K-1 vs K-3

[obrakeo 15]

Howdy all,

Just registered today and this is my first post. Did some googling looking for information and came across this site. Seems to be a treasure trove for sure, but a bit daunting initially.

I've been living Vietnam since July, dating my fiance since August and hoping to bring her to Los Angeles as soon as possible. We've made plans for getting married here in February. I'm starting to think I should dump the whole thing and just go for a K-1 fiance visa vs the K-3 spouse visa. Still move forward with the ceremony and all that here, but do the legal documents in the US. I figure I'll save the money I have to pay 500 middle men here on the way up through the local ministry of law and pay that to a lawyer for the visa process.

Can anyone tell me if this is a great/horrible idea?

-Blake

[Ilovemyman 147]

Do you think get marry february2015?

Becauuse if you start the process now, you arent going to get marry february 2014.

If you dont have problem with the law, you dont need a lawyer for the visa process the only thing you need is read very well the instrutions.

A lawyer isnt needed if you dont have a big problem with the law, you can do the process yourself.

you dont need to pay only for fill out forms.

K1 visa is faster that spouse visa.

I dont think that get marry in usa cost 500.

all you need is read dont waste money with a lawyer

[Chris & Trinh 15]

Howdy all,

Just registered today and this is my first post. Did some googling looking for information and came across this site. Seems to be a treasure trove for sure, but a bit daunting initially.

I've been living Vietnam since July, dating my fiance since August and hoping to bring her to Los Angeles as soon as possible. We've made plans for getting married here in February. I'm starting to think I should dump the whole thing and just go for a K-1 fiance visa vs the K-3 spouse visa. Still move forward with the ceremony and all that here, but do the legal documents in the US. I figure I'll save the money I have to pay 500 middle men here on the way up through the local ministry of law and pay that to a lawyer for the visa process.

Can anyone tell me if this is a great/horrible idea?

-Blake

There is no K-3 visa any longer. It is RARELY used. AFTER you marry you would be applying for a CR-1 visa for your spouse which will give her a conditional green card upon her arrival in the US. The other option as you stated is NOT to get married and apply for the K-1 visa. Both have their advantages and dis-advantages. At this point in time, the K-1 visa is actually moving along faster from time of applying until entering the US. However, process times and personal situations always are subject to change very rapidly.

I also live in Vietnam and was married here. Have lived here 4 1/2 years. Will be taking myw ife and son to the US soon. We are nearing the end of our visa process. I am not sure why you would have to pay 500 to any middle man for any service regarding marriage or a visa. That is not needed. Everything you need to do your wife and yourself can do yourselves. I know, as I have done it and know many others who have too.

I think the thing you need to research and decide upon is how soon you want to go to the US with your fiance/wife and decide on the visa you want to apply for. Then get married or not based on the decision of the visa you want to apply for. For a rough estimate the CR-1 visa is taking about a year from start to finish and the K-1 I believe (not 100% sure) is taking around 8-9 months. Of course these times are specific for Vietnam.

Anyway....just some points to think about. Best of luck with your situation.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

The CR-1 is not faster, but she should would be a permanent resident when entering the US and it is cheaper because there is no adjustment of status to file, which is $1070.

If you marry first, then CR-1.

If you do not marry first, then K-1.

~ Moved from K-1 Process to What Visa Do I Need - OP weighing options ~

[No name 88 48]

The K-3 visa is obsolete. The idea behind it was the CR-1 process time was over a year when the K-3 was introduced and the K-3 would be faster. Now K-3 visa's and CR1 visa's take about the same time. USCIS rarely processes a K-3 and will just complete your case as a CR-1. It saves them the paperwork of an AOS later and cheaper for you. USCIS started doing this mid 2013.

Vietnam has a high rate of visa fraud. Just because you file a K-1 doesn't mean you'll be approved. Approval rates are higher when you marry and file a CR-1 but since you live in Vietnam establishing a relationship in either case would be easy. Don't throw anything away that links you two as being together; it's evidence now. I made that mistake early in my relationship.

You have to research your case and decide which visa works best for you and your girl. The CR-1 was the best option for me but may not work for you.

You don't need a lawyer to file the petition to USCIS. It is 2 hours worth of paperwork on standard government forms and you can gather all the relationship evidence needed over a weekend. When I started this I thought I would need a lawyer too but it's a waste of money. A lawyer would have you gather the same documents have you fill the forms out for him to review and then mail them for you. A lawyer won't call USCIS for you or drive your case forward; it's not a courtroom. If you not sure of how to fill in a box on the forms post here on the forum and someone can help you.

I did get married in Vietnam and I know what your talking about with middlemen. It took us 3 months to get married in the wife's home town. I think I went to every government office in town. They always wanted another paper. We did have a ceremony with her family that wasn't legal since we didn't have the certificate, it was just for show with her family. When we finally did get the certificate from the justice department it took until the parking lot for me and the wife to realize we were married. No photos, no kiss, no family just sign paper and red stamp. Vietnam-home of the most unromantic weddings in history.

[JRF 117]

I think its irresponsible to flatly assert he does not need a lawyer, absent a full understanding of their specific circumstances. Furthermore those of us who had to obtain a marriage license in VN understand how a middleman helps and accelerates an otherwise slow process. OP might be able to pull off the marriage license in VN in a month if, and only if, the middle man has juice. Normally this is a three month process.

OP also suggest you fully research end to end k-1 costs. I only know cr-1 costs and I'm not going to guess about k-1 costs. I know they are higher but not how much.

We just had our interview in hcm and found everyone at the consulate to be professional and friendly. I'll post a review when I get back to the US. I will say our attorney has been invaluable. That said we have circumstances where an attorney with specific experience helps - somewhat unique to VN. Its not a two hour paper chase, for sure.

[NikLR 13,227]

Decide if you want to get married feb or if you can wait on the K1. If you want to be matried Feb 2014 then the CR1 is the visa you will be chasing.