Need Assistance

[pjandjocelyn 0]

Hello,

I am new to this site but a friend referred me here. My girlfriend is from the Philippines and still going through her annulment. she has her court date in Feb. to see if the judge will grant it to her. We are trying to figure out which way is faster for us to take for us to get married and get her a visa for America, either file for a K1 visa or get married in the Philippines and file for the spousal visa. We have been together for 2 and a half years and we worked together in Qatar where we met and stayed together for 19 months. She is now back in the Philippines where i have been visiting her were just not for certain which way to go. We want to get married as soon as possible so we can be together. We know it will take some time either way it goes, we just want to take the fastest way so we can finally be together. Please someone give us some guidance on which way we should go and what to look for. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you so very much

[Inky 1,110]

Start by reading this very carefully. Compare what you want to do and choose. http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

It explains the pros and cons and prices and est times etc.

[Juan & Nan 12]

Hello,

I am new to this site but a friend referred me here. My girlfriend is from the Philippines and still going through her annulment. she has her court date in Feb. to see if the judge will grant it to her. We are trying to figure out which way is faster for us to take for us to get married and get her a visa for America, either file for a K1 visa or get married in the Philippines and file for the spousal visa. We have been together for 2 and a half years and we worked together in Qatar where we met and stayed together for 19 months. She is now back in the Philippines where i have been visiting her were just not for certain which way to go. We want to get married as soon as possible so we can be together. We know it will take some time either way it goes, we just want to take the fastest way so we can finally be together. Please someone give us some guidance on which way we should go and what to look for. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you so very much

Wait until her anulment is done and the file for K-1. K-1 is about 3 months faster. The first part fo the process (your petition) takes about 6 months, the second part depends on your embassy, normally 2-3 months. If you file for K-1 you cannot get married until see arrives the US. If you get married before she arrives the US, you have to file for CR-1. The CR-1 process can take easily a year. I will warn you that if you file for a K-1, it is going to cost you more, because you have to file for the K-1 to enter the US and then after you get married, you also have to file for adustment of status. If you file CR-1 you only have to file once.

If money is not a problem, I recommend you do the same we did...we filed for K-1 because is was faster. Then, my fiancee came to the US, we got married and then filed fo adjustment of status.

I also recommend you go to the PI portal on this website and talk to other PI filers, they can tell you what their experience was at the US embassy in PI. Not every embassy runs the same way nor they have the same timeframes.

Good luck!

[Inky 1,110]

I also recommend you go to the PI portal on this website and talk to other PI filers, they can tell you what their experience was at the US embassy in PI. Not every embassy runs the same way nor they have the same timeframes.

Good luck!

The OP did post in the PI section. You can tell by looking at the top of the page and it says regional discussion Philippines.

[Juan & Nan 12]

The OP did post in the PI section. You can tell by looking at the top of the page and it says regional discussion Philippines.

Great

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Wait until her anulment is done and the file for K-1. K-1 is about 3 months faster

I don't know where you get "3 months faster", in truth the between Filing the Petition and POE the only real difference between CR-1 and K-1 is the NVC.

A K-1 will simply get an Embassy Case Number assigned and then be forwarded to the US Embassy where the interview will happen whereas a CR-1 Case will pay fees, submit interview documents and have your interview date assigned.

If you follow the information on VJ a CR/IR Case can move through the NVC in 3 - 4 weeks. So a lot of CR/IR Cases are getting to the Interview either at the same time or within a couple of weeks of K-1 Cases.

A huge plus for the CR-1 route is that POE triggers the issuance of the Greencard, there is no need to Adjust Status. In some states the beneficiary (immigrant) won't be able to get a drivers license or even state ID card until they have at least EAD (Work Authorization Card) and of course the K-1 Immigrant can't work until they receive the EAD which takes on average 3 months from application (not POE).

Then there is the fact that the K-1/AOS Process costs about $1,000 more in fees than the CR/IR Process.

In the end there really is not right answer to the question of which is best, it really depends on each couple's desires.

Don't forget thet her family will really want to attend her wedding...

[TeapotGirl 66]

K-1 is faster for you to be physically together again but wait for the annulment to be granted first. It's very expensive, tedious and complicated.

She will attach that annulment paper on her CENOMAR (Cert of No Marriage) and present it also when she gets her Medical Exam at St. Lukes and may go through another psychiatric evaluation if the reason is "psychological incapacity" on her part.

She also will be required to present a Police Cert from Qatar and other countries she resided with for at least 6 mos. Vacation doesn't count.

Edited October 31, 2011 by teapotgurl1983

[southcalhog 43]

K-1 is faster for you to be physically together again but wait for the annulment to be granted first. It's very expensive, tedious and complicated.

She will attach that annulment paper on her CENOMAR (Cert of No Marriage) and present it also when she gets her Medical Exam at St. Lukes and may go through another psychiatric evaluation if the reason is "psychological incapacity" on her part.

She also will be required to present a Police Cert from Qatar and other countries she resided with for at least 6 mos. Vacation doesn't count.

Teapotgurl where is Qatar located?

[TeapotGirl 66]

Teapotgurl where is Qatar located?

Middle east

[southcalhog 43]

Middle east

Ok i thought it was in Saudi Arabia.I also was thinking UAE, but i dont guess its there?

[TeapotGirl 66]

Ok i thought it was in Saudi Arabia.I also was thinking UAE, but i dont guess its there?

Yes, it's an Arab Emirate country. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf.

There are 3 independent Arab Emirates: Kuwait, Qatar and UAE. Famous Abu Dhabi and Dubai are part of UAE.

Edited October 31, 2011 by teapotgurl1983

[southcalhog 43]

Yes, it's an Arab Emirate country. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf.

There are 3 independent Arab Emirates: Kuwait, Qatar and UAE. Famous Abu Dhabi and Dubai are part of UAE.

I Emailed the USEM about the police certificate from Dubai,(UAE) they said the police certificate is not required because she is not physically present there now.I also looked at UAE website and they said the same thing there also. We also know others that worked in Dubai and they also was issued Visa without the Police certificate. So we wont even pursue hers since thats what they told us, and it was 2005 she worked there for 10 Months!

[TeapotGirl 66]

I Emailed the USEM about the police certificate from Dubai,(UAE) they said the police certificate is not required because she is not physically present there now.I also looked at UAE website and they said the same thing there also. We also know others that worked in Dubai and they also was issued Visa without the Police certificate. So we wont even pursue hers since thats what they told us, and it was 2005 she worked there for 10 Months!

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is different though it's in the Middle East and an Arab nation as well.

Wow that's a thought. At least if she is not required since it's from an Emirate country then that's an ease to a burden. It's just what is written in the I-29F requirement.

Maybe the reason behind it is that, if you are not cleared, you can't fly out of their country anyway. We all know how strict they are.

Edited October 31, 2011 by teapotgurl1983

[southcalhog 43]

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is different though it's in the Middle East and an Arab nation as well.

Wow that's a thought. At least if she is not required since it's from an Emirate country then that's an ease to a burden. We all read what's written in the I-29F requirement.

[marklovetina 52]

in my opinion, i did annulment and K1... Cr1 route is better... after she gets here in two wks. she can have her GC, she can work, not expensive, no more paper works to do like AOS and waiting time again for GC.. process right now.. there's no difference in K1.. it takes 6-7-8 mons. to finish almost the same us Cr1...