Can you interrupt with the K-1 with a marriage?

[diana w 1]

This week we're really excited to begin the process of seeing each other again and getting married.

My fiancee is in Colombia, while I'm here working in the U.S.

What I'm seeing is that the process takes about 5-8 months right?

My question is, if at some point within that timeframe while the visa is being processed if I can take some time off from my busy work schedule to go and visit her and marry here there. Would that speed anything up?

For example a lawyer in Chicago told us that if I were to marry her in Colombia than she could just go in and apply for a tourist visa or something like that?

We just want the fastest way to be together, just like everyone else

Thanks everyone

[Inky 1,111]

Marrying her would put the entire process at a DEAD stop. NO more visa NO more process.

The K-1 is for a FIANCE(E) !! Not a spouse.

If you marry you have to pay new fees start all over again from the very bottom of the pile and file for a CR-1 petition - which has a wait time of close to 1 year.

There is no fast way or faster way to do this.

[mugumogu 18]

I wouldn't bother starting the K-1 process if you were going to do that. In any case, what are the requirements for a Columbian national to marry a foreigner? My wife and I considered marrying in Mexico prior to going the K-1 route. For her to marry a foreigner, she would have had to get permission from the government, we would have to undergo medical tests, I would have to get all of my english documents translated into Spanish and notarized, etc. When I figured it all out, it would have taken us about the same amount of time to marry in Mexico as it did to wait for the K-1. Even if you interrupt the process and marry her, you still have to go your separate ways and petition for her to come back as your wife. She can't automatically enter the US even if you marry in Columbia. The choices are really to file the K-1 now and get the ball rolling or go to Columbia, marry there, come back, and start the petition to bring her back as your wife.

[Tim/Mav 305]

I agree with the above Posts. No Petition is Filed at this time. Just advise.

The question is: What does the Petitioner want to do?

The time difference is not the Issue. (K-1 or CR1) There is No Hurry.

[aaron2020 11,651]

This week we're really excited to begin the process of seeing each other again and getting married.

My fiancee is in Colombia, while I'm here working in the U.S.

What I'm seeing is that the process takes about 5-8 months right?

My question is, if at some point within that timeframe while the visa is being processed if I can take some time off from my busy work schedule to go and visit her and marry here there. Would that speed anything up?

For example a lawyer in Chicago told us that if I were to marry her in Colombia than she could just go in and apply for a tourist visa or something like that?

We just want the fastest way to be together, just like everyone else

Thanks everyone

Marriage voids the k-1 petition. The k-1 is for a fiancée and not a spouse. A spouse would never qualify for a fiancée visa.

The lawyer is an idiot. Marriage to a US citizen is not going to allow your wife to walk into the US Embassy for anything. To immigrate to the US, your wife woul need an spousal immigration visa. That would take a heck longer than the K-1 visa that she is currently waiting for.

The fastest way for her to get here is for you to continue the k-1 process. To qualify for and use the k-1, your fiancée can't be marry until after she enters the US.

[bigdog 376]

Finish the K1, hang in there.

[diana w 1]

Hmmm ok the only reason we thought about this was because we heard from this lawyer that the best option is if I go to Colombia and marry there, and then she can actually file for a visa that would get her here in 2 weeks. She actually said tourist visa.

So that's a no go?

[N M 96]

Hmmm ok the only reason we thought about this was because we heard from this lawyer that the best option is if I go to Colombia and marry there, and then she can actually file for a visa that would get her here in 2 weeks. She actually said tourist visa.

So that's a no go?

She can always apply for a tourist visa. But under the scenario you've suggested, as the spouse of a US Citizen, she'd most likely be denied for immigrant intent.

Aaron is right - that lawyer is an idiot. Don't listen to another word they say.

[Moomin 292]

That lawyer simplified things quite a bit. Applying for a tourist visa after getting married is legal and some end up with the visa. However, it shows a strong tie to the US rather than home country. What the lawyer told you is basically to get married, apply for tourist visa, come to the US and adjust status. It's not only bad advise of skipping a few steps, it's suggesting immigration fraud. That lawyer will probably not assist you when his/her advise backfired and you're left with the mess.

Getting married, applying for a tourist visa.. Go ahead and try. Even with a fiance petition out there(depending on the foreign fiance's country) you might find yourself in denial after denial. ON the bright side, a denied tourist visa isn't a negative factor for your process unless the foreign fiance have been digging for any kind of way into the US.

The petition can't be upgraded if you decide to marry. Think of it as a contract. Your part of the deal is that you remain legally free to marry until your fiance enters US and marry you within 90 days. Anything before or after that, and the K1 is void.

[L+T 71]

This week we're really excited to begin the process of seeing each other again and getting married.

My fiancee is in Colombia, while I'm here working in the U.S.

What I'm seeing is that the process takes about 5-8 months right?

My question is, if at some point within that timeframe while the visa is being processed if I can take some time off from my busy work schedule to go and visit her and marry here there. Would that speed anything up?

For example a lawyer in Chicago told us that if I were to marry her in Colombia than she could just go in and apply for a tourist visa or something like that?

We just want the fastest way to be together, just like everyone else

Thanks everyone

10 years ago i went through K-1. While waiting for K-1 we decided to try visitor visa at the same time. I told her to tell the consulate she plans to return before visitor visa expired or when the K-1 is approved in order to legally finish the process. Logical, right, legal, sure... In the end the consulate was nice, but told her she just didn't want to wait for the K-1, and gave her a big black no stamp in her passport. The try however did not affect the final K-1 approval.

[Laure&Colin 558]

Marrying her would put the entire process at a DEAD stop. NO more visa NO more process.

The K-1 is for a FIANCE(E) !! Not a spouse.

If you marry you have to pay new fees start all over again from the very bottom of the pile and file for a CR-1 petition - which has a wait time of close to 1 year.

There is no fast way or faster way to do this.

The CR1 doesn't take one year... if you look at the stats for the past year you'll see it takes less than 2 months more than the K1 on average!

Anyway, no you can't get married and pursue a K1. Married applicants are ineligible for a K1 visa. It would send you back to the very bottom of the hill, with a brand new petition to start from scratch.

[Peter_Pan 661]

I did read some place about someone who married a Romanian, then went to the US Embassy with some papers and manage to obtain a visa for her in 2 weeks'time.

[K&E2009 71]

I'm more qualified than that "Lawyer" (without the papers to prove so )

[payxibka 10,047]

I did read some place about someone who married a Romanian, then went to the US Embassy with some papers and manage to obtain a visa for her in 2 weeks'time.

You point?

what kind of visa? Tourist? sure it happens occasionally but it is the exception not the norm?

[Hank_ 9,174]

This week we're really excited to begin the process of seeing each other again and getting married.

My fiancee is in Colombia, while I'm here working in the U.S.

What I'm seeing is that the process takes about 5-8 months right?

My question is, if at some point within that timeframe while the visa is being processed if I can take some time off from my busy work schedule to go and visit her and marry here there. Would that speed anything up?

For example a lawyer in Chicago told us that if I were to marry her in Colombia than she could just go in and apply for a tourist visa or something like that?

We just want the fastest way to be together, just like everyone else

Thanks everyone

If you are going to use a lawyer..... FIND A SMARTER ONE.... that one is an idiot!!!