K-1 or straight to Greencard

[maklein 0]

I want to bring over my fiance from the Philippines,
should I do the K-1,

or can I get her over through a green card -

because eventually anyway, we will be applying for a green card, correct? - to make her a citizen?

Thank you

also,

I'm having trouble finding contacts, what numbers I can call to ask these questions to government officials,
I live in Chicago, anyone have important contacts I will need / can use?

Thank you very much

[Lainie B 465]

You have two options:

1) Send in I-129f petition - Apply for K-1 visa - Arrive in US - Get married - Apply for AOS - Receive green card

OR

2) Get married - Send in I-130 petition - Apply for CR-1 visa - Arrive in US (green card upon arrival)

Both options lead to the option of becoming a US citizen after 3 years of being married AND holding a green card.

Edited March 31, 2014 by Lainie B

[Sirdaniel42 86]

Use the guides above.

For K-1, http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

For AOS, http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

For ROC, http://www.visajourney.com/content/751guide

For becoming a Citizen, http://www.visajourney.com/content/naturalization_guide

My best suggestion is that you read these guides and then read them again! This is the USCIS home page, http://www.uscis.gov/ where you also find a lot of answers.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yes you should do the K-1.

THere is no such thing as going directly to a greencard.

A greencard does NOT make her a citizen.

No one to call, you should look at the guides section here and uscis.gov.

[maklein 0]

Thank you very much for you quick replies, and good information.

I will do some reading, and come back with more questions hopefully,

thank you

[maklein 0]

I ran into a question already,

i see we must meet in person within the last 2 years of filing for the K-1... here is the question:

Does it count as hardship if we prefer not to meet? Due to work schedules and duties in our respective living situations?

Secondly, if this does not qualify as a hardship, what documents does she need to come here (to the U.S.) and visit me?

thank you

[christeen 966]

You need to physically meet. She can try for a tourist. Visa, which for a young woman's from the Philippines, that might be difficult... So you wou,d have to travel to her... But meeting first is a MUST ... After u meet, u can file for K1

[Pitaya 2,577]

I ran into a question already,

i see we must meet in person within the last 2 years of filing for the K-1... here is the question:

Does it count as hardship if we prefer not to meet? Due to work schedules and duties in our respective living situations? Likely not, everyone has job and other life responsibilities.

Secondly, if this does not qualify as a hardship, what documents does she need to come here (to the U.S.) and visit me?

thank you

Welcome to the forum.

Review the pinned thread at the top of this forum, Yes You Can Visit, for more information....

[maklein 0]

You need to physically meet. She can try for a tourist. Visa, which for a young woman's from the Philippines, that might be difficult... So you wou,d have to travel to her... But meeting first is a MUST ... After u meet, u can file for K1

thank you

Welcome to the forum.

Review the pinned thread at the top of this forum, Yes You Can Visit, for more information....

thank you, what if we prefer not to meet ?

[christeen 966]

Preferring not to meet is NOT an option... It is a requirement unless you have strict religious beliefs or extreme medical conditions... But in my hears on here, only seen one of those approved. If you want the whole "we married the first time spew saw each other " jazz, fly there and get married then file for spouse visa... Cause a k1 ain't gonna happen if ya'll don't meet first face to face.

[maklein 0]

Preferring not to meet is NOT an option... It is a requirement unless you have strict religious beliefs or extreme medical conditions... But in my hears on here, only seen one of those approved. If you want the whole "we married the first time spew saw each other " jazz, fly there and get married then file for spouse visa... Cause a k1 ain't gonna happen if ya'll don't meet first face to face.

Okay, thank you.

So if I marry her on my trip to the Philippines - I will not need to do the K-1, correct?

If I marry her in the Philippines, when I come back to the U.S., I will then file for a spouse visa?

Thank you, Christeen

[maklein 0]

Preferring not to meet is NOT an option... It is a requirement unless you have strict religious beliefs or extreme medical conditions... But in my hears on here, only seen one of those approved. If you want the whole "we married the first time spew saw each other " jazz, fly there and get married then file for spouse visa... Cause a k1 ain't gonna happen if ya'll don't meet first face to face.

Also, one more question,

if I chose not to go to the Philippines, and ask her to come here,

how will she get here? What documents will she need?

Thank you, Christeen

[christeen 966]

Correct... If you go to phillipines and marry her, you will then peruse the CR1 spousal visa... She will interview and process in the phillipines then, when issues, she will enter and be automatically granted a green card LPR status... Takes about 12 months or so from filing date if all goes smoothly...

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K-1 Process to What Visa Do I Need Forum~

~Inquiry about fiance(e) and spouse visas~

[christeen 966]

Se will need to apply for a b2 tourist visa... Which are tough for young unmarried Phillipine women... She apples to the embassy and pays the $160 fee and shows them compelling reasons whey she MUST return to phillipines and why she will not stay in the USA...