Interview Question...How to respond?

[David & Diana R 1,005]

I would say - "K-1 visa gives us 90 days for consideration after the arrival in the US. I would like to live together with my fiance under the same roof and to figure out what kind of person he is on his own territory. That's why I am only planning to marry in the US after living together a couple of months."

BAD ADVICE, do not follow the above advice...

Oh my God no!! Holy #######!!! That would be a crazy answer. You are definitley going to get married once she gets in the US. Never say it is a trail period because that is NOT wahat a K-1 visa is about. Say it's a trial period and you are sure to be denied, I guarantee it!

Edited March 7, 2014 by David & Zoila

[Mina90 134]

I would say - "K-1 visa gives us 90 days for consideration after the arrival in the US. I would like to live together with my fiance under the same roof and to figure out what kind of person he is on his own territory. That's why I am only planning to marry in the US after living together a couple of months."

Terrible thing to say. K-1 visa is not meant for shopping for a spouse. If you apply for a K-1 visa, it means you WILL (not MAYBE) marry that person, just in the US as other members have stated.

[kzielu 1,147]

That's not true. K-1 visa IS for getting to know your fiance/e better and for getting married withing 90 days, But - you are not obliged to marry your petitioner. In the letter of intent you only state your intention, not your obligation. Yes, you are supposed to have that intention as the condition of getting that visa, but you are also free not to marry. When you arrive in the US and go through the passport control, you are warned by the immigration officer, that, if you don't marry your petitioner, you must leave the country within 90 days. Nobody tells you: "You MUST get married, otherwise you are breaking the immigration law".

No, it's not. That's why you have to send letter of intent with the petition. That's about one of the worst answers you can imagine.

Edited March 7, 2014 by kzielu

[David & Diana R 1,005]

No, it's not. That's why you have to send letter of intent with the petition. That's about one of the worst answers you can imagine.

I agree with you. In all my time on VJ I can say that the answer suggested is without a doubt the worst advice I have EVER seen on VJ!

[Tingbudong 12]

Somebody's been watching too much 90 day fiance... Its true you aren't obligated.. But that is expected only to come into play if something unforeseen held up your marriage plans.. NOT because you think you get 90 days to decide. That's completely wrong and would be almost as if your letter of intent were purgury and visa fraud.

very bad answer...

we are going to say that my job and my parents health both mean I cant live abroad, so we have no choise but to have her come to USA. Also, the wedding will take place here so my mother, who has cancer and cant travel can attend.

true... And we don't feel bad about her omitting any bad mouthing of certain parties in her family who she doesn't want to attend....

[lcirt 4]

So it is ok to say that it's a shorter time frame to be away from your loved one instead of the spouse visa. As well as I want a beautiful wedding at my church.

Is that an appropriate answer?

[David & Diana R 1,005]

So it is ok to say that it's a shorter time frame to be away from your loved one instead of the spouse visa. As well as I want a beautiful wedding at my church.

Is that an appropriate answer?

Yes, I think that would be acceptable.

[lcirt 4]

Ok thank you

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Because I'm engaged and not married.....and based on all the post its takes a longer time to get your spouse in the states with the CR1 visa verses the K-1 visa

Keep in mind that processing times change at the drop of a pin. And there is usually no pattern.

There was time, not long ago that CR1 was the most expedient way; the very fact that K-1 is shorter now could be a precursor that is about to shift again (because, like you, many other couples might be inclined to do the exact same). Notice that the number of VJ couples in the CR1 of K1 seems to be a small percentage of the actual applicants, and that means that no one here has real visibility of the trends. To have a better idea, even somewhat obfuscated, you might want to see the USCIS timelines, which by the way are behind.

You also want to account for some benefits of a CR1 over a K1, namely, when you enter the US, you automatically have a GC; on a K1 it would take several months after petition for AOS to obtain same (as well as for work authorzation). Also, there are additional costs in a K1, namely the AOS process, I think about 1100 and you will not be working.

On the other side, marrying in the US is a lot easier than doing it in other countries. Don't know about Rumania, but several friends we have connationals of you, chose to do the K1, mentioning challenges to marry in Rumania. For us, marrying in Poland was just too much trouble, plus we needed time to work the logistics and other isssues; so we did the K1 and it worked well for us.

[Mela17 36]

Our IO asked at our AOS interview why i didn't move to the uk and i said taxes too high, difficult to buy a house. as far as why k-1 he said the same answer.

[lcirt 4]

My petition was already approved in 20 days so in my case a lot faster than usual. The petition is already at embassy we are just waiting for packet 3 and to schedule an interview. From the time petition was sent to embassy received was 2 months. Also I'm in school in the states finishing my last semester in December. I'm the petitioner.

That could also be part of my answer working in Romania is really bad including income compared to United States. Better off in United States to start a family.

[Gwapo1ako 14]

Answer - Because I want to be with my fiance as soon as possible and this visa gives us the best possibility to do that

[Gwapo1ako 14]

That's not true. K-1 visa IS for getting to know your fiance/e better and for getting married withing 90 days, But - you are not obliged to marry your petitioner. In the letter of intent you only state your intention, not your obligation. Yes, you are supposed to have that intention as the condition of getting that visa, but you are also free not to marry. When you arrive in the US and go through the passport control, you are warned by the immigration officer, that, if you don't marry your petitioner, you must leave the country within 90 days. Nobody tells you: "You MUST get married, otherwise you are breaking the immigration law".

Sorry, but if I was an interviewer at the consulate, I would probably take this answer in a negative way.

[agrabs 237]

So it is ok to say that it's a shorter time frame to be away from your loved one instead of the spouse visa. As well as I want a beautiful wedding at my church.

Is that an appropriate answer?

I think that answer would be fine. At our interview they asked us about our wedding plans - but they didn't ask why the K1

Its not unsual from all the reviews I read on the Bucharest consulate to ask about wedding plans, but I didn't see too many that said they had to explain why they chose the K1 visa, or why get married in another country. I know one of the previous posters said she was asked that, so I definitely would be prepared with that answer but hopefully you won't have to worry about it.

[pepper297 63]

How should one respond to the question, "Why do you plan to have a wedding in the United States and not your home country?" What are some possible answers.

1.Faster to obtain visa than spouse visa

2. Requirement for K-1 visa

Are these good responses or no?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

I have wondered the same thing about that question. I have read some great feedback on this thread. I feel like I read too much into things bc I always hear about the odd case that got denied. We just have to stay with the truth and I think you are right on it. We personally went with the k1 bc we are engaged..... not married.... and honestly, we are just excited to be in the same place and start our life together. I don't even want a real production of wedding! I am so happy with the idea of a courthouse ceremony and then for us to focus on starting a family. Plus, for us to coordinate an exchanging of vows with our families being in 2 different countries and everyone having different circumstances and financial situations, we would need to give them AT LEAST a years notice to plan.... we are not going to wait to start our lives for that. We will get married when he gets here and then later down the road in a year or two, we will hold a delayed reception/party/vow reaffirmation for our loved ones on a beach in Costa Rica, maybe. I hope the embassy understands that.

I feel so judged throughout this process.... like I have to watch what I say and how I answer things with the govt even though I have nothing to hide. It is just scary that they hold my future in their hands!

Anyway, good luck in the interview! I'm going to try not to complicate and overthink things..... let's just let it flow from the heart