id like to see k1 process made harder

[JohnandWendyB 21]

The OP is entitled to his opinions...try not to take it personally.

I think the process is pretty stringent. So I agree making it harder is not the answer.

Looks like you have your interview in a few days!

Good luck and relax, you'll be fine! I was so nervous but it was easy. You'll be together with your fiance soon

Sorry, but there is already an air of anti-immigration in this country and someone saying things of that nature is how movements are began. We can argue that one person doesn't make a difference but we can argue the other way as well. As the OP is entitled to his opinions, we are to our opposing opinions. If OP did not want discussion OP should not post. I suspect OP expected disagreement. I think OP needs to be enlightened that there are other circumstances far different than HIS that are just as deserving of the same consideration. I will give OP credit in that there are alot of people who look at this process as like adopting a puppy. This is a commitment to marriage and to your fellow Americans that you will undertake the process honestly and for love. You cannot properly date a foreigner unless you are both in the same area for an extended period of time. I will grant that BUT... I feel in many ways this relationship is the most honest and real relationship I have ever had based on what we have to do to keep it alive. I applaud Dee and others in trying to get people to understand there are more situations outside what one individual is in. He is only seeing things from his perspective. Money does not prove how real your relationship is-look at Anna Nicole Smith and the old guy she married.

[nurse1967 287]

I don't think co sponsers should be allowed at all. If you can't support your SO then you certainly don't have any business getting married.

[Helen Louise Pile 80]

Sorry, but there is already an air of anti-immigration in this country and someone saying things of that nature is how movements are began. We can argue that one person doesn't make a difference but we can argue the other way as well. As the OP is entitled to his opinions, we are to our opposing opinions. If OP did not want discussion OP should not post. I suspect OP expected disagreement. I think OP needs to be enlightened that there are other circumstances far different than HIS that are just as deserving of the same consideration. I will give OP credit in that there are alot of people who look at this process as like adopting a puppy. This is a commitment to marriage and to your fellow Americans that you will undertake the process honestly and for love. You cannot properly date a foreigner unless you are both in the same area for an extended period of time. I will grant that BUT... I feel in many ways this relationship is the most honest and real relationship I have ever had based on what we have to do to keep it alive. I applaud Dee and others in trying to get people to understand there are more situations outside what one individual is in. He is only seeing things from his perspective. Money does not prove how real your relationship is-look at Anna Nicole Smith and the old guy she married.

I agree.

I also think everyone is entitled to their opinion. I do meet people who I feel would benefit from being enlightened And I look for ways to enlighten myself often.

This is a US immigration forum so I guess free speech is something we must allow and appreciate I disagree with the OP, mostly in his manner of expression but he can say what he likes. No-one has to agree with him nor change his mind. Luckily he does not influence immigration laws.

I chimed in because I think you are right in that we have to be helping dispel immigration stereotypes and help people understand. I make a point of that even though my relationship story is pretty 'normal', or rather it is one that people understand and don't question.

You are right also that money is not a factor. However, it is important that anyone entering marriage can support themselves. This process is not expensive in the extreme, nor does it require an enormous salary, but it does require that the USC can support the person he brings to the country. Which I think is how it should be.

Interestingly...I have found the UK much worse for'anti-immigration' feeling. Other than the things I read about in the news I have found great acceptance of immigration herein the US. Everyone in my husbands (small) office has an immigration story,either they or their spouse is 'foreign', there are people from Sweden, England, Scotland, Armenia, Nigeria, Iran, Australia and Malaysia! I have rarely heard any anti immigrant sentiment.

[Chuward 5]

we have allready done the k1 etc etc.we are now removing conditions.i for one would like to see this whole process more stringent than it already is.we have our circle of friends whom are all k1 holders and ive closely watched all of them and there marriages.first,i would like to see more up front than just meeting 1 time within 2 years.second,this 90 day to marry must be extended to at least double (180 days)third,i believe that the income levels of pationers should be much higher than 125% of poverty level.we all have to admit the process is already long.uscis can only do so much when it comes to paperwork and background checks.but in all reality it is up to the petioner and the k1 visa holder to make a marriage that will last a lifetime.im gonna stick my neck out here and say i personally believe that only 40% of these marriages last any length of time.dont get me wrong i am happily married to a wonderful women and weve been together now a full 2 years.but looking back it sure was very tough.any comments welcome?

I totally agree with you, but they should leave everything the way it is and make an option to have a choice between the "normal petition" and the "harder pain in the a$$ petition" for the people that thinks more money and meeting more than once will really make any kind of difference in their marriages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bF9lxl9N6I&feature=related

[Casprd 167]

Good Post.

The OP contradicts himself by saying it should be tougher and than at the end says the process is tough. Which is it?

Making up some statistics without any credible evidence to back it up it quite erroneous as well.

Breakdown the word assume...you get my point. Post some legit facts and cite them to back up your claim.

I agree with the extension of 180 days. In the US, it's quite difficult to plan an average wedding in that time. 90 days, good lord your asking for an overload of work to throw a decent wedding in that amount of time!

No the OP never said the process was tough. he said "it sure was very tough" referring to the past two years with his wife I would assume. The K-1 visa is targeted with fraud and abuse and that is why the process is so difficult, but unfortunately it sets people up to fail so to speak. Personally I disagree with the OP only in that I would like to see the K-1 process eliminated. If you can't make the commitment of getting married before bringing someone to this country then you really need to think twice about what you're doing anyway. For many people the K-1 ends up being a sounding out period between themselves and their fiance(e). We have all seen the posts about the fiance(e) who comes here, then either skips out on the marriage or goes through the motions long enough to adjust status and then leave. The whole co-sponsor concept needs to be changed as that takes a great deal of the incentive for fraud out of the picture. So many things about the K-1 and CR-1 should be changed, including the ability to appeal the seemingly arbitrary decisions by the VO's. I read one article written by a former VO and it was very eye opening. I have also read many things that show stats between 20% and 40% of all family based visa's are fraudulent. Even on the low side you're talking 1 in 5. That's ridiculous. The penalties for committing fraud need to be such that it takes away the incentives and the penalties need to be enforced. The loop holes need to be closed and the process needs to be streamlined and more rigorous (no those aren't mutually exclusive)

[Josie-Be-Happy 11]

Sorry, but there is already an air of anti-immigration in this country and someone saying things of that nature is how movements are began. We can argue that one person doesn't make a difference but we can argue the other way as well. As the OP is entitled to his opinions, we are to our opposing opinions. If OP did not want discussion OP should not post. I suspect OP expected disagreement. I think OP needs to be enlightened that there are other circumstances far different than HIS that are just as deserving of the same consideration. I will give OP credit in that there are alot of people who look at this process as like adopting a puppy. This is a commitment to marriage and to your fellow Americans that you will undertake the process honestly and for love. You cannot properly date a foreigner unless you are both in the same area for an extended period of time. I will grant that BUT... I feel in many ways this relationship is the most honest and real relationship I have ever had based on what we have to do to keep it alive. I applaud Dee and others in trying to get people to understand there are more situations outside what one individual is in. He is only seeing things from his perspective. Money does not prove how real your relationship is-look at Anna Nicole Smith and the old guy she married.

Excellent response!! While most of these comments are "opinions", there are so many people out there that are fighting to be reunited with their loved ones. I'm very fortunate and blessed with a great job that allows me to go and visit my husband in Lebanon at least twice a year. Everyone knows that international trips are very costly and some people just can't afford it. Does it equate to a less loving relationship? I certainly would hope not. You cannot put a dollar amount when it comes to love. I'd give up everything that I have in order to be with my husband and if I had to move to Lebanon so that we could be together, I would do it without a second thought. I don't care how people meet or how long they have known each other before they get married. Love is Love. I have a friend who only knew someone for 1 week and got married and after 15 years, they are still happily married. Personally, I never ever dreamed of meeting a man from Lebanon, let alone going to Lebanon to see him. My husband and I laugh and thank God for bringing us together and how our relationship evolved in the way that it has. My husband is truly the best man I have ever met.

The divorce rate in the US is high, but my personal belief is that the divorce rate is lower for those like us who struggle every day to be united. We are faced with many obstacles than a typical marriage in the US. And if we are able to maintain a long distant relationship, overcome many obstacles, make many sacrifices to keep the relationship stronger through various technology means, we are in a better position of not becoming one of the divorce statistics.

Best wishes to all......

Edited September 10, 2011 by Josie-Be-Happy

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Nothing should be changed in the process or requirements because of divorce rates. Changes should be made to make the process more efficient and timely (less stressful) *if* it does not raise *fraud* rates.. The only changes that should be made that negatively effects cost/time/stress is if it proved to reduce fraud...

If removing the co-sponsor or moving the sponsor rate to 150% to 200% would really decrease fraud (say 80% of the fraud is committed by those with a co-sponser and they are one 10% of those that apply) I would be all for it. We have no hard data so decisions like these can't be made.. Even the quotes from the USCIS are using phrases like "it seams"..

What is needed for a next step to improve the process is for data to be gathered.. part of the immigration process should require filling out forms on an annual basis for say ten years (a simple five minute deal).. The names of the participants should be obfuscated so that they are free to answer questions without fear and more honestly... The questions would be like "Do you feel this marriage was done for the purpose of immigration" and "Are you still married? If not how long did the marriage last? Does your spouse have family in the US?" etc. etc.

Then we would have stats to argue about in forums like this and consulates could maybe see some things that they think are important are not really.. The process can be tweaked to better serve its purpose with as little pain inflicted to those that have to go through it as possible.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Definitely more paperwork should be added to the process!

[Enigma11561 336]

I posted this in another thread someplace and got my head handed to me but I think it still has merit.

A long distance relationship, especially a cross cultural one, that you intend to result in a marriage, IS EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING. You don't have to be rich.But if you cannot afford plane fares, processing fees, and all the other expenses that go along with this process, why even start? It's not for you. If you cannot spend the time to research what is involved, what you need to do, how everything is going to unfold, what are the requirements, then you only have yourself to blame. Not the government. And if you do not realize or understand that his can take many months, or even a year or two to complete, then welcome to the real world. If you do not have the time, strength, or patience or where with all to see this through. Again, don't even start.

There are always exceptions. I understand this.And there will always be problems that come out of left field. Happens all the time. But I agree with the OP in several respects.

First. You should be required to meet more than once. A single one week trip, regardless of how many hours you spent on the phone, skype, etc... does not enable you to really develop the relationship necessary to make a life impacting decision like marriage. To me it sounds more like lust than love. Some people have argued with me about this, but I see that most of them are still filing paperwork or are only married a short time. Fine. Lets talk about where you are 5 years from now.

Secondly. The 90 days should be made longer. This is the time to have this person acclimate themselves to your country, your customs, and learn more about yourselves. It is not just to "plan a wedding".

Third.Some of you have talked about divorce rates. Your missing the bigger picture. Assume a rate that is similar to that of domestic divorces.The domestic couple meet in a bar, a club, in church, hiking, on the beach, wherever. They date. Meet each others friends, meet parents, really get to know each other, maybe even live together for awhile, and then finally marriage. Here we are. Hours on the phone or skype talking to, really, a pretty photo.Then thousands of dollars in plane tickets, hours upon hours of filing forms and dealing with the government. Stress upon stress at each step hoping everything is right. Leaving behind family and friends, an entire life to start over again .Then trying to assimilate into another country. . Not to mention that as the USC we are subject to people who try to commit GC fraud in all its shapes. A domestic marriage has none of these issues.If we divorce it is a LOT harder.

[Egypt's Heart 6]

im sorry but i feel the process is already hard enough and many good couples end up taking a beating over it

sara

I agree totally with Sara, too many good , honest couples get beat up pretty badly over process.

Hi Sara, its me, Paris Heart. Would love to talk with you again, its been a long time.

[Dan & Jenni 457]

I don't think co sponsers should be allowed at all. If you can't support your SO then you certainly don't have any business getting married.

what a complete load of bullshit!!!! my fiance can easily afford to support me even though she doesnt quite earn enough to meet the requirements because she has no debt and very little outgoings so we have to have a cosponsor. are you saying that we dont deserve happiness because she earns 1000 dollars less than the 125% poverty level??? are you saying that poor people dont deserve to be happy??

[Josie-Be-Happy 11]

Definitely more paperwork should be added to the process!

:lol:

[Mithmeoi 29]

what a complete load of bullshit!!!! my fiance can easily afford to support me even though she doesnt quite earn enough to meet the requirements because she has no debt and very little outgoings so we have to have a cosponsor. are you saying that we dont deserve happiness because she earns 1000 dollars less than the 125% poverty level??? are you saying that poor people dont deserve to be happy??

THIS!

I did not make enough money either to get my hubby over here but my family was more than willing to help. We're both young and haven't had the chance to build up a nice career to make that much money, minimum wage is great like that.

Honestly, who cares as long as you're not pulling from the government? I've never received SS money or any kind of help from the government before or after he got here.

Edited September 10, 2011 by Mithmeoi

[Miss smarty pants 84]

I will give OP credit in that there are alot of people who look at this process as like adopting a puppy.

I think it should be harder to adopt a puppy. LOL. Look at all the ''cute little puppy's'' that grow up and get thrown back to the animal shelter.

[Nicoco 26]

I'm working my butt off and I am still over the 125% requirement, but I'm scared that I won't make it because BKK doesn't allow co-sponsors. How is this fair to me? OP, are you telling me that because I don't make as much as you, I shouldn't be allowed to marry my fiance?

Edited September 10, 2011 by Ni-ing & Ice