Planning stages Philipines - Arizona K1 K3? Lawyer No Lawyer

[AMG32id 1]

Hello

We are lucky to have found this web site before we get started. We are herring it's 18 months for a K3 visa. SO we were thinking K1. Going to meet her in march. Starting paperwork when I get back. Was thinking then getting married in the Philippines so she could do it in front of her family. But I am thinking that might mess things up? Cant really talk to anyone for the government. Did ask a lawyer a few questions, but the free questions are running out. lol. It says the wait times are 5 months for K! or K3. but have not really seen any timelines on this site yet that says 5 months for either. Can you tell me which way you guys went? K1 K3. How much harder is a K3. My lawyer charges $1000 for a K1 and $2500 for a K3. was thinking about doing it myself. Can you tell me your story, did you use a lawyer or do it yourself. There was an ad on this website for like $150 to maybe just fill out the paperwork. The paperwork looks easy. Got it off the government web site. Actually visited out Phoenix office. Should I choose California or Texas? looks like they don't process it here in Arizona. Doe anybody think it's a bad idea to file a K1, then while waiting get married in the Philippines. We want to be together as soon as possible. SO I had an idea if K3 is same time as a K! then marry in front of a judge in Singapore (that's were she is working on a work visa) come back and file a K3, then go back for a month a give her dream wedding in the Philippines, in front of her Roman Catholic family. Then getting the visa, then making sure it's all good with the government and getting married again in the states maybe. in front of a judge, not sure if a Philippines wedding will hold up here in the US for like taxes or something important in the future? lol worry too much?

[slowlyman 118]

If you want to bring your fiance here and then marry. You will file the K-1. If you want to marry before immigrating, you will file the the CR-1.

Although the K-3 is still listed on the site, the prevailing opinion here is that the K-3 is obsolete.

Regarding an attorney, you choice really. The process is not hard although it can be frustrating. All the information you need can be found on this site.

You are basically paying an attorney fill out paperwork for you. You still need to do all the legwork, collecting document, going to appointments, etc. The attorney can do nothing to expedite your file. You work through the process at the same pace if you file or the attorney files.

The CR will take a bit longer, but you will not need to file AOS after you get here. The K-1 will process faster, but then you have additional work after you get here.

You can compare timelines here:

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/irstats.php?cfl=

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/stats.php?cfl=

Edited January 16, 2014 by slowlyman

[dwheels76 5,468]

Hello

We are lucky to have found this web site before we get started. We are herring it's 18 months for a K3 visa. SO we were thinking K1. Going to meet her in march. Starting paperwork when I get back. Was thinking then getting married in the Philippines so she could do it in front of her family. But I am thinking that might mess things up? Cant really talk to anyone for the government. Did ask a lawyer a few questions, but the free questions are running out. lol. It says the wait times are 5 months for K! or K3. but have not really seen any timelines on this site yet that says 5 months for either. Can you tell me which way you guys went? K1 K3. How much harder is a K3. My lawyer charges $1000 for a K1 and $2500 for a K3. was thinking about doing it myself. Can you tell me your story, did you use a lawyer or do it yourself. There was an ad on this website for like $150 to maybe just fill out the paperwork. The paperwork looks easy. Got it off the government web site. Actually visited out Phoenix office. Should I choose California or Texas? looks like they don't process it here in Arizona. Doe anybody think it's a bad idea to file a K1, then while waiting get married in the Philippines. We want to be together as soon as possible. SO I had an idea if K3 is same time as a K! then marry in front of a judge in Singapore (that's were she is working on a work visa) come back and file a K3, then go back for a month a give her dream wedding in the Philippines, in front of her Roman Catholic family. Then getting the visa, then making sure it's all good with the government and getting married again in the states maybe. in front of a judge, not sure if a Philippines wedding will hold up here in the US for like taxes or something important in the future? lol worry too much?

First get K3 out your head. Also get file K1 and marry there out your head you can't marry her until she gets here on a K1 if thats what Visa you want.

If just getting her here the fastest is your goal most def file the I-129F Fiancee' petition.

Also you have no choice what service center it goes to Lewisville, Texas not California. Then they will decide where too send CSC, VSC, TSC or where ever.

You can easily do it yourself. But for now focus on meeting and enjoying each other. Congratulations.

[belinda63 3,038]

If you file the K-1 you have to get married for the first time in the US. If you marry while the K-1 is processing you void the petition and will have to START OVER with the CR-1. There is no transferring from a K-1 to a CR-1.

The CR-1 is what you will pursue if you wish to marry anywhere other than the US. A marriage in any country other than the US that is recognized by the government of that country as a legal marriage is the same as being married in the US.

The total time for the K-1 is shorter overall but when she arrives you will have to file for AOS and she can't work until she receives her EAD.

The time for a CR-1 is running around 12 months or more.

Make sure you read up on the entire process as having evidence of a relationship is a big part of obtaining the visa. Using an attorney is your choice but most of us did it by ourselves. Using a "service" to me is useless since all they are doing is taking your information and filing out the forms with it, same as you could. Don't believe any of those that say "guaranteed" or "faster" as there is no such thing.

[Darnell 8,478]

I not know where you are herring things about the K-3,

but

if'n you two are already married, currently MOST I-130 petitions for CR-1 visa chasers are being expedited at USCIS, when the foreign spouse lives in the Phils, due to Typhoon Haiyan devastation.

Since she is in Singapura, and you two not marry as of this date/time stamp,

I suggest _YOU_ file the I-129F this weekend, seeking a K-1 visa later.

Why? I-129F petitions are fast at USCIS at the moment. This could change-up in a month or so.

Edited January 16, 2014 by Darnell

[JbTin 51]

-If your situation is not too complicated, then there is no need to hire an attorney.

-you cannot get married anywhere while the k1 is in process. You have to wait until a k1 visa is issued and then get married in the US, file for adjustment of status and once she has her green card, you can go back to the philippines and have your grand wedding.

[slowlyman 118]

Absolutely / Positively DO NOT marry in PI if you file the K-1. You will have to start over. Decide how you want to proceed before you file anything.

[JbTin 51]

...or if you want and if you are able to, you can fly to singapore / philippines and live there with her for a few months and do DCF (Direct Consular Filing). Hehe

[Darnell 8,478]

...or if you want and if you are able to, you can fly to singapore / philippines and live there with her for a few months and do DCF (Direct Consular Filing). Hehe

We not hear of DCF still available in Singapura any more, so I'd be wary of that advice, to live with a lass on a work-contract, as

a USCitizen needs different status in Singapura to be in Singapura 6 months.

Lots of 'fail' there, in your approach, if you focus on Singapura for DCF.

[JbTin 51]

We not hear of DCF still available in Singapura any more, so I'd be wary of that advice, to live with a lass on a work-contract, as

a USCitizen needs different status in Singapura to be in Singapura 6 months.

Lots of 'fail' there, in your approach, if you focus on Singapura for DCF.

Oh.. My apologies, i am not updated.

Uhm yeah, scratch the DCF idea then

[belinda63 3,038]

Sounds like they won't be meeting until March. Thus nothing can be filed until after that.

[Zedayn 485]

Since you will be going in March to meet her, you have plenty of time to read up on the guides here. In deciding which route to go, K-1 or CR-1, read this: http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

Only you can decide which way you feel is better. Once you decide, then read the guides for that visa. Also look at the example forms so you have an idea how the forms look, what information you need, etc. It's also a good idea to browse the forums and read the various threads about questions that are being asked. If you prepare yourself like this now, you will realize you don't need a lawyer, and you can do all of this yourself with relative ease.

[Darnell 8,478]

Sounds like they won't be meeting until March. Thus nothing can be filed until after that.

oopsies! I missed that bit. Prolly more bits I missed, also.

[Bill & Ivy 6]

We are a K-1 Sept. filer. Some of the Sept. filers I see are already doing there embassy interviews (Manila), so the 5 month timeframe is working for some. We are ready to book our interview now also, but we need to delay because we need the Manila NSO to complete some paperwork that my fiance needs to be able to take for her interview. (Its paperwork that the average person would not need to have, but because my finace got an annulment back in 2009, they are requiring something from NSO)

Like others have said, unless you have some out of the ordinary circumstances, I would not waste my money on a lawyer. With help from this website, it is quite easy to do it yourself.

[RDSweb 0]

Since you will be going in March to meet her, you have plenty of time to read up on the guides here. In deciding which route to go, K-1 or CR-1, read this: http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

Only you can decide which way you feel is better. Once you decide, then read the guides for that visa. Also look at the example forms so you have an idea how the forms look, what information you need, etc. It's also a good idea to browse the forums and read the various threads about questions that are being asked. If you prepare yourself like this now, you will realize you don't need a lawyer, and you can do all of this yourself with relative ease.

Zedayn is right on the money here. I had file a K-1. You can file everything yourself. Save your money until you need it. Couples of thing I want to add. 1) When you file it yourself you want to make copies to keep. Best way of doing this is scan everything into PC and make serveral backup copies. Keep an e-copy. 2) I bought 1 book from Nolo Press, Fiance & Marriage Visas, it help. Beside VisaJourney forums it was my other source. We have done everything ourself. No lawyers. Forget K3, CR-1 is better. K3 I think is being phase out. So your choice is K-1 or CR-1. When you do go over to visit her, take several forms with you. K-1 or CR-1 forms. This way she can sign them right there which ever you do decide to file. Good Luck on the trip and enjoy.