What is the best route for spousal visa?

[dontlongdistance 0]

My fiance asked this:

Hi. my fiance (a US citizen) and I will be getting married this coming May here in the Philippines and we'll process my visa right after. I'd like to ask if most of you guys processed K3 visa? because VisaJourney is saying there are two other options for spousal visa, the CR1 and DCF. So we'd like to know the route which most of you considered. Please share some of your experience in visa processing because we are particularly concerned with the duration and success rate of the process. Also, did you guys have to seek an immigration lawyer to help you with the process? or is this unnecessary? Thanks in advance smile emoticon

[curiousgeorgina 52]

My fiance asked this:

Hi. my fiance (a US citizen) and I will be getting married this coming May here in the Philippines and we'll process my visa right after. I'd like to ask if most of you guys processed K3 visa? because VisaJourney is saying there are two other options for spousal visa, the CR1 and DCF. So we'd like to know the route which most of you considered. Please share some of your experience in visa processing because we are particularly concerned with the duration and success rate of the process. Also, did you guys have to seek an immigration lawyer to help you with the process? or is this unnecessary? Thanks in advance smile emoticon

the only help I can pitch in is that, DCF is applicable if the US citizen is living abroad (in your case philippines) with the spouse for at least 6 months.

I am going through the CR1 route.. I thought K3 isn't used anymore but I have read a few still applied for it.

I hope the others can give you a more helpful answer

[feli114 65]

K3 is obsolete. Direct consular, you have to check to see if it is available in your country.

K3 is obsolete. Direct consular, you have to check to see if it is available in your country.

[canadian_wife 1,829]

DCF doesn't seem to be an option, you say your fiance is 'coming' to PI, indicating that he does not live there.

CR-1 is the superior visa

good luck

[dontlongdistance 0]

I live in california, she lives in philippines. okay thank you all CR1 it is.

[mallafri76 1,012]

Since you haven't married yet, why don't you go for a fiancé visa and get married in the US? It seems to be a much faster route than the CR1 visa, which is around a year.

[KierenHby 899]

Don't think OP is eligible for DCF, so that's not an option.

K-3 is obsolete and redundant, so that too is realistically not an option.

K-1 fiance visa is hit or miss. You can get denied and unnecessarily elongate the process. But you wouldn't know until having tried it.

CR1 is the preferred option if you can wait out the year. Chances of approval are fairly good, probably better than 90 percent. Takes about a year, but once approved for the visa, you get the green card.

[Darnell 8,479]

if you two have already met within the last 2 years, i say file a K-1 now, this week.

K-1s are superfast for the PI these days, still.

[KierenHby 899]

Also, hiring a US based lawyer is entirely at your discretion and comfort level.

A step by step guide

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

[dontlongdistance 0]

Hi guys,

I planned on doing fiance visa after I had returned but didn't research enough and found out that joint-sponsor would be unlikely for fiance visa but would be acceptable for marriage visa so I plan on going back to marry. I don't have enough financial proof they need by myself at the moment.

Edited February 4, 2015 by tittywafflez