty ♥

Edited August 5, 2010 by Patty♥Paul