K-1 Visa for fiancee and daughter

[Katiedog 6]

Thanks to everyone who has answered my posts on this forum. I really appreciate the generosity. I have a new question to ask the experts. I will apologize first in the event this question has been previously answered on the forum.

My fiancee and I will apply for the K-1 Visa most likely in September of this year. Judging from the experiences of the other people who have applied for K-1 VISA for travel from Ukraine, it seems to take about six months or so from start to completion and travel being legal. My fiancee has a 13 year old daughter who will also come to the USA. The daughter will not finish her school term in Ukraine until the end of May, but my fiancee wishes to come to America as soon as the VISA is granted to her from the US Embassy. That may be some time well before the end of the daughter's school term. Can the fiancee come to America first and have the daughter follow at a later date?

[babyjk 7]

Thanks to everyone who has answered my posts on this forum. I really appreciate the generosity. I have a new question to ask the experts. I will apologize first in the event this question has been previously answered on the forum.

My fiancee and I will apply for the K-1 Visa most likely in September of this year. Judging from the experiences of the other people who have applied for K-1 VISA for travel from Ukraine, it seems to take about six months or so from start to completion and travel being legal. My fiancee has a 13 year old daughter who will also come to the USA. The daughter will not finish her school term in Ukraine until the end of May, but my fiancee wishes to come to America as soon as the VISA is granted to her from the US Embassy. That may be some time well before the end of the daughter's school term. Can the fiancee come to America first and have the daughter follow at a later date?

Yes the daughter can follow her at a later date but it must be within a year of her mum's travel to you.

[Darnell 8,478]

ya, it can done, but May? May 2011? This is August 2010.

So, filing in Sep 2010, fast forward 6 to 9 months, possible interview date between March to May, 2011. Whew !!!

Once a visa is issued, the visa usually has a 6 month 'expiration date' on it - must travel prior to the expiration date.

Can travel seperately? Absolutely.

In the end, pay attention to that 'visa expiration date' , issued after interview day.

For a 'timeline' of events, I think you'll be ok...

No need to worry about actual 'K-2 follow to join' type of case, where the K-2 must have a visa issued with 1 year of the K-1 holder's K-1 visa approval date - they can interview on the same day, instead.

Edited August 23, 2010 by Darnell

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Yes, we did that with one of two sons. However with a 13 year old I do not recommend it. Here is why...

Your wife will be unable to leave the US until she has a green card or AP which can be some months AFTER you are married. The process of a 13 year old leaving Ukraine is complicated by the need of having the absent parent (father) consent to her leaving. So what if she wants to come 2 months after your fiancee and your (then) wife can't leave? How will her daughter come? Her daughter will be listed in her passport and must travel with her. Your wife will have to go to get the daughter.

I would suggest one of two things....

1. Go ahead with the visas and just delay her and her daughters arrival. The visas are valid for 6 months. If the visa is issued in February, for example, just wait until May for both of them to come.

2. Pull her daughter out of school and jump in mid-year right here. The trauma is minimal, at least compared to what it will be anyway.

If her daughter is not already speaking English, get her in tutoring now. Talk to your local school district so they are prepared for a non-native speaker when she arrives (depending on where you live it may not be an issue, but check just to be sure)

I strongly suggest you do NOT leave a 13 year old behind to come later. Our sons were 13 and 18 when Alla came. The 18 year old stayed as he was in college and still goes to college in Moscow, he did not need the father's permission and has his own passport. Travel for him is easy.

If you are stil linterested, you can do a k2 to follow within one year of the issuance of her visa OR you could get both visas issued at one time, the fiancee could come the next day and the daughter within 6 months.

Edited August 23, 2010 by Gary and Alla