Time Frame

[Iso 1]

Hello all,

I am an American citizen, living in Japan, with my Chinese fiancee. We plan to get married before going to the States, so that I can conduct my PhD studies. We will need to enter by August/September 2014 and I am mostly wondering when I should start the filing process. All I have gotten from the embassy is that most of the filings take about six months. My work contract will end next March and we would prefer to do some traveling in China and perhaps spend the summer in Thailand before going back to the States. I have read that we can file the I-130 up to one year in advance, but that it must be after the wedding. The step-by-step guide is awesome, but even it does not address some of my concerns about our situation.

Should I just go straight for the CR-1 visa or should we get the K-3 first and get it amended in the States? What would the difference be in how long processing would take? Do I need to be getting married sooner rather than later and filing the I-130 if I want to have the visa around this time next year? Will it be fine to do it late if we use the K-3? Am I in the wrong forum and should actually be looking at a K-1 for my situation? Please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

Forget the K3, it is obsolete and usually the process is closed at NVC stage and you are forced onto the CR-1 path anyway.

I would recommend filing now. If things go unexpectedly fats, you can delay some by taking your time sending back documents at NVC and embassy stage, then once issued, she'll have 6 months to use the visa.

[Iso 1]

Thank you for the advice. As it is, we would really prefer to get married at a later date, on our own schedule, rather than rushing to get it done for visa purposes. I will go ask around in the K-1 forum. Cheers and thanks again!