where to start?

[kamw 93]

I’ve been a permanent resident since 1991. Lived in Florida fulltime since 2005. Reconneced with high school friend in Jamaica. Decided to try the long distance relationship thing and been dating for the past 4 years and we are now ready to take the next step since he proposed 05/2014. We are both mid 20’s, employed full time, no kids/previous marriages/criminal history. He has never been to the US and was denied for a visiting visa due to lack of ties in 2009 (was a full time student about to graduate and didn’t have a house/car/job). I’m submitting my paperwork to become a citizen this week but I have a few questions about where to go from here. We are currently trying to decide if we should get married in Jamaica and then apply for the IR-1 / CR-1 or just wait to get my citizenship and file for a K1 visa to get married here.

Is it quicker for him to get here if we go the K1 route (fiancé) or the IR-1 / CR-1 (spouse visa)?

If we do the K1 visa, how long wld it be until he can work?

Do I need to get an immigration attorney and at what point?

We decided to forgo traditional engagement rings (I lose things frequently) and got matching tattoos on our ring finger instead. Someone mentioned we might run into an issue with immigration for this. Do we need to get actual rings?

[florida4life 29]

http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

That will give you an ideal

spouse route

[Jawaree 717]

I personally would opt for marriage CR1 + he start working upon arrival

and your citizenship being processed in the meantime , then U can update

with uscis from lpr to citizen.

He will have more friends & family at the wedding in Jamaica (U can plan a

welcome reception on is arrival to US).

CR1 may take a few more mths but at least he wont be at home feeling

home-sick while U go to work.

K1 maybe a little quicker, he will arrive and have to await work permit. get marry

within 90 days, and currently dates are all over the place there's no telling if it

will go faster.

Tattoos

Tattoos R never an issue in JA unlike some South or Latin American countries

they are given many denials there for tats with area codes, tear-drops. clowns,

M13 , numbers, some Chinese writings etc because they R considered gang related

getting ring tats will not be a prob in JA but I would caution anyone going thru the immigrant

process from getting a tat until after the process is done, even though its never a JA prob

I say get the tats after his interview & approval if U want but its not a problem really.

An atty is not really needed if case is straight-forward, no criminal back-ground or prior

negative presence in the US.

The denial of a tourist visa has no bearing on his immigrant visa (as long as past info

matches present)............Good luck

Edited July 28, 2014 by Jawaree

[BeautifulMinds111 0]

I agree with jawaree 100%, Plus a k1 is more expensive, This website has a lot of help and resources to guide you