Should We Wait to Apply?

[lordira 0]

I am from the UK and am engaged to an American.

We are curious as to what our options are in regards to applying for a K-1 visa. Our original plans have changed somewhat, and due to the large processing times for the visa we were wondreing if it would be possible for us to apply now. At the moment he has six more months left in the military, and I have a couple of more months left before I finish my PhD. Though we are not currently able to move in together, would it be possible for us to apply now so that we would not have quite so long to wait apart on completion of our courses, or is this not really how the visa works?

Also while I'm here, is it true that it is more beneficial to apply for the K-1 rather than the spousal? I am finding it difficult to see why, it seems more sensible for me to go the other way!

[kaibosh 3]

I am from the UK and am engaged to an American.

We are curious as to what our options are in regards to applying for a K-1 visa. Our original plans have changed somewhat, and due to the large processing times for the visa we were wondreing if it would be possible for us to apply now. At the moment he has six more months left in the military, and I have a couple of more months left before I finish my PhD. Though we are not currently able to move in together, would it be possible for us to apply now so that we would not have quite so long to wait apart on completion of our courses, or is this not really how the visa works?

Also while I'm here, is it true that it is more beneficial to apply for the K-1 rather than the spousal? I am finding it difficult to see why, it seems more sensible for me to go the other way!

Yes, apply for the K1 it is a fiance visa, it will more then likely take just under a yr, might as well start the process as early as you can, once you have received it you have 6 months to enter the US and another 90 days to marry.

[lordira 0]

Yes, apply for the K1 it is a fiance visa, it will more then likely take just under a yr, might as well start the process as early as you can, once you have received it you have 6 months to enter the US and another 90 days to marry.

Thank you, but would his change of address be a problem? As obviously being in the military he tends to be all over the place - and of course when he leaves we don't intend on living on a military base! I'm not sure if he'd need to be living in his own house already - the same place where we would eventually live together? Alternatively his parents do not mind us having documents sent there, but I'm really unsure of what we can do there.

[* Kristin * 49]

We used my parents address as our mailing address and had no problem with everything. I used my address on all the forms, etc. but affixed a note saying to please use my parents address for all correspondence.

Thank you, but would his change of address be a problem? As obviously being in the military he tends to be all over the place - and of course when he leaves we don't intend on living on a military base! I'm not sure if he'd need to be living in his own house already - the same place where we would eventually live together? Alternatively his parents do not mind us having documents sent there, but I'm really unsure of what we can do there.

[iampatricias 17]

I am from the UK and am engaged to an American.

We are curious as to what our options are in regards to applying for a K-1 visa. Our original plans have changed somewhat, and due to the large processing times for the visa we were wondreing if it would be possible for us to apply now. At the moment he has six more months left in the military, and I have a couple of more months left before I finish my PhD. Though we are not currently able to move in together, would it be possible for us to apply now so that we would not have quite so long to wait apart on completion of our courses, or is this not really how the visa works?

Also while I'm here, is it true that it is more beneficial to apply for the K-1 rather than the spousal? I am finding it difficult to see why, it seems more sensible for me to go the other way!

Well, just so you are aware you don't have to be able to move in together to apply. Also, you have to be married to apply for the spouse visa. Your fiance is in the military, but he's not deployed abroad right now?

If you've met in person in the last 2 years, and neither of you is married to anyone else, you can apply right away. Maybe read through the Guides at the top of this page to familiarize yourself with the requirements of both visas - I'm not sure the concerns you've brought up are much of an impediment to either the petition or the visa application... that I can see anyway...