I want to bring my foreign bride to the U.S. but only for 2 years because of retirement and return to her county

[elgringo954 7]

I am marrying a foreign bride in Costa Rica and would like to bring her to the United States for 2 years until I retire and then would return to her country for retirement. I've tried twice for tourist visa's for her but was denied because of her lack of ties to her community. Do I have to go through all the hoops for a permanent type of visa even though it's only for a two year time period for her to be in the United States? Can somebody help please. I've written to the consular department in Costa Rica but they are very vague in their response and don't appear to read all of the information.

[EndlessStory 53]

Yes, I believe you do need a Permenant visa like K1 if you are engaged and are going to marry. CR1 if you are already married. B2 visa (tourist) only allow her to live there for 6 months then she need to leave and re enter but its subject to POE officer allowing her in again the next time or not

[lost_at_sea 995]

Yep. Sounds like you'll need to do the hoop jumping. Even if she could get a tourist visa, that wouldn't allow her to live in the US for 2 years.

It could take a year for her to get the CR-1, however (some have waited longer, some less, it's very unpredictable). There's the possibility that by the time all the hoops have been jumped, you're already to the point of your retirement plans. It maybe worthwhile to study the timeline averages and costs.

If you don't marry in Costa Rica, you could bring her to the US to marry on a K1. They're currently processing faster (again, subject to unpredictable change) and you could file for that right away, giving you a better chance of having her in the US for more of those 2 years. This is, however, a more costly route due to having to do Adjustment of Status after US entry and marriage.

Edited January 4, 2014 by lost_at_sea

[elgringo954 7]

Yes, I believe you do need a Permenant visa like K1 if you are engaged and are going to marry. CR1 if you are already married. B2 visa (tourist) only allow her to live there for 6 months then she need to leave and re enter but its subject to POE officer allowing her in again the next time or not

Thank you

Thank you

Yep. Sounds like you'll need to do the hoop jumping. Even if she could get a tourist visa, that wouldn't allow her to live in the US for 2 years.

It could take a year for her to get the CR-1, however (some have waited longer, some less, it's very unpredictable).

Yep. Sounds like you'll need to do the hoop jumping. Even if she could get a tourist visa, that wouldn't allow her to live in the US for 2 years.

It could take a year for her to get the CR-1, however (some have waited longer, some less, it's very unpredictable).

Yep. Sounds like you'll need to do the hoop jumping. Even if she could get a tourist visa, that wouldn't allow her to live in the US for 2 years.

It could take a year for her to get the CR-1, however (some have waited longer, some less, it's very unpredictable).

[lost_at_sea 995]

Thank you

Thank you

I made some edits to my response above with further thoughts/suggestion.

[elgringo954 7]

Yes, that seems like what it's boiling down to and I'm assuming that even though am I-130 and an I-129 will be filed they wouldn't approve the Tourist visa knowing that the two prior forms are in the process if you don't qualify for the tourist because of the lack of ties to her community. Thanks

[lost_at_sea 995]

Yes, that seems like what it's boiling down to and I'm assuming that even though am I-130 and an I-129 will be filed they wouldn't approve the Tourist visa knowing that the two prior forms are in the process if you don't qualify for the tourist because of the lack of ties to her community. Thanks

Yup. Pretty much.

[elgringo954 7]

Although I just read that if I am married in that country, which were our intentions, and become a legal resident I may be allowed to do a Direct Consular Filing for the CR-1 and processing times are typically less than 3 months with the interview taking place Anywhere from 1 week to 3 months. The DCF bypasses the filing in the US. There just may be some hope after all!!!

[Hypnos 6,578]

You need to have legally lived in the foreign country for at least six months to file through DCF. Additionally, you can only file DCF in the following countries: http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices

Edited January 4, 2014 by Hypnos

[Cathi 5,782]

Although I just read that if I am married in that country, which were our intentions, and become a legal resident I may be allowed to do a Direct Consular Filing for the CR-1 and processing times are typically less than 3 months with the interview taking place Anywhere from 1 week to 3 months. The DCF bypasses the filing in the US. There just may be some hope after all!!!

DCF. Isn't an option for Costa Rica, they don't offer it. Even if they did you would have to be a legal resident there before you can file. In some countries you have to be a resident for 6 months, in other countries a year. In Jordan you have to be a legal resident for one year before you can file DCF. Sorry, it just isn't an option for you. List of countries that offer DCF and their residency requirements http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices Edited January 4, 2014 by mimolicious

[Cathi 5,782]

You need to have legally lived in the foreign country for at least six months to file through DCF. Additionally, you can only file DCF in the following countries: http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices

In some countries the residency requirement is 1 year, Jordan is one of those countries. http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/jordan-amman-field-office

[altonbebe 48]

She may not want to go back to Costa Rica after coming to the U.S.

Remember, you cannot miss what you never had.

[lost_at_sea 995]

1 week for DCF is also fantasy. 3 - 6 months is more like it.

Edited January 4, 2014 by lost_at_sea

[elgringo954 7]

You need to have legally lived in the foreign country for at least six months to file through DCF. Additionally, you can only file DCF in the following countries: http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices

[elgringo954 7]

Yes, aparantly so, ugh!! Guess ill stock with The k-3 as it appesrs to fit in exactly within my 2 year necessity before retiring back to Costa Rica and can avoid all the additional fee's of AOS. Thanks

1 week for DCF is also fantasy. 3 - 6 months is more like it.

Yes I know, was just quoting what was said. Thanks