K-1 or straight to Greencard

[Cathi 5,624]

A green card does not make you a US citizen, a green card is not something she can file for in the philippines and obtain. it takes 3 years after marriage to a US citizen to take a test to possibly become a citizen.

K-1 is only for fiance. you MUST meet face to face in any country in the world, then file the paperwork. if approved she comes to US, you get married, then file adjustment of status ($1070.00), this can include work permit, ability to travel outside US and green card). green card good for 2 years, then you file and pay more money to switch to a 10 year green card or take the citizenship test.

if you marry her in her country, you return to US and start the paperwork for CR1? once approved she will join you in the US but will automatically have a green card which is work, travel and permanent resident status all together. then citizenship test in 3 years.

Someone please correct me if I have stated something wrong. I'm basing this on everything I have read and already done in my own relationship

you don;t switch to a 10 year green card OR take the citizenship. You MUST remove conditions on the 2 year green card, citizenship is not an option until this has been done. And you cannot apply for citizenship until you have had a green card for at least 3 years, 1 year after getting the 10 year green card

[milimelo 4,259]

Another question - when showing the money I make - does the money have to be in my name?

I plan to have my mother support us until I begin making enough money.

She does make 100% above my state poverty line.

Thank you

Unless mother is active-duty military she will need to show 125% of poverty line, not 100%.

What are you doing that you can't sponsor? You said work schedules - that presumes you're employed.

Just how old are you?

[cdneh 3,112]

Another question - when showing the money I make - does the money have to be in my name?

I plan to have my mother support us until I begin making enough money.

She does make 100% above my state poverty line.

Thank you

Really? Does your Mother know of this 'plan" ?

[Ketsuban 1,034]

I think before you even go near any immigration paperwork, you ought to meet this lady in person a few times and get used to her. People behave differently in real life to how they portray themselves online most of the time. Besides which, you don't understand most of what you're being told. You can only make so many mistakes with immigration before you really screw something up.

Get to know the girl better, get to know US immigration better.

[Boiler 43,757]

Can't he just send her back if it does not work out?

[maklein 0]

Why would you marry someone if you have never met them? Are you aware that if you file immigration for them that you will be responsible financially for them for 10 years at least, even if you divorce? Are you aware that the embassy judges if you have a real relationship or not, and deciding you don't want to meet, besides being impossible, appears like you don't have a true relationship?

You are really putting the cart before the horse here. Trying to find immigration stuff before you have even met.

If I were you, I would slow down, spend some time together, getting to know eachother, and then think about the future. You might not even get along, in the end.

Be careful, too. Philippines is a high fraud country, and there are many people there who only want to go to the US, and are willing to trick Americans by pretending to love them, only to leave them as soon as they hit the ground in the US, or as soon as they get their immigration paperwork.

Okay, I will take your advice, thank you

This isn't to be taken lightly. Its a major investment in time and money. You have to be willing to spend the time to learn how the immigration process works, what documents you need, what problems that may arise. It's a big learning curve.

Also not taking it seriously can lead to denial, lost time, and lots of heartaches.

Okay, thank you very much.

Unless mother is active-duty military she will need to show 125% of poverty line, not 100%.

What are you doing that you can't sponsor? You said work schedules - that presumes you're employed.

Just how old are you?

I don't work now.

27, 28 soon

Really? Does your Mother know of this 'plan" ?

No, I will have to tell her at some point, if I feel the relationship is real.

I think before you even go near any immigration paperwork, you ought to meet this lady in person a few times and get used to her. People behave differently in real life to how they portray themselves online most of the time. Besides which, you don't understand most of what you're being told. You can only make so many mistakes with immigration before you really screw something up.

Get to know the girl better, get to know US immigration better.

Okay, thank you.

[RobBell 32]

Lot's of people are critical on this website. Don't let that worry you.

I think its absolutely the right thing to research the immigration stuff as soon as possible. Even if you just met the girl last week, it's important to know the commitment you are required to make.

If you really like this girl you can make it work. It might just take some time,

[maklein 0]

Lot's of people are critical on this website. Don't let that worry you.

I think its absolutely the right thing to research the immigration stuff as soon as possible. Even if you just met the girl last week, it's important to know the commitment you are required to make.

If you really like this girl you can make it work. It might just take some time,

okay, thanks for the reply my friend, it's confusing, i might just pay a service

[JE57 239]

To the OP, I am engaged to a wonderful woman from the Philippines. There will be a-lot of people who have a lot of negative things to say about the Philippines and have stories of Fraud to tell. As a US citizen, born and raised in the USA I can tell you a bunch of things.. 1) The Philippines is a very different country and the culture of the Philippines is definately something you will need to understand if not embrace if you plan to Marry this woman the best way to do that is to go to the Philippines. It does sound like that might not be finacially possible for you at the moment. 2) For a young man from the USA there are thousands and thousands of Filippino women who want to meet you and establish a meaningful, lasting and loving relationship with you no matter what you look like. But, there are many many seeking you as a way to enter the USA. My experiance is you don't marry a Filippino you marry her entire family. Also, if a Filippino woman gets married in the Philippines then it is virtually impossible for her to ever end that Marriage... (Divorce is NOT allowed in the Philippines). You'll want to be 100% sure she has never been married in the philippines, if she has then you're looking at years and lots and lots of $$$$ before she can enter the USA legally to be your wife. Technically, it is not necessary for you to travel to the Philippines but it is necessary for you to meet her in person to apply for K-1 visa and there are a lot of requirements that you must meet to show that your relationship is real. Realistically, unless she has strong ties to the Philippines it is very difficult for her to even board a flight to LEAVE the philippines even to go to say Hong Kong. My Financee and I LIVE together in Hong Kong and we just submitted a 51 page package to USCIS to prove that we have a real relationship. My point is, this is not an easy process.

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So... I know your confused and I don't want to discourage you.. But it sounds like you are not really ready to be here and undertake this process. The harder she pushes you the more caution you should take. Go there if you possibly can.. and if you do then PLAN to stay with her and her family, don't go to Cebu, or Palawan or Boracay.. plan to stay a HER family house.. It will be HOT, the tricycles will be cramped, the water locally will make you sick, the Lambanog blindly strong, and you may not want to see rice again for a month, but if in the end of all that you look at the totatlity of the situation and find the tightknit family endearing, the simplisity of life charming and you dream of someday retiring to the "real" philippines because of all of the above you should proceed with the I-129F application. I'm not an expert by any means on immigration but I'd be happy to talk with you more about all of this if you like. We can set up a skype session if you want someone to talk to.

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Oh... and have a serious discussion with your Mom... Family is important and my Filippino Finacee helped me realize just how much for which I'll be forever greatful.