Starting a Journey...

[Jen VB 5]

Hello Everyone,

I am starting my Journey and I have a lot of questions and I really need some guidance. Im also new to forums period so if this is not where I ask questions please let me know.

I was born and raised in the US in Virginia. I met my fiance while on vacation in the Bahamas, however he is Dominican. I am going to meet him for vacation in the DR in October and meet his family, etc. One question I have is it better to get married there and then apply to bring him as my husband or just do the fiance visa and marry once he is here with me? Also does anyone know since his address is in the Bahamas would he have his interview in the Bahamas or have to go back to Santo Domingo?

I had spoken with an attorney(which I cant afford) that told me that the DR is very skeptical of their men and that they can be hard on them while questioning them because they have a lot of fraud cases. So now my fiance is stressed out and wants me to get the attorney because he has it in his mind that attorney will make everything go smoother and quicker...Try telling a my fiance thats not the case, lol

Ive been gathering the info needed to start the paperwork but I need to decide if im doing the fiance visa or spouse visa once I come back in October. Any advice or guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks, Jen

[Boiler 45,541]

What is he doing in the Bahamas?

[Jen VB 5]

What is he doing in the Bahamas?

He works for Wyndham.

[Boiler 45,541]

That sounds legal, he should be able to interview there.

[Jen VB 5]

That sounds legal, he should be able to interview there.

Its the hotel/resort chain and he has a contract that says he works there thats renewed every 12 months as proof.

Thank you for your help

[Pitaya 2,577]

Welcome to the forum.

[Jen VB 5]

Welcome to the forum.

Thank you!

[Enigma23 68]

You don't need a lawyer... save your money for trips to see him...

What I am about to tell you.. you may not like.. but I have been t the DR about 9 times in the last two years... know the people, the culture, etc since I was 14 and am bilingual...and you will really want to know it and understand it so you don't take it personal.

Does he work at a Resort/Hotel? And is that where/how you met? Where he works or at a hotel nearby??

If so read up on Sanky Panky, Sankies,etc so that you will be prepared for it when you meet native Dominicans and passersby, people in th street, shops and stores, mall and MOST of all at interview.... no matter which route you take... But if you've only met him in person that once... then I would honestly suggest filing for the fiance visa and visit more times while you wait for the process.

Only meeting him once and if that he is a Seasonal or Hotel/Tourism Worker you will most likely be more scrutinized.

Do you know if he is working legally? How did he come to be in the Bahamas? How did he get Work permission?

http://www.second-citizenship.org/permanent-residence/temporary-and-permanent-residence-on-the-bahamas/

http://www.internations.org/bahamas-expats/guide/moving-to-the-bahamas-15741/the-bahamas-visa-requirements-2

Do you send him money?

Do you pay any of his bills?

Does he have any kids?

Ex-Wife? Wife?

I am asking you because THEY will.... you should be prepared for what tehy will assume it is.... NOT for you believe it to be..... just being honest with you.

And a Lawyer doesn't necessarily help your case and in our case and MANY OTHERS a lawyer made it take longer, worse, lost things, missed stuff and cause RFE (Request for Evidence) (just search on VJ you'll see the stories)

Look at it this way... who is going to care for, research more, hover over and check up on your case more or better than you...

and I PROMISE you..... the process BECOMES Obsessive.... Lord does it ever!! I think many of us come here so much we get hooked and just keep coming back and sharing their knowledge and experience.... weird that as long as I've been coming and reading and answering what I comfortably could.. I still feel like a NEWB

Anyway save the money... read the Guides and Search More because MOST if not all of the questions have been asked and answered...................................A LOT! LOL

Best Wishes... I hope this helps.. feel free to correspond with me if you feel so inspired.

Edited August 15, 2014 by Enigma23

[Enigma23 68]

For reference and I hope you don't take offense.. I am trying to make sure you are prepared in all ways... We deal with it occasionally with strangers (the looks, jokes,etc) and at the interview and my Fiance works no where near tourists.... When they see a Dominican man with a "Gringa" they think "Sankie!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanky-panky

http://dr1.com/articles/sankies.shtml

Edited August 15, 2014 by Enigma23

[Jen VB 5]

You don't need a lawyer... save your money for trips to see him...

What I am about to tell you.. you may not like.. but I have been t the DR about 9 times in the last two years... know the people, the culture, etc since I was 14 and am bilingual...and you will really want to know it and understand it so you don't take it personal.

Does he work at a Resort/Hotel? And is that where/how you met? Where he works or at a hotel nearby??

If so read up on Sanky Panky, Sankies,etc so that you will be prepared for it when you meet native Dominicans and passersby, people in th street, shops and stores, mall and MOST of all at interview.... no matter which route you take... But if you've only met him in person that once... then I would honestly suggest filing for the fiance visa and visit more times while you wait for the process.

Only meeting him once and if that he is a Seasonal or Hotel/Tourism Worker you will most likely be more scrutinized.

Do you know if he is working legally? How did he come to be in the Bahamas? How did he get Work permission?

http://www.second-citizenship.org/permanent-residence/temporary-and-permanent-residence-on-the-bahamas/

http://www.internations.org/bahamas-expats/guide/moving-to-the-bahamas-15741/the-bahamas-visa-requirements-2

Do you send him money?

Do you pay any of his bills?

Does he have any kids?

Ex-Wife? Wife?

I am asking you because THEY will.... you should be prepared for what tehy will assume it is.... NOT for you believe it to be..... just being honest with you.

And a Lawyer doesn't necessarily help your case and in our case and MANY OTHERS a lawyer made it take longer, worse, lost things, missed stuff and cause RFE (Request for Evidence) (just search on VJ you'll see the stories)

Look at it this way... who is going to care for, research more, hover over and check up on your case more or better than you...

and I PROMISE you..... the process BECOMES Obsessive.... Lord does it ever!! I think many of us come here so much we get hooked and just keep coming back and sharing their knowledge and experience.... weird that as long as I've been coming and reading and answering what I comfortably could.. I still feel like a NEWB

Anyway save the money... read the Guides and Search More because MOST if not all of the questions have been asked and answered...................................A LOT! LOL

Best Wishes... I hope this helps.. feel free to correspond with me if you feel so inspired.

Thank you for the info. Yes I have read and heard all the stories and we have been together several times in the Bahamas, this is my first trip to DR. I have had him throughly checked out. International background check(DR and Bahamas), police reports, National Id number, copies of his passport, verified previous employment and so on. All have been verified and he hasn't asked for anything from me. Yes, Im sure I will keep in touch with you. His english is limited but im teaching him more all the time. My Spanish is limited but we make out with the translator programs when he doesnt understand my english. Ive tried to explain that we dont need the lawyer but he has it stuck in his head, lol

[Jen VB 5]

For reference and I hope you don't take offense.. I am trying to make sure you are prepared in all ways... We deal with it occasionally with strangers (the looks, jokes,etc) and at the interview and my Fiance works no where near tourists.... When they see a Dominican man with a "Gringa" they think "Sankie!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanky-panky

http://dr1.com/articles/sankies.shtml

No offense taken. I appreciate it. Thats why I had all the things done to check him out that I did.

Is he now here and you are married? or still waiting

Edited August 15, 2014 by Jen VB

[El Mayimbe 6]

Welcome. Enigma gave you some real good info.

Sanky their real common.

Now here's your options-

K1 fiance visa is more costly and the wait is the same.

Cr1 spouse visaless expensive and wait is the same. You would marry in DR.

There's a wiki that explains each one in detail

[janet&adonis 57]

The fiance visa is faster. As you can see from my timeline and signature, that it was about 10 months till my husband arrived in the us, then about 13 months (since we put the k-1 papers) till he got his work authorization.

If you decide to marry, the cr-1 process is longer, but he would be issued a greencard before coming to us.

[pushbrk 12,898]

What is faster, is seldom the only consideration. Whether somebody would be wise to secure professional assistance, cannot reliably be based on the choices of others, particularly choices of others who have not yet completed the process successfully. Beware of advice from strangers telling you what they know about your needs, when they know little about you, your abilities, circumstances or priorities.

It is against the terms of service of Visa Journey to advise members not to obtain legal advice. Why moderators continue to allow this behavior baffles me.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Suggest that you use the "Report" button to alert forum administration of your TOS issue.