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Radvill

Wedding in USA or Internationally?

By Radvill in General Immigration-Related Discussion

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Radvill Apprentice

Radvill   1

Posted
Filed: Country: Philippines
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Posted

Hello all,

I am new to visajourney.com so I hope this works. I am actually an American missionary in the Philippines. I have fallen head over hills for a local Filipino that I work with on the mission field. We have ben communicating for over a year and a half and know that we want to get married in the near future.

My question is this: is it better to marry IN the USA so that he can have easier entrance into the US or is it better to marry in the Philippines? Will it be harder for him to gain entrance shortly after marriage into the USA if we marry in the Philippines? I always hear that this is an issue thanks to people who marry just to get into the US rather than for love and commitment.

Also, if its better to do the K-1 Fiancee visa, can I do it from the Philippines? Or do I have to go back to the States for this process? How long would I need to be in the USA? My work is here in the Philippines and I really don't have the ability to stay in the USA that long.

Thank you for any given advice. It's much needed.

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Aztec&Taino Proficient

Aztec&Taino   144

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Dominican Republic
 Timeline
Posted

Hello all,

I am new to visajourney.com so I hope this works. I am actually an American missionary in the Philippines. I have fallen head over hills for a local Filipino that I work with on the mission field. We have ben communicating for over a year and a half and know that we want to get married in the near future.

My question is this: is it better to marry IN the USA so that he can have easier entrance into the US or is it better to marry in the Philippines? Will it be harder for him to gain entrance shortly after marriage into the USA if we marry in the Philippines? I always hear that this is an issue thanks to people who marry just to get into the US rather than for love and commitment.

Also, if its better to do the K-1 Fiancee visa, can I do it from the Philippines? Or do I have to go back to the States for this process? How long would I need to be in the USA? My work is here in the Philippines and I really don't have the ability to stay in the USA that long.

Thank you for any given advice. It's much needed.

Welcome to VJ and congratulations on finding love!

From your particular situation it seems to me that the best course of action for you would be to get married in the Phillipines and then file the I-130 form (petitioning for a spouse) in order for your husband to get a CR-1 visa. The advantage of getting married is that upon entrance to the USA your husband would be a resident and would be able to work right away, whereas with the K1 (fiance visa) you would need to get married in the USA and then adjust his status (which is costly). Also, those who enter the USA using a K1 visa are not legally allowed to work until they file and receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). You should look into whether the American consulate in the Phillipines allowed Direct Consular Filing (DCF) which would mean that you could file for your spouse using the I-130 directly to the consulate and would then still be able to stay in the Phillipines and would not have to face the long distance that most of us here in VJ have to suffer through. If all of this information is confusing, then it would be best for you to take the time to read the VJ Guides. There are some helpful pages which explain the main differences (in benefits and costs) between the different immigrant visa choices.

Best wishes! (F)

August 23, 2010 - I-129 F package sent via USPS priority mail with delivery confirmation.

August 30, 2010 - Per Department of Homeland Security (DHS) e-mail, petition received and routed to California Service Center for processing. Check cashed. I-797C Notice of Action by mail (NOA 1) - Received date 08/25/2010. Notice date 08/27/2010.

After 150 days of imposed anxious patience...

January 24, 2011 - Per USCIS website, petition approved and notice mailed.

January 31, 2011 - Approval receipt notice (NOA 2) received by mail. Called NVC, given Santo Domingo case number, and informed that petition was sent same day to consulate.

Called Visa Specialist at the Department of State every day for a case update. Informed of interview date on February, 16 2011. Informed that packet was mailed to fiance on February, 15 2011.

February 21, 2011 - Fiance has not yet received packet. Called 1-877-804-5402 (Visa Information Center of the United States Embassy) to request a duplicate packet in person pick-up at the US consulate in Santo Domingo. Packet can be picked-up by fiance on 02/28.

March 1, 2011 - Medical exam completed at Consultorios de Visa in Santo Domingo.

March 9, 2011 at 6 AM - Interview, approved!

March 18, 2011 - POE together. JFK and O'Hare airports. Legal wedding: May 16, 2011.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

-Henry David Thoreau

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Harpa Timsah Grand Master

Harpa Timsah   13,258

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Israel
 Timeline
Posted

My work is here in the Philippines and I really don't have the ability to stay in the USA that long.

If your and your fiance can't or don't want to live in the US, then there is no need for any spousal visa for him. These visas are for the purpose of living in he US permanently. If you don't want to live in the US, get married in Philippines and continue to live there. No sweat :) If you want to live in the US later, then you can apply for a spousal visa then. Good luck.

AOS for my husband
8/17/10: INTERVIEW DAY (day 123) APPROVED!!

ROC:
5/23/12: Sent out package
2/06/13: APPROVED!

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DanTes Collaborator

DanTes   21

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

Get married in the Philippines, and about 3-6 months before you are ready to relocate back to the U.S., file DCF at the U.S. Embassy.

NATURALIZATION

02/25/2014 - Eligibility date.

03/03/2014 - N-400 package mailed.

03/11/2014 - Check cashed.

03/14/2014 - NOA received.

04/09/2014 - Biometrics.

04/28/2014 - In-Line for Interview - 6 hours later Interview Scheduled!!

05/02/2014 - Interview Letter received. (Mailed on 29 April)

05/26/2014 - 3 year anniversary.

06/02/2014 - Interview. PASSED!

09/11/2014 - Oath Ceremony.

09/16/2014 - Updated driver licence and registered to vote.

10/08/2014 - Updated Social Security

10/14/2014 - Applied for U.S. Passport

10/27/2014 - U.S. Passport arrived in mail (13 days - DID NOT expedite)

10/30/2014 - Naturalization Certificate arrived in mail (was not folded)

MY IMMIGRATION JOURNEY IS OFFICIALLY FINISHED!!

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joyjohn Collaborator

joyjohn   18

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

Get married in the Philippines, and about 3-6 months before you are ready to relocate back to the U.S., file DCF at the U.S. Embassy.

I agree with you..

12/22/2010...married my soulmate,in tagaytay city.


USCIS...
01/28/2011...mailed I-130 to chicago Lockbox.....The journey begins
01/31/2011...receive I-130
02/05/2011...get a e-mail notice of NOA-1...states case transferred to CSC
02/08/2011...check clears my bank
02/10/2011... rec. hardcopy NOA-1 in mail...priority date..01/31/2011.....sit back relax and ride this slow mule!!
02/14/2011... touched ( it must have fallen on the floor )..hehe
05/12/2011...NOA-2 OMG...98days u kidding me!!!!!!!

NVC......

05/26/2011... finally got NVC case number...
05/28/2011... receive DS-3032 in e-mail/e-mailed the DS-3032 back
05/28/2011... receive AOS fee bill/ and paid online.
06/01/2011... AOS fee bill shows paid.
06/02/2011... DS-3032 accepted
06/03/2011... IV-bill generated and sented by e-mail
06/04/2011... Paid IV fee bill/ in progress
06/07/2011... IV fee bill showed paid/ downloaded cover sheet
06/08/2011... Express mail both the I-864(AOS) and DS-230
06/09/2011... Confirmed del at 11:10am signed by N visa center.
06/21/2011... SIF...yea!!! called NVC..yes case complete but no interview dates until aug..rats!!
06/28/2011... issured interview date set for 08/08/2011 At 6:30am.
07/12&13/2011... medical
YEA SHE PASSED MEDICAL

08/08/2011... interview approved!!!
08/19/2011...usa/arkansas.....

ROC

05/23/2013... mailed I-751 to Vermont

05/25/2013...delivery confirm received

05/30/2013...check cleared bank

06/01/2013...rec. NOA1 (receipt date 05/28/2013)

06/24/2013... biometrics appointment

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