K1 to K3 confusion

[rocky95 53]

12 minutes ago, carmel34 said:

K-1 for Algeria can be highly scrutinized, especially if the last time you saw each other was December of 2019.  Evidence of one visit within two years of filing the I-129 is the minimum requirement, but sometimes it is not sufficient for difficult embassies.  There's no way to know for sure.

When we filed it was within the two years time frame that we saw each other. And like I mentioned I have known my fiancé since the age of 7 and spent every other summer together since then. Normally I go every other year but because of the border closure I couldn't. We are both ethnically Algerian, only 9 months apart in age, our family have met and spent time together on multiple occasions, we are the same religion, speak same language etc. 

 

I've been told that Algeria is scrutinized because a lot of the K1 visa applicants are years apart in age, different culture, different religion etc. But the situation around my application will make things smoother ( but you're right there is no way to know for sure and I can only hope though) 

Edited April 21, 2022 by rocky95

[Cathi 5,747]

Borders are no longer closed. You haven't seen each other in 2 and a half years, that is going to be very tough through Algeria. It doesn't matter that you're both ethnically Algerian or how many times you've met while you were growing up or how many times the family has met or anything else that happened long ago. Think here and now. Now that the borders are open I would go out of my way to meet again, if not in your country than in another.

[JeanneAdil 6,498]

Do u also hold Algerian citizenship?

if only a USC,  the time to marry in Algeria may be a extensive and could be the deciding factor

hope u can take more than a month off to complete the entire process as it takes weeks just to get the marriage license 

IF not possible to marry,   stick with the K1 and document all your trips to be with him (boarding passes,  hotel receipts,  photo to show family -mother- approves)

 

Marriage in Algeria is based on its civil code and it can take three to four weeks to obtain authorization. 

 

https://dz.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/marriage-in-algeria/

[rocky95 53]

1 hour ago, Cathi said:

Borders are no longer closed. You haven't seen each other in 2 and a half years, that is going to be very tough through Algeria. It doesn't matter that you're both ethnically Algerian or how many times you've met while you were growing up or how many times the family has met or anything else that happened long ago. Think here and now. Now that the borders are open I would go out of my way to meet again, if not in your country than in another.

It seems like you didn't read the comments from before. The borders just opened recently and I do have plans to  visit my fiance in July. My original question was that because I am going in July I was debating if we should get married or continue with the K1 visa. I asked a UCSIS rep and she told me I could get married and just transfer my case to a K3 by sending a letter, and I was verifying that information. 

Edited April 21, 2022 by rocky95

[rocky95 53]

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

Do u also hold Algerian citizenship?

if only a USC,  the time to marry in Algeria may be a extensive and could be the deciding factor

hope u can take more than a month off to complete the entire process as it takes weeks just to get the marriage license 

IF not possible to marry,   stick with the K1 and document all your trips to be with him (boarding passes,  hotel receipts,  photo to show family -mother- approves)

 

Marriage in Algeria is based on its civil code and it can take three to four weeks to obtain authorization. 

 

https://dz.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/marriage-in-algeria/

Yes I do have an Algerian citizenship. I am duo citizen of both Algeria and US. 

Edited April 21, 2022 by rocky95

[Family 3,988]

9 hours ago, ROK2USA said:

As you are seeing your partner in July 2022 and you applied for your K1 in July 2021, there is a chance your K1 will be approved during your visit. 

I'm not sure about backlog for K1s out of Algeria but there is a chance your partner could be flying home with you this summer... I would personally hold off on the marriage.

Most pragmatic advice after being 12 months into the K-1 by the time you visit her in July.
Getting married at that time only guarantees starting from zero on I-130..and risk an even longer separation. 

If you can maybe move heaven and earth and no matter when her interview is, just fly there even if to wait outside..bring a few of your family and a few of hers  ( that live in Algeria) as an escort for her to the embassy.. so she can tell the interviewing officer BOTH our families have waited along with us for this moment…

For whoever you think can be the escort , write up now a culturally appropriate letter ( Your side of the Family and from Her Side of the Family ) that say they give their blessings to the proposed marriage of Romeo and Juliet , that they each know you and her since birth , know your family and elders…and they support the union . 

 

You write it….email it, She prints it, has family sign it and gets some fancy stamps seals. ..ITS your story, and you tell it well. Even if you get an RFE, from USCIS, you have nothing to worry about. …

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rocky95 53]

45 minutes ago, Family said:

Most pragmatic advice after being 12 months into the K-1 by the time you visit her in July.
Getting married at that time only guarantees starting from zero on I-130..and risk an even longer separation. 

If you can maybe move heaven and earth and no matter when her interview is, just fly there even if to wait outside..bring a few of your family and a few of hers  ( that live in Algeria) as an escort for her to the embassy.. so she can tell the interviewing officer BOTH our families have waited along with us for this moment…

For whoever you think can be the escort , write up now a culturally appropriate letter ( Your side of the Family and from Her Side of the Family ) that say they give their blessings to the proposed marriage of Romeo and Juliet , that they each know you and her since birth , know your family and elders…and they support the union . 

 

You write it….email it, She prints it, has family sign it and gets some fancy stamps seals. ..ITS your story, and you tell it well. Even if you get an RFE, from USCIS, you have nothing to worry about. …

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you. You mention an escort to the embassy..... I am actually the girl and my fiance is the boy. Was the escort a suggestion based on the opposite assumption, or would it really be best for me to escort him in his interview? 

[Family 3,988]

11 minutes ago, rocky95 said:

Thank you. You mention an escort to the embassy..... I am actually the girl and my fiance is the boy. Was the escort a suggestion based on the opposite assumption, or would it really be best for me to escort him in his interview? 

Although I did assume reversed roles, as u can tell by my post, the Petitioner going with Fiancée to the interview is quite common especially for tougher Consulates. I believe @Mike Ecan speak to the definite pros of going, and some posts actually look at it as a negative if the USC does not go…not sure on Algeria.

 

There is a page on VJ for Consulate Reviews, you can try looking through. 
 

The family escort ref ( may be impractical if they live far from Embassy) was a more culturally specific recommendation, since families are a BIG part of marriage decisions in Algeria, and you grew up there so I thought you could go all out…especially if anyone you or he know lives by.  PLEASE do not think it is a necessity! 

[TBoneTX 45,273]

There are several benefits and no drawbacks to the petitioner's being on the consular premises or within range when the beneficiary has the visa interview.

 

1.  Emotional support

2.  Added legitimacy to the bona fide appearance of the relationship

3.  Enabling the consular officer to call the petitioner in to clear up questions, thus avoiding a 221(g)

 

The beneficiary can carry the petitioner's U.S. passport into the interview to show it to the intake staff and then to the consular officer.

Edited April 22, 2022 by TBoneTX

[rocky95 53]

@Family @TBoneTX Thank you both!

[Mike E 11,739]

8 hours ago, Family said:

Although I did assume reversed roles, as u can tell by my post, the Petitioner going with Fiancée to the interview is quite common especially for tougher Consulates. I believe @Mike Ecan speak to the definite pros of going, and some posts actually look at it as a negative if the USC does not go…not sure on Algeria.

I was 99.99 percent certain I would not be permitted into the embassy for my fiancée’s interview and I wasn’t.  Still I waited outside for moral support, and thinking what our next move would be if denied (illegal for us to marry in Burma because we didn’t share religions in common, and comparatively  difficult for foreigners to marry in other south East Asian countries). 
 

 Despite evidence of 4 meetings submitted  with DS-260 between filing of I-129F and filing DS-260, the first question the CO asked my fiancée was when was the last time she saw her fiancé. She told him, “this morning, he is waiting outside the embassy”

 

I’ve read that most K-1s get a secondary inspection. We did not as we traveled to the USA together, and we refused to be separated at passport control despite intense pressure to do otherwise.  The CBPO reminded us we had 90 days to marry, and that was it.