K1 or K3 , my fiance is from Egypt

[shellee 0]

Hello, my fiance is from Egypt. I live in Texas.

We met online about a year and a half ago. I just returned from my first official visit to Egypt.

We really want to get married and be together. I am not opposed to moving there and marrying him except for the fact that I want us to be freely able to travel back and forth from Egypt and the USA as a couple since obviously we have family in both places.

We have talked about my moving there and getting married and then starting the procedures for a spousal visa but I am aware that I would need to be a resident for at least 6 months prior to filing.

I have read that a k-1 is the quickest way but we really want to be together and to be married. Does anyone know the time difference between applying for a k-1 and if we married there and I then returned home and filed for a k-3 . If I do the later am I allowed to visit Egypt as often as i want while I wait for my spouse to be able to join me?

On another note, he has not fulfilled his military obligation yet in Egypt. It is postponed as of now.. will that hurt his chances for a visa?

Any advice that you can give me would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Shellee

[k.loveh 0]

Hello, my fiance is from Egypt. I live in Texas.

We met online about a year and a half ago. I just returned from my first official visit to Egypt.

We really want to get married and be together. I am not opposed to moving there and marrying him except for the fact that I want us to be freely able to travel back and forth from Egypt and the USA as a couple since obviously we have family in both places.

We have talked about my moving there and getting married and then starting the procedures for a spousal visa but I am aware that I would need to be a resident for at least 6 months prior to filing.

I have read that a k-1 is the quickest way but we really want to be together and to be married. Does anyone know the time difference between applying for a k-1 and if we married there and I then returned home and filed for a k-3 . If I do the later am I allowed to visit Egypt as often as i want while I wait for my spouse to be able to join me?

On another note, he has not fulfilled his military obligation yet in Egypt. It is postponed as of now.. will that hurt his chances for a visa?

Any advice that you can give me would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Shellee

I would suggest that you file for the K3 instead if the K1. One reason being that they deal with the K3 a bit more conscientiously because he/she is your 'spouse'.

Me and my SO went the K1 route and wished we had went with the K3 and believe that we'd be together today if we had.

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

First of all, if you can, go and live with him in Egypt. It will be a much better start to the marriage to be where he is able to be the provider and the protector, etc. It is very difficult for Egyptian men to be dependent on women. If he comes here on the K-1 or K-3 Visa it could be 6 or more months before he can work and he will become very restless and perhaps even get depressed sitting here doing nothing. (I speak from experience...)

Living there with him he can be in charge, and you can get to know each other better and start your lives together on his territory, rather than yours. If you have children, or a very good job, a house, etc. this could be difficult, but if not, I'd really recommend it. You can file from there like you said after 6 months, and he can come here with you eventually with permission to work from day 1.

Chances are you'd benefit greatly from learning more about his culture and lifestyle. And it never hurts to establish a close relationship with his family and observe him with his friends in day to day life over an extended period of time.

You can easily find ways to keep yourself busy there. There are many ex-pat women from the USA and Canada in Cairo and Alex that you can pal around with. (Assuming he's from one of those two cities.) You can study Arabic and Islam (if he's Muslim and you are planning to have children)...

If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't do it any other way...

[Dakine 26]

Hello, my fiance is from Egypt. I live in Texas.

We met online about a year and a half ago. I just returned from my first official visit to Egypt.

We really want to get married and be together. I am not opposed to moving there and marrying him except for the fact that I want us to be freely able to travel back and forth from Egypt and the USA as a couple since obviously we have family in both places.

We have talked about my moving there and getting married and then starting the procedures for a spousal visa but I am aware that I would need to be a resident for at least 6 months prior to filing.

I have read that a k-1 is the quickest way but we really want to be together and to be married. Does anyone know the time difference between applying for a k-1 and if we married there and I then returned home and filed for a k-3 . If I do the later am I allowed to visit Egypt as often as i want while I wait for my spouse to be able to join me?

On another note, he has not fulfilled his military obligation yet in Egypt. It is postponed as of now.. will that hurt his chances for a visa?

Any advice that you can give me would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Shellee

I would suggest that you file for the K3 instead if the K1. One reason being that they deal with the K3 a bit more conscientiously because he/she is your 'spouse'.

Me and my SO went the K1 route and wished we had went with the K3 and believe that we'd be together today if we had.

Not that good of advice as K3s are a bit obsolete and not that funcional anymore Better to go with a CR-1.

Edited August 24, 2009 by Haole

[shellee 0]

First of all, if you can, go and live with him in Egypt. It will be a much better start to the marriage to be where he is able to be the provider and the protector, etc. It is very difficult for Egyptian men to be dependent on women. If he comes here on the K-1 or K-3 Visa it could be 6 or more months before he can work and he will become very restless and perhaps even get depressed sitting here doing nothing. (I speak from experience...)

Living there with him he can be in charge, and you can get to know each other better and start your lives together on his territory, rather than yours. If you have children, or a very good job, a house, etc. this could be difficult, but if not, I'd really recommend it. You can file from there like you said after 6 months, and he can come here with you eventually with permission to work from day 1.

Chances are you'd benefit greatly from learning more about his culture and lifestyle. And it never hurts to establish a close relationship with his family and observe him with his friends in day to day life over an extended period of time.

You can easily find ways to keep yourself busy there. There are many ex-pat women from the USA and Canada in Cairo and Alex that you can pal around with. (Assuming he's from one of those two cities.) You can study Arabic and Islam (if he's Muslim and you are planning to have children)...

If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't do it any other way...

I agree with you and I really would love the opportunity to live in Egypt for a while. Fortunately I work online as an ESL teacher so my work can go anywhere that I have access to high speed connection.

I do have a house but am prepared to rent it.

The biggest issue we face is that he hasn't completed his military yet....

anyone have any good advice for this...

[k.loveh 0]

Not that good of advice as K3s are a bit obsolete and not that funcional anymore Better to go with a CR-1.

Excuse. but that is WRONG, K1's are NOT obsolete.

[k.loveh 0]

Not that good of advice as K3s are a bit obsolete and not that funcional anymore Better to go with a CR-1.

Excuse. but that is WRONG, K1's are NOT obsolete.

Sorry, I meant K3's!

Here some info on K3's verses CR1's

The K3 visa is classified as a non-immigrant visa while the CR-1/IR-1 visa is classified as an immigrant visa. This means that the CR-1/IR-1 visa holder enters the U.S. as a permanent resident while the K3 visa holder must make an application after entry to adjust status to permanent resident.

Step

2The CR-1/IR-1 visa holder can work immediately upon entry to the U.S. with no restrictions. K3 visa holders must apply for employment authorization or wait until they receive a green card before accepting employment.

Step

3Although the CR-1/IR-1 visa holder benefits by entering the U.S. as a permanent resident, the approval process can be significantly longer for a CR-1/IR-1 visa than a K3 visa, meaning a longer separation for the couple.

Step

4Both types of visas allow travel outside the U.S. and re-entry. The CR-1/IR-1 visa holder receives a green card allowing open travel and the K3 visa is a multi-entry visa, meaning the holder may travel outside the U.S. for up to two years, or until permanent residence is approved.

Step

5After arriving in the U.S., if the K3 marriage fails before adjustment of status is complete, the visa holder must leave the U.S. CR-1/IR-1 visa holders receive permanent resident status upon entry and can remain in the U.S. regardless of marital status.

Take care!

[k.loveh 0]

I would suggest that you file for the K3 instead if the K1. One reason being that they deal with the K3 a bit more conscientiously because he/she is your 'spouse'.

Me and my SO went the K1 route and wished we had went with the K3 and believe that we'd be together today if we had.

Not that good of advice as K3s are a bit obsolete and not that funcional anymore Better to go with a CR-1.

Sorry, I meant K3

I humbly apologize for my ignorance and I stand corrected.

Here is a reply from an immigration attorney to the above post in regard to CR-1/IR-1 visa holders receive permanent resident status upon entry and can remain in the U.S. regardless of marital status :

lawyer4visa said:

HOLD ON THERE! Error!!! Fact Check: You say "CR-1/IR-1 visa holders receive permanent resident status upon entry and can remain in the U.S. regardless of marital status." This is not true. CR-1 means "Conditional Resident", and that residency is only good for two years. At the end of two years, you have to remove the conditions by showing you are still in a "good faith marriage" pursuant to the Marriage Fraud Act. You make is sound like you are home free, but that is not the case. If you have been married less than two years at the time you enter the US, your marriage status will make or break you!! If you get divorced, and you don't get the conditions removed on your CR-1 green card, you will be deported

Also, I checked Delhi emabassy website and they confirm that CR1's are being proccessed more efficiently and are taking no longer than the K1.

Being that the CR1's are 'immigrant visa's and not non-immigrant visa and allow your spouse to work immediately upon entry into the USA.

As 'Haole' had corrected me...This is most definately the best route to go.

Take care, Good luck and May God Bless you for whatever you decide!

Edited August 24, 2009 by hkgaur

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

I agree with you and I really would love the opportunity to live in Egypt for a while. Fortunately I work online as an ESL teacher so my work can go anywhere that I have access to high speed connection.

I do have a house but am prepared to rent it.

The biggest issue we face is that he hasn't completed his military yet....

anyone have any good advice for this...

That's way cool that you can work from anywhere... you can certainly get access to high speed internet in any large city in Egypt.

Be prepared to stay until he's completed his military service. And consider whether or not you want to live there without him during that time... Unless you have a GREAT relationship with your in-laws, or speak fluent Arabic, I wouldn't recommend it. It's very difficult to live there alone as a Western woman.... I know women who do it, but they are all over 50.... (and one walks with a cane that come in handy at times...) I have stayed alone in Alex for short periods of time, but had many friends and relatives (Egyptian and North American) to help me out.

Are you Muslim? It would likely be easier for you if you are, but not alot easier... With him going into the military I can see why you want to spend some time with him before he goes... but living there while he's gone would not be easy.

Where would you be living Cairo? Alex? Elsewhere???