Jump to content
PeachWhiteTea

General Advice from Community - Marrying in Bahamas

By PeachWhiteTea in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

 Share

3 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

PeachWhiteTea Newbie

PeachWhiteTea   0

Posted
Filed: Timeline
Posted

Hey how's it going everyone? It's my first post on here; I've browsed around the website as well as a number of others quite a bit, trying to gather together as much information as possible by myself, but I just wanted to ask the opinion of some people in here that have experience with these things, because I have none. Anyway, here it goes.

Long story short, I met a Russian girl on an extended business trip last year and we hit it off really well and want to get married. At first, I was going to go the route of the fiance visa (K1) and just marry in the states with my family and everything. Well, after reading up on everything and seeing the proof of relationship that you must have, I don't. The camera I had with all our pictures on it was stolen not long after the trip and I don't know what else I could use for proof of our relationship. So if that's out of the question, the next I would assume in the IR-1/CR-1. So since I thought that would be the route we would go, I continued to research a good place to get married and I found the Bahamas. You only have to be on the island for 24 hours to get married, unlike a lot of European countries which are usually a month or two. So first off, is this the right visa for me? Are the Bahamas a good place to marry? If yes to the previous questions, then what are the next steps? Do we go to the American embassy in the Bahamas to begin the process or do we begin the process back at home?

I'm just lost on what we need to do and I'd really appreciate any help or input you all have. I don't have any experience with this sort of thing and don't have a clue where to start. I'm open minded to all advice and suggestions! Thank you so much, it is truly appreciated.

Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,813

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

Moved from K3 Process & Procedures to IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures.

**Organizer hat off**

Two items you need to read:

  1. The form I-130 instructions
  2. This guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

littlej Explorer

littlej   23

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Australia
 Timeline
Posted

there are a lot of people on here with a LOT more experience then me as i'm quite new to it all as well, but i just wanted to say that photos are only one form of evidence that is needed for the K1 and from what i have seen is not the most important...you can also use boarding passes, tickets, hotel receipts, passport stamps etc

K1 Journey
20th May 2013: I-129F sent to Dallas (US time)
23rd May 2013: Paperwork tracked and delivered to Dallas (US time)
28th May 2013: NOA1 case sent to Vermont Service Centre (US time)
4th Sept 2013: Update from USCIS-Case has been transferred to a local USCIS office...not sure which one yet
9th Sept 2013: Update from USCIS- file has been transferred and is now being processed at Texas USCIS office
23rd Sept 2013: NOA2- approved!
25th Sept 2013: Case shipped to DOS
9th Oct 2013: Packet 3 arrived via email
9th Oct 2013: Fingerprints done and Police check submitted to AFP (received in mail 30/10/13)
1st Nov 2013: Medical Appointment, (Melb) (results received in mail 15/11/13)

4th Nov 2013: Packet 3 sent to US Consulate, Sydney

5th Nov 2013: Packet 3 delivered to Sydney

8th Nov 2013: Received packet 4

19th Nov 2013: Interview scheduled- APPROVED dancin5hr.gif ...happy birthday for Joe! (visa received in mail 22/11/13)

Total K1 processing time- 6months, 3 days

30th Dec 2013: Entered the USA! POE: Dallas

8th March 2014 MARRIED! (L)

AOS:

7th Oct 2014: After unexpected delays, AOS package finally sent to Chicago

14th Oct 2014: Update received, I-485 accepted on 9th Oct and being processed at the National Benefits Centre

6th Nov 2014: Biometrics appointment scheduled and completed

16th Jan 2015: Letter received stating possible Interview Waiver. Informed there's a 6mth delay on processing

7th Aug 2015: Notice of Intent to deny received. Reasons given- expired Medical and new G-325A needed

11th Aug 2015: New medical completed

14th Aug 2015: Response to RFE sent back to USCIS

23rd Aug 2015: Application to Adjust status approved, Green card has been ordered

3rd Sept 2015: Greencard RECEIVED (yes it is Green!) :no:

Total AOS Processing time- 11 months

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...