Iran Specific Visa Questions

[visainquiries 0]

Hi everyone. Since everyone here seems pretty knowledgable and has lots of experiences to share, I thought I should post my questions here. My questions all relate to my specific case of bringing my Iranian fiance here to the U.S. from Iran. If anyone could help me at all with these questions, it would be an great, great, great help. Thank you so much:

1. My first question regards which consulate/embassy to use. The State Department's website mentions that since there is no U.S. embassy in Iran, Turkey is often used instead for Iranian citizens. I have heard, though, that many Iranians use Dubai, instead. Is there a choice, or is one assigned? How does this work? The Dubain consulate website also mentions longer wait times for Iranians in Dubai (average wait time 1 month for an appointment, and average processing time 3-6 weeks due to security clearances). If Turkey is used instead, are these wait times shorter?

2. In general, which type of visa have you seen takes the least amount of time for Iranian citizens, in particular : K-1(Non-immigrant visa for fiance), K-3 (Non-immigrant visa for spouse), or IR1/CR1 (Immigrant visa for spouse). I am assuming that both K-3 and K-1 are better than IR1/CR1 since K-3 and K-1 are non-immigrant visas, so they should be easier and faster to obtain. I guess my real question is between K-3 and K-1. I had heard from experiences of other people that K-1 visas were rather swift, but my fiance assures me that for Iranians K-1 visas take a long, long time, and that it is definitely much better to try for a K-3 visa(i.e. we should get married first and then apply for K-3 instead of applying as a fiance). Can you tell me which, in general, you have seen is better for Iranians?

3. Lastly, from what I've read, it seems to me that whichever route I decide to take, apply for a fiance visa(K1), or a spouse visa (K3), I have to start the process in both cases from here in the U.S. Is this correct? My fiance has described to me the following procedure (which she has heard from other Iranians): She says that I can come to Iran, we can get married, then go to the consulate in Dubai and apply there for a visa (K3, nonimmigrant visa for spouse...I guess). Over there the consulate will give us an appointment date, which might be a month or two later, when we will be interviewed....and then two or three days later we should recieve her visa, there in Dubai. Does this procedure sound familiar to anyone?

Thank you so much for your help.

[Robor007 0]

I don't know the answer to questions 1 and 2. You'll probably have to wait for someone with an Iranian fiancee or spouse to get an accurate answer there.

With question 3 you seem to be talking about 2 different things. You are correct in that in both cases a K-1 and K-3 would be submitted to the USCIS here in the US. However, you also mentioned getting married in Iran then going to Dubai to apply for a visa. I believe you're talking about DCF (Direct Consulate Filing) there. I don't know if DCF is an option (I know it's not in the Philippines) but I have a hard time believing it would be so quick and easy. No offense intended but the US and Iran aren't exactly on good terms right now.

[hrioo 0]

If your question is regarding K-3 visas, i don't know but if it's about K-1 visa procedures here's my 2 cents:

For your question 1, as far as i know even if K-1 visa is not an immigrant visa it is treated as such by the US counsulates, so i'm not sure if the US counsulate in Dubai processes K-! visas. When i petitioned for my finace last year (my current wife) we chose Abu Dhabi, which is about half hour or so drive from Dubai. We were also considering Cypress but Abu Dhabi is much closer and more cost effective. Another consideration was the language barrier. I'm not sure what the time frames are now but it took us approx. 6 months from the day of petition until the interview date for my fiance's K-1 visa. But obviously time frames may differ depending on the case.

If you want to petition for your fiance to come to the US you must establish proof of relationship and you must have met her in person within the past 2 years, but doesn't mean you have to meet her in Iran.

Aa far as i know you have to file for her petition in the US with USCIS first (if you meet all the requirements) and when you fill out your application you indicate which US embassy you want your fiance to go for interview.

I hope this helps.