newbie...looking for the best route

[tcolema 0]

Hello,

Here's my situation I'm from the US and my fiancee is from London. He is not coming to stay in the states permanently until next summer because of a business he is trying to start. Anyway, we found out that he only needs his passport and I need my driver's license to get married in Fl. So, we are planning to get married in April and then we will go back and forth visiting. In the meantime, right after our marriage, we will apply for his visa because I've heard and seen from reading your posts that it takes about a year to be approved. My questions:

1.) On what basis do they deny people entry. Is there only a certain amount of times that a person can visit the US or UK for that matter before they deny you entry?

2.) What forms should we immediately start to file to get the ball rolling? I had a lawyer tell me to file the I-130 instead of the K-3, but I see people filing the K-3 or both. We just want to be able to visit each other until he's ready to come permanently.

3.) Do we both interview or only the alien and is it here in the US or in the UK?

4.) After or before we marry, would be better for him to apply for a tourist visa so that it is easier for him to come in and out?

5.) What do they ask in the interview?

6.) Does he have to make a certain amount of money in the UK to show he can care for me?

Any information that you can provide would be appreciated. I apologize for the long post. I'm trying to get my bearings and not be overwhelmed.

[aussiewench 9]

1. Here is a thread worth reading about this issue of travel to the US

http://www.visajourney.com/forums2/index.php?showtopic=58200&hl=wife&st=0

2. Always a good plan to hedge your bets. However if your soon to be hubby wont be ready to move across till next summer then filing the I-129F for the K-3 might just be completed too soon. The CR-1 will also mean the Green Card without having to adjust status, apply for EAD etc.

3. Only the alien (dont we love being called that ). If applying for K-3 the interview is in general held in the country of marriage. If marriage takes place in the US it is conducted in the country of residence. The CR-1 is conducted in country of residence.

4. Refer to 1.

5. Any number of questions about yours/spouses relationship, family, work etc

6. The USC will sponsor the spouse by completing either a I-864 or I-134 depending on visa applying for. Have a read here for I-134 overview/guide and here for I-864 Guidelines and 2006 Poverty Guidelines

Here is some other useful links

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?pg=compare

http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1faq.htm

Edited March 15, 2006 by aussiewench

[meddykomp 0]

Just to clarify, you do have to file the I-130 in order to apply for a K-3. You are not really choosing one or the other, but whether to apply for the CR-1 and simply wait or apply for the CR-1 AND the K-3 and hope to be together sooner.