Should I marry my girl before trying to come to USA?

[europm 0]

I wish to marry my fiancee from Ukraine. I am a U.S. citizen living in Europe and can not return to Ukraine for 6 months. She is a widow with a young son, owns her own flat and a business (on paper). Ukraine does not let single woman leave easily. These are my possible options: Marry her in Ukraine by proxy (not present) and then get her a visa to USA (not likely). Get her a visa to go to her brother in Spain and marry her there. This seems to be the best option, but how do I get her to USA afterward? Does getting married first make it easier to get into the USA? What would be necessary to accomplish this? She is not in a safe situation in Ukraine and needs to get out. Please help.

[ThaitoUSA 15]

I believe many shall agree that no single way is easier than the others, though all of them have advantages and disadvantages. I would recommend a IR-1/CR-1 visa for you. This is for those who are already married. It takes approximately the same amount of time as a K-3 marriage visa but the moment she enters America she is a permenant resident as well as able to work immediately. If you decide to pursue a K-1 fiancée visa or a K-3 spousal visa, you'll need to file more paperwork after she arrives in order to get a Green Card (permanent residency) as well as work authorization.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I wish to marry my fiancee from Ukraine. I am a U.S. citizen living in Europe and can not return to Ukraine for 6 months. She is a widow with a young son, owns her own flat and a business (on paper). Ukraine does not let single woman leave easily. These are my possible options: Marry her in Ukraine by proxy (not present) and then get her a visa to USA (not likely). Get her a visa to go to her brother in Spain and marry her there. This seems to be the best option, but how do I get her to USA afterward? Does getting married first make it easier to get into the USA? What would be necessary to accomplish this? She is not in a safe situation in Ukraine and needs to get out. Please help.

WOW. Enough bad information for a fiction novel

Ukraine will let any single woman that wants to leave go Bye bye. No problem with Ukraine. The USA and other European countries do no tissue tourist visas. It is not Ukraine that keeps them there, it is the USA that won't let them in!!!! But the USA will gladly issue you a K-1, K-3 or CR-1 visa. Marriage by proxy is useless here and I have no indication it is of any value in Ukriane. Forget that.

Why don't you just read the guides above and learn the truth about this process. The truth will set you free. And believe it or not, you aren't the first guy from the USA with a Ukrainian fiancee....OH, Lookie here! I have one of those myself!!!!!!!!!!! Fron what you tell us so far, your best option is marry her (you have to do this in person, sorry) and apply for a CR-1 visa so she can come to the United States and be all fixed up with a green card.

Listen, good luck, we are here to help. Beleieve me you can get a visa and she cam leave. Since my wife and kids are over there visiting right now, I am kinda counting them being able to do that myself

[payxibka 10,045]

I wish to marry my fiancee from Ukraine. I am a U.S. citizen living in Europe and can not return to Ukraine for 6 months. She is a widow with a young son, owns her own flat and a business (on paper). Ukraine does not let single woman leave easily. These are my possible options: Marry her in Ukraine by proxy (not present) and then get her a visa to USA (not likely). Get her a visa to go to her brother in Spain and marry her there. This seems to be the best option, but how do I get her to USA afterward? Does getting married first make it easier to get into the USA? What would be necessary to accomplish this? She is not in a safe situation in Ukraine and needs to get out. Please help.

OMG... are you misinformed. relax and learn it is not as bad as you think

Edited June 16, 2009 by payxibka

[europm 0]

I believe many shall agree that no single way is easier than the others, though all of them have advantages and disadvantages. I would recommend a IR-1/CR-1 visa for you. This is for those who are already married. It takes approximately the same amount of time as a K-3 marriage visa but the moment she enters America she is a permenant resident as well as able to work immediately. If you decide to pursue a K-1 fiancée visa or a K-3 spousal visa, you'll need to file more paperwork after she arrives in order to get a Green Card (permanent residency) as well as work authorization.

Hi, Ok, so I should get married either by proxy in Ukraine if at all possible or have her escape to her brother in Spain, meet her there and we get married in Spain then use the IR-1/CR-1 visa ? Where can I find out more information on this type of visa? Thanks so much for your help.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I believe many shall agree that no single way is easier than the others, though all of them have advantages and disadvantages. I would recommend a IR-1/CR-1 visa for you. This is for those who are already married. It takes approximately the same amount of time as a K-3 marriage visa but the moment she enters America she is a permenant resident as well as able to work immediately. If you decide to pursue a K-1 fiancée visa or a K-3 spousal visa, you'll need to file more paperwork after she arrives in order to get a Green Card (permanent residency) as well as work authorization.

Hi, Ok, so I should get married either by proxy in Ukraine if at all possible or have her escape to her brother in Spain, meet her there and we get married in Spain then use the IR-1/CR-1 visa ? Where can I find out more information on this type of visa? Thanks so much for your help.

NO

You need to read the guides. A marriage by "proxy" is not valid in the USA and will get you no visa. She does not need to "escape" What year, exactly does your calender tell you it is? The Soviet Union dissolved several years ago, most people know about this by now. Ukraine allows its people to leave freely. I lived there, my wife and I have traveled to many other countries within Europe without a question asked, but EU countries do not easily issue tourist visas to Ukrainians. Your fiancee is NOT trapped in Ukraine. I have no idea if Spain will issue her a tourist visa. Andorra will. Turkey will. Czech Republic will, that is where I met my wife, she had "escaped" for a business exposition in Prague, and then ,being the silly girl she is, went BACK! LOL Really, tone down the misconceptions, the truth will set you (and her) free.

If Spain will issue her a tourist visa she can go there and you can apply for whatever visa you like while she is there. Please, really, read the guides. You are terribly misinformed about the visa process AND Ukraine.

You can find ALL the information about ALL the visas at this site under "guides" above

[Marina-Del 10]

Alternatively, if she cannot get a tourist visa to go to Spain and you cannot go to Ukraine for 6 months, you could file the K-1 visa (which is what this thread is for actually). Also, I'm not sure how complicated it would be for the two of you to marry in Spain. It seems to me that it would be better for you to apply for a K-1 visa since you say you cannot get to Ukraine for at least 6 months and it is not guaranteed that she could get a visa to go to Spain, not to mention all of the legalities that would have to be gotten through for two people, neither of them Spanish, to get married in Spain. (I live in Brazil for example and for two Americans to get married here, or any two nationalities that aren't Brazilian) is a pain in the a$$. It can be done, but it's a serious pain!). Spain might be the same. Why do you two need to get married first?

I'm gonna guess that you are not aware that there is a visa for your fiancee to leave Ukraine and THEN marry you in the US. As others have said,

If for some strange reason you are opposed to the K-1 visa, then I personally think it would be easier for you to get yourself back to Ukraine, than for the two of you to try to get her a visa to Spain and then try to go through all the hassle of marrying in a foreign country. If you can get yourself back to Ukraine within the next 2-3 months, then you can marry her there and apply for the CR-1 visa. But, if you can't get there within 2-3 months, then you might as well apply the K-1 visa.

[pushbrk 12,784]

Alternatively, if she cannot get a tourist visa to go to Spain and you cannot go to Ukraine for 6 months, you could file the K-1 visa (which is what this thread is for actually). Also, I'm not sure how complicated it would be for the two of you to marry in Spain. It seems to me that it would be better for you to apply for a K-1 visa since you say you cannot get to Ukraine for at least 6 months and it is not guaranteed that she could get a visa to go to Spain, not to mention all of the legalities that would have to be gotten through for two people, neither of them Spanish, to get married in Spain. (I live in Brazil for example and for two Americans to get married here, or any two nationalities that aren't Brazilian) is a pain in the a$$. It can be done, but it's a serious pain!). Spain might be the same. Why do you two need to get married first?

I'm gonna guess that you are not aware that there is a visa for your fiancee to leave Ukraine and THEN marry you in the US. As others have said,

If for some strange reason you are opposed to the K-1 visa, then I personally think it would be easier for you to get yourself back to Ukraine, than for the two of you to try to get her a visa to Spain and then try to go through all the hassle of marrying in a foreign country. If you can get yourself back to Ukraine within the next 2-3 months, then you can marry her there and apply for the CR-1 visa. But, if you can't get there within 2-3 months, then you might as well apply the K-1 visa.

Lots of good answers already but if you decide to marry in a country where neither of you is a citizen, you'll need to research whether that is allowed in the specific country and if allowed, what the procedure is. As I recall, just getting married in Ukraine or any FSU (sorry, FORMER SOVIET UNION) country with you being a foreigner can be cumbersome.

Unless you're planning to both live in the USA together soon, the K1 fiancee visa won't help you.

[Ladylethal 12]

Please read the guides and get familiar with the options, and be aware that in order to petition for her as a fiancee you'll have to have met her in person in the past 2 years and prove it. I dunno if there's more to the story that you're not telling us as far as her need to "escape" but as others said if it's simply due to cultural issues in Ukraine this is the 21st century.

About marrying in a country neither of you is a national of you'd have to research the rules that apply to that country.

So either way, start by reading the guides.

[Marina-Del 10]

Unless you're planning to both live in the USA together soon, the K1 fiancee visa won't help you.

Oooo....good point pushbrk (as always!), I didn't even think of that! I guess I just assumed that was implied, but you are definitely right, it is not!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Alternatively, if she cannot get a tourist visa to go to Spain and you cannot go to Ukraine for 6 months, you could file the K-1 visa (which is what this thread is for actually). Also, I'm not sure how complicated it would be for the two of you to marry in Spain. It seems to me that it would be better for you to apply for a K-1 visa since you say you cannot get to Ukraine for at least 6 months and it is not guaranteed that she could get a visa to go to Spain, not to mention all of the legalities that would have to be gotten through for two people, neither of them Spanish, to get married in Spain. (I live in Brazil for example and for two Americans to get married here, or any two nationalities that aren't Brazilian) is a pain in the a$$. It can be done, but it's a serious pain!). Spain might be the same. Why do you two need to get married first?

I'm gonna guess that you are not aware that there is a visa for your fiancee to leave Ukraine and THEN marry you in the US. As others have said,

If for some strange reason you are opposed to the K-1 visa, then I personally think it would be easier for you to get yourself back to Ukraine, than for the two of you to try to get her a visa to Spain and then try to go through all the hassle of marrying in a foreign country. If you can get yourself back to Ukraine within the next 2-3 months, then you can marry her there and apply for the CR-1 visa. But, if you can't get there within 2-3 months, then you might as well apply the K-1 visa.

Lots of good answers already but if you decide to marry in a country where neither of you is a citizen, you'll need to research whether that is allowed in the specific country and if allowed, what the procedure is. As I recall, just getting married in Ukraine or any FSU (sorry, FORMER SOVIET UNION) country with you being a foreigner can be cumbersome.

Unless you're planning to both live in the USA together soon, the K1 fiancee visa won't help you.

That's why to me, the Cr-1 seemed better in this case. Ukraine DOES have residency requirements (30 days if I recall, we checked on this option also)for marriage licenses, HOWEVER, your fiancee being Ukrainian, will know how to get one for you TODAY, if she wants. 'Nuff said.

I am very concerned about a few things. Either you are not telling everything (certainly your choice) OR someone is giving you some very bad and inaccurate information, and I would question the motive of that. I can promise you from much personal experience, there is absolutely no Ukrainian rule or regulation preventing you fiancee (or any law abiding Ukrainian) from leaving. My wife has been in and out of Ukraine several times in the past month, from one country to another and back again, she is in Russia as I type this, using only her Ukrainian passport (she won't need to show the green card until she comes back here) and has had absolutely no problems or questions, not to mention many times we left Ukraine and returned, together, before she arrived here, including a week at the beach in Turkey last summer. Anyone telling you she cannot leave has some motive (probably not a good one) to lie to you. This is (or was) a very common tactic of scammers in the past. Now, the stroies are changing and the scammers tend to suggest you send money so they can travel to meet you in some foreign third country where Ukrainians do not need a visa or can get one easily. They used to say, "Send me money and I will meet you in New York" but the word has pretty much gotten out they can't do that as the USA will not issue tourist visas. Dominican Republic seems to be a favorite "meeting place" of the scammers now. Not sure about Spain. I KNOW Andorra allows Ukrainian citizens to easily obtain a visa. Most EU countries do not issue tourist visas to Ukrainians very easily. Many eastern Europe, former Soviet bloc countries have a VWP of sorts with Ukraine or will issue a visa upon entry for a fee. Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, etc. FSU countries all allow Ukrainians free travel to and from. Most airline websites have a visa "calculator" of sorts where you enter the citizenship/residency and destination country and it tells you if they need a visa and what type. Be sure what you are doing.

[Brad and Vika 129]

I am curious to know what, exactly, is the nature of the danger she is in. You stated earlier that she wasn't safe, and needed to escape. Vy don't you relax, lie down on ze couch, unt tell us about zat.

Jokes aside, if you are getting lots of pressure from some one you haven't spent much time with to help her "escape", you should be slowly taking relationship inventory. Do that BEFORE you explore how to immediately marry.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I am curious to know what, exactly, is the nature of the danger she is in. You stated earlier that she wasn't safe, and needed to escape. Vy don't you relax, lie down on ze couch, unt tell us about zat.

Jokes aside, if you are getting lots of pressure from some one you haven't spent much time with to help her "escape", you should be slowly taking relationship inventory. Do that BEFORE you explore how to immediately marry.

Alla just called me...from Russia (y'know where Ukrainians aren't supposed to be able to escape to) and I KNOW she is in Russia because she rang my phone from our son's phone and I called her back. I mentioned this to her and she said "VooooooooWHAT!!!!???"

There is no reason she cannot leave Ukraine.

[msu17 0]

Just to throw it out there, I noticed you said you are living in Europe right now. If you intend on bringing your fiance back to the US soon, you will need to have filed your federal taxes. A lot of people living outside the US forget or do not know that they are still required to file, so you might want to do this soon if you haven't already.

[Filipina Lover 1]

I wish to marry my fiancee from Ukraine. I am a U.S. citizen living in Europe and can not return to Ukraine for 6 months. She is a widow with a young son, owns her own flat and a business (on paper). Ukraine does not let single woman leave easily. These are my possible options: Marry her in Ukraine by proxy (not present) and then get her a visa to USA (not likely). Get her a visa to go to her brother in Spain and marry her there. This seems to be the best option, but how do I get her to USA afterward? Does getting married first make it easier to get into the USA? What would be necessary to accomplish this? She is not in a safe situation in Ukraine and needs to get out. Please help.

The best way is K1 visa, you ask for permission, you wait and go through all the stuff like the rest of us. or

You get married now, and get K3 visa and wait and go through all the stuff and then bring her here or

She comes to the US with a tourist visa and you get married here and then you do the paperwork and tell them she's not leaving, but you might need a lawyer, I don't know how that works, but I heard that they don't like it when you do it that way, you might have more interviews if you do it that way, but if she is in danger, then what can you do.

Either way, it's very expensive, the prices have really gotten high