K-1 or K-3?

[Ducsaghar 0]

Hi everyone,

Here's my situation. I'm currently in a long distant relationship with a Persian girl. I'm here in California and she's in Iran. We've never met face-to-face yet, but we've video-chatted consistently since we both decided that we liked each other very much. We've known each other via facebook since May of this year. Our love has grown exponentially the more we become acquainted with each other each day.

We've intended to meet later on this year, or the beginning of next year, in Istanbul, Turkey. Both of us have discussed extensively about getting married. I'm madly in love with this girl and she's with me. I wanted her so badly to be with me in the US.

We have so many things in common, even though she was brought up in a Muslim culture. I'm not a Muslim, but we share many core moral values, ethics, spiritual beliefs and interests. Her parents have no problem with her marrying me.

I've inquired with a few lawyers regarding the fastest and easiest process to bring her here, and they all told me to go with the K-1 application. The first lawyer told me that the process would take 3-4 months (fee = $3000). The rest of them told me a minimum of 6 months (fee = $1000). I haven't retained any services from them. Thanks God that I found this website before wasting a penny on a lawyer.

Please tell me which is the best way to go about securing a visa for my girlfriend. I already know that with K-1, the couple has to have met face-to-face, which we've already planned to do in a few months. I'm still wondering if K-3 is a better option if we went ahead and got married in Turkey. I'm not sure which is a better option. Please advise.

I want to apologize in advance if my topic is out of place. Any advice would be extremely appreciative. Thank you all for reading.

[Winning23 25]

Generally speaking K1 is faster of the two..

Do a comparison and check it out

http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

[Ducsaghar 0]

Generally speaking K1 is faster of the two..

Do a comparison and check it out

http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

Thank you, sucasa.

I know that K-1 is the faster of the two to bring her here to the US, but is it the easiest process to secure a green card for her? Do I need any special documentations for the approval of K-1?

Thanks.

[no more 16]

Hi everyone,

Here's my situation. I'm currently in a long distant relationship with a Persian girl. I'm here in California and she's in Iran. We've never met face-to-face yet, but we've video-chatted consistently since we both decided that we liked each other very much. We've known each other via facebook since May of this year. Our love has grown exponentially the more we become acquainted with each other each day.

We've intended to meet later on this year, or the beginning of next year, in Istanbul, Turkey. Both of us have discussed extensively about getting married. I'm madly in love with this girl and she's with me. I wanted her so badly to be with me in the US.

We have so many things in common, even though she was brought up in a Muslim culture. I'm not a Muslim, but we share many core moral values, ethics, spiritual beliefs and interests. Her parents have no problem with her marrying me.

I've inquired with a few lawyers regarding the fastest and easiest process to bring her here, and they all told me to go with the K-1 application. The first lawyer told me that the process would take 3-4 months (fee = $3000). The rest of them told me a minimum of 6 months (fee = $1000). I haven't retained any services from them. Thanks God that I found this website before wasting a penny on a lawyer.

Please tell me which is the best way to go about securing a visa for my girlfriend. I already know that with K-1, the couple has to have met face-to-face, which we've already planned to do in a few months. I'm still wondering if K-3 is a better option if we went ahead and got married in Turkey. I'm not sure which is a better option. Please advise.

I want to apologize in advance if my topic is out of place. Any advice would be extremely appreciative. Thank you all for reading.

There are requirements you must meet to send in a petition. AS long as you meet those and give much proof about your relationship being real its really up to USCIS and the embassy she would interview at. I did not go with a lawyer as many do not here on VJ. We are all here to help each other with any questions. Do your research for sure! Must make 125% above poverty level. Must show proof of relationship and much more! Butsadly there is no sure fire way to for sure get a visa. On october 27th 2011 my fiance and I have our interview (1 year later from filing) and we have hopes everything will go smoothly but until we have it in hand its never for sure! Definitely get your trip planned!! take lots of photos with her and her friends and family! GOod luck! and never hesitate to ask your questions!!!

Michele

[Ducsaghar 0]

There are requirements you must meet to send in a petition. AS long as you meet those and give much proof about your relationship being real its really up to USCIS and the embassy she would interview at. I did not go with a lawyer as many do not here on VJ. We are all here to help each other with any questions. Do your research for sure! Must make 125% above poverty level. Must show proof of relationship and much more! Butsadly there is no sure fire way to for sure get a visa. On october 27th 2011 my fiance and I have our interview (1 year later from filing) and we have hopes everything will go smoothly but until we have it in hand its never for sure! Definitely get your trip planned!! take lots of photos with her and her friends and family! GOod luck! and never hesitate to ask your questions!!!

Michele

Many thanks to you, Michelle.

Your reply is really helpful. Didn't know about income has to be 125% above poverty level, but that's no problem at all.

As far as proof of our relationship, we will definitely have lots of photos together once we meet in Turkey. Do they require pictures with her family members (parents, sister, etc.) as well? I think only her mom can go to Turkey because her dad might not make it.

Also, I'm wondering if they need any type of written love letters between us because we're contacting each other mainly online via facebook messages, Skype video chat, ooVoo chat, and regular email.

Even though we're doing for real, I'm still extremely nervous about the interview process because I wanted so much for everything to go smoothly, and her by my side at the end of whole thing.

So your fiance hasn't received the K-1 visa yet? I'm not quite sure.

I wish you a lot of luck with your situation, Michelle. Thank so much for replying.

[Winning23 25]

My advice.

Look at all the requirements for K1 vs. K3. Do you meet them? Are you financially stable to sponsor her? If so, that's good. Secondly, talk to other who have sponsored a finance or wife from Iran, on this forum. There is a ton of good info here. Right now, the relations b/t the two countries are not good, and getting first hand knowledge from a USC who has sponsored a finance from Iran is very important.

Don't believe the lawyers when they say 3-4 months for k1? The typical process from K1 (provided no RFEs, no hassles, no hangups) is 6 months. The wait is longer for k3 visa. But that is an average, and as you have heard, some cases are over 1 yr and still pending. Alot of factors are involved.

Good luck..

[Leatherneck 693]

I would also look at the top of this page and click on "Portals" and post in the forum for Iran. That way you can ask questions to those with knowledge of the K-1 process with regards to an Iranian fiancee.

Here are the 2011 Poverty Guidelines.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf

Edited October 18, 2011 by Leatherneck

[skiptex 225]

be wise in your choices.. they are life altering.. INTERNET Relationship is different then in REALTIME..

you don't need lawyer.. just do lots of research in here.. there is tons of information from people that have screwed up before you.. so learn from their mistakes..

either process will still take time.. 6-9 months *average IF you don't make a mistake for the GOVERNMENT has a question..

take your time.. crosse all T's and dot all I's..

Good Luck..

[Leatherneck 693]

be wise in your choices.. they are life altering.. INTERNET Relationship is different then in REALTIME..

you don't need lawyer.. just do lots of research in here.. there is tons of information from people that have screwed up before you.. so learn from their mistakes..

either process will still take time.. 6-9 months *average IF you don't make a mistake for the GOVERNMENT has a question..

take your time.. crosse all T's and dot all I's..

Good Luck..

Cross the T's twice and dot the I's twice.

[skiptex 225]

Cross the T's twice and dot the I's twice.

my better half already put down 2 different addresses on her 129 and 325 on first draft..

luckily, it is the start of the PROOFING!!

[Ryan H 3,791]

OP:

The K3 is functionally obsolete (even thought it's still officially on the books). To file a K3, you would first file the I-130, then you would file an I-129F. USCIS would tie the two petitions together by pulling the I-130 from its current place in the queue and place it with the I-129F that was just submitted. The two petitions are usually approved at the same time and sent to the NVC. If the NVC receives both petitions at the same time or they receive the I-130 before receiving the I-129F, then the I-129F is administratively closed leaving only the I-130 active. An active I-130 places you on the CR-1 path.

I don't think one process is much faster than the other. Posted times by USCIS from NOA1 to NOA2 for K1 and CR-1 is 5 months. For CR-1, there is processing at the NVC which would only take a few weeks if managed correctly. Although, these last couple of months, it has taken about 1 month after NOA2 to obtain a case number for a spousal visa petition at the NVC.

The NVC's role for a K1 file is to assign a case number and send it to the appropriate Embassy/Consulate overseas.

[Ryan H 3,791]

Addition to my last post:

Lastly, when entering on a K1 visa, Adjustment of Status is required to obtain a green card, a process that takes months. Additionally, she would not be able to work or leave the US during that time unless she had an Employment Authorization Document and Advanced Parole respectively (these two items are applied for when filing for AOS).

A CR-1 visa is an immigrant visa, a green card is issued on arrival in the form of an I-551 stamp, the actual card will arrive a short time later. Employment and travel outside the US allowed without needing any special documentation.

[Ducsaghar 0]

My advice.

Look at all the requirements for K1 vs. K3. Do you meet them? Are you financially stable to sponsor her? If so, that's good. Secondly, talk to other who have sponsored a finance or wife from Iran, on this forum. There is a ton of good info here. Right now, the relations b/t the two countries are not good, and getting first hand knowledge from a USC who has sponsored a finance from Iran is very important.

Don't believe the lawyers when they say 3-4 months for k1? The typical process from K1 (provided no RFEs, no hassles, no hangups) is 6 months. The wait is longer for k3 visa. But that is an average, and as you have heard, some cases are over 1 yr and still pending. Alot of factors are involved.

Good luck..

Again, thank so much, sucasa.

Financially, I have no problem. I just found out about this site a couple of hours ago, so I still need some time to weed through all the posts to find someone with similar cases like mine. I know it's really tough to marry a Persian woman without me having to convert to Muslim inside of Iran. That's why we've decided to have our marriage, if that's the case, in Turkey where there's no such restriction. We're still leaning toward doing the K-1 though where she be here quicker.

[Ducsaghar 0]

I would also look at the top of this page and click on "Portals" and post in the forum for Iran. That way you can ask questions to those with knowledge of the K-1 process with regards to an Iranian fiancee.

Here are the 2011 Poverty Guidelines.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf

Much obliged to you for your useful suggestions, Leatherneck. I'll do that, and thank you for the link.

[Ducsaghar 0]

be wise in your choices.. they are life altering.. INTERNET Relationship is different then in REALTIME..

you don't need lawyer.. just do lots of research in here.. there is tons of information from people that have screwed up before you.. so learn from their mistakes..

either process will still take time.. 6-9 months *average IF you don't make a mistake for the GOVERNMENT has a question..

take your time.. crosse all T's and dot all I's..

Good Luck..

Thanks, skiptex, for your caring advices. I'll keep them in mind.

Cross the T's twice and dot the I's twice.

Most definitely.