Time

[sus 70]

Aren't you planning to visit in August? Why not take that planned trip and use it as a visit - not a wedding - if things go well, you can file a K1 without having to go back and marry

[fitz 0]

because it would be cheaper to file a CR-1 then we can use the money we save to get her kids here

[sus 70]

On a K1 the kids automatically qualify for a K2 if you list them on the application - so no, it would not be cheaper.

And you are going to have income issues - You are not only sponsoring her, you are sponsoring 3 kids - so an $8 an hour job is probably not gonna cut it.

Edited March 30, 2011 by sus

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

On a side note, getting married doesn't guarantee that a visa will be issued, if the consular DONOT belive that the marriage is a true marriage. It is not us here on VJ that you will have to convince it will be the JA consular.

Getting married on a 1st visit, will send up a red flag for the consular in JA.

[fitz 0]

On a K1 the kids automatically qualify for a K2 if you list them on the application - so no, it would not be cheaper.

And you are going to have income issues - You are not only sponsoring her, you are sponsoring 3 kids - so an $8 an hour job is probably not gonna cut it.

ok you still have to pay for the kids either way. she will be here for a year or so before the kids can come. she will have a job and will be working too. She's a nurse so the income won't be a problem. not being smart but did you read everything that was said? just asking.

[fitz 0]

ok I understand all that. but I can't afford to keep traveling back and forth. plus my employer wouldn't want to keep giving me time off like that.

[Casprd 167]

Looks like a case of people giving you an honest answer to your question, but it isn't the answer you want so you're trying to convince us here on VJ of the reasons. As someone else posted, we on VJ are not the ones you will have to convince. Getting married on the first meeting (after 6 months of knowing her online) will be a red flag and could lead to a denial. Your income will be adequate for the two of you but with the addition of three children it won't be. I understand that you are not planning on bringing them to the US now, but on the forms for either a K1 or a CR1 you will have to list the children of hers which may be another red flag. As for the costs, no a K1 isn't really cheaper than a CR-1. Once you factor in all the things you have to do for the immigration status after she gets here then they are pretty comparable. So to summarize. 6 Months is a short time and will be noticed. Marriage on the first trip is a red flag and will be noticed. Her 3 children will be noticed whether you are sponsoring them now or not. The low income won't be a problem but the employment history may be a problem and will be noticed. So there are your answers.

You can choose to listen to the advice given about making more visits or not, but the people giving the advice have been down or are currently going down the same road so it behooves you to give some creedence to their advice.

[fitz 0]

I'm hearing everything that is said. I also understand what is being said.but if she doesn't have the kids cuz they are with the father then I don't know what else to do. I thank all that has given me advice. And plz don't think that I don't want to hear what is being said it's just I love her and she loves me and we are trying to be together as soon as we can. And want to do it the best way possible. So once again thank you for all the advice that has been given.

[Casprd 167]

I'm hearing everything that is said. I also understand what is being said.but if she doesn't have the kids cuz they are with the father then I don't know what else to do. I thank all that has given me advice. And plz don't think that I don't want to hear what is being said it's just I love her and she loves me and we are trying to be together as soon as we can. And want to do it the best way possible. So once again thank you for all the advice that has been given.

I can fully understand that but IMO it's better to do everything possible to improve your chances of approval. If you rush things with known red flags and your petition gets denied then you risk a lot longer seperation than if you had taken 3 or 6 more months at this point.

[Sergi9 110]

I can fully understand that but IMO it's better to do everything possible to improve your chances of approval. If you rush things with known red flags and your petition gets denied then you risk a lot longer seperation than if you had taken 3 or 6 more months at this point.

Just a reminder, there are multiple instances on this board of relatively short duration relationships together with extrodinarily quick and suprising approvals from USCIS and they have made it through to interview knowing each other less than 6 months and been approved.

While all of this info is "advisable" the reality is that its all a ####### shoot on how long it will take, how the interview will go and on and on ad naseum. The support requirements are pretty much written in stone, so document the income properly as you seem to be right on the edge. A few weeks off work for a chest cold could make or break your case. You might want to consider a co-sponsor

good luck

[Amy and Nick 37]

We are trying to be together as soon as we can. And want to do it the best way possible.

In my opinion these are conflicting statements. You can certainly marry on first visit and hope you will be successful. While it could happen, and has for others, it is a somewhat smaller chance than if you visit once before hand.

If you are convinced you love each other enough, I believe you should wait a little bit longer. Get a job, work for a few months, then use your allocated holiday to go and visit her or her to come visit you. YES its an extra cost, and YES it might seem silly to you, but you need to see it through the consular officers eyes.

If a friend told you "hey, i met this girl online and we talked for 6 months then i flew to her and married her" you would, im sure, have some questions.

Once again, I am not questioning your relationship, just stating what you may face. With waivers and reapplications in the future if you are denied it could up costing a lot more than you think.

I know its hard, I have been long distance with my husband for 3 years (married for 5 months), but I STILL worry we could have missed something crucial out in the evidence we sent in.

Unfortunately, when you fall in love with someone from another country, you cant get what you want or enjoy a normal relationship even most of the time!

[KittyPollitt 284]

If you marry her on the first visit after only chatting for 6 months, there is a high chance of denial. If she is denied on the basis of "short time spent together", at appeal, the only way to overcome the denial would be to make one or more trips to visit her and present that evidence for the appeal. This process can take well over a year for a CR-1 denial.

You might get lucky and get an approval with your current circumstances. If you don't, you're looking at having to take at least one trip back, and another whole year of waiting. Is all that really worth the $600-$800 it would cost to make a second visit before marrying?

Edited March 31, 2011 by squeaky580

[fitz 0]

ok so rule of thumb what is a goos acceptable amount of time so that the paper work will go thru with no red flags?

[Mike&Cherry 45]

Does it matter to you if you get married in Jamaica or the US? If not you should at least consider the K-1 Fiance Visa. Fill out form I-129F. Depending on the consulate it's a little faster. But also if you get denied, you still have other options, like getting married. If you get married on the first meeting/visit right away and get denied,you could have a lot of difficulty to get that over turned and basically your options to conteract their decision would be very limited.

I know that you are deep in love, but you should really not make any plans to marry on the first visit. What if you had a significant other here in the US that lived in another state? Would you get married without meeting/being together at least a few times before getting married.

Getting married on the first visit is a huge red flag. All the consulate thinks is that how can you really know and want to marry someone right away when you just met in person one time and that you got married right away. It appears to them that it's just a marriage for a green card and nothing else. Their job is to protect you as being a USC from being used. Please keep in mind, these are not my thoughts about you and your significant other. I'm just stating the possible perception the Consulate will have. Please don't be offended. Good luck. Please make sure you do lots of research here on VisaJourney about everything there has to do with the immigration process. Be as prepared and save a smuch evidence as possible. Good luck to you both.

[fitz 0]

I've had a talk with my lady and although we don't like it we are going to wait. I wanted to be able to bring her here but that seems like hitting ur head on a rock. So I guess instead of making two trips I'll have to make three. I say three coz I'm thinking I'll have to be at the interview for the CR-1. If I'm wrong plz somebody let me know.