Does filing K-1 before or after Travel Ban for Venezuela fiance matter?

[AboynamedSue 1]

3 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

What a peculiar way of looking at it. So you say above 'It is an extremely healthy relationship that will lead to a lasting marriage. I feel blessed each and every day’, yet you’d give that up just in case you waste a K-1 application on this person?! Most people would do whatever they could to be with the person they love, which may well include going to live in their country instead if they couldn’t be together in the US for some reason. They certainly wouldn’t be worrying about not being able to petition another person further down the line!

 

I agree and hate looking at this way.  We wish Maduro was rightfully removed.  Harris won. Or if my fiance had a different nationality.   I haven't been eating, showering, filled with pains in the chest, and feel my teeth cracking.  I know I am not thinking clearly.  My fiance understands.  

 

We weren't expecting a full ban on Venezuela since last time they had one of the lenient bans.  But as the new rolled, the horror and nightmare took over. 

What are our options? Chances are we need to let each other go under a full travel ban.  I would wait for 4 years if we knew there was a guarantee change in administration, which means waiting 6 years total.  Waiting for 4 years with uncertainty will be hell.  Then we are both getting older for children.  She will get Chilean citizenship in 7 years, but then her daughter will be 21.  I can move down there, but that will take 4-8 years at the earliest. 

 

We did everything right, and the world is punishing us.  And we have to make a decision by tomorrow morning. 

 

I do not want to be in this situation. It is breaking me. 

 

I do not want to go off of AI, but is there any advantage of filing before? 

[Ontarkie 14,707]

You're asking a question that not one single person can answer. Not one single person knows because we do not know what will happen. The what If's will kill you. 

[Lemonslice 5,056]

1 hour ago, AboynamedSue said:

I am reading Meta and Grok AI and they say that filing preban may improve our chances at waivers and exemption under a complete ban. 

 

I am torn because I love this woman, and the relationship will lead to a happy marriage and warm home with her daughter. If it is not with her, then I will most likely try again with someone else from Latin America since share similar values regarding home and family. After sobering up 6 years ago, I am not sadly finding that in America and I am getting older.  All this takes time. 

 

Then I will have to start over with a K-1 already filed.  I may have to ask for a waiver.  

 

I do not know whether to go for it and maximize every advantage, or realize that we did everything possible, and take a wait and see approach so we can make an informed decision as a couple. 

 

I do not want to regret filing soon an potentially missing even the slightest opportunity to be with my fiancé nor to do I want to waste a K-1 application on a country facing a complete ban, potentially jeopardizing a future application.  I can travel in 2 months....and I just do not know. 

 

We are caught in ethical quagmires and a nightmare decision that I would not wish on anyone. 

How would AI know?  Seriously, AI can be a useful tool, but do not rely on it.  Take a deep breath, until all the details are out, it will be a guessing game. 

 

Here is how it looked in 2017, might be totally different this time, but could also be similar.  Notice the subtle differences for each "banned" country.    

https://www.nafsa.org/professional-resources/browse-by-interest/executive-order-travel-ban-nafsa-resources

 

 

[AboynamedSue 1]

The new Travel Bans are being placed into 3 categories of Red, Orange, and Yellow this time.  While Venezuela had one of the lenient bans last time, it looking at a complete ban now. 

 

Trump recently revoked Chevron's oil license from Maduro.  Recently the administration sent 238 Venezuelan 'gang members' to El Salvador prisons without due process and against a judges order. Maduro closed down the US embassy in Caracas in 2019 and the US followed suit in 2023.  Last time, in 2017, we still had embassies open. 

 

It feels hopeless, and all this materialized over the course of the last few days with the Travel Ban leaks.  We had hope before this given the past ban on Venezuela. 

 

The lawyer has not been advising well.  We were ready to submit it early January of 2025, but the lawyer advised to wait for the ban.  We foolishly went along.  And now he is not given any advice with a 10AM deadline tomorrow. 

 

Grok AI is all I have. 

[SalishSea 18,367]

2 hours ago, AboynamedSue said:

 

I agree and hate looking at this way.  We wish Maduro was rightfully removed.  Harris won. Or if my fiance had a different nationality.   I haven't been eating, showering, filled with pains in the chest, and feel my teeth cracking.  I know I am not thinking clearly.  My fiance understands.  

 

We weren't expecting a full ban on Venezuela since last time they had one of the lenient bans.  But as the new rolled, the horror and nightmare took over. 

What are our options? Chances are we need to let each other go under a full travel ban.  I would wait for 4 years if we knew there was a guarantee change in administration, which means waiting 6 years total.  Waiting for 4 years with uncertainty will be hell.  Then we are both getting older for children.  She will get Chilean citizenship in 7 years, but then her daughter will be 21.  I can move down there, but that will take 4-8 years at the earliest. 

 

We did everything right, and the world is punishing us.  And we have to make a decision by tomorrow morning. 

 

I do not want to be in this situation. It is breaking me. 

 

I do not want to go off of AI, but is there any advantage of filing before? 

You are letting your own choices victimize you.  No one is "owed" anything.  Why are all bets off if she can't get a green card?  Why can't you move to live with her?

[SalishSea 18,367]

1 hour ago, AboynamedSue said:

The new Travel Bans are being placed into 3 categories of Red, Orange, and Yellow this time.  While Venezuela had one of the lenient bans last time, it looking at a complete ban now. 

 

Trump recently revoked Chevron's oil license from Maduro.  Recently the administration sent 238 Venezuelan 'gang members' to El Salvador prisons without due process and against a judges order. Maduro closed down the US embassy in Caracas in 2019 and the US followed suit in 2023.  Last time, in 2017, we still had embassies open. 

 

It feels hopeless, and all this materialized over the course of the last few days with the Travel Ban leaks.  We had hope before this given the past ban on Venezuela. 

 

The lawyer has not been advising well.  We were ready to submit it early January of 2025, but the lawyer advised to wait for the ban.  We foolishly went along.  And now he is not given any advice with a 10AM deadline tomorrow. 

 

Grok AI is all I have. 

Had you filed in January, it wouldn't have made a difference.  You are conflating the petition with a visa.

 

 An easy misconception for newbies, but I stronglyI suggest you read up on the differences as part of your research into overall US immigration.  Like pushbrk says, your success at this is tied becoming an "A student" of all things related to your process.  Own your process, since you are the one who cares the most about it.  Most of us here on VisaJourney have not used lawyers or notarios or whatever.  This is a DIY site.

 

People with approved petitions get denied visas ALL THE TIME.  The purpose of the petition is to establish the relationship eligibility (such as finance, spouse), upon which the visa is based.  Approved petitions from two years ago will not lead to issued visas if there is a travel ban.  

 

The final say for visa issuance is 100% with the consulate, and directives given to consulates by state department leadership and their superiors will be adhered to regardless of petition approvals.

[TBoneTX 46,648]

Brother, just file the petition ASAP.  If necessary, collect all materials from the lawyer's office, fire the lawyer, and file the petition yourself.  Just DO IT.

[AboynamedSue 1]

Thank you for the conversation and letting me process this. I have been crazy not been able to think clearly, but clarity came.

 

It will hurt if we are denied and there are no exemptions for pre-filed. It will scar us deeply, but we won't live with regret. 

 

We never planned to meet each like we did and actually avoided falling in love for over a year, but it has been magical and amazing since our first visit. She is the sweetest woman who loves to spread joy.  It feels like we grew up on the same neighborhood block, despite being so separated by distance.  I can still feel our first hug.

 

Thanks all.

[Lemonslice 5,056]

23 minutes ago, AboynamedSue said:

Thank you for the conversation and letting me process this. I have been crazy not been able to think clearly, but clarity came.

 

It will hurt if we are denied and there are no exemptions for pre-filed. It will scar us deeply, but we won't live with regret. 

 

We never planned to meet each like we did and actually avoided falling in love for over a year, but it has been magical and amazing since our first visit. She is the sweetest woman who loves to spread joy.  It feels like we grew up on the same neighborhood block, despite being so separated by distance.  I can still feel our first hug.

 

Thanks all.

I know it is hard, but try to not overstress too much.  This is a long process, rules (and news cycles) have time to change a million times before the interview at the consulate; keep your eyes open, reach to your elected representatives if you have an opinion to share. Focus on the rules when it gets closer to your turn. 

 

Please come back to keep us updated.

 

Best of luck!

 

 

Edited March 19 by Lemonslice