I just started my K1 visa petitioning my Fiance whom lives in Dominican Republic. However, after doing some research you have to wait approximately 14 months waiting list to obtain an interview for the K1 Visa. I cannot wait that long for my Fiance to get approved for a K1 Visa.

So I think the best to thing to do is to get married in Dominican Republic and move there with my Fiance. And then file for the K3 or Direct Consular filing.

My question is...how do I switch from K1 status to K3? I would also appreciate any other advice or options. I just don't want to be apart from him anymore.

Thanks in advance.

you might want to check the processing times for K3, they can take quite a long time.

You would have to write a letter to the service centre where you sent the I-129F petition for the K1 and tell them that you no longer wish to pursue it.

Then you will have to go get married, and start all over again by sending in an I-130, wait for NOA, then send in I-129F, then wait and wait and wait some more.

Not sure if DCF is available in DR or not, you'd have to check the DCF forums here.

Thanks so much for your advice and quick response...what freaks me out the most is that Dominican Republic has a 14 month waiting list on an interview.

So basically you are damned if you do, damned if you dont!!!! Best of luck to you!

Exactly...either way I have to wait...K1 & K3 is the same waiting time.

DCF is always available if she moves there and establishes legal residency there. The only question regarding DCF availability is if she has not established legal residency--some locations will still allow it and others will not.

SoLiEL,

Note that DCF is for processing of the I-130 petition. Processing of a visa application follows as always, no matter where the petition was processed.

Yodrak

Thank you for your input...DCF in Dominican Republic is available only if your a resident...and your right its for the I-130 petition. If I move their to be with him, the problem will be coming back to the USA and starting from 0. We will both be unemployed etc.

I also found out that the K1 and the K3 the waiting list is about the same...no difference.

What about a 'destination wedding' in a country with short waits for interviews, even if it was just for the two of you?

Great suggestion...I would love a destination wedding (I'm thinking of having it in Dominican Republic where he lives)...but if we want to go to any other country how will he able to leave the country? He needs a visa to get out of his country, right?...and how will we be able to file for a K3 in a country that none of reside in?

I don't know about issues related to your fiance getting out of his country for a wedding, but I'm pretty sure that if the couple marries in another (3rd) country, the interview (for the K3 at least) has to be done there.

Really???? Where can I find more info on this? I know there is some countries he doesnt need a visa to travel too...like costarica i believe.

This is a quote from the US Govt website:

Thanks for the info!!!!!!!!!!!! I just have to find out what lists of countries he can travel to without a Visa.

but then with that you will also want to check processing timelines in the other country for K3 visas. After you're married you will have to return to the US, and he will have to return to DR, and then will have to travel to the 3rd country for his K3 interview. That's a lot of extra cost, which may or may not save you a month or 2.

**edit to add**

if the wait time for the K3 is the same as the K1, why bother getting married first? If the K1 is already submitted, just wait it out. If you switch now to K3, you're adding a few extra months til you can get all your paperwork together to sumbitt the K3 stuff.

My family is very religious and do not believe in premarital sex...they're currently not talking to me...they will not communicate with me until I get married. So basically I'm on my own without my family and my Fiance in another country.

There is little difference in time between the K-1 and K-3 visas with the wait at the consulate. Getting married in another country my well be worth the expense since it soon will be a 2 year wait. There are 27,000 people waiting for interviews.

Also, DCF is NOT available there. It is at the discretion of the Consulate and right now they are NOT doing it with the backlog.

-Tim
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http://www.dominicanstotheusa.com
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