New, Jamaica (merged)

[Sunshine38 0]

Hello everyone  I'm very new to this site and I would like to know what's best when I get engaged to my man who lives in Jamaica. We have been dating long distance for over 6 months now and I've been once and going back to be engaged to him in July of this year. Our set date for the wedding is in October of this year. I've been reading some information online about marrying him in Jamaica and also marrying him on us soil so I really need help on any information on how to file the correct paperwork to bring him back to the United States? I know it take time and that's fine. Thank you for your time and comments  

Edited May 3, 2017 by Penguin_ie

[Georgia16 2,858]

CR-1 visa is a spouse visa. You can married anywhere in the would and the you file the petition to get him here to the us. It takes about a year and he will wait in his home country while it is processing. Once approved and here he will receive the GC and can work and travel right away.

 

K-1 visa is for fiancee of a UCS you will have to get married in the us within 90 days of him arriving here on his visa. After marriage you will file to adjust his status and also work and travel permit. He will not be able to work and travel for about 3-4 months after you file this some places he won't be able to get a DL either. this process takes about 6-9 months.

 

So if you want to plan your wedding and all that then the CR-1 visa might be the way to go.

[RJandHamid 1,133]

The choice of which visa you apply for is up to where you decide to marry. If you decide to marry in the US, you will be going the K1 (fiance) visa route. This is usually the quicker way for your fiance to come to the US, however  assuming you don't file this month, I doubt that you will be able to get him here by October 2017. The processing is currently taking around 6-8 months. If you decide to get married in Jamaica, you will then need to file a CR1 (spousal) visa. This visa takes a bit longer to process (about 1 year), but its also slightly cheaper than the K1. 

 

How did you and your fiance meet? 6 months is not that long of a time to know one another before deciding to get married, so you might have a tough time going through the embassy in Jamaica, which I believe is considered more of a higher fraud country. Are there any red flags (age difference, cultural, or family differences)? You will need to provide proof of a genuine relationship for either visa you decide to go with. 

[Sunshine38 0]

12 minutes ago, Georgia16 said:

CR-1 visa is a spouse visa. You can married anywhere in the would and the you file the petition to get him here to the us. It takes about a year and he will wait in his home country while it is processing. Once approved and here he will receive the GC and can work and travel right away.

 

K-1 visa is for fiancee of a UCS you will have to get married in the us within 90 days of him arriving here on his visa. After marriage you will file to adjust his status and also work and travel permit. He will not be able to work and travel for about 3-4 months after you file this some places he won't be able to get a DL either. this process takes about 6-9 months.

 

So if you want to plan your wedding and all that then the CR-1 visa might be the way to go.

Thank you 

[Sunshine38 0]

8 minutes ago, RJandHamid said:

The choice of which visa you apply for is up to where you decide to marry. If you decide to marry in the US, you will be going the K1 (fiance) visa route. This is usually the quicker way for your fiance to come to the US, however  assuming you don't file this month, I doubt that you will be able to get him here by October 2017. The processing is currently taking around 6-8 months. If you decide to get married in Jamaica, you will then need to file a CR1 (spousal) visa. This visa takes a bit longer to process (about 1 year), but its also slightly cheaper than the K1. 

 

How did you and your fiance meet? 6 months is not that long of a time to know one another before deciding to get married, so you might have a tough time going through the embassy in Jamaica, which I believe is considered more of a higher fraud country. Are there any red flags (age difference, cultural, or family differences)? You will need to provide proof of a genuine relationship for either visa you decide to go with. 

Thank you. I've been knowing my guy for a while now but I'm not the one to rush things so I took my time getting to know him as a person instead of rushing things. So it's called dating to know what you really want because I've never been married and when I do, I don't believe in  divorces but anyway, I know some of his family who live here in the United States so that's how we met. That's why I said I know it take time and it's no rush I just needed the right information on who to file when I do get married. 

Edited May 2, 2017 by Sunshine38

[KimchiLumpia 315]

Welcome to the VJ forums. 

 

Another bit of advice to go along what others have said.  I've read accounts of many VJ members that set their wedding date, booked their weddings, gave the security deposit for the venue, bought airline tickets, reserved hotels, and invited family.  They planned everything based on the VJ timeline when they should "expect" to receive their Visa.  Only to be blindsided and disappointed by a longer Visa process then they expected.  Money lost with stress and disappointment gained.

My fiance received her Visa in hand 5 months and 2 weeks from mailing in our I-129F petition.  Some VJ members have waited 10+ months before getting their Visa in hand.  Some countries are more stringent than others.  Don't rely on the VJ time frames.  Plan for the worst case scenario, but, hope for the best.

Get your K1 Visa in hand first, then start making definitive plans.

Also, make sure to update your timeline, check the K1 Visa guides, and get familiar with the Jamaica portal here.  So other VJ members from Jamaica can connect with you and give you advice.

Lastly, VJ looks much different on a computer vs. a cell phone.  Some features on VJ aren't shown on cellphones.

Good luck on your visa journey!  

[Sunshine38 0]

2 hours ago, KimchiLumpia said:

Welcome to the VJ forums. 

 

Another bit of advice to go along what others have said.  I've read accounts of many VJ members that set their wedding date, booked their weddings, gave the security deposit for the venue, bought airline tickets, reserved hotels, and invited family.  They planned everything based on the VJ timeline when they should "expect" to receive their Visa.  Only to be blindsided and disappointed by a longer Visa process then they expected.  Money lost with stress and disappointment gained.

My fiance received her Visa in hand 5 months and 2 weeks from mailing in our I-129F petition.  Some VJ members have waited 10+ months before getting their Visa in hand.  Some countries are more stringent than others.  Don't rely on the VJ time frames.  Plan for the worst case scenario, but, hope for the best.

Get your K1 Visa in hand first, then start making definitive plans.

Also, make sure to update your timeline, check the K1 Visa guides, and get familiar with the Jamaica portal here.  So other VJ members from Jamaica can connect with you and give you advice.

Lastly, VJ looks much different on a computer vs. a cell phone.  Some features on VJ aren't shown on cellphones.

Good luck on your visa journey!  

Thank you! 

[Sunshine38 0]

 

Hello everyone  I'm very new to this site and I would like to know what's best when I get engaged to my man who lives in Jamaica. We have been dating long distance for over 6 months but been knowing him for awhile now and I've been to Jamaica once and I'm going back to be engaged to him in July 2017. The reason I have been waiting is because we wanted to make sure we was ready to move forward. now that we have agreed to become one I am ready.  I've been reading some information online about marrying him in Jamaica and also marrying him on us soil so I really need help on any information to file the correct paperwork to bring him back to the United States? I know it take time and that's fine because it took time for us to decide to become one! Thank you for your time and comments 

Edited May 3, 2017 by Penguin_ie

[Sunshine38 0]

 

Hello everyone  I'm very new to this site and I would like to know what's best when I get engaged to my man who lives in Jamaica. We have been dating long distance for over 6 months but been knowing him for awhile now and I've been to Jamaica once and I'm going back to be engaged to him in July 2017. The reason I have been waiting is because we wanted to make sure we was ready to move forward. now that we have agreed to become one I am ready.  I've been reading some information online about marrying him in Jamaica and also marrying him on us soil so I really need help on any information to file the correct paperwork to bring him back to the United States? I know it take time and that's fine because it took time for us to decide to become one! Thank you 

[Pinkrlion 2,724]

I suggest before u file, that you some more visits in JA and spend some quality time together.  Then u will be able to collect proof of a bonafide relationship.

[neilsqueen 433]

15 minutes ago, Sunshine38 said:

 

Hello everyone  I'm very new to this site and I would like to know what's best when I get engaged to my man who lives in Jamaica. We have been dating long distance for over 6 months but been knowing him for awhile now and I've been to Jamaica once and I'm going back to be engaged to him in July 2017. The reason I have been waiting is because we wanted to make sure we was ready to move forward. now that we have agreed to become one I am ready.  I've been reading some information online about marrying him in Jamaica and also marrying him on us soil so I really need help on any information to file the correct paperwork to bring him back to the United States? I know it take time and that's fine because it took time for us to decide to become one! Thank you 

Welcome to the site!  If you go to www.travel.state.gov and www.uscis.gov you will be able to research the K1 fiance visa and the CR1/IR1 spouse visa to decide what works best for your situation.  Our personal journey was the CR1 route.  This allowed my husband to start working immediately once coming to the states.  With the K1 you have to wait several months before obtaining proper documentation to work.  The CR1 does take longer for you and your hunny to be together but the we felt the benefit working right away out weighed the time we were apart.  I visited quite frequently during the 9 months we were apart.  I believe it is taking up to a year or a little over for approvals now.  Also, review the guides on this site.  There is a wealth of knowledge.  Also, go through the Jamaican forum and read the posts.  You will get firsthand info from those of us who has been through this with the Jamaican embassy.  Best wishes to you on your journey!

[EandH0904 1,184]

This is the third post today you've posted saying the exact same thing. Did you not like the other advice you were given? 

[Boiler 46,031]

Some quality time first, sounds like you are very early in the process. More visits, time spent together.

[Sunshine38 0]

9 hours ago, EandH0904 said:

This is the third post today you've posted saying the exact same thing. Did you not like the other advice you were given? 

I Can see that! I thought I was posting in another group but I see I didn't so I'm still tryn to learn how to use this ok!

[Sunshine38 0]

9 hours ago, neilsqueen said:

Welcome to the site!  If you go to www.travel.state.gov and www.uscis.gov you will be able to research the K1 fiance visa and the CR1/IR1 spouse visa to decide what works best for your situation.  Our personal journey was the CR1 route.  This allowed my husband to start working immediately once coming to the states.  With the K1 you have to wait several months before obtaining proper documentation to work.  The CR1 does take longer for you and your hunny to be together but the we felt the benefit working right away out weighed the time we were apart.  I visited quite frequently during the 9 months we were apart.  I believe it is taking up to a year or a little over for approvals now.  Also, review the guides on this site.  There is a wealth of knowledge.  Also, go through the Jamaican forum and read the posts.  You will get firsthand info from those of us who has been through this with the Jamaican embassy.  Best wishes to you on your journey!

Thank you