[size=7]Hello
My fiance is Iraqi but lives and works in the United Arab Emirates. He is a resident there.
We are going to meet and insha Allah be married. We are trying to understand the various visa options.
From my understanding we can't apply for the Direct Spousal Visa because I need to be a permanent resident or longtime living there in the UAE. (I plan to travel to UAE to meet him within a month. )
So, maybe our only other options are the K-1 visa, the K-3 visa, or the IR1/CR1. I have been reading informtion on these, but its still so confusing. Also, I would really appreciate some views and opinions from people partiuclarly from the middle east, (United Arab Emirates if possible) but any opinions are very much appreciated! Thanks so much!

I will start by saying WELCOME
I don't know much about the K-1 so I can't offer much advice on that. We did the CR-1 just because it allowed my husband to get his license and work from the time he arrived in the USA. From what I understand about K-3, they can't do anything until they have adjusted their status in the states and that takes around 3 months to complete. Both of them seem to be taking the same amount of time to be completed (around 1 to 1.5 years) so really you should base your decisions on which one best suits both of your needs. I will also say that it took my husband roughly 2 to 3 months to get adjusted to some of the ways here and feel comfortable enough to try for his drivers license. It took around 4.5 months to find his first job. I live in a small town and the opportunities aren't as vast as some larger cities.


I wish you luck in your journey!!

amal

You are talking Iraq so there will be lengthy checks for sure. Theh K-1 is a fiance visa. The CR1 takes the longest time. You can eather file for a fiance visa which usually takes the shortest time or a K-3 which takes a couple of months longer then the K-1.

We chose the K-1 because it is faster, and because him working right when he gets here is not as important for us because he doesn't speak English yet so when he gets here we will adjust status and he can learn English in the meantime and get a job later. There are pluses and minuses to all the options. Just do lots of research on all of them and choose which one will be the best for you two. Good luck!
Sarah

I wish you two well. It is very confusing for me too all the different visas. Goodluck

I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. These decisions are so hard and so very important. My husban(then fiance) and I went through Morocco and decided the K-1 (Fiance Visa) was best for us as we wanted to be together the quickest way. Once we met and filed the papers it took less than 6 months for his visa approval. He has been here almost 1 year now and things have been working out very well. He did get the temporary work permit at JFK but didn't use it due to my needing surgery. He took the time to take care of me, go to the free ESL classes to reinforce his English and we also had our AOS interview during this time. He got a job on his first interview and has been doing really well. He now has his driver's license, a car, his green card, a job and bills, lol. Actually whatever way you go should work out ok. It just depends on what your needs are too.

Doreen

Have the confused among you looked at this Comparison Chart? It may make some of the lingo easier to understand, and make your choice more obvious to you: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=compare

You know your fiancee and what is best for your relationship better than any of us. But I ask that you look at all the time lines and don't forget how they will effect your husband. Is he the type that will hate living in the USA and not being able to work and help you after the initial K1 work permit is done. It sounds like a lot of spouses that come on a K1 visa do not work the 90 days they are allowed to on that visa, and soon they can't legally work and all they can do is wait to adjust their status. Or will he prefer to come on a K3 and get to know the US, get a drivers license and work other stuff to get more comfortable living in the US as he waits approximately 3 months until his work permit and later his greencard is approved so he can work. He can also say he will wait and work in UAE until the I130 (CR1) for the greencard is approved, that way he can work right away once he joins you in the states. You have to weigh how fast you need to be together vs. all the negitives you will have to deal with by choosing that path.

My husband and I decided it was best to marry in Morocco and to file the I130 and 129F for the K3. Unfortately whichever decision you make you will have a long wait and it will be hard being apart since you said you can't live in the UAE so you can file directly at the Consulate there. I wish you the best and do your homework so you have no regrets later on.

God Bless,

Paula

p.s. All Visas are good cause that means your husband/fiance is going to be with you!