Spouse is stuck in Riyadh

[Cat person 0]

Hi, 

My fiancé is a Sudan native currently living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His local guardian has been promising to renew his iqama (this paperwork is required as a migrant worker) but hasn’t for 2 months now. We were going to marry there but now can’t is it possible to file the fiancé visa and he can come to America to marry? Or will the iqama expiry papers make it impossible? 

[Lee Thacket 29]

22 hours ago, Shahadah difrisco said:

Hi, 

My fiancé is a Sudan native currently living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His local guardian has been promising to renew his iqama (this paperwork is required as a migrant worker) but hasn’t for 2 months now. We were going to marry there but now can’t is it possible to file the fiancé visa and he can come to America to marry? Or will the iqama expiry papers make it impossible? 

 

Is your fiancé in Saudi Arabia illegally given his paperwork has not been renewed?

 

You can certainly file a petition for him to come to the United States to marry you. The process is rather long. He won't be able to work after joining you. Could you get married in Saudi Arabia or a third country?

[Cat person 0]

@Lee Thacket hello, I appreciate you relying may God bless you. And I would apply for the K-1 visa for him but I think without the iqama papers he cannot travel. I’m uncertain if he could or not if he could get out of the country by this method I would petition for this right away. Do you have any knowledge of this? If so, it would be very appreciated. Thank u 

[Lee Thacket 29]

19 minutes ago, Shahadah difrisco said:

@Lee Thacket hello, I appreciate you relying may God bless you. And I would apply for the K-1 visa for him but I think without the iqama papers he cannot travel. I’m uncertain if he could or not if he could get out of the country by this method I would petition for this right away. Do you have any knowledge of this? If so, it would be very appreciated. Thank u 

 

If he cannot travel it would be a waste of money applying for the K-1 fiance visa.

 

Applying for a K-1 visa would not aid him in leaving Saudi Arabia.

 

It sounds worrying that his paperwork cannot be sorted out. I am not familiar with Saudi employment law or immigration regulations. He needs to get advice from who is.

[Cat person 0]

@Lee Thacket yes I agree, thanks for even replying. Can you tell me do you think the K-1 process was easy? Or any suggestions for the quickest simplest process between cr1 and k-1? 

[Family 3,988]

Your title reads “spouse” and your post “fiancé “…did you have a religious ceremony? 
How well do you know your fellow …have you met in person during the last 2 years? 
 

He is racking up balance that will need to be paid when exiting….you can check his amount due online .

 

Is he asking you for money ? 

https://velocityglobal.com/resources/blog/saudi-arabia-labor-law/

SAUDI ARABIA LABOR LAW: GUIDE TO REFORMS AND EMPLOYMENT

17 January 2024

Recent labor law reform

Saudi Arabia’s labor reforms focused on employee mobility. Resolution No. 51848/1442, which went into effect in March 2021, made it easier for employees to search for, change, and leave their jobs.

Before the reforms, foreigners working in Saudi Arabia needed their employer’s permission to change jobs and complete other administrative tasks, such as opening a local bank account.

Under Resolution No. 51848/1442, employees can now:

• Leave their job without their employer’s consent when the contract ends
• Leave their job before the contract expires if they have been in the country for a year and give their employer 90 days' notice
• Change their job within their first year of employment under certain conditions
• Use an electronic portal to see job offers, submit notifications, and input transfer requests

Previously, foreign employees living and working in Saudi Arabia on an Iqama visa and work permit also couldn’t exit the country without permission from their employer. Now, they can access the Saudi government’s online portal to make their exit/re-entry request.

[Cat person 0]

@Family I appreciate your reply it’s upfront he has not asked me for money and to be honest I always offer and he always refuses. We can’t meet in person because it’s forbidden in Islam. He has spoke to my family and we are trying to do correctly. And we don’t even plan to settle in the states. The problem is many migrant workers face this in gulf countries, it is not just him. It’s very common for immigrants to be in his situation there. Thank you for your reply. 

[Family 3,988]

3 minutes ago, Shahadah difrisco said:

@Family I appreciate your reply it’s upfront he has not asked me for money and to be honest I always offer and he always refuses. We can’t meet in person because it’s forbidden in Islam. He has spoke to my family and we are trying to do correctly. And we don’t even plan to settle in the states. The problem is many migrant workers face this in gulf countries, it is not just him. It’s very common for immigrants to be in his situation there. Thank you for your reply. 

If you have not met in person, an I-129 F is not possible. 

 

[Cat person 0]

@Family I read it is if you have religious exemption or it cause hardship. In our case religion. I can’t meet him without family present until marriage. Even if he lived in the states i could not see him alone. But now im more worried of him being stuck then the actual marriage he is a good person and I just want best however that goes. Thank you for reply 

[Family 3,988]

5 minutes ago, Shahadah difrisco said:

@Family I read it is if you have religious exemption or it cause hardship. In our case religion. I can’t meet him without family present until marriage. Even if he lived in the states i could not see him alone. But now im more worried of him being stuck then the actual marriage he is a good person and I just want best however that goes. Thank you for reply 

You will not be granted exemption . Muslim couples routinely satisfy the meeting in person, while observing religious norms…

 

You mentioned your long term plan is to live in a country other than the US, what is that country ? 
 

If you want him out of SA, all you have to do is pay the exit permit since he says his employer is forcing illegal work. Just check his status online yourself 

[Lee Thacket 29]

2 hours ago, Shahadah difrisco said:

@Lee Thacket yes I agree, thanks for even replying. Can you tell me do you think the K-1 process was easy? Or any suggestions for the quickest simplest process between cr1 and k-1? 

@Shahadah difrisco my fiancée and I had met in person three times by the time we submitted the I-129F petition. As @Family says it will be extremely difficult for a K-1 visa to be granted without evidence of meeting in person.

 

Can you have others present when you meet?

 

Alternatively, you could get married somewhere other than Saudi Arabia or the United States.

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

2 hours ago, Shahadah difrisco said:

I read it is if you have religious exemption or it cause hardship.

Ever seen one of these waivers approved? I have not.  You need to meet before filing an I-129f.

Edited May 22 by Crazy Cat

[Cat person 0]

@Lee Thacket thank your for this. We are not sure yet on which one we will apply for, I was just seeing if the K-1 could help his other dilemma but I think I got my answer thanks 

[nastra30 2,284]

Op, the fundamental requirement for a K1 petition is to meet (physically, face-to-face) within a 2-year period before applying. No meeting, no K1 approval.