Starting my visa journey

[blessed23 0]

Hello everyone!

I'll be flying this coming September to New York to get married to my fiancee. wooohooo!

I would like to ask all of you here what documents do I need to bring that is necessary for the visa application.

It would be best if you can tell me what is the initial step in filing the application.

To my fellow Filipinos out there, I could use your help if you've been in the same situation.

Thank you in advance to everyone!

[mrszorak44 7]

Hello everyone!

I'll be flying this coming September to New York to get married to my fiancee. wooohooo!

I would like to ask all of you here what documents do I need to bring that is necessary for the visa application.

It would be best if you can tell me what is the initial step in filing the application.

To my fellow Filipinos out there, I could use your help if you've been in the same situation.

Thank you in advance to everyone!

Hello blessed23.

First of all, congratulations on your engagement.

Do you have an approved fiance/e visa already? Because you said, you are flying to NY to get married but you're asking what are the documents needed for the visa application. For you to get married in the US, you need the K1 visa. You can find the Step by Step Guide in Filing a K1 Visa, here: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

If you already have an approved K1 visa and just asking what you need to bring at your POE, you just need your passport included inside is your K1 Visa, the sealed brown envelope from the Embassy, and that's it.

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

It sounds like you do not have a visa yet?

You cannot just fly to the USA, get married and then apply for a visa.

To advise on the steps and how long it will take, we need to know:

- Do you have a visa yet?

- If yes, what kind (B2 tourist, fiance, spousal etc)?

- If no, is your fiance a US citizen or greencard holder?

[blessed23 0]

Hello blessed23.

First of all, congratulations on your engagement.

Do you have an approved fiance/e visa already? Because you said, you are flying to NY to get married but you're asking what are the documents needed for the visa application. For you to get married in the US, you need the K1 visa. You can find the Step by Step Guide in Filing a K1 Visa, here: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

If you already have an approved K1 visa and just asking what you need to bring at your POE, you just need your passport included inside is your K1 Visa, the sealed brown envelope from the Embassy, and that's it.

Hi mrszorak44!

Thank you for your response. I've read somewhere else in this forum that they got married in the US without a fiancee visa. I will be going there on a tourist visa I got years ago.

[mrszorak44 7]

Hi mrszorak44!

Thank you for your response. I've read somewhere else in this forum that they got married in the US without a fiancee visa. I will be going there on a tourist visa I got years ago.

I am no expert but I don't think you can marry in the US with a tourist visa. You might have problems later on if you do that and if the Port of Entry Officers determined that you'll be entering the US using a tourist visa to marry an American, you might get sent home.

Tourist visas are for travelling to the US - that's the purpose of it. The K1 visa on the other hand will let you go to the US and marry within 90 days your fiance.

[ggsacks 82]

Hi mrszorak44!

Thank you for your response. I've read somewhere else in this forum that they got married in the US without a fiancee visa. I will be going there on a tourist visa I got years ago.

It is not legal to enter the United States as a tourist with the intent to marry and file for permanent residency. You need to obtain a K1 visa in order to do this, and it's very unlikely this is doable by September.

I strongly advise against attempting to do this without a K1 visa as you will likely be denied entry at the border.

If you are coming here just to marry as a tourist without planning on moving to the US, then that is fine as long as you follow the regular conditions of your visa.

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Hi mrszorak44!

Thank you for your response. I've read somewhere else in this forum that they got married in the US without a fiancee visa. I will be going there on a tourist visa I got years ago.

Of course you can married in the US, but you have to come back to your home country and have started filing for a spousal visa. If you come to the US with an intent to get marry, stay, and adjust your status, it is illegal to do so. You might be encounter some problem at immigration line when you tell some officer there about your plan. Wisely choose your immigration path carefully.

[2ndMessiah 184]

As long as you enter the US legally, under VWP or tourist visa etc, there is no impediment to you marrying in the US and leave after within your permitted stay period.. You cannot enter the US with the intention to marry and adjust status. This is visa fraud.

[blessed23 0]

It is not legal to enter the United States as a tourist with the intent to marry and file for permanent residency. You need to obtain a K1 visa in order to do this, and it's very unlikely this is doable by September.

I strongly advise against attempting to do this without a K1 visa as you will likely be denied entry at the border.

If you are coming here just to marry as a tourist without planning on moving to the US, then that is fine as long as you follow the regular conditions of your visa.

I am no expert but I don't think you can marry in the US with a tourist visa. You might have problems later on if you do that and if the Port of Entry Officers determined that you'll be entering the US using a tourist visa to marry an American, you might get sent home.

Tourist visas are for travelling to the US - that's the purpose of it. The K1 visa on the other hand will let you go to the US and marry within 90 days your fiance.

I have no plan on staying in the US after marrying my fiancee. We will go through the process of the petition. That is what I want to know more about. What documents should we prepare for the f2a visa.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

I have no plan on staying in the US after marrying my fiancee. We will go through the process of the petition. That is what I want to know more about. What documents should we prepare for the f2a visa.

In which case, you don't need to bring anything other than what is necessary to get the marriage license in the State you plan to marry in. You can begin compiling the I-130 petition while you're in the States too (guide here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&page=i130guide1), but ensure you write on the I-130 that you intend to interview at the consulate in your home country.

[yannix 24]

 

I have no plan on staying in the US after marrying my fiancee. We will go through the process of the petition. That is what I want to know more about. What documents should we prepare for the f2a visa.

 

I suggest that you rethink this plan. There's a decent amount of risk for not much gain since you are planning to leave the country after marriage anyway. It would be very hard for you to prove that you have no intention of marrying your fiancee while entering on a tourist visa.

[blessed23 0]

In which case, you don't need to bring anything other than what is necessary to get the marriage license in the State you plan to marry in. You can begin compiling the I-130 petition while you're in the States too (guide here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&page=i130guide1), but ensure you write on the I-130 that you intend to interview at the consulate in your home country.

This is very helpful Ketsuban but my fiancee is still just a permanent resident and not yet a citizen, will the steps be the same?

[Mockingjay 10]

I believe u cant adjust status in the USA if the case is under F2a because FB category has visa limitation unlike UScitizens. And be ready for a long time of waiting especially now that F2a visa bulletin has retrogressed. goodluck with ur journey

[B & G 200]

This is very helpful Ketsuban but my fiancee is still just a permanent resident and not yet a citizen, will the steps be the same?

Yes, the steps are the same. Once you are married your husband can file the I-130 petition for you and you will receive your Priority Date. Once your petition is approved, your file gets sent to NVC (National Visa Center) where it waits till your Priority Date becomes current.

Look at the below link,

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/112-bringing-family-members-of-permanent-residents-to-america/

You will find members that on the same path as you and better able to answer your questions.

Good luck!

[apple21 953]

IF you are successful in entering the US, get married then fly back to Pinas.

Your husband can file i130 after your marriage. You stay put in the Philippines while the i130 is being processed. Waiting time could be more than a year (or even longer depending on the Visa Bulletin).

Good luck.