please help me understand/decide

[joe84 0]

But the only thing is that you have to pay for the AP paperwork (yet another fee!).

I take it that you mean this for K1. Just so I'm clear.

India? Cool! You'll have to let me know how it goes. What Embassy?

I don't know the answer to that. Does K1/K3 go to different embassies, and depending on where the fiance(e)/spouse lives? I thought they all go to the one in New Delhi. (I'm a a relative newbie to all of this).

I was hoping to do the DCF route too, but couldn't stay in India for more then 30 days. I know someone who did do the DCF in New Delhi, and it seemed so simple for him. He stayed 60 days, filed his wife's paperwork, she received an interview letter one month later and a few weeks after that, they were together. Seemed much, much quicker than the route I have been going with the K3. But oh, well, what is one to do? I went back to India for the winter holidays so all together, I have probably stayed in India almost 60 days, just not continuous though!

Good Luck with whatever you decide!!

Well pbgirl, I hope you get your K3 for your partner very, very soon! What is your timeline like, if you don't mind sharing?

Thanks and best of luck. I'll keep you posted once I decide what to do.

meauxna, thanks for all the clarification. I think you may be spot on about the 'straightforwardness' (mis)information being copied and pasted from (what used to be) here. There is not a whole lot of places on the net that provide information, outside of VJ, let alone doing a fantastic job at it like VJ.

BTW, how long does it typically take to get the EAD?

Thanks again to all of you, for all the answers. I appreciate it.

Edited February 21, 2006 by joe84

[Divine Mercy 0]

Where do you want to get married? That would affect which route you take.

I'm also trying to decide which route to take (K1 or K3) my fiance lives in Nigeria (Lagos). What difference does it make where we get married? I never even considered there was a possiblity there could be a difference.

[pbgirl 1]

Yup, was referring to the extra paperwork/fee for the K1 route.

Personally, it was important for me to get married in India to be near his/my family and be able to experience a true Indian wedding. I did not want to do the K1 because we would have to wait to get married, travel back to India etc.etc.

What embassy she goes to will depend on where she lives, and not the type of visa she gets.

My timeline was relatively typical. It took a few weeks to get my I130 approved. A few weeks for the NVS to forward it to Delhi. But then it kinda got stuck where it took two months for Delhi to even assign an interview and send my husband his appointment letter.

He had his interview at the embassy, showed all the paperwork etc, but was asked to submit full fingerprints. So now we are waiting for the darn letter to show up that tells us the fingerprint process is complete and he has his visa in hand. This was a month ago.

If they had not requested the fingerprints, he would be here with me right now. And the whole process from start to finish would have taken 4 1/2 months. Can you tell I am frustrated?!?!?!

[joe84 0]

Sorry to hear that pbgirl. But hang in there, good news may be just around the corner and your husband will soon be here with you. Best wishes.

Where do you want to get married? That would affect which route you take.

I'm also trying to decide which route to take (K1 or K3) my fiance lives in Nigeria (Lagos). What difference does it make where we get married? I never even considered there was a possiblity there could be a difference.

divinemercy, where you get married kinda does make a difference. K1 is a non-immigrant visa for an alien fiance(e) and K3 is a non-immigrant visa for an alien spouse.

So technically, if you're already married, you cannot bring your spouse on a K1. And if you aren't, then you'll be applying for a K1 (unless you want to travel and get married and then try K3). In any case, K1 is really a fiance(e) visa that presumes that the beneficiary will enter the US as a fiance(e) and marry the citizen IN THE US, within 90 days.

There does exist the possiblity, which I don't know whether is allowd or not: which is, after the K1 approval, you may travel to your fiance(e)'s country and get married there, before the fiance enters the US. And the fiance(e) or the now-spouse enters the US with a K1. It sounds too convoluted even as I write, let alone worry about whether it's possible within the limits of the visa.

[aussiewench 9]

There does exist the possiblity, which I don't know whether is allowd or not: which is, after the K1 approval, you may travel to your fiance(e)'s country and get married there, before the fiance enters the US. And the fiance(e) or the now-spouse enters the US with a K1. It sounds too convoluted even as I write, let alone worry about whether it's possible within the limits of the visa.

Once you marry you cant enter the US on a K-1 as it is a fiance visa. You would then have to apply for a spousal visa.....in other words start from scratch.

[joe84 0]

Yep! That's what I figured, and it totally makes sense. Nice simley, btw.

[aussiewench 9]

Yep! That's what I figured, and it totally makes sense. Nice simley, btw.

ahhhhh thats just one of the standard VJ ones.....wait till you see the ones in my (and other members) collection lol

[meauxna 15]

meauxna, thanks for all the clarification. I think you may be spot on about the 'straightforwardness' (mis)information being copied and pasted from (what used to be) here. There is not a whole lot of places on the net that provide information, outside of VJ, let alone doing a fantastic job at it like VJ.

BTW, how long does it typically take to get the EAD?

Thanks again to all of you, for all the answers. I appreciate it.

Glad it helped The info predates visajourney by several years, so it's been hanging around a long time, but all points back to the source document I mentioned. Anyway, now that more people have been doing DCF filings and posting online about them, all of us understand a lot more than we used to on the topic.

I dont follow EAD timelines exactly but I think it's fair to say that *from application* it takes 3-4 months. Usually application doesn't happen on the day the person enters the US, so factor in the wait (a day or so delay for a K-3---much more for the K-1 who must first get married and apply for AOS).

Does your employer offer any sort of sabbatical program?

[joe84 0]

I dont follow EAD timelines exactly but I think it's fair to say that *from application* it takes 3-4 months. Usually application doesn't happen on the day the person enters the US, so factor in the wait (a day or so delay for a K-3---much more for the K-1 who must first get married and apply for AOS).

Thanks for the info.

Does your employer offer any sort of sabbatical program?

It's a bit tough. Hopefully I'll decide on something soon.