NOTE: Accidentally posted this topic in the incorrect sub-forum. Apologies! I am new to the site and got mixed up.
Brevity has never been my strong suit, but I'll try to keep this as short as possible:
My fiance is from Turkiye. We are engaged, my family is coming to meet her. I am concerned with a few financial issues though:
1) I was on Medicaid during COVID-19. I don't know if this will be an issue going forward.
2) I was living and working in S. Korea for most of the past year, so my income does not meet the requirement in USD. I am unemployed and have been since October because I have been in Turkiye. I have plenty of money and assets in several accounts AND I have people who are willing to become a joint sponsor for my fiance. I sold assets last year and will report my Korean income, but I still don't think this will be enough in total to reach the poverty guidelines (assume I don't.)
3) I have medical debt which I will pay off when going to the U.S., but it did end up going to collections because I wasn't in the U.S. when the letters arrived and wasn't aware of it until recently (hidden costs.) This will be paid off when I get back to the United States.
I would like to file in January, but I was wondering if I should just hold off and try to marry my fiancee in Turkiye next May and then apply for a marriage visa instead if that would be a safer route. My understanding is that if a K-1 visa is denied, you must file another visa. Is this correct?
I am trying to file my K-1 visa before the change of administration on January 20th, because I suspect that the new administration will likely change immigration policies. However, would it be a safer, if longer route, to just marry my fiance and then apply for a IR-1 or CR-1. Thank you for any perspectives, opinions and information you can provide.