K1 or K3? - HELP!

[Caliborn 0]

Hello. I'm new to this site and have spent a few hours reviewing posts and information and now I'm ready to ask my questions and seek some help. Based on experience, can someone tell me the better route to have my fiance/husband obtain approval to come to the US the quickest way? It seems we have two options - I file for K1 for fiance visa OR I go to his country, marry him and file for K3 (after the I-130). It seems from reading, the K1 is the quicker to obtain (I was even advised by an attorney- not paid at this point) that a fee of $1,000 could be paid to expedite approval of the K1 visa.

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have been faced with this decision and chose either one or the other path and why you chose it and what would you do differently. . .

Thanks. This is a great site!

[JenT 0]

We went with the K1 because we decided that we could easier tolerate the distance before we were married than after. That, combined with the fact that it's more difficult to get married in Germany, than it is in the US... and the K1 is a faster process, we decided on the K1.

Of course, that was pre-IMBRA, but it's still going to be faster.

Not sure where your atty got that expedite info from... if that were possible, many of us would have done that.

You cannot pay to get anything expedited.... unless that was his fee for 'dedicated service', but you don't really need an atty if your case is relatively straighforward.

Best wishes, and welcome...

Jen

[kitkat1 5]

Hello. I'm new to this site and have spent a few hours reviewing posts and information and now I'm ready to ask my questions and seek some help. Based on experience, can someone tell me the better route to have my fiance/husband obtain approval to come to the US the quickest way? It seems we have two options - I file for K1 for fiance visa OR I go to his country, marry him and file for K3 (after the I-130). It seems from reading, the K1 is the quicker to obtain (I was even advised by an attorney- not paid at this point) that a fee of $1,000 could be paid to expedite approval of the K1 visa.

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have been faced with this decision and chose either one or the other path and why you chose it and what would you do differently. . .

Thanks. This is a great site!

No such thing as a paying $1000 for an expedite - if so, we all would have done it. So one thing you know for sure - do NOT hire that attorney.

K1 is usually the fastest way to get through this. If Direct Consular Filing is an option for his country, that's another option. Good luck.

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

Exactly the reasone we went with the K1.

The idea of being seperated from my HUSBAND seems a lot more painful than from my FIANCE.

Cass (bebop the great)

We went with the K1 because we decided that we could easier tolerate the distance before we were married than after.

[Allie&Leo 0]

Hello. I'm new to this site and have spent a few hours reviewing posts and information and now I'm ready to ask my questions and seek some help. Based on experience, can someone tell me the better route to have my fiance/husband obtain approval to come to the US the quickest way? It seems we have two options - I file for K1 for fiance visa OR I go to his country, marry him and file for K3 (after the I-130). It seems from reading, the K1 is the quicker to obtain (I was even advised by an attorney- not paid at this point) that a fee of $1,000 could be paid to expedite approval of the K1 visa.

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have been faced with this decision and chose either one or the other path and why you chose it and what would you do differently. . .

Thanks. This is a great site!

I think that is a decision you will have to make. Personal decision. I would lean towards the K1 route though. It could be even more of an emotional stress if your husband lives in another country. Both processes take longer than you really want but I think K1 is faster. I haven't heard of being able to expediate a K1 visa. I don't think that is available. I'm sure a lot of VJ members would want more info if this were true. Good luck to you!

[April123 0]

My husband came here with a K-1 Visa. In the opinion, applying for a K-1 visa would be quicker. It only took us a couple of months. We started in March 2005 and my fiancee (now husband) was able to come here in July 2005. So it took us roughly about 4 months. Whereas if you were apply for a K-3, I've read that it could take up to a year. You should ask around and see what others say.

And about that lawyer guy, it's definitely possible to file them yourself. All you have to do is read what it says and do what it tells you to do. Paying that lawyer $1000 won't quicken things up. At least I don't think it does. Again, you should ask around about that also. Even without paying $1000, I don't think it takes all that long to waste $1000. You should save up that money for a down payment on a new house once your fiancee gets here to the U.S. of A.

Good luck!!

[TracyTN 237]

It seems from reading, the K1 is the quicker to obtain (I was even advised by an attorney- not paid at this point) that a fee of $1,000 could be paid to expedite approval of the K1 visa.

Ah lawyers. Always good for a laugh!

[Yodrak 7]

Caliborn,

Why do you eliminat the 3rd option? Especially with the IMBRA mess affecting I-129f petitions.

Yodrak

... It seems we have two options - I file for K1 for fiance visa OR I go to his country, marry him and file for K3 (after the I-130). ...

[dwar49 0]

Tell the lawyer you will give him the 1000 as long as he gives you a iron clad contract saying he guarantees your fiancee will have a K-1 visa in his hand in 1 month from the date of submitting the application with stipulation that if he fails to meet the contract time limit, he owes you 2000. See how fast he backs out of any 1000 expediating fee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do it yourself, no need to pay a lawyer anything for a straight forward case.

[Robor007 0]

Maybe this lawyer is just confused? I read someone's post about employers being able to pay $1000 for an 'expedited visa process'. Not sure if that's true or not but if so maybe this lawyer is thinking of that. I spoke to an (alleged) immigration attorney a few months back that told me my application would be processed in Texas when everyone who reads here on VJ more than 30 minutes knows that all Texas K-1's get routed to California.

As others have said, skip the attorney if you've got a standard petition. You'll process no slower or faster and be out $$$.

[aussiewench 9]

I often wonder the same thing. Many seem to think only in terms of past timeframes as opposed to present situations. The CR-1 immigrant visa has been a viable option for many for a while now, even pre-IMBRA.

Caliborn,

Why do you eliminat the 3rd option? Especially with the IMBRA mess affecting I-129f petitions.

Yodrak

... It seems we have two options - I file for K1 for fiance visa OR I go to his country, marry him and file for K3 (after the I-130). ...

[Yodrak 7]

aussiewench,

Worse, they seem to think that the K3 is the primary option rather than an optional alternative.

Yodrak

I often wonder the same thing. Many seem to think only in terms of past timeframes as opposed to present situations. The CR-1 immigrant visa has been a viable option for many for a while now, even pre-IMBRA.

Caliborn,

Why do you eliminat the 3rd option? Especially with the IMBRA mess affecting I-129f petitions.

Yodrak

... It seems we have two options - I file for K1 for fiance visa OR I go to his country, marry him and file for K3 (after the I-130). ...