Filling AOS via K1 is now a Misery

[Labi 4]

I have read lot of post on Adjustment of status from K1, student, and others. i came to conclusion that K1 is the worse means right now to bring your love one to the United States. Then i asked myself that those of us that came here or bring our love one via K1, what do we have to gain after having to wait for a pertition to be approved after five month, then send down to the NVC and then forward down to the embassy? Atleast my process took about 9 months and im sure others who are subjected to Administrative review spend beyond that if im not wrong. We paid much more for visa fees, medical examination and waiting time.

At the end we are here and its another long waiting process compare to other applicants adjusting via students and other means. All we get is our application being transferred to califonia in the name of speedy process though some of us still get transfer to local service centre but correct me if im wrong atleast 90 perc of us get transfer to califonia. When i received notification that my application was transfer to Califonia after reading other people stories here, i was unhappy.

Does is make sense now to get your love one come to live with you in the United States via the so called K1 or get them to apply for visiting visa and then adjust status to Permanent residence from there, atleast you wont have to wait so long since your application is most likely to pass through the normal process.

I put up this thread because it does not make sense to me no more to get your love here via K1. If you have more imput to this pls let us talk about it.

[Anh map 2,098]

I have read lot of post on Adjustment of status from K1, student, and others. i came to conclusion that K1 is the worse means right now to bring your love one to the United States. Then i asked myself that those of us that came here or bring our love one via K1, what do we have to gain after having to wait for a pertition to be approved after five month, then send down to the NVC and then forward down to the embassy? Atleast my process took about 9 months and im sure others who are subjected to Administrative review spend beyond that if im not wrong. We paid much more for visa fees, medical examination and waiting time.

At the end we are here and its another long waiting process compare to other applicants adjusting via students and other means. All we get is our application being transferred to califonia in the name of speedy process though some of us still get transfer to local service centre but correct me if im wrong atleast 90 perc of us get transfer to califonia. When i received notification that my application was transfer to Califonia after reading other people stories here, i was unhappy.

Does is make sense now to get your love one come to live with you in the United States via the so called K1 or get them to apply for visiting visa and then adjust status to Permanent residence from there, atleast you wont have to wait so long since your application is most likely to pass through the normal process.

I put up this thread because it does not make sense to me no more to get your love here via K1. If you have more imput to this pls let us talk about it.

It is incorrect to assume that anyone being granted a K1 would be issued a visitor visa.

[Labi 4]

It is incorrect to assume that anyone being granted a K1 would be issued a visitor visa.

You still go thru the same interview and sometimes K1 interview is more complicated than visiting visa. both visa has it advantage and disadvantage when it comes to interview.

[belinda63 3,051]

My now spouse would never have be granted a visitor's visa. This applies to most males from MENA countries, young females from the Philippines, Thailand, etc. (note i said most). And to bring them on a visitor's visa with the intent to immigrate is illegal and could result in a life-time ban from the US. Let us remember the supposed 9/11 hijackers came on visitor and student visas (which doesn't explain why they are easier to get than an immigrant visa).

[GandK 168]

Does is make sense now to get your love one come to live with you in the United States via the so called K1 or get them to apply for visiting visa and then adjust status to Permanent residence from there, atleast you wont have to wait so long since your application is most likely to pass through the normal process.

No offense but for some countries, Nigeria is one of them, I doubt you will easily get a visitor visa exactly for the reason you said. People get visitor visa with the intention to migrate to the US and then abuse the visa and try to adjust the status.

Don't know about you but I don't like to bet my entire future on the fact that my AOS application is "most likely to pass through the normal process".

You know what VISITOR visa or STUDENT visa is for?

Each visa is specific to the purpose of the visit and your situation.

It's because of people speculating and trying to circumvent the system that makes this process long and difficult for legitimate people who do things the legal and right way.

Edited July 6, 2012 by GandK

[newlyweds2010 208]

It is also illegal to use a visitor visa in lieu of a K1 visa to immigrate, unless there was no intent at the time of entry.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

First using a visitors visa with the intent of immigration is illegal. Many people seem to think they are above that law but it is still illegal. Nigerian especially young Nigerians rarely are granted visitors visas. So you could apply and apply and apply and never get a visitors visa. I had specific work related reasons why I chose the K1 over a CR1. If you want to immigrate you need to do things the right way. AP is the fault of certain Nigerians behaving badly, the pain we go through at the consulate is the same thing. It is frustrating to wait though the process. But waiting is something that must be done. Think of how long people wait to petition a sibling, a full 10 years at least. Soon your waiting will be over and all just a story of your past.

[HelenBradley 28]

Does is make sense now to get your love one come to live with you in the United States via the so called K1 or get them to apply for visiting visa and then adjust status to Permanent residence from there, atleast you wont have to wait so long since your application is most likely to pass through the normal process.

I put up this thread because it does not make sense to me no more to get your love here via K1. If you have more imput to this pls let us talk about it.

What are you talking about?

Using a visitors visa to enter US then adjusting status? This is not allowed. So it is not an alternative to a K1. People who adjust from student or tourist visas are already in the country when they decide to get married, K1 is for bringing someone over in order to get married.

K1 works for some people, not others. When deciding what route to take you weigh up your options and chose the one that makes the most sense for you personally. You also make sense of what is legal and what is not. Whatever way you chose, you can expect to follow the procedure and do what is required of you. It's simple. I understand if you are frustrated with the process and the waiting. Just try to get over it and keep a positive attitude. You can't change the system right now, you just have to go with it.

K1 worked for me and my husband, so we chose that. We were in Scotland living together and engaged. We chose K1 over getting married in the UK then doing a spousal visa because we decided it was important for us to be able to stay together after we got married. That's not important to everyone, so others may make a different choice.

Best of luck.

[Labi 4]

im glad i got these responses.. and exactly what i expect from you guys....well..you are been technical in your response. i would be offended if i get response base on where i came from. im not a fool and i know what these visas stand for. i came to the United states on visiting three time before my fiancee pertition a fiancee visa, if i dont know the right thing i would have done otherwise. i refuse to agree that the number of visiting visa issue depend on where you came from or that the level of scrutiny your application go through depend on if you are from high rist countries. If those assumptions are correct, then give me the criteria to justify high risk applicants then i will tell you that applicants from countries such as canada or u.k should not have waited more than 6, 7 or 8 month to receive there green card. i kow you will say administrative process but i tell you that you are wrong.

I do not support the fact that people should get visa for a wrong reason but my point i that atleast K1 should be given the ultmost preference atleast we are done the right thing.

[QueenE 174]

im glad i got these responses.. and exactly what i expect from you guys....well..you are been technical in your response. i would be offended if i get response base on where i came from. im not a fool and i know what these visas stand for. i came to the United states on visiting three time before my fiancee pertition a fiancee visa, if i dont know the right thing i would have done otherwise. i refuse to agree that the number of visiting visa issue depend on where you came from or that the level of scrutiny your application go through depend on if you are from high rist countries. If those assumptions are correct, then give me the criteria to justify high risk applicants then i will tell you that applicants from countries such as canada or u.k should not have waited more than 6, 7 or 8 month to receive there green card. i kow you will say administrative process but i tell you that you are wrong.

I do not support the fact that people should get visa for a wrong reason but my point i that atleast K1 should be given the ultmost preference atleast we are done the right thing.

-- Sir the K1 visa process is very frustrating but unless your not a young man, it is very difficult for young Nigerians to get a visiting Visa to the United States. The only few people that I know that were able to come were those who came with their school. I don't know why you refuse to believe visiting visa depends on where you came from? It does, these are not information that people are making up, but if you don't want to look at fact... Anyway no need complaining now just hang in their be patient cause it is a very frustrating situation! As a USC its frustrating that after paying my part and contributing to this country there is a chance that after all this waiting, that our petition will be denied. Meaning I was denied the right to marry the person I want in the country I was born and raised, but no need thinking about all the frustrating things because it just makes the wait seem longer

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Many things weigh into the ease of getting a visa. There are countries that have been long time friends with the US and have roughly the same standard of living as the US so there are few people wanting to come and stay, they mostly come and spend money. Those people get to participate in the VWP. Some hormonally gifted souls that can't do things the right way decide to abuse this path to short cut the visa process by claiming they weren't planning on staying ( good thing for those people that lie detectors are not part of the process ) There are other countries where the standard of living is much lower than the US, where people who get visas some how forget to leave, and when they come on marriage based visas they have a much higher rate of grabbing the green card and running. Those countries have a hard time on any visa path. Then a couple of crazies from various places decide that want to try to harm others by airplane and add to the screening that people go through ( I love you baby, wait until you see what's in my underwear) There are actual programs that keep track of all these things and yes it affects how much harder or easier the next group will be. I have been watching people pass through here for years and I can tell you that K1 recipients are more apt to bail once they arrive than CR1's. I can also tell you that some foreigners will learn from this site and prep like their life depends on it to get here, even if they could care less about their spouse. I also know that some like the money coming from a US honey and will purposely mess up the interview to avoid being in the US , all their real interest is the money cow which they will milk until it dries up and they wil find themselves a new cow. The whole thing is based on a line. Everyone is in the same line , but at each inspection station , one risky person may take longer to clear than someone else. A year start to finish is short. Why would a K1 be processed faster than another class ?

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

im glad i got these responses.. and exactly what i expect from you guys....well..you are been technical in your response. i would be offended if i get response base on where i came from. im not a fool and i know what these visas stand for. i came to the United states on visiting three time before my fiancee pertition a fiancee visa, if i dont know the right thing i would have done otherwise. i refuse to agree that the number of visiting visa issue depend on where you came from or that the level of scrutiny your application go through depend on if you are from high rist countries. If those assumptions are correct, then give me the criteria to justify high risk applicants then i will tell you that applicants from countries such as canada or u.k should not have waited more than 6, 7 or 8 month to receive there green card. i kow you will say administrative process but i tell you that you are wrong.

I do not support the fact that people should get visa for a wrong reason but my point i that atleast K1 should be given the ultmost preference atleast we are done the right thing.

It very much depends on where you are from when applying for a tourist visa, especially considering the fact that many countries do not even require a tourist visa to visit the US. My husband is from Mexico. It is very difficult for a single male to get a tourist visa. He applied 3 times, paid the fees and was denied all 3 times. He had a house, a job and family to return to, so it was not like he had no ties to his country. I had to make all the trips to visit him, his friends and family. He could never visit with mine in person. He got to know my daughter in person because I took her with me to visit him a couple of times. Even if he could have gotten one, we would never have thought to use a tourist visa for him to come and stay because it is illegal and we dislike the fact that so many doing it the illegal way are the reason he could not get a tourist visa in the first place.

We chose the K-1 route because I have children and could not just simply move to Mexico so easily. The K-1 and his adjustment of status interviews resulted in approval without too much hassle. The process can be sluggish, but in the end, it is worth it. Once you are past the waiting game for the K-1 and they are in the US and married to you, you are able to live your lives together and the wait for AOS and ROC are not so bad when you are not living apart during the wait any longer. I do not see why someone coming here on a K-1 should be given preference at any stage of the immigration process.

Edited July 7, 2012 by Jay-Kay

[Anh map 2,098]

You still go thru the same interview and sometimes K1 interview is more complicated than visiting visa. both visa has it advantage and disadvantage when it comes to interview.

Every visa applicant is assumed to have immigrant intent. A person applying for a visitor visa must convince the interviewing officer that they will leave at the end of their visit.

A K visa applicant has immigrant intent. Therefore the CO is looking at the validity of the relationship.

Two different set of criteria. Two different interviews.

There is no reason that a K1 visa should get any higher priority than another immigrant visa.

And yes, a person is judged to some degree based on where they come from.

[Olomi_811 130]

I don't think people examine the comparisons of K1 vs CR1 prior to filing. Some opt for K1 thinking they will get that person here with them sooner and it's not necessarily the case. In the end, "sooner" means more money in the US government's purse, having to wait to adjust, and a longer time for getting into the workforce.

[Messybrownhair 251]

I had a tourist visa. Still opted for a k1 because we wanted the long engagement for our parents. Everything worked well for us, no regrets!