When can she go back?

[Jamie76 0]

I apologize if this is the wrong forum to post this.

I know this is putting the cart before the horse since we are just getting ready to file for the K1. When will my fiancee be able to go back to Thailand? Is it after she has received her green card? Reason I ask is that her parents really want us to have a wedding ceremony over there when she is allowed to come back. I would fly there for this after her interview, but I don't know if I will be able to with work obligations here.

[Otto 83]

I apologize if this is the wrong forum to post this.

I know this is putting the cart before the horse since we are just getting ready to file for the K1. When will my fiancee be able to go back to Thailand? Is it after she has received her green card? Reason I ask is that her parents really want us to have a wedding ceremony over there when she is allowed to come back. I would fly there for this after her interview, but I don't know if I will be able to with work obligations here.

After you're married here, and file for AOS, you can also apply for AP (advance parole) - with AP, she can travel and be let back in the country.

[Krikit 1,165]

As soon as possible after you marry she will need to file for Adjustment of Status (AOS) and Advance Parole (AP). The travel document (AP) takes about 3 months to receive, which entitles her to return to the U.S. after leaving the country for no longer than one year.

Edited May 23, 2007 by Krikit

[msu17 0]

I apologize if this is the wrong forum to post this.

I know this is putting the cart before the horse since we are just getting ready to file for the K1. When will my fiancee be able to go back to Thailand? Is it after she has received her green card? Reason I ask is that her parents really want us to have a wedding ceremony over there when she is allowed to come back. I would fly there for this after her interview, but I don't know if I will be able to with work obligations here.

Totally understandable! After you get married, you file for AOS. At that time you can also file for Advanced Parole (AP). I guess this takes a few months to get approved, and with that your SO can go back for a ceremony. There are restrictions on how long you can stay away from the US, so check out all that before going.

[Jamie76 0]

Thank you everyone for the quick reply. I appreciate it.

[pushbrk 13,043]

Thank you everyone for the quick reply. I appreciate it.

You might also consider flying over to get her after she has the visa. While you're there, you can have any ceremony or party you wish, provided it falls short of a legal marriage. Your legal marriage must be in the US, after she arrives. You might find this preferrable to the uncertainties of advanced parole and/or status adjustment.

[Portlander 0]

Thats not a bad idea. Traditional Thai marriages certainly satisfy familial but not legal requirements

[bszoom42 0]

Thats not a bad idea. Traditional Thai marriages certainly satisfy familial but not legal requirements

Not sure about how traditional Thai marriages work, but if there are some telltale signs that may affect the interview; it might be wiser to get the non legal marriage done after the visa is stamped on the passport. If at the time of the interview, the consular official suspects you have already been married (they only have to suspect, they do not have to prove) then they can deny your K1 visa.

I wanted to go the route of having a non legal wedding in India, but the problem I have is that my fiancee will have many telltale signs she is already married (mehndi on hands, arms, legs; wedding bracelets, and wedding necklace) that is very obvious to the Delhi consular officials. Also, just in case she has trouble at the POE for the same, we decided that the best route to go would be to get married in the US first, and then return to India after Advanced Parole and then do a marriage there.