going to pursue CR-1, live with him abroad (not in his home country). how will this affect the visa process

[Sarah Grace 1]

Hello. I'm Sarah, I live in Virginia, United States. I'm 20, currently live with my parents, and am unemployed.

My boyfriend, Mike, is from Lagos, Nigeria, but he currently lives in Pretoria, South Africa. He's 26, and he's working on getting his work permit.

We have been dating online for 10 months now, and we're planning to meet for the first time in August, in SA, then fly up to Nigeria to get married. After we get married, I will file for a CR-1. I wanted then to live with Mike in SA until the visa goes through. How will my living abroad change things? Am I better off just spending a few months with my husband so I can come home and set things up here?

Ok now, some proof I've thought things through:

I checked out travelers' insurance. "MAGELLAN". The best package covers medical expenses, emergencies, return plane fare for a family member to visit if you're in the hospital, emergency repatriation, document translation ... it looks like a really good deal. I'll go over it with my dad to see what he thinks.

Living together would be good proof of the legitimacy of our relationship. He could add my name to his bank account. And when I got back to the States, I could add his name to my bank account. Then rent an apartment. (Living with my parents after I'm married wouldn't look good to immigration there's no room in the house for one more person)

Well maybe I just answered my own question... but I'm posting this anyway, in case someone has some advice to share.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Unless your parents are supportive enough to be co sponsor you you will need to be earning enough to bring him here. Unless you have experience in living in another country it can be eye opening. Make sure to register with the embassy there.

[Tygrys 143]

Unless your parents are supportive enough to be co sponsor you you will need to be earning enough to bring him here. Unless you have experience in living in another country it can be eye opening. Make sure to register with the embassy there.

:thumbs:

[Anh map 2,098]

Hello. I'm Sarah, I live in Virginia, United States. I'm 20, currently live with my parents, and am unemployed.

My boyfriend, Mike, is from Lagos, Nigeria, but he currently lives in Pretoria, South Africa. He's 26, and he's working on getting his work permit.

We have been dating online for 10 months now, and we're planning to meet for the first time in August, in SA, then fly up to Nigeria to get married. After we get married, I will file for a CR-1. I wanted then to live with Mike in SA until the visa goes through. How will my living abroad change things? Am I better off just spending a few months with my husband so I can come home and set things up here?

Ok now, some proof I've thought things through:

I checked out travelers' insurance. "MAGELLAN". The best package covers medical expenses, emergencies, return plane fare for a family member to visit if you're in the hospital, emergency repatriation, document translation ... it looks like a really good deal. I'll go over it with my dad to see what he thinks.

Living together would be good proof of the legitimacy of our relationship. He could add my name to his bank account. And when I got back to the States, I could add his name to my bank account. Then rent an apartment. (Living with my parents after I'm married wouldn't look good to immigration there's no room in the house for one more person)

Well maybe I just answered my own question... but I'm posting this anyway, in case someone has some advice to share.

You should do a lot of reading here on VJ to prepare for the process. Especially marrying a Nigerian national the first time that you meet face to face. Regardless of your belief that this is a true, loving relationship the process is going to be difficult.

[newlyweds2010 208]

Just my two cent, and please don't get offended: regardless of (or in addition to) the immigration process, be very careful. Would you really cross the world and go to Nigeria to marry a person that you have never even met face to face? And add his name to your bank account? I would rather travel and meet him (no strings attached): you can spend some time together, get to know each other a little better, take a few pictures of you two (useful for the immigration process, btw), and then you return to the US. THEN, after all of this, you will think whether you still want to pursue this path. In the meantime, you will have educated yourself on the immigration process, the difficulties with consular interviews in high-fraud countries, the affidavit of support and the 125% rule. Best of luck.

[afoyoswa 178]

How/where did you two meet each other online? Why is there such a rush that you would get married on the same visit as meeting each other? Reading your story, I feel really skeptical that you know what you are getting into and that this guy is legitimate if you have planned out this entire sequence of events before ever even meeting him, and if I am skeptical, a consular officer is going to be even more skeptical. Please be careful. (In other words, everything newlyweds2010 said.)

[Sarah Grace 1]

I met Mike on facebook last July. My parents approve of him. I do need to talk to them about cosponsorship.

I've been thinking long and hard about this. As for the concern about how I have everything planned out... how could I not? I like to plan things to the detail. And I think it helps me be more prepared for what will happen. This is only tentative. (Case in point --talking to Mike right now about which visa to go for... plans may change)

And I know things are going to be difficult. The rest of my lfe is not going to be easy. Mike and I will both be dealing with major changes.

Hmm up until now Mike had let me decide which path to take. Bu during our current conversation, I asked him what he wanted. He wants to go for the K-1 visa, since my parents really wanted to meet him before we marry. And now that I think about it, that sounds like a good idea.

I'll be reading through posts on this site to learn all I can. Thanks for the quick answers

[Anh map 2,098]

K1 will likely be more difficult than the spouse visa given the short period of time from initial meeting to petition filing. Lagos is considered the toughest embassy to obtain a visa due to a long history of fraudulent petitions.

So be VERY VERY prepared. This is an entirely new experience for you and what seems like "normal" rules do not apply. At his interview he is going to have to convince a very skeptical consular officer that you have a legitimate, long term relationship.

There are many VJ members with Lagos experience. Give their input a lot of consideration moving forward.

Best of luck.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Have you gotten the proper visas for both countries ? To have a resident visa you will need police reports and medical. You will also want to worry about malaria medication for your travels. If your fiance doesn't have valid residence in South Africa he will be interviewing in Nigeria ( or another country that he has residence in ) If you intend to live with him you need a residence permit for where ever you will be living.

[Sarah Grace 1]

I have friends on facebook, ladies who married or are dating Nigerian men. They've been a big help already; I understand the culture a little better.

When I thought I might be staying with Mike, I started checking out visas for SA. But now that we decided to go for the K-1, I will not be living with him. Right now Mike is in SA on a visitor visa I think. He needs to get a work permit.

I know about the meds. I will get those taken care of. And the Nigeria visitor visa. I'm waiting for an insurance settlement that I'm using to pay for my trip.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I have friends on facebook, ladies who married or are dating Nigerian men. They've been a big help already; I understand the culture a little better.

When I thought I might be staying with Mike, I started checking out visas for SA. But now that we decided to go for the K-1, I will not be living with him. Right now Mike is in SA on a visitor visa I think. He needs to get a work permit.

I know about the meds. I will get those taken care of. And the Nigeria visitor visa. I'm waiting for an insurance settlement that I'm using to pay for my trip.

I know the face book group I left it long ago. I didn't like their motives and their lies.

Edited May 14, 2012 by NigeriaorBust

[AmyWrites 593]

Okay don't be offended, but...

You're going to another country to marry a guy you haven't met yet. Do you see where this can go wrong?

A K-1 visa requires that you've met IN PERSON within the last two years. So unless you fly out there to meet him it's a no go right now (maybe I've missed something but from my understanding, you haven't met in person yet?).

Have you ever lived abroad? Because I moved abroad in part to be with my husband, and I had already lived abroad in other countries, but spending a long time here has been one the most challenging things I've ever done. So think long and hard before moving to South Africa or Nigeria. It won't be easy. And no matter how much you research; it'll still be harder once you're there.

Also, Lagos is perhaps the most difficult embassy in the world. Do you see the comments on this thread? A consular officer will be MUCH MORE DIFFICULT to you and your fiance. This kind of "we've never met before and will marry when we meet" thing would be difficult in an easy consulate, in Nigeria, I don't even know. Please think this through, meet first, maybe even more than once, gather up evidence, then apply. If you apply now it'll be very difficult.

[Sarah Grace 1]

Okay don't be offended, but...

You're going to another country to marry a guy you haven't met yet. Do you see where this can go wrong?

A K-1 visa requires that you've met IN PERSON within the last two years. So unless you fly out there to meet him it's a no go right now (maybe I've missed something but from my understanding, you haven't met in person yet?).

Have you ever lived abroad? Because I moved abroad in part to be with my husband, and I had already lived abroad in other countries, but spending a long time here has been one the most challenging things I've ever done. So think long and hard before moving to South Africa or Nigeria. It won't be easy. And no matter how much you research; it'll still be harder once you're there.

Also, Lagos is perhaps the most difficult embassy in the world. Do you see the comments on this thread? A consular officer will be MUCH MORE DIFFICULT to you and your fiance. This kind of "we've never met before and will marry when we meet" thing would be difficult in an easy consulate, in Nigeria, I don't even know. Please think this through, meet first, maybe even more than once, gather up evidence, then apply. If you apply now it'll be very difficult.

Ok I just said we are going to go for the K-1 visa, which means we won't be getting married during my trip. I will file the petition of the K-1 after my trip. So yeah, i would have met him within the last two years by the time I file. And I just said in my last post, since we are going for the K-1, I will not be living with him. I won't live with him if I'm not married to him. Kindly read my post before replying.

[Anh map 2,098]

Ok I just said we are going to go for the K-1 visa, which means we won't be getting married during my trip. I will file the petition of the K-1 after my trip. So yeah, i would have met him within the last two years by the time I file. And I just said in my last post, since we are going for the K-1, I will not be living with him. I won't live with him if I'm not married to him. Kindly read my post before replying.

Is he a legal resident of South Africa?

[AmyWrites 593]

Take a thousand pictures on that trip, keep the boarding passes, keep records of your chats, etc. Read the Guides and with Nigeria go to the regional forums so people who've gone through that consulate can further advise you.