K1 vs K3

[mistizagirl 0]

hi, im new to this site and trying to figure out how to use it. my fiancee is in khemisset, morocco and we want to apply for k1 or k3 visa. im looking into a lawyer for our process. i was wondering if anyone could give me some suggestions.... would it be better for us to marry in morocco and file for k3 or go with the k1 and marry here? would getting a lawyer help me to better my chances of me not messing up the process and it taking forever to get approved? my love thinks we should marry in morocco and then file for k3 visa. he thinks its more of a guarantee for us to finally be together. thanks for your help.....elizabeth

[Anh map 2,098]

Read all the intro guides here on VJ to get a feel for whether you want / need a lawyer.

The advice and members here are a TREMENDOUS resource. The regional forums can get you specific answers for your fiance's part of the world.

The prevailing opinion is that the K-3 takes longer than the K-1. Marriage doesn't mean auto-admission.

Do some reading, ask some questions, avoid the trolls, and get ready for one heck of a ride!!!

Best of luck and welcome!!

[meauxna 15]

I recommend asking in the MiddleEast/NorthAfrica forum here. Casa is a special needs Consulate.

[mistizagirl 0]

what do u mean by special needs?

[meauxna 15]

what do u mean by special needs?

I mean that it is not a 'drop in and pick up your visa' type of post. There are particular red flags that the COs there look for and anyone going there would be wise to do a little Consulate-specific research in planning their way through there.

Also, the ME/NA folks can comment more accurately on the fiance vs spouse idea. Clearly there are pros and cons to each way, so my 'better' may not be your 'better'. If you can clarify your question more, that would be better.

[Erik 0]

First off... welcome

As the others have mentioned, checking out the MiddleEast/NorthAfrica section of the site for more specific information will certainly help you tons.

It's hard to say which is better, as it really is an individual thing. Generally speaking, I believe the K3 does take longer, somewhere in the 10 month range. Of course, I'm sure some have gotten it sooner... and unfortunately later as well.

Right now, the K1 process is probably gonna run you somewhere in the 6 month range, or a tad longer. It all depends how quickly the Service Center recovers after they clean up this IMBRA fiasco. Of course, you could be a lucky duck, and get it sooner as well.

As far as a lawyer, in "my" opinion it's a waste of money. Now that you have found VJ, and it's many resources you should not have a problem going at the process alone. Most of the time if someones case is a very complicated one, that is when most will suggest using a lawyer. But, if your case is straight forward, you really shouldn't have any problems. Just do your research, ask questions, and double/triple check your work. A lawyer as we have seen many times here, can often hamper the process rather than help it. Also, they can do nothing to speed your petition along any faster than if you do it yourself.

[nfs 0]

First off... welcome

As the others have mentioned, checking out the MiddleEast/NorthAfrica section of the site for more specific information will certainly help you tons.

It's hard to say which is better, as it really is an individual thing. Generally speaking, I believe the K3 does take longer, somewhere in the 10 month range. Of course, I'm sure some have gotten it sooner... and unfortunately later as well.

Right now, the K1 process is probably gonna run you somewhere in the 6 month range, or a tad longer. It all depends how quickly the Service Center recovers after they clean up this IMBRA fiasco. Of course, you could be a lucky duck, and get it sooner as well.

Well, I am seriously hoping that my K1 process won't be more than "a tad longer" than 6 months, but I applied in early April and haven't heard anything yet, and I'm not alone. People have been waiting even longer. However long it takes, it's difficult to tell. I'm thinking I'll be lucky if we're celebrating Christmas together. But the fact that I have a lawyer also has not been speeding things up for me at all. If anything, it's the reverse, because you send everything to them and then they send it off, etc., actually creating a few more possibilities for screw-ups. It also tends to make you less involved in the process than if you were doing it yourself. So, if your case is not too complex, I recommend either just getting advice from a lawyer and filing the papers yourself, or avoiding a lawyer and saving the money.

K3 may or may not take longer depending on multiple things. It has taken longer in the past, but at this point however long anything takes is not predictable! You will need to store up a lot of patience for either process!

It's my understanding that if you are eventually planning on living in the US it might be better to do a K1 and marry here. If you look around this site, you should find comparisons of K1/K3.

You can read the Guides, find the instructions and download the forms and see how comfortable you feel with doing them yourselves. If you do your own taxes, it shouldn't be much worse. If you are patient, good at following instructions, and maybe a little obsessive/compulsive, you should be fine.

[Artegal 1]

.... would it be better for us to marry in morocco and file for k3 or go with the k1 and marry here?

Elizabeth,

Answer the following questions:

K-3 is recommended if you answer the following questions like so:

Will his family be able to travel to the USA for a Wedding here? Answer = No

Will your family be able to travel to Morocco for a Wedding there? Answer = Yes

How much paperwork, translations, customs, laws, medical exams, fees, etc. is involved to get married in Morocco? Answer=Not much worse than a marriage in the USA

Do you want your foreign spouse to have a Green Card and SSN right away? Answer= Yes

K-1 is recommended if you answer the following questions like so:

Is having both sides of the family present at the wedding important? Answer = Not important

Do you have a lot of vacation time and money to travel back and forth from the USA and Morocco? Answer = No

Are you willing to wait for a Green Card and SSN while you file for AOS? Answer = Yes

How much paperwork, translations, customs, laws, medical exams, fees, etc. is involved to get married in Morocco? Answer = A whole lot, Candy Apple Red-Tape!

Edited August 20, 2006 by Artegal

[nfs 0]

here's a link to a K1/K3 comparison:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare