How to get married in the USA, even if we live abroad

[Radvill 1]

Hello Visa Journey Friends,

I am currently a missionary in the Philippines, but I am from the USA. About a year and a half ago, I met a very special Filipino man. I want to spend my life with him. He has not met my family except through skype, but, as the female that I am, I really want my family to know him and to be present at the wedding.

I am required to leave the Philippines for a short period of time by law this fall because of my short term visa status. They require me to leave and reenter the Philippines.

I will be to raising funds from local churches in the USA at that time. I want him to go with me, meet my family there, and have a small wedding. We would then return to the Philippines and continue working in missions. What is the best way to do this? Should he just get a visitor visa to the USA? Can we marry then?

I know that a fiancee visa really only make sense if we were going to LIVE in the USA. Am I right?

I'm new at this, so any help would be wonderful!

Thank you so much in advance for your help,

Radvill

[YuAndDan 153]

This IS one of the functions of a K-1, to allow entry to USA for marriage, you are not required to remain in the USA and adjust status, you can always return to home country and later file an I-130 for a spouse visa when the time comes.

From what I see getting a visitors visa in high visa fraud countries is quite hard.

Moving to regional.

[J.W. 4]

hi Radvill,

maybe you could check this out: http://www.visajourney.com/content/dcf

Direct Consular Filing...

You petition him there in US Embassy Manila.

Here's a thread that did it successfully: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/278604-dcf-manila-philippines-we-did-it/

Good luck and God Bless...

Oooppss didn't quite read it right, you want your family to meet him... so it's either tourist visa or K1 first before you marry..

Edited February 8, 2011 by J.W.

[John & Flor 3]

Looks like K-1 Visa is the best bet. Like they said, you are not required to live in USA together after your marriage using the K-1 Visa.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

yep K-1 is your best bet since you are not planning on staying in the US. You could try for a tourist, but most likely it will get denied (but you wont know if you dont try). How long until your trip to leave the PI? You can probably bet on waiting for 5-8 months for the K-1.

[Radvill 1]

I won't be leaving until the Fall which is why i want to plan ahead. Thank you for all of your advice. This is all very confusing

yep K-1 is your best bet since you are not planning on staying in the US. You could try for a tourist, but most likely it will get denied (but you wont know if you dont try). How long until your trip to leave the PI? You can probably bet on waiting for 5-8 months for the K-1.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

It is at first until you read and understand the process. Yeah you will want to apply as soon as you can so hopefully the visa will be issued by the end of summer. Good luck! There are many knowledgeable people on this forum to help along the way.

[Messybrownhair 251]

How about try for a tourist visa first.. and if it is unsuccessful go for a k1?

[Tahoma 2,291]

I'm not certain, but I don't think it's allowed to use a tourist visa to enter the U.S. with the intention of getting married.

Also, if your fiancé uses a K-1 visa to enter the U.S. and get married, I believe there are restrictions on the amount of time he can remain outside of the U.S. when he has his conditional (two-year) Green Card. You might want to check into this.

[sunandmoon 450]

I'm not certain, but I don't think it's allowed to use a tourist visa to enter the U.S. [i]with the intention of getting married.[/i]Also, if your fiancé uses a K-1 visa to enter the U.S. and get married, I believe there are restrictions on the amount of time he can remain outside of the U.S. when he has his conditional (two-year) Green Card. You might want to check into this.

the OP has stated that there is no intent to immigrant, so as long as the then husband returns to the Philippines before his I-94 expires, then I don't think there would be a problem. getting a tourist visa could prove to be difficult.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

I'm not certain, but I don't think it's allowed to use a tourist visa to enter the U.S. with the intention of getting married.

Also, if your fiancé uses a K-1 visa to enter the U.S. and get married, I believe there are restrictions on the amount of time he can remain outside of the U.S. when he has his conditional (two-year) Green Card. You might want to check into this.

I was going to suggest the tourist visa, but that is a sticky situation...Unfortunatly the only good answer is to do the K-1 since it is intended for marriage, but there is no law about getting married on a tourist visa....you arent supposed to use that as a stepping stone for immigration. We know that isnt what the OP is trying to do, but they have to convince the consulate and immigration officer when they enter the US of their intentions.

They arent planning on filing for adjustment of status...just come to the US and get married. Then return back to the philippines.