Advice on marriage

[Hairball 11]

I want to ask my girlfriend to marry me, I already know what her answer will be

First I am an American she is Ukrainian/ I am asking for opinions about a few things.

I think what I am really asking is how to eliminate separation time....as we all know this is the hardest part of a long distance relationship.

I will try to give you as much information to help with your thoughts.....

First, She has a 10 year multi entry B-1/ B-2 visa to the USA....she has only used 3 weeks of her time in 2014.

Second, she has made application for Green Card Lottery....the results come out in May.....I think

Third, I am in Ukraine now and don't really give a rats azz when I go home....and will deal with that later...

Get married here and apply for Cr-1 and TRP

Fly to Vegas and do the quickie fly back and file for Cr-1 here in Ukraine

Get married in States and play dumb, apply for AOS

Or just do the K-1 and keep up with visits back and forth

Also I own a home in USA, Canada and South America

I am open to suggestions and thoughts....I think you get the idea though...or if any more information is required, just ask

Thank you

[Penguin_ie 5,985]

****** Moving from General Immigration to What Visa Do I Need form for more answers ******

Don;t go to the US and"play dumb", that could lead to a lifetime ban for her.

I say marry now, in the Ukraine (that way her family can be there), start the process, keep visiting both ways till the process is done.

[slangofoil 50]

No one will advise you to "Get married in States and play dumb, apply for AOS" as it's fraud, and a breach of this site's TOS to encourage it.

Agree with Penguin. Get married now and start the CR-1 process.

[Hairball 11]

If we get married in Ukraine, will we both be able to visit each other under the visitor guidelines?

[Hairball 11]

Is the DCF the fastest way to file the CR-1 ?

[Ryan E 10]

I don't believe DCF is an option in Ukraine anymore without exceptional circumstances. Getting this approved requires approval of USCIS in Moscow. I tried halfheartedly to do this in MD because of some potential pregnancy complications and was denied.

You can get married wherever you like. Keep in mind what documentation Ukraine requires to get married and if you have it with you. Original birth certificate for sure, perhaps a police certificate (check if they accept an affidavit from the Embassy.)

If she gets married and chooses to change her name then she will need a new passport. The new passport will not have the US visa and she will need a new one. It will be more difficult to get the second time after you are married. That said, we did it without any problemsm, but I gather we might be the exception and I'm "known" to the embassy staff. UA authorities *may* return the old passport which can be used with the new passport and the marriage certificate. Modova does not give you the old passport back after a name change -- check UA.

Keep in mind you can only stay 90 days in 180 in UA without a residency permit. Some people make border runs to Poland or Moldova every 90 day and to "reset the clock" sometimes it works. Not sure about recent year.

She can travel to the US while the CR-1 visa is processing. Make sure she has sufficient proof showing intent to return. She can be denied entry at airport. My wife traveled to the US with me several times after we married including once with a pending IR-1 visa without any issues at the POE. That said, I'm living in MD 8 years now.

[Ryan E 10]

chances of diversity visa coming through are something like 1 in 50 or 100. Don't count on it. It also takes quite a while to get from winning to visa in hand.

If getting married and staying in UA keep in mind that you need to prove "Domicle" in the US. (look this up in the search) and also show sufficient income or assets to sponsor her.

I mailed I-130 in Jan 2014 and our interview is in Jan 15. Exactly 1 year without any RFEs or Checklist. Any of those would have added a month or two.

[Stressed Out 81]

If you don't care when you go back home then just get married there and apply for a CR-1. And yeah there isn't a USCIS field office in the Ukraine, so DCF won't be available for you guys unless you move to a DCF country for a while.

[icv21 110]

I would do K-1 it's only a few months while spouse visa is usually 1 year.

You guys can have an engagement party with her family then wedding in the states

[msbau764 245]

I would do K-1 it's only a few months while spouse visa is usually 1 year.

You guys can have an engagement party with her family then wedding in the states

few months for a K1 visa is an understatement. For someone in the Texas Service Center it could take 9 months before landing on US soil.

Edited December 22, 2014 by msbau764

[icv21 110]

few months for a K1 visa is an understatement. For someone in the Texas Service Center it could take 9 months before landing on US soil.

But still a few months. With that I mean shorter way that spouse visa. He mentions he is in Ukraine and doesn't care when going back but at the same time he mentions about "playing dumb" which is a NO NO and lottery visa. That shows their plan is to move and live in the US together. So K-1 is what I believe is faster Edited December 22, 2014 by IRIScv

[cocolucho 35]

See answers in bold :-)

I want to ask my girlfriend to marry me, I already know what her answer will be

First I am an American she is Ukrainian/ I am asking for opinions about a few things.

I think what I am really asking is how to eliminate separation time....as we all know this is the hardest part of a long distance relationship.

Petition her through the K1 visa, it is the fastest way.

I will try to give you as much information to help with your thoughts.....

First, She has a 10 year multi entry B-1/ B-2 visa to the USA....she has only used 3 weeks of her time in 2014.

Second, she has made application for Green Card Lottery....the results come out in May.....I think

Third, I am in Ukraine now and don't really give a rats azz when I go home....and will deal with that later...

Get married here and apply for Cr-1 and TRP

CR1 can take from 9 to 12 months if you are lucky and everything goes right.

Fly to Vegas and do the quickie fly back and file for Cr-1 here in Ukraine

Again, CR1 can take from 9 to 12 months if you are lucky and everything goes right even if you marry in the US and go back to Ukraine.

Get married in States and play dumb, apply for AOS

VERY ILLEGAL AND IT IS FRAUD, so don't play dumb.

Or just do the K-1 and keep up with visits back and forth

Best option according to your needs to be together soon.

Also I own a home in USA, Canada and South America

Good for you :-)

I am open to suggestions and thoughts....I think you get the idea though...or if any more information is required, just ask

Thank you

Good luck!

Edited December 22, 2014 by cocolucho

[_Paul&Jesica_ 70]

I don't believe DCF is an option in Ukraine anymore without exceptional circumstances. Getting this approved requires approval of USCIS in Moscow. I tried halfheartedly to do this in MD because of some potential pregnancy complications and was denied.

You can get married wherever you like. Keep in mind what documentation Ukraine requires to get married and if you have it with you. Original birth certificate for sure, perhaps a police certificate (check if they accept an affidavit from the Embassy.)

If she gets married and chooses to change her name then she will need a new passport. The new passport will not have the US visa and she will need a new one. It will be more difficult to get the second time after you are married. That said, we did it without any problemsm, but I gather we might be the exception and I'm "known" to the embassy staff. UA authorities *may* return the old passport which can be used with the new passport and the marriage certificate. Modova does not give you the old passport back after a name change -- check UA.

Keep in mind you can only stay 90 days in 180 in UA without a residency permit. Some people make border runs to Poland or Moldova every 90 day and to "reset the clock" sometimes it works. Not sure about recent year.

She can travel to the US while the CR-1 visa is processing. Make sure she has sufficient proof showing intent to return. She can be denied entry at airport. My wife traveled to the US with me several times after we married including once with a pending IR-1 visa without any issues at the POE. That said, I'm living in MD 8 years now.

Actually, even is she changes her name to her married name, she can still use her old passport until it expires. My wife goes by her married name here but her passport still has her maiden name. No problem traveling with it, as long as you book the tickets in the correct name.

[Ryan E 10]

Actually, even is she changes her name to her married name, she can still use her old passport until it expires. My wife goes by her married name here but her passport still has her maiden name. No problem traveling with it, as long as you book the tickets in the correct name.

Perhaps, I'm not sure that is the case in this part of the world. I think that Moldova required that she change her passport after the name change. Ukraine is probably similar. If they would have invalidated and returned her old passport she could have traveled with 2 passports and been fine. They don't return the old passport after a name change here though....

[_Paul&Jesica_ 70]

Perhaps, I'm not sure that is the case in this part of the world. I think that Moldova required that she change her passport after the name change. Ukraine is probably similar. If they would have invalidated and returned her old passport she could have traveled with 2 passports and been fine. They don't return the old passport after a name change here though....

Ah ok. And if the old passport is invalidated, then it doesn't matter anyway.

Get married there and apply for spouse visa. Sooner, the better to get the process started as it can take a bit of time...