Where to apply for the K-1 visa

[fa08 0]

Hello everyone,

I (US citizen) will be sending in the first step of the K1 visa application for me and my fiance in January. He is a Brazilian citizen but currently a resident of Portugal until the end of August 2014. He will return to Brazil in September 2014. Our question is, should we apply through Brazil or Portugal (actually through Paris, since this is where portuguese application are directed through)?

Based on the timelines we´ve read, the process from sending in the initial paperwork until the invitation for an interview can be anywhere between 6 and 9 months. We don~t want his invitation to expire, or to have things get confusing with applying as a Brazilian Portuguese resident through Paris...

Any advice on if we should apply through Brazil or Paris in this situation? Thanks!!

[SparklePony 238]

I would suggest going through Portugal/Paris, but do be aware that there have been a few cases where NVC has sent the packets to the wrong embassies lately (similar situations as yours, alien from one country residing in another country with the packet being sent to the alien's country of birth).

[fa08 0]

Hi SparklePony!

Thanks for your response. Just curious, why would you recommend the Portugal/Paris option?

Thanks again!

[SparklePony 238]

Simply because from what I have read, it's a simpler procedure. Both France and Portugal are low fraud countries so the embassy tends to go as little easier on K1 visa applicants. I also have the idea, though I could be wrong, that it's faster to go through Paris than it is to go through Rio de Janeiro.

[fa08 0]

thanks again,

do u have any ideas of any particular papers he will need from Brazil to do this?

[SparklePony 238]

If he has ever been married, he'll need a divorce decree. If not, just his birth certificate, I believe. Also, depending on how old he was when he came to Portugal, he might need a police record from Brazil.