Active duty separating in July

[nexiou 39]

Hello everyone! 

 

I just discovered this amazing website and that's the first time I'm posting here so I'm sorry if that question was already asked.

 

My boyfriend is in the military (AF) and based in Germany. I'm living with him here but he is separating in July. He just got a job as a civilian in the States (Oregon) and he is starting in mid July but he is on Terminal Leave in mid May.  We are looking for our differents options to be able to live together, including the K1 and K3 visa. I have been doing a TON of research and I can't still figure out which visa would be the best for us. I'm taking the time process in consideration, the costs of both visas and the waiting time to be able to work. As we have two months before he has to go back to the States, we need to choose quickly what's our smartest choice.

 

As he is American and I'm Belgian, Denmark is the only place we could get married. If we do that, that means we would get married in mid May while he is on terminal leave. My family and friends could be there but none of his. If we get married in the States, his family and friends could be there, but not mine.

 

Except this point, we are worried about the processing time to get the visa and the Green Card. From what I understood, the fiancé visa might be faster (from 4 to 6 months) but then I take approximatively 6 months after getting married to be able to work? On the other hand, the spouse visa takes longer (6-8 months) but then I'm able to work faster? 

 

I would also know if the military might be able to help and make the process quicker if we start the visa process in May? 

 

Thanks for taking the time to read and maybe answering!

 

Alexia

Edited April 16, 2017 by nexiou

[Transborderwife 4,666]

You cannot get a k1 unless you're planning on marrying in the United States.  K3 is obsolete, you'd be looking at a cR1 visa.  It will be about a year until you're able to enter the United States as a resident.

[nexiou 39]

Thank you for your answer!

 

Oh yes of course, we would get  married in the States within 3 months if we decide to do the K1 visa. I was surprised to read that the K3 is obsolete because we talked to a USCIS agent not that long ago and he never mentionned the cR1 visa. He'll look it up to have more information! When you say it would take about a year, which visa are you talking about? 

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Just now, nexiou said:

Thank you for your answer!

 

Oh yes of course, we would get  married in the States within 3 months if we decide to do the K1 visa. I was surprised to read that the K3 is obsolete because we talked to a USCIS agent not that long ago and he never mentionned the cR1 visa. He'll look it up to have more information! When you say it would take about a year, which visa are you talking about? 

The cr1.  K1 is more around the lines of 6-10 months depending on the work load of the consulate.

[Coco8 1,042]

K1 only works if you've known each other for 2 years or less. How long have you been together?

[nexiou 39]

5 minutes ago, Transborderwife said:

The cr1.  K1 is more around the lines of 6-10 months depending on the work load of the consulate.

Oh ok, great! Thank you for the information! 

[nexiou 39]

4 minutes ago, Coco8 said:

K1 only works if you've known each other for 2 years or less. How long have you been together?

Oh I didn't know that! It will be 2 years in June

[Coco8 1,042]

 

1 minute ago, nexiou said:

Oh I didn't know that! It will be 2 years in June

Well, if you apply in the next couple of weeks you will be alright. You should apply before June and definitely before he goes to the states. The good thing is that you have the perfect excuse for the K-1 which is get to married because he got a job back home and you can show proof of your relationship because you've been living together. 

[Transborderwife 4,666]

9 minutes ago, Coco8 said:

K1 only works if you've known each other for 2 years or less. How long have you been together?

Completely wrong.  You just need to have met within the past two years

[Transborderwife 4,666]

4 minutes ago, nexiou said:

Oh I didn't know that! It will be 2 years in June

Poster is incorrect 

[Jojo92122 1,924]

11 minutes ago, Coco8 said:

K1 only works if you've known each other for 2 years or less. How long have you been together?

The requirement is that they have met face-to-face in the last 2 years.   They can know each for for any length of time.

[nexiou 39]

7 minutes ago, Jojo92122 said:

The requirement is that they have met face-to-face in the last 2 years.   They can know each for for any length of time.

Ohhh that's right! That's what I understood when I was reading about the fiancé visa. Coco8 might have been confused! 

[nexiou 39]

11 minutes ago, Coco8 said:

 

Well, if you apply in the next couple of weeks you will be alright. You should apply before June and definitely before he goes to the states. The good thing is that you have the perfect excuse for the K-1 which is get to married because he got a job back home and you can show proof of your relationship because you've been living together. 

We'll definitely apply in the next couple of weeks anyway! But indeed, that's a good thing that we've been living together for almost a year!

[Essiej 42]

In general K1 is faster (Mine took about 3 months), but it can always last longer too. CR1 is usually slower. K1 is more expensive, and CR1 is cheaper. 

 

It really depends on your situation and nobody beside you can decide what visa to go for.

[Lstanick15 9]

12 hours ago, Coco8 said:

K1 only works if you've known each other for 2 years or less. How long have you been together?

Is this true? I thought timeline of knowing each other didn't matter, as long as you'd physically been in each others presence at least once in the last 2 years. That was my understanding when I went through the process 

 

Edit: this page has more info on the k-1

https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-us-citizens/fiancee-visa/fiancee-visas

Edited April 17, 2017 by Lstanick15