DCF vs K1 - advice please!

[wolfgirl07 0]

Hi all,

Thank you in advance very much for your help!

I am an American citizen who has lived and been employed in the UK for the past 3 years (I have a UK passport in addition to my US passport). I am returning back to America this summer. My fiance and I are unsure what is the best visa to get. Should we

1. Get married in the UK in January and then file for DCF (how quick is this in London? I have tried ringing the embassy to get guidance on how long you need to be married before filing, but cannot get through to anyone)

or

2. File for a K1 visa, and get married in the US?

I don't want to risk getting married in the UK and have the DCF not work, and then being unable to file for a K1, and have my fiance stuck in the UK for ages while we try and get a K3.

Any guidance is hugely appreciated - I'm finding this all quite overwhelming!

[*Snowdrop* 604]

Why would the DCF not work? You mean not work in time?

If you are eligible to file in January, then once you have filed you (the USC) can move back if it;s not completely processed by the time you need to move.

What month are you hoping to be done by. I would think that the London DCF will be at least as fast as a K1 would be, probably faster. So any potential time apart would not be much different.

And if you have the spousal visa then your husband will get his greencard immediately on entry - will be able to apply for jobs straight away and will be able to easily fly in and out of America if he needs to straight away.

[wolfgirl07 0]

Thank you very much for the reply! I'm confused how long you need to be married for before you can file a DCF (as we currently are not married).

It feels like there is a bit less info on the DCF, which I suppose is making me a bit more nervous about it!

Good to know the USC can move back before it is completely processed.

I need to be back in the states by July, so we have some time but not loads.

[*Snowdrop* 604]

You can apply the day you get married if you have all the right documents or as soon as you are able to gather all the right documents.

I just said if you are eligible in January because the rules about applying for DCF usually require the USC to be a legal resident in the country of application for a certain length of time. So you couldn't do it from a tourist visa for example but in your case I assume you are okay.

You might want to ask a MOD to move this thread to the UK Forum where there are several members who have gone through this process via London successfully who can help you.

I also recommend the following Facebook group which is specifically for UK/US couples - many who have experience of the DCF process.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/4822078887/?fref=ts

[Confusedtinybird 41]

DCF! It is much faster! And you can be together in the UK! If you do the K1 you will be separated waiting on your husband to be approved. It could be 9 months!

Get married. Then get your documents together and then file the DCF. It moves very fast. There are a number of VJ Members that have done DCF through London.

[lost_at_sea 995]

There's no minimum marriage time. See the guide in my signature. We were married 3 days when I filed.

[lost_at_sea 995]

And, just in case you're on mobile and don't see signatures. This is the guide I wrote for you to read: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/DCF_LondonDCF in London is super simple.